NDRRMC: Churches, not schools may be used as evacuation centers

As the new school year will begin in less than two weeks, churches are being considered as evacuation centers instead of schools, for people who may be affected by Tropical Storm Chedeng (Songda), the National Risk Reduction and Management Council said Tuesday. The NDRRMC also appealed to religious leaders to open their churches' doors to those who may have to be evacuated. "Kung puno na ang mga municipal gymnasium, saka lang ilagay sila sa iskwelahan. Ang simbahan, ang ating mga religious leaders ... tumutugon (sila) sa pangangailangan ng kababayan," NDRRMC executive director Benito Ramos said in an interview on dwIZ radio Tuesday. (Only when the municipal gymnasiums are filled will we think of evacuating people to schools. We are also asking religious leaders to allow evacuees to stay in churches if possible. We know religious leaders are responsive to their flocks' needs.) The NDRRMC is now overseeing preparations for the onslaught of Chedeng, which Science Undersecretary Graciano Yumul Jr. said may make landfall as early as Thursday night. In the meantime, Ramos also urged residents in areas to be affected by Chedeng to use indigenous materials to prepare for the storm's rains and floods. He said residents can use tire interiors and sytrofoam as flotation devices in case of floods. Ramos also reminded them to prepare ready-to-eat meals in case of brownouts and floods. "Kailangan ang meals ready-to-eat dahil baka di maluto kung baha sa bubong (You have to have ready-to-eat meals because there may be not enough time or opportunity once the floods hit)," he said. He likewise reminded them to prepare extra batteries for their mobile phones lest brownouts prevent them from recharging their devices. 'Double trouble scenario' Meanwhile, the NDRRMC said it is keeping its fingers crossed it will not have to deal with a double-trouble scenario where active volcanoes in Luzon act up while Chedeng lashes the Philippines this week. Ramos said Bulusan Volcano in Sorsogon, Mayon Volcano in Albay, and Taal Volcano in Batangas continue to show signs of activity. "Ang kinatatakutan namin, huwag lang magsabay ang tatlo at isabay sa bagyong 'Chedeng.' Kasama sa contingency planning natin ang pagputok ng tatlong volcano (Our fear is that the three volcanoes may erupt while 'Chedeng' is affecting the country. We are factoring that into our contingency planning)," he said. Taal remains at Alert Level 2 while Mayon and Bulusan remain at Alert Level 1. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology cited the danger of lahar particularly from Mayon and Bulusan in case of prolonged rainfall. — RSJ, GMA News