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MANILA, Philippines ? The Department of Interior and Local Government has ordered all local chief executives to clear all public schools being used as evacuation centers and transfer all evacuees to other government-owned facilities.
This, said acting Secretary Melchor Rosales, was to pave the way for the resumption of classes across Metro Manila, following the effects of tropical storm ?Ondoy.?
?We directed all local government chiefs to ensure that they now identify other covered areas that can be supported by health, sanitation, and feeding requirements to act as evacuation areas,? Rosales said in a press conference Monday.
The DILG also ordered all local government units to speed up efforts to clean the streets of Metro Manila of garbage, asking local executives to hire private contractors to aid them in their efforts.
Rosales said that by the end of the day, some 85 percent of public schools across Metro Manila would have been cleared of evacuees and flood victims transferred to other government-owned facilities like gymnasiums and multi-purpose halls.
But he admitted that some areas in the cities of Marikina, Pasig, Taguig, and Muntinlupa remain submerged in flood waters, making the transfer of evacuees impossible at this time.
?Portions of Marikina, Pasig, Muntinlupa, Taguig are still underwater and we cannot move [evacuees]. But as soon as floodwaters recede tomorrow, OK na rin yan. The hardest hit among the LGUs is Pasig,? Rosales said.
He said that local executives must ensure that evacuation centers should have adequate supply of potable water, power, health, and sanitary facilities.
