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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No.9019

Introduced by Representative Rex Gatchalian

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING EVACUATION CENTERS IN EVERY MUNICIPALITY AND CITY,
PROVIDING FOR THE NECESSARY FACILITIES, ENSURING THEIR
STRUCTURAL CAPACITY, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The geography of the Philippines makes it vulnerable to numerous natural
disasters, especially earthquakes, tropical cyclones, and flooding. According to data
from Statista Research Department, in 2021, the earthquakes in the Philippines had
a 10 risk index points while tropical cyclones had a 9.5 risk index points.! During
the occurrence of these natural disasters, affected Filipinos are displaced and are
often in need to be relocated.

Schools have been commonly used as evacuation centers in times of
calamities, which disrupts school activities. The Department of Education (DepEd)
reported that 869 public schools were used as evacuation centers in 2020. The
classrooms and other facilities therein served as temporary housing to some 21,000
families or 82,584 individuals.? This has been such a usual practice that DepEd
issued a Manual for School-Based Disaster Preparedness and Response Measures
for Tropical Typhoons, Flooding, and Other Weather-Related Disturbances and
Calamities through Department Order No. 33 on 20 August 2021. Conceivably, since

* Statista Research Department, Risk index of natural disasters in the Philippines in 2021, by type available at
.com / statistics /921036 /philippines-risk-index-for-natural-

1e%20to%20the%20geographical%20context,a%209.5%2Orisk%20index%2Opoints,

2 Krissy Aguilar, 226 schools damaged, over 800 used as evacuation centers after Rolly’s onslaught, Inquirer (3

November 2020), available at https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/ 1355855 /deped-226-schools-damaged-over-800-

‘schools-used-as-evacuation-centers-after-rollys-onslaught#ixzz7jwKwR0OO

LX DATE November 10, 20224



schools are not calamity-proof, classrooms are often damaged after the evacuation
efforts if not totally destroyed.

Thus, this measure seeks to establish a dedicated evacuation center in every
municipality and city in the country, providing for necessary facilities and structural
capacity. It should be noted that in recognition of the current lack of evacuation
centers in the Philippines, schools will still be used as evacuation centers. However,
the bill provides that when a local government unit (LGU) is included in the priority
list of LGUs which need an evacuation center and there is no available site where the
government could construct a new evacuation center, the National Disaster Risk
Reduction and Management Council may instead consider the improvement of
facilities in schools or other structures already being used as evacuation centers by
the LGU to make it compliant to the minimum requirements on location and
structural capacity.

It also emphasizes the need to ensure the structural capacity of existing
evacuation centers and those that will be constructed in the future. It is imperative
that strict compliance with the National Building Code of the Philippines is observed,
and that inputs of structural engineers are integrated into the design and
specifications of evacuation centers to ensure that it can withstand the ever-
changing climatic and other hazards. Also, in recognition of the budgetary
requirements of this endeavor, the measure mandates the National Disaster Risk
Reduction and Management Council to determine prioritized areas, taking into

account the most vulnerable communities with less stable infrastructure.

In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

Representative
1* District, Valenzuela City

* Ime Sornito, WV'S 166 PUBLIC SCHOOLS DAMAGED; P1.1-B rehab fund needed ~ DepEd-6 exec, Panay News (30

December 2021), available at https:/ /www.panaynews.net/wvs-166-public-schools-damaged-p1-1-b-rehabfund-
needed-deped-6-exec/


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session
HOUSE BILL no.6019

Introduced by Representative Rex Gatchalian

a

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING EVACUATION CENTERS IN EVERY MUNICIPALITY AND CITY,
PROVIDING FOR THE NECESSARY FACILITIES, ENSURING THEIR
STRUCTURAL CAPACITY, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the
"Evacuation Center Act."

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is a declared policy of the State to protect
life, liberty, and properties of all Filipinos, promote their general welfare, and provide
adequate social services to them. Towards this end, the State, in recognition of the
vulnerability of the Philippines to climate change, the occurrence of severe floods,
typhoons, and other natural or human-induced disasters, illnesses, diseases and
other factors that
affect the environment, shall institutionalize the government's efforts to
establish and maintain fully equipped and fully-operational evacuation
centers, and provide the necessary facilities to sites used as evacuation
centers to make them responsive to environmental or climatic events.

It shall be the continuing policy of the State to ensure the structural capacity
of evacuation centers and to provide the necessary and appropriate support
facilities.

SEC. 3. Establishment of Evacuation Centers. -There shall be established an
evacuation center in every city and municipality in the Philippines which shall

provide immediate and temporary accommodation for people who have been


evacuated or displaced from their homes due to disasters, calamities or other
emergency events, such as typhoons, floods, storm surges, drought and other severe
climate disturbances, as well as fire, and the outbreak of illnesses and diseases that

presents imminent danger to life and property.

SEC. 4. Facility Requirements. - The following shall be the minimum
requirements for every evacuation center that will be established under this Act:

a) Location - The evacuation center should not be at risk of isolation. It should
be located at a safe distance from danger areas or hazards. The Local Disaster Risk
Reduction and Management Council (LDRRMC) of the local government unit (LGU)
concerned shall coordinate with the Department of Environment and Natural
Resources (DENR) to utilize the Mines and Geosciences Bureau’s (MGB) geohazard
maps in determining the appropriate location of the evacuation center.

