Efforts to improve facilities in evacuation centers underway

“Also we are now currently improving the conditions of makeshift evacuation centers by putting up additional toilet facilities, kitchens as well as improving (further) the facilities and our partner on this will be the Army Engineers of the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines),” NDRRMC Executive Director Ricardo Jalad said in a press briefing. (File Photo: NDRRMC/Facebook)

MANILA — Efforts are now underway to improve evacuation centers where thousands of families displaced by the series of quakes in Mindanao are seeking shelter, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said Thursday.

“Also we are now currently improving the conditions of makeshift evacuation centers by putting up additional toilet facilities, kitchens as well as improving (further) the facilities and our partner on this will be the Army Engineers of the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines),” NDRRMC Executive Director Ricardo Jalad said in a press briefing.

Jalad also said the Office of Civil Defense and local government units will provide the necessary construction materials for this initiative which also includes improvement of water facilities in evacuation centers.

He added that they are planning to sustain the relief operations in the affected areas as many families are expected to stay in the evacuation centers pending a permanent relocation site is provided.

“We expect a number of families to be staying in evacuation centers until permanent relocation houses are provided. And at the same time, we also look forward to providing interventions for the early recovery of people affected in the form of life, field assistance training, cash-for-work programs and the provision of other financial assistance like emergency shelter assistance which will be provided by Department of Social Welfare and Development and financial assistance for the casualties and wounded to be provided by the OCD,” Jalad said.

An initial budget of PHP4 billion was recommended for the sustainment of intervention projects, which includes cash-for-work, relocation, and emergency shelter assistance.

Jalad also reiterated that the agency and the national government is still capable of handling the situation in the quake-battered provinces in Mindanao.

In its update Thursday, the NDRRMC said around 8,265 families or 39,128 individuals are being sheltered in 47 evacuation centers.