NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE
s. No. 2085
'^jlui- »>
of il)t' ^ . CiTtru‘,1?
23 APR 25 PI :49
RECEIVED BY.
Introduced by Senator MARK A. VILLAR
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING EVACUATION CENTERS IN EVERY CITY AND MUNICIPALITY, 
AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The Philippines is one of the world's most disaster-prone countries. Our country 
is located along the boundary of major tectonic plates and at the center of a typhoon 
belt. Sadly, the Philippines also ranks among the top three countries in the world for 
population exposure and vulnerability to hazards.1
The Philippine government has developed strong coping mechanisms over 
history of experience with disasters. Yet, there are still gaps in disaster management 
capacities that needs to be addressed.
One of my dreams is for the Philippines to be disaster-resilient, which is why 
when I was the Secretary of the DPWH, we were able to build a total of two hundred 
twenty-two (222) evacuation centers all over the country.
I personally witnessed the aftermath of many disasters, which were mostly 
earthquakes. In those moments, I found the need to provide evacuation center 
facilities in every city and municipality that will provide emergency shelter to people 
who have been evacuated from an area as a result of the disaster.
1 Perceptions of Disaster Resilience and Preparedness in the Philippines, (n.d.). Harvard Humanitarian 
Initiative, https://hhi.harvard.edu/publications/perceptions-disaster-resilience-and-preparedness- 
philippines


In view of the foregoing, support for the passage and approval of this legislation 
is earnestly sought.
MARK A. VILLAR


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE
s.No. 2085
of t!jC fer;:-elai-p
23 APR 25 PI -49
RECEIVED BV;
Introduced by Senator MARK A. VILUR
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING EVACUATION CENTERS IN EVERY 
MUNICIPALITY, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
CITY AND
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
1 
Section 1. Declaration of Policy. - It shall be the policy of the State to uphold
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the constitutional right of the people for the protection of their life and property and
3 
the promotion of the general welfare. Towards this end, the State, shall establish and
4 
maintain a fully-equipped and fully-operational evacuation centers, responsive to
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environmental or climatic events, in recognition of the vulnerability of the Philippines
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to climate change, the occurrence of severe floods, typhoons, and other natural or
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human- induced disasters, illnesses, diseases and other factors that affect the
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environment.
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Sec. 2. Establishing of Evacuation Centers. - There shall be established an
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evacuation center in every city and municipality in the country which shall provide
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Immediate and temporary accommodation for people who have been evacuated or
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displaced from their homes due to emergency events such as typhoons, floods, storm
13 
surges, drought and other severe climate disturbances, as well as fire, and the
14 
outbreak of illnesses and diseases that present imminent danger to life and property.
15 
Existing structures that would meet the minimum requirements or could be
16 
upgraded to effectively serve as evacuation center could be designated as such in
17 
compliance with the local government unit concerned.


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Sec. 3. Requirements. -The following shall be the minimum requirements every
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evacuation center that will be established under this Act:
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a. Location Designation- Each location for every evacuation center shall be
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determined by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management
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Council (NDRRMC), In close coordination with the LGUs concerned.
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The location shall be determined based on the following criteria:
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1. It must be centrally located in the community;
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2. It must be of a safe distance from large trees, structures where
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hazardous materials are used and stored, or high-voltage power lines;
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3. It must be near a health facility;
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4. It must be located on geotechnically stable land to avoid risk of
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landslides or exposure to potential landslide of adjacent lands;
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5. It must not be located near military base camps, camps of insurgent
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groups, power plants, factories, and other areas where the occurrence
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of human-induced disasters are very high.
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b. Structural and Building Capacity - The evacuation center shall be
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constructed and designed to withstand super typhoons or wind speeds of
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a least three hundred kilometers per hour (300 kph) and seismic activity of
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at least 8.0 magnitude. The structure must be calamity-resilient, built with
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sturdy materials, and In accordance with the specifications and are
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compliant with rules and regulations and standards and specifications of
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the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and with the
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provisions of the National Building Code. The DPWH shall also ensure that
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the construction of such evacuation centers Is in accordance with the
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abovementioned requirements during Its construction phase.
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The DPWH shall be in charge of the construction of evacuation centers,
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including the formulation of building specifications and shall ensure that the
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same are based on standards, issuances, and other guidelines set by the
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DPWH, that the construction of such evacuation centers is in accordance
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with the abovementioned requirements during its construction phase.
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Sec. 4. Role of the NDRRMC. -The NDRRMC shall be the lead implementing
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agency of this Act. It shall give utmost priority to those areas of the country that (a)


