Marcos enacts laws to help students, disaster victims

Metro Manila, Philippines– President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. enacted laws on Friday, Dec. 6, that would help disaster victims cope with immediate shelter and provide relief for students with obligations during calamities.

The Ligtas Pinoy Centers Act would establish fully equipped evacuation centers nationwide to provide safe, temporary shelters for calamity victims.

“We do not wish for the frequent usage of such facilities and can only pray that we have fewer calamities. But nonetheless, we need to ensure that the evacuation centers sufficiently respond to the needs of our people affected by calamities and other such emergencies,” 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,” he added.

Marcos directed the Department of Public Works and Highways to prioritize the construction of evacuation centers in local government units, and make sure these follow minimum standards, the National Building Code, and factor in local needs.

Meanwhile, the Student Loan Payment Moratorium During Disasters and Emergencies Act provides relief by suspending student loan collection during and after calamities without penalties or interest.

“The benevolence of this law allows the disaster-affected students and their families to have a breathing space as they recuperate and rebuild their lives. It is our hope that this law will help lessen the financial burden off our students’ shoulders as they continue their schooling,” Marcos said.

He said the Commission on Higher Education and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority would make sure that financial hardships do not hinder students from completing their education.

The country was hit by six consecutive storms since Tropical Storm Kristine (international name: Trami) in October.