The Sangguniang Panlungsod of Bacolod City has approved on second reading the proposed establishment of a field evacuation center and its management ordinance, Bacolod Councilor Caesar Distrito said on Monday, Feb. 9.
Authored by Distrito, the proposed ordinance seeks to institutionalize safe, accessible, and well-managed evacuation centers in every barangay or clustered barangays in Bacolod.
The ordinance aims to strengthen disaster preparedness and emergency response by ensuring that evacuation operations are organized, dignified, and responsive to the needs of residents, particularly vulnerable sectors, Distrito said.
“This ordinance ensures that evacuation is no longer improvised or reactive. By institutionalizing properly managed Field Evacuation Centers in our barangays, we are creating a system that guarantees safety, dignity, and timely assistance, especially for children, senior citizens, pregnant women, and persons with disabilities, during times of crisis,” Distrito added.
Under the proposed measure, each evacuation center shall be managed by a Field Evacuation Center Management Committee (FECMC) to ensure orderly operations and effective inter-agency coordination.
For single-barangay evacuation centers, the FECMC shall be chaired by the punong barangay, while the vice chairperson will be a representative of the Department of Social Services and Development (DSSD), specifically the social worker assigned to that particular barangay.
For clustered evacuation centers serving two or more barangays, the chairperson shall be the DSSD representative, and all involved punong barangays shall serve as co-vice chairpersons.
To support its implementation, the ordinance allocates ₱30 million for food supplies and meals for evacuees and returning families, along with an additional ₱20 million from the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund for hygiene kits and logistical requirements.
The proposed ordinance is scheduled for a third reading and final approval before being submitted for executive action.*
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