987 FLOOD PRONE BGYS. IN REGION III, OVER .25M FAMILIES AT RISK
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga, April 8 (PIA) — The Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) has identified 987 flood-prone barangays with 255,159 families in Central Luzon.
The breakdown per province is as follows: Aurora -106 barangays in 8 towns with 27,596 families at risk; Bataan – 87 barangays in 11 municipalities with 34,514 threatened families; Bulacan – 133 barangays in 18 towns and 3,346 families; Nueva Ecija – 235 flood-prone barangays in 24 towns and 71,881 families; Pampanga- 231 barangays in 15 towns and 71,881 families; Tarlac – 141 barangays in 14 towns and 41,857 families facing threat; and Zambales with 54 barangays in 7 towns and 13,748 families at risk.
As part of the disaster risk reduction planning, the provinces have also identified the number of schools to be occupied as evacuation centers and what areas are also designated as evacuation centers in case disasters hit the areas.
In Aurora, eight elementary schools, covered courts, the municipal buildings, churches and identified higher grounds are ready for occupation by evacuees.
There are 23 schools, the Dinalupihan Sports Complex, the Provincial Capitol, the Peoples’ Center and municipal covered courts are assigned evacuation centers in Bataan.
Meanwhile, Nueva Ecija identified Days Hotel, the Convention Center and Sports Complex in Palayan City, the Ladies Dormitory in Palayan City and 505 schools as evacuation centers.
Cabanatuan City designated the Transport Central Terminal, NFA Cabanatuan compound, barangay halls, gyms, covered courts, chapels and the Ladies Dormitory and 31 schools.
The Provincial Capitol Grounds, the Pampanga Sports Complex, and covered courts in the municipalities and 135 schools are considered higher grounds in Pampanga while the Gabay Diwa Rehab Center and seven schools will accommodate evacuees from Angeles City.
For Olongapo City, the Multi-Purpose Skills Training Center, the East Tapinac Oval Track, the Remy Fields at the SBMA, Upper Mau Camp (SBMA), barangay halls and five schools will serve as evacuation centers.
Identified in Zambales as potential centers are covered courts, barangay halls, community livelihood centers, municipal auditoriums, gyms, the public malls and 82 schools.
Some 15 schools, the Paniqui and the Moncada evacuation centers, barangay halls, covered courts, and productivity centers are slated to be shelters in Tarlac in times of calamities.
For Bulacan, evacuees may occupy the provincial gym, SM Baliuag, Provincial Engineering Office, and the Bulacan Sports Complex.
Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Regional Director Josefina Timoteo said part of disaster preparedness is the location of resources and infrastructure and their capacities. It is for this reason that it became imperative for local disaster management units to identify evacuation centers. (CLJD/RGSD-PIA 3)
