REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
Second Regular Session 
1 
Introduced by Senator Loren Legarda 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Philippines is a disaster-prone country. Fires constantly occur while the 
threats of earthquakes cannot be discounted owing to the Philippines being in the 
Pacific Ring of Fire, a region in the Pacific that is disaster-prone. School children in 
school buildings or on board school buses and the sick, infirm, and disabled in health- 
care institutions are vulnerable to the risks presented by fires, earthquakes, and other 
hazardous phenomena. This bill seeks to mitigate these risks by preparing the citizenry, 
particularly school children and the occupants of health-care institutions, their 
administrators, operators, and personnel on the proper response and actions to take in 
cases of fires, earthquakes, and other hazardous phenomena. 
In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
- 
~~ 
LOREN LEGARDA 


* .:. , 
FOURTEENTH CONGRESS 
1 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
Second Regular Session 
1 
9 ,,ifif! 2;) 
[',':. ::6 
~ 
Introduced by Senator Loren Legarda 
AN ACT 
MANDATING THE CONDUCT OF FIRE, EARTHQUAKE, AND OTHER HAZARDOUS 
PHENOMENA DRILLS IN EDUCATIONAL BUILDINGS/ESTABLISHMENTS, SCHOOL 
BUSES, AND HEALTH-CARE INSTITUTIONS 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
Section 1. Title. This shall be known as the "Preparedness in Buildings During Fire and 
Earthquake Act." 
Section 2. Statement of Policy. It is hereby declared the policy of the State to train 
its people in the quick and proper response to times of fires, earthquakes, and other 
hazardous phenomena so as to reduce the risks on their lives, limbs, and properties. 
Section 3. Drills in educational establishments/buildings. 
a. Fire and earthquake drills shall be held at least once a month in educational 
establishments where such establishments constitute the major function of a 
building. Thus, there shall be at least 10 drills in each school year. 
b. The drills shall include practice and instruction concerning the location, use and 
operation of emergency exits, fire escapes, doors and fire extinguishers and 
other facilities provided for such purpose in buildings as well as the proper 
evacuation of buildings by persons in the event of fires, earthquakes and other 
hazardous phenomena. 
c. Fire and earthquake drills shall include complete evacuation of all persons from 
the building, if necessary. Teachers and personnel shall be trained in assisting 
students in the evacuation of a building in times of fire, earthquakes, and other 
hazardous phenomena. 
d. A record of all fire and earthquake drills shall be kept, and persons in charge of 
buildings/establishments shall file quarterly written reports with the respective 
Regional Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) of each regions, giving the time 
and date of each drill held. 
Section 4. Drills on school buses. 
a. All schools using or contracting school buses and other vehicles for transporting 
school children shall conduct at least two emergency evacuation drills on school 
buses and other vehicles during each school year. The first emergency 


evacuation drill shall be conducted during the first quarter of the school year and 
the second during the third quarter. 
b. Each drill shall include practice and instruction concerning the proper evacuation 
of buses in cases of fires, earthquakes, and other hazardous phenomena. 
c. Bus operators and drivers shall be trained and instructed by the National Disaster 
Coordinating Councili (NDCC) with proper training and instructions so as to 
enable them to carry out the provisions of this Act. 
d. The school principal or bus operator/owner shall certify in writing to the RDCC 
that the drills required herein have been conducted. 
e. Operators and drivers of public utility vehicles such as jeepneys and buses shall 
likewise be provided with proper training and instructions to enable them to carry 
out the provisions of this Act. 
Section 5. Drills in health-care institutions. 
a. Administrators of hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, orphanages and other 
buildings or structures used for the care of or occupied by the sick, infirm, or 
disabled shall be required to conduct safety drills on a monthly basis. Hence, 
there shall be at least twelve (12) drills in health-care institutions in a year. 
b. Said drills shall be conducted with the administration and personnel of the 
hospital, nursing home, or other building or structure used for the care of or 
occupied by the sick, infirm, or disabled persons. 
c. 
A record of all fire and earthquake drills shall be kept, and persons in charge of 
buildings/establishments shall file quarterly written reports with the RDCC, giving 
the time and date of each drill held. 
Section 6. Implementing Agency. The National Disaster Coordinating Council 
(NDCC) and its regional and local offices shall oversee the implementation of this Act in 
each locality and shall keep a record of the reports submitted by educational building, 
health-care institution administrators and school bus operators and drivers. 
Section 7. Penalties. Building administrators or any person in charge of the 
administration or management of educational establishments/buildings, health-care 
institutions, and school bus operators and drivers who refuses or fails to carry out the 
provisions of this Act shall be given a warning for the first offense, a fine of P1,OOO for 
the second offense, a fine of P5, 000 for the third offense, and imprisonment of one 
month and a fine of P10,OOO for subsequent offenses. The fines shall go to the funds of 
the local NDCC office and shall be used for disaster prevention and mitigation programs 
of the locality. 
Section 8. Repealing Clause. All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and 
regulations or parts thereof, inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby 
repealed. 
Section 9. Separability Clause. If any provision of this Act shall be declared 
unconstitutional or invalid, any other provisions herein not affected thereby shall 
continue in full force and effect. 


Section 10. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after it publication 
in the Official Gazette (OG). 
Approved,