HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
7 RECEIVED

Republic of the Philippines pare: 0.1 AUG 2016
House of Representatives a

Quezon City Metro Manila time:_/2: 20
BY: Z
SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS.
First Regular Session REGISTRATION UNIT
House Bill 2l46 BILLS AND INDEX SERVICE

Introduced by REP. ENRICO A. PINEDA and REP. MICHAEL ODYLON L. ROMERO

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Traditionally, public schools are utilized as evacuation centers in times of disasters and other
emergencies.

Schools, however, are neither designed nor equipped to accommodate displaced individuals
and families. Additionally, schools may also be affected by the same calamities and disasters,
making their utilization unsafe or unhygienic.

The use of schools for disaster relief also creates another problem in the long run: the
education of Filipino students.

With families occupying classrooms, students are relegated to makeshift classrooms. This is
especially true in the case of Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan), where evacuees remained in schools for
months after the onslaught of the typhoon on November 2013

Such situations could adversely affect the psycho-social well-being and ultimately, the
academic performance of students.

To protect the people during times of disaster without sacrificing the education of the
Filipino students, this bill seeks to ensure that all of the 145 cities and 1,489 municipalities! in the
country have a dedicated, disaster-resilient multipurpose gymnasium constructed for such purpose.

This bill also provides for the formulation of a National Multi-Purpose Gymnasium
Construction Plan to lay out the parameters of the construction program, as well as to develop
prioritization measures for cities and municipalities located in disaster-prone areas.

The gym can be used for civic activities , community gatherings and sports events during
ordinary days but can be designated as the evacuation center when calamity strikes, making it truly
multimodal .

This structure can also house the disaster-response teams of a community; the warehouse of
prepositioned relief goods; and where rescue equipment can be stocked. It will serve as the nerve
center of disaster-related activities


Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City Metro Manila

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bitl_& 148

Introduced by REP. ENRICO A. PINEDA and REP. MICHAEL ODYLON L. ROMERO

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A MULTIPURPOSE GYMNASIUM IN
EVERY MUNICIPALITY AND CITY TO SERVE AS EVACUATION CENTER
DURINGTIMES OF CALAMITY OR DISASTER, APPROPRIATING FUNDS
THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

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

SECTION 1.Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "National Multipurpose Gymnasium
Act of 2017".

Sec. 2.Declaration of Policy. — It is hereby declared the policy of the State to promote the
general welfare of the people. Towards this end, and in cognizance of the vulnerability of the
Philippines to various meteorological, geophysical, hydrological and biological hazards, the State
shall provide for the construction of disaster-resilient multi-purpose gymnasium in all municipalities
and cities for the primary purpose of establishing an operations center for relief operations and
aiding displaced people in times of disasters,

Sec. 3.Construction of a Multipurpose Gymnasium. - The Department of Public Works and

Highways (DPWH) shall undertake the construction of disaster-resilient multi-purpose gymnasiums

in every municipality and city throughout the country, which shall serve as a civie center and as an
evacuation center for residents during calamities and disasters: Provided, That such construction
shall be based on a program prepared by the DPWH pursuant to Section 5 of this Act.

Sec. 4.Minimum Acceptable Gymnasium Specifications. The facilities shall, at the minimum,

possess the following specificatio

(a) The location of the gymnasium should be accessible to evacuees and disaster relief
personnel, and at a safe distance from critical areas or danger zones:

(b) The capacity of the multi-purpose gym should be enough to accommodate at least 3% of
the population of the particular municipality or city;

(©) The structure of the multipurpose gymnasium should be able to withstand wind speeds of
up to 220 kilometers per hour or earthquake magnitude of at least My 7.2:

(4) The amenities of the multipurpose gymnasium should include the following: (i) proper

ventilation; (ii) drainage and sewerage facilities; (iii) potable water and electrical facility; (iv)


With the magnitude and intensity of calamities suffered by the country, it is imperative that
measures be taken to ensure the welfare of the Filipino people, especially the poor and the
marginalized.

In light of the foregoing, the swift passage of this measure is earnestly sought.

a A. PINEDA

Representative, IPACMAN Partylist



widefloor area devoid of permanent fixtures; (v) shower and toilet facilities; (vi) confined area for
clinic facilities

Sec. 5.National Multipurpose Gymnasium Construction Plan, The construction of
multipurpose gym in every municipality and city shall be governed by a medium- to long-term
National Multipurpose Gymnasium Construction Plan. The construction plan shall include, but not

be limited to, the following:

(a) The identification of cities and areas with no ev tion facilities other than public

schools;

(b) The identification of cities and municipalities situated in disaster- or flood-prone areas;

(©) The minimum acceptable gymnasium specifications as provided for in Section 4 of this
Act;

(d) The timeline for the implementation of the National Multipurpose Gymnasium
Construction Plan.

Sec. 6.Construction Priorities. — In the construction of multi-purpose gymnasium, the
DPWH shall accord priority to third and sixth class municipalities especially those situated in
disaster-prone areas as identified by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council
(NDRRMC), the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), the Philippine Atmospheric
Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), and the Philippine Institute of
Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS).

Priority shall also be extended to cities and municipalities which can provide suitable
gymnasium construction sites and labor services for construction thereof.

Sec. 7.Operations and Management of the Multipurpose Gymnasium.—The operations and
management of the multi-purpose gymnasium shall be under the Office of the Municipal or City
Mayor.

Sec. 8.4ppropriations.— The amount necessary for the immediate implementation of the
provisions of this Act shall be charged against the current appropriations of the DPWH. Thereafter,
such sum as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act shall be included in the annual
General Appropriations Act.

Sec. 9.Jmplementing Rules and Regulations. Within sixty (60) days from the effectivity of
this Act, the DPWH shall, in coordination with the NDRRMC and the Department of Interior and
Local Government (DILG), promulgate the necessary rules and regulations to effectively implement
the provisions of this Act.

‘The LGU are hereby authorized to issue rules and regulations on the use of the facility and
the imposition of fees and charges as may be required for the maintenance and minor repairs of the
facility.

Sec. 10.Separability Clause. If for any reason, any provision of this Act is declared
unconstitutional or invalid, such parts or portions not affected thereby shall remain in full force and

effect.


Sec. 11 Repealing Clause. All laws, executive orders, presidential decrees, issuances, rules
and regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with the provision of this Act are hereby repealed or
modified accordingly.

Src. 12.Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following its publication in
at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation or in the Official Gazeute.