Manila: The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) continues to monitor individuals and families who have yet to fully recover from the effects of past disasters and who remain in evacuation centers across the country.
According to Philippines News Agency, as of December 22, the DSWD Disaster Response Management Bureau (DRMB) reported that there are still 845 evacuation centers operational, currently accommodating 26,053 families or 91,982 individuals. The highest number of displaced families is in Central Visayas, where 479 evacuation centers provide shelter to 45,805 internally displaced persons (IDPs). This is followed by Calabarzon with 182 evacuation centers and 19,998 IDPs, and the Negros Island Region with 14,747 IDPs.
In a statement, DRMB Director Maria Isabel Lanada said Secretary Rex Gatchalian has directed agency personnel to ensure that evacuation centers all over the country strictly comply with DSWD standards. She emphasized that the approach should be human rights-based, ensuring social protection is in place. Special attention is given to vulnerable groups, addressing health risks and harassment issues, particularly for women and children. The DSWD also provides technical assistance to local government units (LGUs) to ensure the availability of child-friendly spaces, women-friendly spaces, lactating rooms, prayer rooms, and conjugal rooms.
As Christmas approaches, Lanada directed the DSWD's field offices to ensure that families staying in evacuation centers receive sufficient support and psychosocial aid. She stressed that the spirit of Christmas should be felt by everyone, especially those experiencing hardships due to displacement. She encouraged relatives, friends, and communities to visit evacuation centers and share the warmth of the holiday season with IDPs.
The DRMB, in coordination with the local government units, commits to continuously providing IDPs with food and non-food items while staying in designated evacuation centers. Lanada stated that improvements in evacuation centers are a priority for the DSWD for the year 2026, as many centers still lack adequate services and facilities. The DSWD, in coordination with LGUs and other concerned agencies, will address gaps in services and ensure that support mechanisms are in place, including child-friendly spaces, women-friendly spaces, health rooms, prayer rooms, information desks, handwashing facilities, storage areas, and laundry spaces.
