Laws on permanent shelters, student loan freeze signed

(UPDATE) PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Friday signed two laws that would pave the way for stronger disaster resilience and inclusive educational support.

During a ceremony in Malacañang attended by legislators, Cabinet members, and other government officials, the President signed Republic Act (RA) 12076, or the Ligtas Pinoy Centers Act, and RA 12077, or the Student Loan Payment Moratorium During Disasters and Emergencies Act.

RA 12076 mandates the establishment of fully equipped evacuation centers to provide secure, temporary accommodation to disaster-stricken residents.

The centers will have sleeping areas, health care stations, sanitation facilities, and provisions for livestock and will prioritize high-risk and disaster-prone areas.

In his speech, the president said, "investing in these climate-resilient facilities must be the norm, for we are not only protecting the people's lives but also capacitating our local government units to respond, to reduce, and to manage the risks of disasters."

Marcos said the practice of using public schools as evacuation centers should end.

"Schools are supposed to be sanctuaries for learning, creativity, and growth; they should not also bear the burden of being makeshift shelters," he said.

The president directed the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to ensure the building of the evacuation centers in priority local government units.

The centers must be designed to adapt to worsening climate change impacts.

RA 12077 aims to provide financial relief to students in calamity-declared areas, allowing the deferment of loan payments for higher education and technical-vocational training programs during and after emergencies.

Marcos said the law gives disaster-affected students and their families the "breathing space as they recuperate and rebuild their lives."

He said he hopes the law "will help lessen the financial burden off our students' shoulders as they continue their schooling."

The president called on the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) to extend all forms of assistance to students.

Senate President Francis Escudero said RA 12077 is a timely intervention from the government to help curb the number of enrollees dropping out of school due to financial difficulties.

"We are currently experiencing a higher frequency of weather disturbances that are more intense and destructive. We always see the destruction caused in the aftermath of these calamities. Still, we often miss the other victims, the students, many of whom end up sacrificing their future because of these disasters," said Escudero, co-author and sponsor of Senate Bill (SB) 1864 when he was chairman of the Committee on Higher, Technical, and Vocational Education.

"Just to be clear, this is not loan forgiveness but a payment freeze for the duration of the declaration of a state of calamity or emergency and for another 30 days after its lifting," Escudero said.

The law ensures that students who take advantage of the loan payment moratorium will not be affected by it in their eligibility for re-enrollment or graduation.

Speaker Martin Romualdez said the Ligtas Pinoy Centers Act will protect Filipinos, especially in remote and flood-prone areas, before, during and after disasters.

The law is the answer to the need of rural and even urban communities for temporary shelter for their residents fleeing the onslaught of typhoons, storms and flooding, Romualdez said.

"When these shelters are built, people will be aware of where to go when they need to evacuate. The centers will have the necessary facilities and supplies for them," he said.

He stressed that the law is timely since weather disturbances are becoming stronger due to climate change.

"We should have prepared for this eventuality years ago because we are visited every year by at least 20 typhoons. But it's still not too late to prepare, and we should start building the needed evacuation centers soon," Romualdez said.

He also said RA 12077 would be a big relief to students in both public and private schools, including those run by local government units.

The moratorium promotes the achievement of the government's goal of providing all learners with equal opportunity to avail themselves of quality education, Romualdez said.

House Committee on Disaster Risk Reduction Chairman and Dinagat Islands Rep. Alan Uno Ecleo said the two new laws will ensure that no Filipino will be left behind during disasters.

"This is a win for all Filipinos, especially those most affected in times of crisis, especially the poor and most vulnerable," Ecleo said.

Ecleo, who is the co-author of the Ligtas Pinoy Centers Act, said the law sends a strong message from the government that "protection from disaster means providing the people temporary shelter during calamities while securing their finances and the future of their children through education.

Education Secretary Juan Edgardo Angara said RA 12077 is a "game changer" not only for disaster response but also for public education.

"It addresses a long-standing issue of public schools being used as evacuation centers. With this law, we can ensure that learning recovery can immediately take place after disasters," Angara said.