HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Republic of the Philippines RECEIVED

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES = pare, 05 .
Quezon City, Metro Manila ies

TIME:

Seventeenth Congress BY.

First Regular Session

454

REGISTRATION UNTT

HOUSE BILL NO. BILLS AND INDEX SERVICE

Introduced by Honorable Lucy Marie Torres-Gomez

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Within our lifetime, we have witnessed the Province of Leyte
becoming the site of the worst disasters ever to afflict our country.

On November 8, 2013, the strongest tropical cyclone to have made
landfall in history rampaged through the province. Super Typhoon
“Yolanda” (“Haiyan”) battered the province resulting in the loss of
thousands of lives and enormous destruction to properties.

Just twenty-two (22) years earlier, on November 5, 1991, the worst
flashflood to have swept the country, triggered by Typhoon “Oreng”
(“Thelma”), roared down the hills of Ormoc City and inundated the
Ormoce River. Within an hour or so, 8,000 people perished and properties
worth millions of pesos were destroyed.

Parenthetically, we could also mention in this connection the
sinking of M/V Dofia Paz on December 20, 1987, said to be the worst
peacetime maritime disaster in the world (surpassing in terms of
casualties the infamous Titanic disaster). Although the actual sinking of
the ship happened off Dumali Point in Mindoro, M/V Dofia Paz was en
route from Tacloban City to Manila. Similarly, Dofia Paz’s sister ship, the
M/V Dofia Marilyn, sank the following year (October 24, 1988) while
sailing from Manila to Tacloban leaving 389 dead.

The frequency and intensity of disasters, both natural and man-
made, devastating the Province of Leyte prompted the filing of this bill.
In terms of disaster preparedness and mitigation, there is a compelling
need to address the incalculable damage wrought by calamities to the
province. Every time a calamity strikes, the education of our youth
becomes “collateral damage”, so to speak, since schools almost always


serve as evacuation centers. The lack of disaster and emergency centers
(which ought to be disaster-resilient themselves) compromise not only the
welfare of the typhoon victims but also the continued schooling of our
children.

As a “center”, the proposed Life Centers under this measure shall
not only provide refuge or temporary shelter to the calamity victims but
shall represent an integrated response to the basic needs of the displaced
citizenry towards restoration of full normalcy in their lives.

In view of all the foregoing considerations, the early approval of
this bill is earnestly requested. if

/

LUCY, sath omen

Represtntative
Fourth District of Leyte


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

Seventeenth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 454

Introduced by Honorable Lucy Marie Torres-Gomez

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING A LIFE CENTER THAT WILL SERVE AS A
DISASTER AND EMERGENCY CENTER IN EACH OF THE
CITY OF ORMOC AND THE MUNICIPALITIES OF
PALOMPON, ALBUERA, MERIDA, KANANGA AND MATAG-
OB IN THE PROVINCE OF LEYTE AND APPROPRIATING
FUNDS THEREFOR

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

SECTION 1. There’ shall be established a Life Center that will
serve as a disaster and emergency center in each of the City of Ormoc and
the municipalities of Palompon, Albuera, Merida, Kananga and Matag-ob
in the Province of Leyte.

SEC. 2. The construction of such Life Centers shall be undertaken
by the Office of Civil Defense of the Department of National Defense.

Once established, the local government unit concerned shall undertake

the operation and maintenance of the Life Centers

SEC. 3. The Life Centers shall serve as evacuation centers during
calamities or emergencies, providing temporary shelter and other basic

necessities to persons displaced by calamities, whether natural or man-

TAY


made. Whenever possible, they shall also provide trauma, other medical

and rehabilitation services to victims of calamities.

SEC. 4. The amount necessary for the establishment, maintenance
and operation of the Life Centers shall be appropriated from the national
budget and shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act as

part of the budget of the Department of National Defense.
SEC. 5. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication either in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of

general circulation

Approved,