Republi af the Philippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City, Metro Manila })
Nineteenth Congress
First Regular Session Wy

HOUSE BILLNO. 1714 “vp or
Introduced by Rep. Anthony R.T. Golez Jr. MD, MBAH

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Geographically, the Philippines belong to the so-called Pacific Ring of Fire. The
Pacitic Ring of Fire is an area in the world where earthquakes and volcanic activities
abound. The Philippines is also often-visited by typhoons and other weather
disturbances, as our country is positioned at the front of the Pacific Ocean, These facts
put the lives and proeprty of Filipinos at risk from destructive acts of nature. As such,
thore is a need for infrastructure that will protect our countrymen from great damage

This representation seeks to require the construction of strong evacuation
centers in all local government units. In this manner, Filipinos can have a safe haven
in times of extreme weather or other natural phenomena, including man-made
disasters, that can cause great damage and destruction to our countrymen

The Philippines should adopt a hard stance on the people's right to life and
property by also protecting Filipinos from calamities. The establishment of evacuation
centers at all levels of local government units will strenghthen the country’s
institutional capacity for disaster, risk, and resilience management even in the
grassroots level

As the old adage goes, “an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of eure.”

Approval of the bill herein is earnestly being sought

HON. ANTHONY R.T. JR. MD, MBAH
Malasakit at Bayanihan Party List



Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatiues
Quezon City, Metro Manila
Nineteenth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 1714

Introduced by Rep. Anthony R.T. Golez Jr. MD, MBAH

AN ACT ESTABLISHING A MANDATORY EVACUATION CENTERS
IN ALL CITIES, PROVINCES AND MUNICIPALITIES,
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

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

Section 1. Title of the Act. - This Act shall be known as the “Mandatory
Evacuation Center Act of 2022.”

Section 2. Declaration of Policy. ~ It is hereby deciared the policy of the State
to protect the people's right to life and property that is rooted and embedded in our
Constitution, and to promote their general welfare. It is for this reason that the
establishment of an evacuation center shall be undertaken in all cities, provinces, and
municipalities to address the vulnerability of the Philippines to the impacts of climate
change and other human-made disasters. This is also to strengthen the country’s
institutional capacity for building. the resilience of local communities to adhere and
adopt the universal standards of humanitarian assistance.

Section 3. Establishment/Construction of Evacuation Centers. ~ There shall be
an established evacuation center in every city, province and municipality throughout
the country which shall provide basic needs and assistance to all evacuees, and shal}
serve as their temporary sheller that will guarantee the safety and wellbeing of all who
have become victims of natural calamities or any other hazards/emergency events
such as, typhoons, floods, fire, storm surges, weather disturbances and outbreak of
illnesses/diseases that may cause imminent danger to their life and property

Section 4. Evacuation Center 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 trees, structures where
hazardous materials are used and/or stored, or high-voltage power
lines;

3) It must be near a health facility;

4) It must be located on geotechnical stable land to avoid risk of
landslides and/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.

B. Structural/Building Capacity ~ The evacuation centers shall be constructed
and designed to withstand super typhoons or wind speeds of at least three
hundred (300) kilometers per hour and seismic activity of at least 8.0
magnitude. Evacuation centers should be calamity-resilient, be built with
sturdy materials, and be built in accordance with the specifications of
Republic Act No. 6541, otherwise known as the “National Building Code of
the Philippines” and should 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 af evacuation centers and formulating the building specifications
therefor based on standards, issuances, and other guidelines set by the DPWH

The DPWH shall also ensure that the construction of such evacuation cente
in accordance with the abovementioned requirements during its construction phase.

sis

The specifications of the evacuation centers shall be periodically reviewed and,
if necessary, revised by the DPWH every three years.

‘The structural capacity should at least meet the following parameters
a. The structure must be elevated in such a manner that it will
withstand likely impact from a high tide storm surge level of at least

ten (10) meters;

b. 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

¢. The structure shall not be less than nine (9) meters in height and
designed in accordance with earthquake load standards

ation Center

C. Amenities and Accessibility of the Ev The evacuation centers
shail be well-ventilated and shall have the capacity to accommodate a large
number of evacuees. The centers shall have the following minimum
amenities:

1) Sleeping quarters for the evacuees;


2) Separate Shower and toilet facilities designated for males and
females, with a facility-to-user ratio of 1:20 persons;

3) Amenities to enable access thereto by and accommodation of the
disabled;

4) Provisions for emergency /exit doors;

5) Food preparation areas which are provided with adequate

ventilation;

Trash and waste segregation and collection areas;

Health care areas which shall include an isolation and/or quarantine

area for potentially infectious persons;

Rainwater harvesting and collection facilities; and

9) Other facilities prescribed in DSWD-DILG-DOH-DepED Joint
Memorandum Circular No. 1 Series of 2013, entitled “Guidelines on
Evacuation Center and Management.”

SS

Section 5. Operations and Management of the Evacuation Center, - The LGUs
concerned shail 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 the proper use and maintenance of the
evacuation centers.

The mandatory audit of infrastructures used as evacuation centers shall be
conducted by Provincial/City/ Municipal Engineer and/or the building official at
least once every year and immediately after the occurrence of a hazard or disaster
event.

Section 6. Role of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management
Council. — The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council
(NDRRMC), through the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), shall be the primary lead
agency which shall oversee the implementation of this act

Section 7. Appropriations. - The amount necessary to fund the construction
and maintenance of evacuation centers under this Act shall be sourced from a portion
of the general appropriations of the DPWH. Every year thereafter, the amounts
necessary for the construction and maintenance of evacuation centers shall be
included in the list of programs as part of annual budget in the General
Appropriations Act.

The appropriations necessary for the operation and management of the
evacuation centers shall be charged against the funds of the Local Disaster Risk
Reduction & Management Council (LDORRMC)

Section 8. Implementing Rules and Regulations, ~ Within ninety days (90) after
the effectivity of this Act, the Department of Local interior and Local Government
(DILG), DPWH, and OCD, in coordination with the appropriate government agencies
concerned, shall formulate the necessary rules and regulations necessary to carry out
the objectives of this Act.



Section 9. Separability Clause. ~ If any provision of this Act is held invalid or
unconstitutional, other provisions not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force
and effect.

Section 10. Repealing Clause. ~ All taws, decrees, executive orders, or parts
thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, amended, or
modified accordingly.

Section 11. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after
its complete publication in the Official Gazette or at least two (2) national newspapers
of general circulation.

Approved,