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SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
"14 
IiAY -7 Pl :29 
• 
SENATE 
___________ 
S_,B_'_N_o,_2_2_1_5 _______ 
'_U_,>_!_':I_'_T1' h <, y 
Introduced by: Senator Paolo Benigno '~Bam" A. Aquino IV 
AN ACT PROVIDING EMERGENCY WAREHOUSES IN AREAS DEVASTATED BY CALAMITIES 
TO ENSURE AFFECTED CONSUMERS ACCESS TO BASIC NECESSITIES AND PRIME COMMODITIES 
AT DISCOUNTED AND TAX FREE PRICES 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
In the past few years, the country has been battered by more than twenty typhoons a 
year, with an increasing number in the super-typhoon category, 
As super-typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) hit Eastern Visayas, particularly Leyte, last year, 
Filipinos who were seriously affected needed to contend with an insurmountable shortage of 
food, clean water, medicine and first aid, and clothing to weather the storm. Supplies weren't 
able to reach the survivors immediately due to wrecked ports, airports and roads. 
Thus, it is important that every community in the country be equipped and prepared for 
disasters, and make relief and basic goods as accessible as possible. The first few days after 
storms or earthquakes hit are crucial in mitigating further tragedies to individuals and families. 
Hence, the establishment of community disaster warehouses aims to extend assistance 
to survivors of calarnities, natural or man-made, by ensuring access to basic goods and prime 
commodities. 
It intends for goods sold in these warehouses to be tax-exempt, and ensure that goods 
in the market would be available to avoid hoarding in affected areas. Furthermore, it seeks to 
protect citizens from price manipulation during times of crisis. 
This intervention is important for the days and weeks right after the calamity to enable 
people and communities to start rebuildi,ng and normalizing their lives. 
Equipping communities with proper mechanism to assist its people during adversity is 
empowering and inclusive towards a nation that works for all. 
In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly sought, 
::tI</J/V>.. tLt- {pt' r'/J 
Sena,or ~~:~i~n~ "Ba~" A. Aquino IV 
• 


SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
'14 
~AY -7 Pl :29 
SENATE 
. 
S.B. No. 2215 
Introduced by: Senator Paolo Benigno "Bam" A. Aquino IV 
AN ACT PROVIDING EMERGENCY WAREHOUSES IN AREAS DEVASTATED BY CALAMITIES 
TO ENSURE AFFECTED CONSUMERS ACCESS TO BASIC NECESSITIES AND PRIME COMMODITIES 
AT DISCOUNT,ED AND TAX FREE PRICES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
1 
SECTION 1. Short Title. -
This Act shall be known as the "Community Disaster 
2 
Warehouse Bill." 
3 
SECTION 2. Dec/aration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State to 
4 
extend assistance to the victims of calamities and· ensure their access to basic goods during 
5 
calamities or other emergency situations. Towards this end, the government shall establish 
6 
emergency warehouses in calamity areas wherein basic necessities and prime commodities will 
7 
be made available for sale to the victims at discounted and tax free prices as a priority initiative 
8 
to provide immediate support to the affected communities. 
9 
SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. -
10 
a. 
"Emergency Warehouse" refers to any structure or vehicle with protected 
11 
enclosures for storage of large volume of goods and stocks and at the same time 
12 
serves as an outlet for selling such goods and stocks. 
13 
b. "Basic necessities" refer to goods vital to the needs of consumers for their 
14 
sustenance and existence in times of calamities or other emergency situations, 
15 
such as but not limited to, rice, corn, root crops, bread; fresh, dried or ·canned 
16 
fish and other marine products; fresh. pork, beef and poultry meat; fresh eggs; 
17 
potable water in bottles and containers; fresh and processed milk; fresh 
18 
vegetables and fruits; locally manufactures instant noodles; coffee; sugar; 
19 
cooking oil; salt; laundry soap and detergents; firewood; charcoal; candles; 
20 
household liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and drugs classified as essential by the 
21 
Department of Health (DOH); and such other goods as may be included under 
22 
Section 4 of Republic Act No. 10623, otherwise known as An Act Amending 
23 
Certain Provisions of Republic Act No. 7581 entitred "An Act Providing ProteCtion" 
24 
to Consumers by Stabilizing the Prices of Basic Necessities and Prime 
25 
Commodities and by Prescribing Measures against Undue Price Increases during 
26 
Emergency Situations and like occasions and for other purposes"; 
27 
c. 
"Prime commodities" refer to goods not considered as basic necessities but are 
28 
essential to consumers in times of calamities or other emergency situations, such 
2 
• 
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• 
1 
plywood; plyboard; construction nails; batteries; electrical supplies; light bulbs; 
2 
steel wire; and all drugs not classified as essential drugs by the DOH and such 
3 
other goods as may be included under Section 4 of Republic Act No. 10623. 
4 
SECTION 4. Emergency Warehouses. - In the event of calamities and disasters, the 
5 
Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) shall immediately set-up and deploy emergency 
6 
warehouses in calamity areas to sell basic necessities and prime commodities to affected 
7 
consumers at discounted and tax free prices. Affected consumers may avail of the discounted 
8 
and tax free prices subject to the limitations and conditions to be prescribed by the DTI. 
9 
SECTION 4. Duration. - The Department of Trade and Industry shall, in consultation with 
10 
the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council '(NDRRMCl, determine the 
11 
period of deployment of the emergency warehouse in a particular calamity area. 
12 
SECTION 5. Tax Exemption. - All goods to be sold in emergency warehouses shall be 
13 
exempt from the imposition of value-added tax and other sales tax. 
14 
SECTION 6. Implementing Rules and Regulations. -
Within ninety (90) days from the 
15 
effectively of this Act, the Secretary of Trade and Industry shall, in coordination with the 
16 
Secretary of Finance, promulgate the necessary rules and regulations for the effective 
17 
implementation of this Act. 
18 
SECTION 7. Appropriations. -
The amount necessary for the effective implementation 
19 
of this Act shall be charged against the current appropriations for the Department of Trade and 
20 
Industry. Thereafter, such sum as may be necessary for its continued implementation shall be 
21 
included in the annua'l General Appropriations Act. 
22 
SECTION 8. Repealing Clause. -
All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulation or parts 
23 
thereof inconsistent with any provision ofthis Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.' 
24 
SECTION 9. Effectivity. -
This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication 
25 
in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
26 
Approved, 
• 
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