Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

Eighteenth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. b178

Introduced by Hon. Janice Z. Salimbangon

AN ACT ESTABLISHING PERMANENT EVACUATION CENTERS IN
NORTHERN CEBU IN DAANBANTAYAN AND THE ISLANDS OF BANTAYAN,
MALAPASCUA, KINATARCAN, AND CARNAZA IN CEBU PROVINCE

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Itisa and irrefutable fact that the current global climate is changing. This change
also means the transformation of the typhoons that we are used to into stronger and deadlier
typhoons. It is only imperative that we adapt to these changes and take positive steps to at least
mitigate the damages of these destructive typhoons. Thus, this bill seeks to establish permanent
evacuation centers in the most vulnerable parts of Northern Cebu in Daanbantayan and
Bantayan.

In bfing paper entitled “Global Climate Risk Index 2020: Who Suffers Most from
Extreme W t Events?” published by a German think tank Germanwatch, it ranked the
Philippines as the second most affected country for 2020. While it ranked 4" as the most
affected country in a twenty-year period from 1999-2018. The German think-tank based its
study on we fy of extreme weather phenomena experienced by a country, death toll,
losses in ies, and losses per unit GDP.

ly, the Philippine Archipelago lies in the typhon belt, just astride the Pacific
‘Ocean, making the country vulnerable to tropical cyclones. In fact, these occurrences have

sity. Within the archipelago of the Philippines, most of the storms make their
e Eastern Visayas, Bicol and Ilocos Region, moving from east to the west.
is general trend of movement, the northern part of Cebu, which comprises the
abovementioned islands, is vulnerable to the typhoon every year.

killing almost 5,081 people. Next was Frank back in 2008, which grazed over the Northern
Cebu, that killed 1,371 people on multiple landfalls. Lastly, the most destructive and the
strongest ever recorded typhoon in the world, Yolanda or Haiyan. With its winds and gustiness
reaching up to 230 km/h, it made landfall on the islands of Daanbantayan and Bantayan, leaving
thousands dead and properties destroyed along its path. Just recently, the Northern Cebu and
the Central Visayas also experienced the wrath of Typhoon Ursula, leaving an estimated P1


billion infrastructure and agricultural damages. The typhoon also left hundreds of schoo!
buildings, dozens of public structures and more than 304,000 homes partially or totally

damaged.

‘Therefore, this measure aims to establish standard-based relief shelter sites that could
withstand powerful typhoons, such as typhoon Haiyan, in the most vulnerable municipalities
of Daanbantayan and Bantayan in the province of Cebu. This bill addresses the need to

prioritize the needs of the most vulnerable individual and groups by ensuring them of safe and
accessible relief shelters that are within their vicinity while waiting for the storm to pass.

Based on the foregoing, the approval of this bill is earnestly recommended.

Approved,

We

JANICE Z. SALIMBANGON
4 District, Cebu


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

Eighteenth Congress
First Regular Session

6170
HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Hon. Janice Z. Salimbangon

AN ACT ESTABLISHING PERMANENT EVACUATION CENTERS IN
NORTHERN CEBU IN DAANBANTAYAN AND THE ISLANDS OF BANTAYAN,
MALAPASCUA, KINATARCAN, AND CARNAZA IN CEBU PROVINCE

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

SECTION 1. Declaration of State Policy. — It is the 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. Thus, the state, in recognizing the Philippines as vulnerable to different
natural hazards and diseases that may affect the general welfare of the people, shall establish
and maintain fully-operational evacuation areas that will sustain the people’s humane
conditions in times of calamities.

SECTION 2. Establishment of Evacuation Centers. ~ There shall be established
evacuation centers in the northern Cebu, specifically in the municipalities of Daanbantayan and
all in the province of Cebu which shall provide immediate lodging for those who are in clear
and present danger brought by emergency events, such as severe weather disturbances, fire,
and illnesses.

(a .e segregation facility;

(@ a child friendly space and learning area;

«&) for people’s livestock, poultry and pets;

()) stockroom for relief goods;

(m) shelters as may be appropriate and necessary; and

(n) Other essential facilities as may be determined by the implementing agency


The ent of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) shall oversee formulating the
appropriate specifications for evacuation centers and to ensure compliance with these
specifications during the construction of evacuation centers. It shall consider all the necessary
information, such as the weather pattern affecting the area, the arrangement of natural and
physical properties of the area, alternative uses of space when it is not in use, in the construction
‘and design of the evacuation centers to ensure that they can withstand winds reaching up to
300 kph and earthquake with magnitudes reaching up to seven (7) and/or eight (8) in the
Richter scale and be reliable in ensuring the safety and human conditions of the victims of
natural disasters. The specifications shall be periodically reviewed and, if necessary, revised
by the DPWH every three years.

SECTION 3. Role of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council
(NDRRMC). — The National Disaster and Risk Reduction and Management Council
(NDRRMC) shall be the lead agency in implementing this Act.

It shall enter into Memoranda of Agreement (MOA) with the concerned local
government units (LGUs) of the Municipality of Daanbantayan and the Municipality of
Bantayan 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 evacuation centers.

chief executives concerned shall evaluate and provide suitable sites for
ters to determine their geographical suitability, geological stability, and public

times of disasters. They shall provide for the maintenance, operation, and
f the evacuation centers taking into consideration the goal of life preservation
1¢ basic subsistence needs of affected population based on acceptable standards
during or immediately after a disaster.

SECTION 4. Coordinating Among Agencies. ~ The NDRRMC shall coordinate with
the DPWH and the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) with regard the design
specifications, cost estimates and construction details of evacuation centers that will be
constructed under this Act.

Under this section, the local sanggunian shall also disseminate for the use and operation
of the evacuation centers under their jurisdiction. The information shall include, but not limited
to, the sot evacuation centers when it is not needed or in times of tranquility. Provided,

not hinder or delay the immediate usage of the evacuation centers

however, that the usage
in time of emergency crises.

SECTION 6. Implementing Rules and Regulations — The NDRRMC in consultation
with the DPWH, DOST, the local government units of Daanbantayan and Bantayan, other
concerned private agencies shall, within sixty (60) days from the effectivity of this Act, prepare
the implementing rules and regulation necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act.

SECTION 7. Appropriations. — The amount necessary for the implementation of this
Act shall be charged to the appropriations of the DPWH with respect to the construction and
maintenance of evacuation centers. For this purpose, the DPWH shall include in its program
and annual budget the maintenance of evacuation centers established under this Act.

The aout necessary for the operation of the evacuation centers shall be charged to
the funds of the LDRRMC.



Thereafter, such sum as may be needed by the concerned agencies for the continued
implementation of this Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

SECTION 8. Separability Clause. If any provision or part thereof, is held invalid or
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall remain
valid and subsisting.

SECTION 9. 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, modified or amended.

SECTION 10. Effectivity Clause. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,