1 
are identified as disaster prone; (b) are financially incapable to establish their own
2 
evacuation centers; and (c) do not have existing evacuation centers of their own
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It shall enter into memoranda of agreement (MOA) with the concerned LGUs
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for the maintenance, operation, and management of a permanent evacuation center
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in their respective areas of jurisdiction. It shall provide technical assistance and
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support service to these LGUs in the management of the facility.
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Local chief executives concerned shall evaluate and provide suitable sites for
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evacuation centers to determine their geographical stability, and public accessibility In
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times of disasters. They shall provide for the maintenance, operation, and
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management of the facility taking Into consideration to the goal of life preservation
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and meeting the basic subsistence needs of affected population based on acceptable
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standards during or immediately after a disaster
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Sec. 5. Coordination Among Agencies. -The NDRRMC shall coordinate with the
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DPWH and the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) as well as the particular
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LGU with regard to the design specifications, cost estimates, and construction details
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of the evacuation centers that will be constructed pursuant to this Act.
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Concerned government agencies and instrumentalities, when necessary, shall
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be
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provide assistance to the NDRRMC to ensure the effective and efficient Implementation
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of this Act.
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Sec. 6. Operation and Management - The LGUs concerned shall be primarily
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responsible for the operation, supervision, and management of evacuation centers
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established under this Act. They are also hereby authorized to issue rules and
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regulations on their proper use and maintenance.
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The local sanggunian shall promulgate guidelines and procedures for the use
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and operation of the evacuation center under Its jurisdiction. The guidelines shall
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prescribe rules on the utilization of the evacuation center when it is not used as such:
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Provided, That the evacuation center may only be used for such other activities or
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purposes that involve the use of collapsible amenities and those that shall not in any
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way compromise that serviceability of the evacuation center or impede the use thereof
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when a disaster occurs: Provided further. That the LGU shall Impose such penalties as


1 
may be deemed proper on the organizers of authorized activities when the evacuation
2 
center suffers any damage, defacement, or loss during or as a result of such activities.
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The mandatory audit of infrastructures used as evacuation centers shall be
4 
conducted by the City or Municipality at least once every year and immediately after
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the occurrence of a hazard or disaster.
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Sec. 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within sixty (60) days from the
7 
effectivity of this Act, the NDRRMC and the DPWH, and in consultation with
8 
appropriate government agencies and other relevant stakeholders, shall formulate the
9 
rules and regulations to effectively Implement the provisions of this Act.
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Sec. 8. Appropriations. - The amount necessary for the initial implementation
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to fund the construction and maintenance of evacuation centers shall be charged
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against the budget provided for this purpose under the DPWH. Thereafter, such
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amounts necessary shall be Included In the annual General Appropriations Act. The
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LGU concerned shall provide the continued maintenance, operation and management
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of the facility.
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Sec. 9. Separability Clause. - If, for any reason, any provision of this Act is
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declared to be unconstitutional or Invalid, the other sections or provisions hereof
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which are not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force or effect.
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Sec. 10. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, proclamations
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and
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administrative regulations, or any parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this
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Act are hereby revoked, repealed or modified accordingly.
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Sec 11. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
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publication in the Official Gazette or In at least two (2) national papers of general
25 
circulation.
Approved,