Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ____ 
___________________________________________________________________ 
Introduced by Representative Michael Romero 
___________________________________________________________________ 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Not so long ago, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and 
Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) declared the start of 
the rainy season in June, we were now tested how prepared the 
country was for disasters – not that the pandemic wasn’t a disaster 
in itself. 
In the pre-SONA 2020 forum on July 21, we were tested with the 
preparedness measures being taken by the National Disaster Risk 
Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) and the Office of 
Civil Defense (OCD) for the rainy season, are we confident that the 
September 2, 2022
3:19 pm
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country does not need additional preparation because the 
government had developed infrastructure and capacities for the 
regional and provincial disaster management councils in the past 
several years. 
But, because we are frequently hit by typhoons, we need to take more 
necessary steps. Although, we already strengthened the capacities of 
provinces – the towns and the barangays, in fact – to address any 
adverse effect of the rainy season. 
However, there’s more that needs to be done especially now that the 
country is dealing with COVID-19. practical preparedness actions 
during the pandemic by consulting with local government units 
(LGUs), disaster risk reduction and management experts, and civil 
society. 
Despite having better climate science, LGUs still don’t have enough 
evacuation centers that adhere to the minimum design standards, we 
also struggled with implementing physical distancing. 
On top of this, there is still no comprehensive, up-to-date database 
of evacuation centers in the country, which could help in the pre-
disaster planning process. 
In the long-term, reality on the ground tells us that national agencies 
still need to strengthen support for local government units with low 


 
capacities, low-income class, especially those in multiple hazard 
areas to strengthen evacuation structures and systems.  
This House Bill seeks to establish a unified protocol, standard system 
to create Evacuation Centers in all cities and municipalities as 
needed.  
 
Thus, the early passage of this bill is earnestly requested.  
 
MICHAEL L. ROMERO Ph.D.    
 


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE Bill NO. ____ 
Introduced by Representative Michael Romero 
AN ACT 
PROVIDING FOR EVACUATION CENTERS IN EVERY CITY 
AND MUNICIPALITY, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled: 
SECTION1. DECLARATION OF POLICY — It shall hereby be a 
declared policy of the State to uphold the constitutional right of the 
people for the protection of their life and property and the promotion of 
the general welfare.  
Towards this end, the State, shall establish and maintain a fully-
equipped and fully-operational evacuation center, responsive to 
environmental or climatic events, 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. 
SECTION2. ESTABLISHMENT OF EVACUATION CENTERS — There 
shall be established an evacuation center in every city and municipality 
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in the country which shall provide immediate and temporary 
accommodation for people who have been evacuated or displaced from 
their homes due to 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 present imminent danger 
to life and property. 
 
Existing structures that would meet the minimum requirements or could 
be upgraded to effectively serve as evacuation centers could be designated 
as such in compliance with the local government unit concerned.  
 
SECTION3.  REQUIREMENTS. — The following shall be the minimum 
requirements for every evacuation center that will be established under this 
Act: 
 
a. Location Designation- Each location for every evacuation center 
shall be determined by the Department of Environment and Natural 
Resources (DENR), in close coordination with the LGUs concerned. 
 
The location shall be determined based on the following criteria: 
 
1. It must be centrally located in the community; 
2. It must be of a safe distance from large frees, structures where 
hazardous materials are used and stored, Of high-voltage 
power lines; 
3. It must be near a health facility; 
4. It must be located on geo-technically stable land to avoid risk 
of landslides or exposure to potential landslide of adjacent 
lands; 
5. It must not be located near military base camps, camps of 
insurgent groups, power plants, factories, and other areas 
where the occurrence of human-induced disasters are very 
high. 
 
Structural and Building Capacity— The evacuation centers shall be 
constructed and designed to withstand super typhoons or wind speeds 
of at least three hundred kilometers per hour (300 kph) and seismic 
activity of at least 8.0 magnitude. The structure must be calamity 
resilient, built with sturdy materials, and in accordance with the 


 
specifications of Republic Act No. 6541, otherwise known as the 
'National Building Code of the Philippines" or shall be at par with the 
standards set by the International Building Code. 
 
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) shall be in 
charge of the construction of evacuation centers, including the 
formulation of building specifications and shall ensure that the same are 
based on standards, issuances, and other guidelines set by the DPWH, 
and are compliant with the provisions of the National Building Code. The 
DPWH shall also ensure that the construction of such evacuation 
centers is in accordance with the abovementioned requirements during 
its construction phase. 
 
The specifications of the evacuation centers shall be periodically reviewed and, if 
necessary, revised by the DPWH every three (3) years. 
 
