Council to city: Build evacuation centers

CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu City Council has approved the proposed resolution of Councilor Eugenio Gabuya Jr. requesting the Local Disaster Risk Reduction Management (LDRRMO) to include in their 2020 budget the construction of at least two evacuation centers with adequate facilities in the barangays in the city.

These barangays include the clustered, urban-south, urban-north, rural- south, and rural- north in Cebu City.

Gabuya said that the city government continues to house calamity-affected families either in barangay sports complex or schools with not enough facilities, water supply, and space.

He added that evacuees suffer from infectious diseases, diarrhea, and malnutrition because of the insufficient facilities in the evacuation areas.

“Women also face the possibility of rape, abuse, and molestation because of the lack of segregated toilet facilities and lighted pathways, and power outages,” said Gabuya.

He added that there is a need for the city government to build at least two evacuation centers in each barangays in Cebu City that can provide the evacuees with enough facilities for health and safety.

The Local Government Code of 1991 empowers the Sangguniang Panglungsod to approve resolutions that shall ensure the efficient and effective deliver of the basic services and facilities.

In connection to that, the local government units were also urged by the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) to include not just toilets, bath rooms and wash rooms but also “couple rooms” in evacuation centers in their disaster programs. — GAN (FREEMAN)