PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. is expected to approve a bill mandating the construction of “disaster-ready” evacuation centers nationwide “soon” after the country was battered by Severe Tropical Storm Kristine (Trami), House of Representatives Speaker and Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez said on Sunday.
The measure is in the process of enrollment, he said, and that it will be sent soon to the Malacañang for Mr. Marcos’ signature.
“The ‘Ligtas Pinoy Centers Act’ represents our commitment to safeguarding every Filipino in times of crisis, ensuring that each city and municipality will have a secure, fully equipped center to shelter and support evacuees,” he said in a statement, referring to the measure mandating the construction of storm and earthquake resilient structure in every city and municipality in the country.
The measure proposes that evacuation centers be built structurally strong enough to weather typhoon winds moving up to 300 kilometers per hour and withstand magnitude 8 earthquakes. — Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio