Ideal evacuation centers remain a challenge in Cordillera

BAGUIO CITY — The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Cordillera said that establishing ideal evacuation centers that can meet the full needs of people during calamities remains a major challenge due to several factors.

DSWD Cordillera Regional Director Maria Catbagan Aplaten said there are 3,279 evacuation centers across the region’s six provinces. She added that a Camp Coordination and Management (CCM) assessment is conducted to evaluate whether these centers meet the standards of an ideal evacuation site.

An ideal center, according to Aplaten, should include essential facilities such as separate, safe, and well-lit latrines and bathing areas, sleeping quarters, and designated zones for families and those with specific needs. It should also be spacious enough to accommodate more people and facilities.

Currently, only Apayao has a center that may meet these standards. Achieving similar facilities in other mountainous provinces is a big challenge, Aplaten admitted.

One major obstacle is the mountainous terrain. Ideal evacuation centers require wide, stable land areas. Although many landowners are willing to donate or allow use of their land, much of it falls within ancestral domains, and national government requirements dictate that land must be titled.

Aplaten also noted that evacuees often seek refuge in schools during calamities, as they are accessible, safer, and practical compared with some existing evacuation centers.

Budget constraints further complicate the situation, as the department has no infrastructure allotment. The support of local government units (LGUs) is crucial to constructing evacuation centers that meet ideal standards.

Novella Pocding, head of the DSWD Cordillera Disaster Response and Management Division (DRMD), said the passage of Republic Act No. 12076, the "Ligtas Pinoy Centers Act," in December 2024 mandates LGUs to establish fully equipped evacuation centers in every city and municipality. The law aims to provide secure temporary housing during disasters and reduce reliance on schools as evacuation sites.