By ERWIN “AMBO” DELILAN
AS KANLAON Volcano on Negros Island continues to show signs of another explosive eruption any time soon, per the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs), many interesting stories are worth noting.
First: Sex at evacuation centers. Second: Media coverage. These two topics are quite interesting, or intriguing.
Yes, sex is allowed at evacuation centers. And it’s a taboo no more. This topic popped out after a photo of a couple’s room in La Carlota City with specific guidelines on how to use this went viral on Facebook.
Question: Is sex really allowed in an evacuation center?
Yes! But for legitimate couples only.
Angie Gelongo, head of the city social welfare and development office in La Carlota City, said sex is important like food and water in any evacuation centers amid disasters.
That’s why Gelongo, in an interview with yours truly, stressed that a couple’s room is one among the mandated areas in evacuation centers based on the guidelines set forth by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
Other areas are sleeping, eating, shower and toilet rooms, clinics, trash collection and food preparation areas.
But a couple’s room is not allowed in schools used as temporary evacuation centers during calamities, she clarified.
The noblest purpose of this hush-hush facility is to avert rape, violence and abuse against women and children within evacuation centers. In other words, a couple’s room is a preventive measure.
Gelongo said sex is like food and water, a basic need by couples, even by evacuees.
Sex addresses the physiological needs of couples thus vital, she stressed, adding, “It is also good for mental health.”
However, couple’s rooms have certain rules such as a couple can only use the facility for a maximum of two hours, and they have to bring their own beddings like blankets and pillows. And smoking, drinking of liquor, and creating sonorous sound/noise are strictly prohibited.
The “claygo” (clean as you go) policy must be observed, too.
CONSENT FORM
Meanwhile, starting December 19, media people on Negros Island lost absolute access to evacuation centers to interview Kanlaon evacuees.
Journalists – local, national and even international – need first to secure a consent form, submit it to the camp manager, and wait for approval.
When approved by a camp manager, journalists will be briefed as to the “dos and don’ts” at the evacuation center, and as to who are only allowed to be interviewed, photographed or recorded.
Task Force Kanlaon (TFK) chief Raul Fernandez said this policy on media coverage-slash-interview at evacuation centers is the very gist of Resolution No. 001-A issued by both Regional Task Force (RTF) and Regional Inter-agency Coordinating Cell (RIACC) on Thursday, December 19.
The proposal was pitched in by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) as the number of evacuees keep ballooning due to Kanlaon’s continued unrest. Then, it was adopted by both RTF and RIACC.
First to implement the order is Canlaon City. Mayor Jose Chuvasco Cardenas, in an order released on Thursday, officially designated Edha Lhou Masicampo as the one in charge to handle media concerns, especially requests for interview with evacuees.
Fernandez said this newly-drawn media policy has legal basis, citing Republic Act (RA) No. 10821, or the “Children Emergency Relief Protection Act” that aims to protect children during, before, after disasters and other emergency situations.
He emphasized that such is not an anti-media policy but rather a sort of a measure with certain protocols to be observed by journalists covering disaster stories.
One among these protocols is to blur photos of children evacuees before publishing whether through legacy or social media.
FAKE NEWS
Meanwhile, Fernandez, on Friday, December 20, disclosed that TFK already recorded more than 20,000 Kanlaon evacuees – both staying at various evacuation centers while others with their relatives and friends.
These evacuees are from 21 barangays of four localities such as La Castellana, La Carlota City and Bago City in Negros Occidental, and Canlaon City in Negros Oriental, whose houses are situated within the extended six-kilometer permanent danger zone (PDZ) in Kanlaon Volcano.
But Fernandez also clarified reports circulating on social media that Phivolcs had already extended PDZ anew to 10 kilometers radius.
“This is fake news!” he punctuated.
“We are just preparing for the worst eventuality, but it did not happen, or implemented yet,” he stressed.
In case PDZ will be extended to 10-km radius, around 100,000 people will be evacuated, Fernandez said.
SAD NEWS
Even Negros Occidental 5th District’s Cong. Dino Yulo said Christmas in the province will not be sweet but bitter amid Kanlaon’s threat and the “artificial sugar crisis” due to the plummeting price of sugar at only P2,400 per 50 kilograms.
In sum, a bleak Christmas is ahead for Negrenses who, at this time, are projected to remain at the evacuations centers even beyond New Year.
Help are pouring in, but these are still not enough to sustain the thousands of evacuees. “Donor fatigue” is getting evident.
The best we can do now to ease the immense challenge is simply to pray that Kanlaon calms down. Prayer, as they say, can move mountains.
Advance Merry Christmas to all!/PN
