Guv mulls creation of evacuation center

MAGALANG — Governor Lilia Pineda is seriously considering the creation of an evacuation center here in bid to provide an available facility that would shelter flood and disaster victims in the district and nearby towns.

Pineda, in an interview over the weekend with Sun.Star Pampanga, said the move will, in effect, protect schools and other facilities from being used as makeshift evacuation centers during times of calamities.

“We need to safeguard schools and other public facilities. It is an obvious fact that whenever there are evacuations going on in times of calamities, schools and similar facilities are used as evacuation areas and there would surely be some inconveniences and at times damage to these facilities,” Pineda said, adding that with an evacuation center in place, classes would no longer be disturbed in areas around the facility.

Pineda said she had talked with officials of the National Housing Authority for the possible use of some portions of the 10-hectare lot in Barangay Sta. Lucia here for the proposed evacuation center.

The governor said the establishment of such facility will provide humane evacuation conditions for evacuees.

The proposed facility will feature common areas for cooking, adequate toilet facilities and other facilities like clinics and mess halls.

Meanwhile, the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council will be tasked to manage and operate the facility in times of calamities. The facility is also seen as an effective way in clustering evacuees for quick and efficient relief operations.