GMA News Online looks into the current state of evacuation centers in the country, the high-risk locations of multiple centers in Metro Manila, and tales from evacuees who sought solace, but failed to find it.
Located along the typhoon belt and the Pacific Ring of Fire, the Philippines is hit by an average of 20 tropical cyclones every year.
The Department of Education recently raised concern anew regarding the use of schools as evacuation centers, saying this results in learning disruptions among students. Nenita Macasero still remembers what her family endured when they relocated to an evacuation center in July as Typhoon Carina and the Southwest Monsoon wrought havoc on their community in Barangay Bagong Silangan, Quezon City.She even remembers the air—hot, humid, and smelly—as the center was bursting at the seams with evacuees.Nenita Macasero, a grandmother, was evacuated during the height of Typhoon Carina and the Southwest Monsoon in July 2024.
Nenita, with her daughter, son-in-law, and grandchildren in tow, eventually decided to leave their flooded house under the care of her husband, and took her daughter and grandchildren to the Bagong Silangan Evacuation Center, where they stayed for the next three days. It used to be a covered basketball court before construction began in 2021. It is now a five-storey permanent evacuation center.
Cara said residents can turn to about 15 evacuation sites in the barangay, including schools and churches, but these are simply not enough as they get hit by floods as well. The Marikina River, which has a long history of overflowing during heavy rains in Metro Manila, is seen from roof deck of the nearby Bagong Silangan Evacuation Center in Quezon City. JISELLE ANNE CASUCIANWilma Rosal, principal of the Bagong Silangan Elementary School, had to juggle her responsibilities of operating a temporary evacuation center and managing the opening of School Year 2024 to 2025—both in the same week.
Serving as the principal of a public school comes with the responsibility of leading an evacuation center, Rosal said. It is part of her job to “understand,” she added.“Kung makita niyo sila, naku. Maaawa rin kayo… mixed emotion. 'Yung nandiyan 'yung kaba nila na ano na nangyari 'yung naiwan nilang gamit. 'Yun bang makakain lang muna sila at makatulog lang muna roon sa hindi muna basa,” Rosal shared.
In a 2019 study titled"Evaluation of the Spatial Distribution of Evacuation Centers in Metro Manila, Philippines," researchers observed that the location of evacuation centers is not determined by factors that address disaster risk reduction and management, such as safety from flooding and earthquakes, but on the availability of existing facilities.
Navotas, which has had its own battles with flooding over the years, was “at the bottom of the list” as only 1 of its 12 evacuation centers, or 8.3%, was located in flood-prone areas. “Insufficient health and sanitation facilities in the designated ECs complicate the problem of congestion and increase the vulnerability of evacuees to post-typhoon diseases,” the study read.
“Ma-lecture din sila na dapat 'pag nandiyan, wala 'yung ‘labing-labing.’ 'Yung kunwari eh, 'yung mag-asawa nagtatabi, nakikita ng mga ibang mga evacuees na ‘yun. Naggagawa pa sila ng mga love-making,” Rosal said. “ face the risk of being sexually harassed, raped, sold or traded, put to work and prostituted… may also experience mental health problems because of the death or illness of family members, separation from parents or guardians, neglect and even class disruptions,” the study read.
In terms of relationships, the study said"the neighbors were arguing" was the cited experience of some of the respondents, due to the lack of space in the classroom. Of the 3.4 million families displaced nationwide due to Yolanda, only 90,972 families stayed in evacuation centers. According to Lagmay, many of the current evacuation centers in the Philippines are located in areas that are safe from a regular storm surge, but did not account for large- scale flooding or other hazards.
Image above shows landslide risk areas in New Bataan, Compostela Valley. Amid the wrath of Typhoon Pablo in 2012, hundreds of residents died at an evacuation center in Barangay Andap, indicated here as within the path of the landslide flows. Courtesy: UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES RESILIENCE INSTITUTE
“Dumaan ‘yung bagyo na Pablo, dala-dala ‘yung tubig, dala-dala ‘yung mga bato ... When it flowed into that area, natabunan ‘yung buong lugar by several meters, ” he shared. "As a risk reduction measure, evacuation centers which are identified to be susceptible to flood and/or earthquake need to be evaluated in terms of location.", a study by University of the Philippines Diliman Institute of Environmental Science and Meteorology post-graduate students
Meanwhile, the Department of Public Works and Highways , in support of the NDRRM Framework, is tasked to “increase disaster resilience of infrastructure systems” and “develop and implement comprehensive preparedness and response policies, plans and systems.”Thus, included in DPWH’s menu of projects are “disaster prevention, mitigation, and preparedness projects,” among which is the construction of “permanent evacuation center.
Section 5 of RA 10821 provides that “Only in cases where there is no other available place or structure which can be used as a general evacuation center may a school or child development center be used as an evacuation center.”Equipping communities with permanent evacuation centers, the UP study recommended, is a critical step towards building a long-term solution for disaster resiliency.
Tagumpay, a Filipino word for success, faces a slew of challenges every year as it rests on a steep slope leading to the Marikina River, making it vulnerable to flooding. JISELLE ANNE CASUCIAN
Typhoon Carina Barangay Bagong Silangan
Philippines Latest News, Philippines Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
GMA News Online, Pinoy MD sa Dobol B bag PHA awardsLatest Philippine news from GMA News and 24 Oras. News, weather updates and livestreaming on Philippine politics, regions, showbiz, lifestyle, science and tech.
Read more »
GMA Integrated News Honored by CPD for POPDEV ReportingThe Commission on Population and Development (CPD) has recognized the contributions of GMA Integrated News for their coverage of population and development (POPDEV) programs. GMA News Online, GMA News TV, and Super Radyo dzBB were awarded the Rafael M. Salas Kaunlarang Pantao Award for their impactful reporting.
Read more »
NEDA Board OKs acquisition of fast patrol craftsLatest Philippine news from GMA News and 24 Oras. News, weather updates and livestreaming on Philippine politics, regions, showbiz, lifestyle, science and tech.
Read more »
US-PH ties will remain strong whoever wins US presidential polls — envoysLatest Philippine news from GMA News and 24 Oras. News, weather updates and livestreaming on Philippine politics, regions, showbiz, lifestyle, science and tech.
Read more »
More beneficial for PH if Kamala Harris wins —former PH Amb. CuisiaLatest Philippine news from GMA News and 24 Oras. News, weather updates and livestreaming on Philippine politics, regions, showbiz, lifestyle, science and tech.
Read more »
Marcos tasks DA, DBM to expand P29 Rice-for-All programLatest Philippine news from GMA News and 24 Oras. News, weather updates and livestreaming on Philippine politics, regions, showbiz, lifestyle, science and tech.
Read more »