DEPARTMENT of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) Secretary Eduardo Del Rosario said the national government is eyeing to establish an Evacuation Center Belt in Batangas province to enhance disaster preparedness and offer safety and comfort to residents affected by calamities such as the eruption of the Taal Volcano.
Del Rosario made the announcement during President Rodrigo Duterte’s inspection of an evacuation center in Mataas Na Kahoy in Batangas last Monday.
The DHSUD also turned over two other evacuation centers in the towns of Sta. Teresita and Alitagtag.
The three facilities are located outside the identified 14-kilometer danger zone.
“We hope to put up another evacuation center in Nasugbu, Batangas, in order to create an Evacuation Center Belt to enhance our readiness in times of calamities or Taal volcano eruption,” the housing czar said.
Del Rosario said the evacuation centers can also be used during storms, earthquakes and other natural disasters when residents need shelter outside their own homes.
“The President wants these facilities to provide comfort and safety to disaster-affected residents,” Del Rosario said.
Each evacuation center can accommodate at least 110 families or around 440 individuals and can fit approximately 106 modular tents inside.
It was designed based on standards approved by President Duterte and has key amenities and facilities such as an administrative office, storage room, kitchen and mess hall, laundry area, children’s area, clinic, prayer room, 40 separate female and male comfort rooms, 22 shower rooms, nine urinals and conjugal rooms.
According to the DHSUD chief, the construction of the said facilities in Batangas is part of government efforts to boost the country’s disaster preparedness.
The housing czar also attributed the completion of the three evacuation centers in Batangas to the effective partnership between the government and the private sector.
“The construction of these evacuation centers was made possible through the collaboration of the national government, local government and the private sector,” he said.
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