DepEd asks LGUs: Stop using schools as evacuation centers

May 24, 2024 | 12:00am

Residents arrive at a school that serves as an evacuation centre in Marikina on October 29, 2022, following widespread flooding from heavy rain brought by Tropical Storm Nalgae.

AFP / Jam Sta. Rosa

MANILA, Philippines —  To prevent prolonged on-site class disruptions during the rainy season, the Department of Education (DepEd) yesterday said it has asked local government units to refrain from using public schools as evacuation centers during typhoons and other calamities.

DepEd Undersecretary Michael Poa said the agency has made this position clear during a recent meeting of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), stressing how students would be unable to use classrooms if the stay of evacuees is prolonged.

As a policy, the DepEd does allow the use of schools as emergency evacuation centers for a maximum of 15 days. However, Poa noted that “it is really unavoidable sometimes” that the evacuees stay longer than this period, especially when regional and division offices would allow it at the request of local government units.

“During the last NDRRMC meeting, we have given the position t