DEPARTMENT of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Erwin Tulfo said on Monday, September 26, 2022, that it is necessary for the local government units (LGUs) to have designated evacuation centers.

In a situational briefing led by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. following the onslaught of Super Typhoon Karding (Noru), Tulfo said every municipality, especially in flood- and typhoon-prone areas, should establish evacuation centers to avoid disruption of classes, as currently, schools have been used to house the evacuees during calamities.

"Kasi pag maganda na ang panahon, nandoon pa rin 'yung mga evacuees dahil nasira ang bahay nila. 'Yung mga estudyante magsisiksikan sa ibang classrooms. Kaya ang talagang dapat po, mayroon tayong sariling evacuation center every time para hindi po nadidisrupt 'yung pag-aaral ng mga bata pag maganda na po 'yung panahon," Tulfo told Marcos.

In response, Marcos directed Tulfo to conduct a study to identify the average length of stay of a displaced family in an evacuation center based on the damage their houses incurred during a disaster.

Nearly 20,000 families were displaced due to the onslaught of Karding.

Assessment on the damage incurred from Karding is still ongoing.

In a televised public briefing, DSWD spokesperson Romel Lopez said the agency has allotted P1.1 billion for the assistance of people affected by the weather system.

He said this includes P103 million worth of quick response funds from the Central Office, while P43 million was already available in their regional offices in Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol, National Capital Region and Cordillera Administrative Region.

Tulfo said the provision of food and non-food relief items to the affected population continues. (SunStar Philippines)