Gatchalian: Uphold children's welfare in post-Odette relief efforts, rehabilitation

Senator Win Gatchalian is urging the Department of Education (DepEd), Department of Health (DOH), and Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to uphold the safety and welfare of children in Odette-hit areas.

Aside from providing child-friendly spaces, the chairman of the Senate Committee on Basic Education, Arts and Culture pressed the urgency of providing for children's health, nutrition, and psychosocial needs, among others. The senator also emphasized the need to provide health and sanitation kits to children, especially because COVID-19 remains a threat to public health.

Gatchalian added that there is a need to ensure that rehabilitation efforts also focus on the resumption of education services. With the DepEd eyeing the expansion of limited face-to-face classes in January next year, Gatchalian said that the safety of schools in Odette-hit areas should also be prioritized.

Under the 2021 General Appropriations Act, P2 billion is allotted to the DepEd's Quick Response Fund (QRF), which serves as a stand-by fund for the replacement, reconstruction, rehabilitation, or repair of school buildings and facilities. The QRF may also be used for the printing and reproduction of damaged learning modules and materials.

According to DepEd, around 15 million learners in 35,698 schools were affected by the recent typhoon and 671 schools are being used as evacuation centers.

Gatchalian has been pushing for the establishment of permanent evacuation centers in every city and municipality to avoid the use of schools as evacuation centers. In 2019, he filed Senate Bill No. 747 or the Evacuation Center Act, which aims to construct a permanent evacuation center in every city and municipality.

Gatchalian also filed Senate Bill No. 1565 or the Education in the Better Normal Act to strengthen education in times of emergencies. The bill aims to guide the reopening of public and private basic education institutions in times of calamities, public health emergencies, civil unrests, and crisis situations that disrupt classes.

"Hinaharap ng maraming mga kabataan ngayon ang pinagsamang panganib na dulot ng pandemya at pinsala ng bagyong Odette. Mahalagang matutukan natin ang pangangailangan nila pagdating sa kalusugan at kaligtasan, kabilang na ang ligtas na pagpapatuloy ng kanilang edukasyon at iba pang mga serbisyo," said Gatchalian.

Gatchalian: Itaguyod ang kaligtasan ng mga batang apektado ng bagyong Odette

Hinihimok ni Senador Win Gatchalian ang Department of Education (DepEd), Department of Health (DOH), at Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) na itaguyod ang kaligtasan at kapakanan ng mga batang apektado ng bagyong Odette.

Maliban sa pagkakaroon ng mga ligtas na espasyo para sa mga bata, binigyang diin ng chairman ng Senate Committee on Basic Education, Arts and Culture na dapat tugunan ang pangangailangan ng mga kabataan pagdating sa kalusugan, nutrisyon, psychosocial support, at iba pa. Dapat ding mabigyan ang mga kabataan ng health at sanitation kits dahil nananatiling banta sa kalusugan ng publiko ang COVID-19, ayon sa senador.

Dagdag ni Gatchalian, mahalagang tutukan sa rehabilitation efforts ang ligtas na pagbabalik at pagpapatuloy ng edukasyon. Kasunod ng nakatakdang pagpapalawig ng DepEd ng limited face-to-face classes sa Enero ng susunod na taon, sinabi ni Gatchalian na dapat bigyang prayoridad ang kaligtasan ng mga paaralan sa mga lugar na tinamaan ng bagyo.

Sa ilalim ng 2021 General Appropriations Act, may dalawang bilyong pisong nakalaan sa Quick Response Fund (QRF) ng DepEd. Ang naturang pondo ay nagsisilbing stand-by fund para sa pagkukumpuni at muling pagpapatayo ng mga gusali at pasilidad sa mga paaralan. Maaari ring magamit ang QRF para sa pag-iimprenta at paggawa ng mga nasirang modules at iba pang learning materials.

Ayon sa DepEd, tinatayang labinlimang milyong mag-aaral sa 35,698 na mga paaralan ang naapektuhan ng bagyo, samantalang 671 na mga paaralan ang ginagamit bilang mga evacuation centers.

Isinusulong ni Gatchalian ang pagkakaroon ng permanent evacuation centers sa bawat lungsod at munisipalidad upang maiwasan ang paggamit sa mga paaralan bilang evacuation center. Noong 2019, inihain ni Gatchalian ang Senate Bill No. 747 na naglalayong magpatayo ng permanent evacuation center sa bawat lungsod at munisipalidad.

Inihain din ni Gatchalian ang Senate Bill No. 1565 o ang Education in the Better Normal Act upang paigtingin ang edukasyon sa panahon ng mga sakuna. Layon ng naturang panukala na magabayan ang muling pagbubukas ng mga pampubliko at pribadong paaralan sa basic education sa panahon ng mga kalamidad, mga public health emergency, civil unrest, at mga krisis na nagdudulot ng pagkaantala ng mga klase.

"Hinaharap ng maraming mga kabataan ngayon ang pinagsamang panganib na dulot ng pandemya at pinsala ng bagyong Odette. Mahalagang matutukan natin ang pangangailangan nila pagdating sa kalusugan at kaligtasan, kabilang na ang ligtas na pagpapatuloy ng kanilang edukasyon at iba pang mga serbisyo," ani Gatchalian.