CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – Gov. Lilia Pineda has signed a local legislation requiring forced evacuation of local folk facing imminent danger in disaster situations starting this rainy season in this floodprone province.
This, even as the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDERRMC) has identified at least 17 villages in this province that are exposed to storm surges, a phenomenon that almost wiped out Taclocan City during Supertyphoon Yolanda last year.
Among the villages identified were Sta. Teresa 2nd, Bancal Sinubli, and Bancal Pugad from Lubao town; Sebitanan, Malusac, Batang 1st, Batang 2nd and Mabuanbuan in Sasmuan; Bulacus, San Pedro, Malauli, Balibago, Sapang Kawayan and Nigui in Masantol; and San Esteban, Dalayap and Sua in Macabebe town.
The list was provided by the READY project, a multi-agency initiative led by the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC). Pineda signed Ordinance 605 which was earlier passed unanimously by the sangguniang panlalawigan, headed by her son Vice Gov. Dennis Pineda, for implementation in Pampanga’s 19 municipalities and the cities of Mabalacat and San Fernando.
Ordinance 605 prescribes “guidelines on the implementation of forced evacuation in any component city or municipality in the Province of Pampanga as a resort when a disaster or emergency has been declared and danger of loss of lives is imminent within their area of jurisdiction providing penalties for non-compliance therefore and for other purposes.”
Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Officer Angie Blanco said the passage of the local law was part of the vision of Pineda for zero casualties during disasters in Pampanga.
“Our governor and vice-governor are very much concerned about the general welfare of Kapampangans, including Pampanga’s transient residents. In the past, we encountered situations when response became ineffective as they were beyond the capabilities of the government,” Blanco said.
She noted that the provincial government has already identified evacuation centers for folk in flood- and landslide- prone areas in the province. At least two sites for permanent evacuation structures are also being developed in various parts of Pampanga.
She noted that the vice governor has also volunteered the use of his personal vehicles and boats for use in forced evacuations.
The ordinance noted that “forced evacuation of residents shall be implemented when a disaster or emergency has been declared in the province and there is imminent danger of loss of lives in a town or city, as assessed and recommended by the disaster risk reduction and management council of the local government unit concerned.”
“After the local chief executive issues a forced evacuation order, the communications and warning response team of the concerned local government unit shall inform residents of the forced evacuation and where they will be temporarily sheltered.
In the identified evacuation centers, teams shall be mobilized to receive evacuees and provide essential services.
The province has several evacuation centers ready in the event of an emergency,” Blanco said. “Forced evacuation”, the ordinance said, “shall be carried out humanely without disproportionate force, but in cases where residents refuse to leave their homes, the local government unit may enlist the assistance of police to ensure the safety of responders and maintain peace and order.”
It also said that “violators will also be fined P500 to P5,000 or imprisonment of one month to three months or both, at the discretion of the court.” Blanco said “forced evacuation can be terminated when the local chief executive issues and order for the residents to return home once the particular disaster council recommends that the danger or threat no longer exists.”
