MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte pushed for the construction of more evacuation centers rather than using school buildings as temporary shelters for those affected by typhoons and other calamities.
Duterte made the directive after Department of Education secretary Leonor Briones reiterated her concerns that the use of school buildings as evacuation centers disrupts the flow of classes.
“It’s about time that we build iyong semento as temporary shelters that can be used by the people during a natural disaster,” Duterte said. “Kasi ang edukasyon ng mga bata napuputol.”
“For the longer they stay in the school, the longer would be the disturbance of the education of the children,” the President added.
Duterte also directed National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council executive director Ricardo Jalad to present a plan on the project.
“Iyon talagang mga (storm) front-liners na lugar – Leyte, Samar, itong Cagayan, Isabela – makagawa man lang tayo parang gym puro semento with so many, perhaps 10 CRs for women, and 10 na … ihiwalay mo lang babae, lalaki,” he said.
“I think you have to use the metal iron. Parang gym lang, habaan mo lang iyong upuan. And if we can build about siguro maski 14 muna next year kung mahabol sa budget,” he added.
Briones expressed her concern to Duterte, saying the school year schedule is affected every time there is a calamity because school buildings are being turned into evacuation centers./PN
