Permanent evacuation centers should be built, Duterte says

MANILA, Philippines — President Duterte wants the government to start building permanent evacuation centers in strategic areas in the provinces to address the concerns of residents in times of disaster following the onslaught of Typhoon Ompong last weekend.

Speaking during a situation briefing in storm-ravaged Isabela last night, Duterte said the government cannot always use public schools as shelters – a previous recommendation of Education Secretary Leonor Briones during last week’s preparations at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City.

Duterte wants the evacuation centers built in key areas in the country, citing previously disaster-stricken provinces such as Samar, Leyte and Surigao.

In Central Mindanao, Duterte said it is a different thing because these are within conflict areas. “Iba ang refugee center but used during crisis management,” he said.

Duterte said he wants a system that would deal with disasters, commending the government team, including presidential adviser Francis Tolentino, Labor Secretary Sylvester Bello III and Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade whom he deployed in Cagayan and Isabela at the height of the typhoon.

Last Monday, Duterte met with the families of the landslide victims in Benguet at the Provincial Governor’s Office Conference Hall. Members of 45 affected families met the President.

Duterte commiserated with the bereaved families of the landslide victims in Baguio City, Ucab and Itogon in Benguet.

“Ang Diyos lang talaga ang makasagot ng lahat ng tanong na ito (Only God can answer your questions). Even if I make an attempt to blame somebody, to blame the weather, or maybe to blame the negligence of others, it won’t really help anymore,” Duterte said.