Guidelines on use of schools as evacuation centers out soon

MANILA, Philippines -The Department of Education (DepEd) is set to come out with guidelines on the use of public schools as evacuation centers during calamities.

DepEd Assistant Secretary Jesus Mateo told The STAR that a joint policy guideline with the Department of Social Welfare and Development and the Department of the Interior and Local Government has been drafted for signing of Education Secretary Armin Luistro.

“It details guidelines on the use of schools as evacuation centers,” Mateo said. He, however, refused to give details.

 The new guidelines is expected to address concerns on class disruptions as most of the public schools are utilized as temporary shelters by those affected by natural disasters such as typhoons.

 The DepEd has also denied issuing an order which states that starting this school year, public schools could no longer be used as evacuation centers during calamities.

 â€œThere is no such order,” the DepEd said.

 Pampanga Gov. Lilia Pineda has directed municipal disaster action officers, municipal engineers and other concerned officials in the province to immediately identify alternative sites that can temporarily house evacuees during calamities.

Pineda, along with the officials of the National Housing Authority (NHA), inspected a number of safe sites being eyed as possible evacuation centers as part of the provincial government’s preparations for floods this rainy season.

These sites include unutilized NHA properties in Barangays San Isidro in Magalang town, Telepayong in Arayat town, and two separate lots in the town of Floridablanca.