‘The following shall be considered in identifying an ideal site for an evacuation

center:

1) Drainage;

2) Elevation;

3) Protection from strong winds;

4) Accessibility to and proximity from the vulnerable
community;

5) Availability of the following in the immediate vicinity:
i) Parking areas for emergency and other vehicles;
ii) Allocated area for additional portable toilets;
iii) Storage tanks for potable and non-potable water; and
iv) Safe shelter for livestock.

b) Structural Capacity - New evacuation centers and improvements in schools
used as an evacuation center which will be constructed after the effectivity of this
Act must be made of construction materials which are in accordance with the
specifications of Republic Act No. 6541, otherwise known as the "National Building
Code of the Philippines,” and be able to withstand wind speeds of three hundred
twenty (320) kilometers per hour or two hundred (200) miles per hour and moderate
seismic activity of at least 7.2 magnitude.

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) shall be responsible
in formulating the appropriate specifications for evacuation centers and to ensure
compliance with these specifications during the construction of evacuation centers.
The specifications shall be periodically reviewed and, if necessary, revised by the


DPWH every three years.

©) Suitability and Capacity of Premises - If the building is not primarily built
as a shelter or permanent site for use as an evacuation center, considerations
should be made on its impact to normal business if its operation as an evacuation
center is prolonged or its normal function is taken off for an extended period of time.

The number and diversity of evacuees as well as public health and safety
concerns should be considered in the suitability of the premises.

It must likewise be able to provide electricity, back-up power supply, water,
sewerage system, solid waste management, and physical mobility for people with
mobility aids.

d) Physical Amenities - The evacuation and relief center should
be able to provide the following minimum facilities:

1. Sleeping area;

2. Eating area;

3. Shower and toilet facilities which should accommodate
twenty (20) people per shower or toilet room, and should be utilized
according to gender;

4. Kitchen or food preparation area;

5. Trash collection area;

6. Clinic area including an isolation area for potentially infectious
people;

7. Laundry area;

8. Recreation area; and

9. Pet and livestock holding area.

e) Food Safety - Kitchen and dining facilities should be able to cater for the
number of people in the evacuation center. Food preparation and storage facilities
should comply with satisfactory standards of the Department of Health on
cleanliness to minimize the potential for contamination and invasion of insects and
pests.

SEC. 5. Priority in the Establishment of Evacuation Centers. -
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) shall, in
coordination with local chief executives of provinces, cities, and municipalities,
identify areas to be given the highest priority in the establishment of new evacuation
centers.

Upon determination by the NDRRMC and the chief executives of LGUs, the


NDRRMC shall make a priority list of LGUs needing evacuation centers. The
frequency of occurrence of calamities, whether natural or human-induced, and the
number of displaced persons in the LGU during said calamities in the past three

years may be considered in coming up with the priority list.

SEC. 6. Improvement of Schools or Structures Used as Evacuation Centers. -
When an LGU is included in the priority list of LGUs which need an evacuation
center pursuant to Section 5 of this Act and there is no available site where the
government can construct a new evacuation center, the NDRRMC may instead
consider the improvement of facilities in schools or other structures already being
used as evacuation center by the LGU to make it comply with the provisions of
Section 4 of this Act, particularly on the requirement on location and structural
capacity.

SEC. 7. Role of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.
- The NDRRMC shall be the lead agency in implementing this Act. It shall ensure
that the requirements of this Act are faithfully complied with.

SEC. 8. Coordination Among Agencies. - The NDRRMC shall coordinate with
the DPWH and the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) with regard to
the design specifications, cost estimates and construction details of new evacuation
centers that will be constructed pursuant to this Act.

All government agencies and instrumentalities, when necessary, shall provide
assistance to the NDRRMC to ensure the effective and efficient implementation of
this Act.

SEC. 9. Operation and Maintenance of Evacuation Centers. - The operation
and management of evacuation centers shall be under the auspices of the LGU
where the evacuation center is situated while the DPWH shall be tasked with the
maintenance of evacuation centers that will be constructed under this Act.

‘The local Sanggunian shall promulgate guidelines and procedures for the use
and operation of the evacuation centers under their jurisdiction. The guidelines shall
include provisions on the use of the evacuation center when it is not being utilized
as an evacuation center including its utilization as a classroom, livelihood center,
youth center,
or multi-purpose center to benefit the constituents of the LGU.


OOXINAKDARWNY

The Department of Education (DepEd) shall be in-charge with the
maintenance, repair and upgrading of the additional facilities of schools which will
be constructed in accordance with Section 6 of this Act.

SEC. 10. Appropriations. - The amount necessary for the implementation of
this Act shall be charged to the appropriations of the DPWH with respect to the
construction and maintenance of new evacuation centers. For this purpose, the
DPWH shall include in its programs and annual budget the maintenance of
evacuation centers constructed under this Act.

The amount necessary for the operation of the evacuation centers shall be
charged to the funds of the LDRRMC.

The construction and maintenance of additional facilities for schools already
used as evacuation centers shall be charged to the appropriations for the DepEd.
‘Thereafter, such amount needed by the concerned Department for the continued
implementation of this Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriations
Act.

SEC. 11. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Chairperson of the
NDRRMC, in close coordination with Administrator of the Office of Civil Defense
(OCD)/ NDRRMC Executive Director, and the member-Secretaries of the NDRRMC,
shall issue the necessary rules and regulations for the effective implementation of
this Act

SEC. 12. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part of this Act is declared
invalid or unconstitutional, the remaining parts or provisions not affected shall
remain in full force and effect.

SEC. 13. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations,
and other issuances inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed, amended or
modified accordingly.

SEC. 14. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation in the
Philippines.

Approved,