BUTUAN CITY–Local government units should stop relying on school buildings as temporary shelters during calamities and build their own evacuation centers instead.
This was according to Liza Mazo, chief of the Office of the Civil Defense in Caraga Region (OCD-13), who pointed out that most schools are not designed to stand disasters or calamities, such as typhoons.
“Using schools as evacuation areas during calamities is strongly discouraged,” Mazo said during a press conference Wednesday held line with the celebration of the National Disaster Resilience Month.
“Local disaster risk reduction management councils are urged to establish their own evacuation building, charged to the local funds in order to provide temporary shelter to the evacuees,” she added.
Mazo, who heads the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (RDRRMC), was accompanied by officials of other government agencies involved in disaster risk reduction measures.
Engr. Donald Seronay, DILG-13 Assistant Regional Director, said they continue to provide technical assistance and capacity-building to the LGUs as far as disaster preparedness is concerned.
Dominga Mallonga, director of Department of Science and Techonology in Caraga Region, said the agency will be providing computers to the recipients in the Lake Mainit Basin as part of their commitment to empower LGUs through science and technology.
On the part of the military, Lt. Col. Francisco L. Molina, Jr., commander of the Army’s 23rd Infantry Battalion, vowed to continue strengthening the LGU’s capacity to respond to disasters in their area of responsibility.
Capt. Rodolfo Cordero, civil-military operations officer of the Army’s 401st Brigade, said their personnel are trained and ready to respond to any calamities.
Cordero also said that their vehicles are ready to be used in disaster response operation should LGUs need assistance.
For his part, DSWD-Caraga Social Welfare Officer Caroline Catalan said their agency has provided LGUs with financial support, as well as emergency shelter assistance, through the food for work and cash for work program. (Noel Najarro/PNA)
