Housing czar Eduardo del Rosario on Tuesday said the government wants to establish an evacuation center belt in Batangas to enhance disaster preparedness and offer safety and comfort to residents affected by calamities, such as the recent eruption of Taal Volcano.
Del Rosario, secretary of the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development, said President Rodrigo Duterte inspected the Mataas Na Kahoy evacuation center last Monday.
He said DHSUD turned over two other evacuation centers in Sa. Teresita and Alitagtag recently.
The three facilities are located outside the identified 14-kilometer danger zone of Taal Volcano.
“We hope to put up another evacuation center in Nasugbu, Batangas, in order to create an Evacuation Center Belt to enhance our readiness in times of calamities or Taal volcano eruption,” Del Rosario said.
He said the evacuation centers can also be used during storms, earthquakes and other natural disasters when residents need shelter outside their own homes.
“The President wants these facilities to provide comfort and safety to disaster-affected residents,” Del Rosario said.