The evacuation center must at least meet the following parameters: 
 
1. The structure must be elevated, in such a manner that 
is safely above the reach of a high tide storm surge level of 
at least ten (10) meters; 
2. The structure must be a minimum of one (1) meter above 
the average flood level in the area where the same shall be 
built; and 
3. The structure shall not be less than nine (9) meters in 
height and shall be designed in accordance with 
earthquake load standards. 
 
b. Amenities and Accessibility. — The evacuation centers shall be 
well-ventilated and shall have the capacity to accommodate a large 
number of evacuees. The evacuation center shall have the following 
minimum amenities: 
 
1. Sleeping quarters for the evacuees; 
2. Separate shower and toilet facilities designated for 
males and females, with one (1) facility for every twenty 
(20) persons; 
3. Amenities to enable access thereto by persons with 
disabilities; 
4. Emergency exit doors; 
5. Food preparation areas with adequate ventilation; 


 
6. Trash and waste segregation and collection areas; 
7. Health care areas which shall include an isolation or 
quarantine area for potentially infectious persons; 
8. Rainwater harvesting and collection facilities; and 
9. Other facilities as may be prescribed by the appropriate 
authorities. 
 
SECTION4. OPERATION AND MANAGEMENT. - The LGUs concerned shall be 
primarily responsible for the operation, supervision, and management of evacuation 
centers established under this Act. They are also hereby authorized to issue rules 
and regulations on their proper use and maintenance. 
 
The local sanggunian shall promulgate guidelines and procedures for the use and 
operation of the evacuation center under its jurisdiction. The guidelines shall 
prescribe rules on the utilization of the evacuation center when it is not used as 
such: Provided, That the evacuation center may only be used for such other or 
purposes that involve the use of collapsible amenities only and those that shall not 
in any way compromise the serviceability of the evacuation center or Impede the use 
thereof when a disaster occurs: 
 
Provided further, That the LGU shall impose such penalties as may be deemed 
proper on the organizers of authorized activities when the evacuation center suffers 
any damage, defacement, or loss during or as a result of such activities. 
 
The mandatory audit of infrastructures used as evacuation centers shall be 
conducted by the City or Municipality at least once every year and immediately 
after the occurrence of a hazard or disaster. 
 
SECTION5.  ROLE OF THE NATIONAL DISASTER RISK REDUCTION AND 
MANAGEMENT COUNCIL (NDRRMC). - The National Disaster Risk Reduction and 
Management Council (NDRRMC) shall be the lead implementing agency of this Act. 
It shall give utmost priority to those areas of the country that (a) are identified as 
disaster prone; (b) are financially incapable to establish their own evacuation 
centers; and (c) do not have existing evacuation centers of their own. 
 
It shall enter into memoranda of agreement (MOA) with the concerned LGUs for the 
maintenance, operation, and management of a permanent evacuation center in their 
respective areas of jurisdiction.  
 


 
It shall provide technical assistance and support services to these LGUs in the 
management of the facility. 
 
Local chief executives concerned shall evaluate and provide suitable sites for 
evacuation centers to determine their geographical stability, and public accessibility 
in times of disasters. They shall provide for the maintenance, operation, and 
management of the facility taking into consideration the goal of life preservation and 
meeting the basic subsistence needs of affected population based on acceptable 
standards during or immediately after a disaster. 
 
SECTION 6. 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 the 
evacuation centers that will be constructed pursuant to this Act. 
 
Concerned government agencies and instrumentalities, when necessary, shall 
provide assistance to the NDRRMC to ensure the effective and efficient 
implementation of this Act. 
 
SECTION 7. IMPLEMENTING RULES AND REGULATIONS. — Within sixty (60) 
days from the effectivity of this Act, the NDRRMC shall, in consultation with the 
DPWH, DOST, League of Cities of the Philippines, League of Municipalities of the 
Philippines, and other concerned government and private agencies, promulgate the 
necessary rules and regulations to carry out the provisions of this Act. 
 
SECTION 
8. 
APPROPRIATIONS. The amount necessary for the initial 
implementation to fund the construction and maintenance of multi-purpose gyms 
to serve as evacuation centers shall be charged against the budget provided for this 
purpose under the DPWH. Thereafter, such amounts necessary for the construction 
of multipurpose gyms as evacuation centers shall be included in the annual General 
Appropriations Act. The LGU concerned shall provide the continued maintenance, 
operation and management of the facility. 
 
SECTION 9. SEPARABILITY CLAUSE. If any provision or part thereof, is held 
invalid or unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provisions not otherwise 
affected shall remain valid and subsisting. 
 


 
SECTION 10. REPEALING CLAUSE — Any law, presidential decree or issuance, 
executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation 
contrary to, or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed or 
amended accordingly. 
 
SECTION 11. EFFECTIVITY — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation 
 
Approved,