NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE
s. No. 193
Senate
•22 JUL-7 P4 55
RF-CEIVED BY:
Introduced by Senator Christopher Lawrence "Bong" T. Go
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING A MANDATORY EVACUATION CENTER IN ALL CITIES, 
PROVINCES AND MUNICIPALITIES, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Article II, Section 5 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution provides that "[t]he 
maintenance of peace and order, the protection of life, liberty, and property, and 
promotion of the general welfare are essential for the enjoyment by all the people of 
the blessings of democracy."
The Philippines is highly vulnerable to natural hazards, attributed primarily to 
the country's location. The country is positioned along the so-called "Pacific Ring of 
Fire," an area where earthquakes and volcanic activities are more frequent than in 
any other part of the world. Further, the country fronts the Pacific Ocean, exposing it 
to a high number of typhoons and related weather disturbances annually; with the 
onset of climate change, these extreme disturbances will only serve to drastically 
increase the severity of natural disasters.
We can no longer deny the plight of the Filipino people who live along coastal 
communities and many others who are prone to such dangers. It is incumbent upon 
us that we realize and sympathize with their pain and grief when their homes and 
livelihood get destroyed in the middle of an earthquake, or when they are caught in 
between the crossfire of an armed conflict, withered by the crushing winds of a super


typhoon, or when flames engulf their household turning their hopes and dreams into 
ashes.
When these disasters strike, the Filipinos, especially the underprivileged, suffer 
the most. In most instances, these disasters render their homes unlivable, leaving the 
victims without roofs over their heads and food on their plates.
We must take action before the onslaught of any disaster. Hence, it is high time 
that the State establish evacuation centers in all cities, provinces, and municipalities 
which will cater to the basic needs of the victims of these disasters and provide them 
temporary shelters that will guarantee their safety, promote their social wellbeing, and 
guard their welfare while they recover and rebuild their homes and their lives.
The construction and maintenance of evacuation centers in all localities shall 
be implemented by a coordinated Department of Public Works and Highways, the 
LGUs concerned, and other line agencies. This will strengthen preparation and improve 
response capacity for future disasters.
In view of the foregoing, the approval of this measure is earnestly sought.
SENATOR CHRISTOPHE
lWRENCE "BONG" T. GO


I'.c-a &tn.nre
0( tlic J&i'vrt-ir.D
NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE
s. No. 193
•22 JUL-7 P4 55
RECEIVED BY;
Introduced by Senator Christopher Lawrence "Bong" T. Go
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING A MANDATORY EVACUATION CENTER 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:
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Section 1. Title of the Act. - This Act shall be known as the "Mandatory
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Evacuation Center Act of 2022."
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Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State to
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protect the people's right to life and property that is rooted and embedded in our
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Constitution, and to promote their general welfare. It is for this reason that the
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establishment of an evacuation center shall be undertaken in all cities, provinces, and
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municipalities to address the vulnerability of the Philippines to the impacts of climate
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change and other human-made disasters. This is also to strengthen the country's
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institutional capacity for building the resilience of local communities to adhere and
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adopt the universal standards of humanitarian assistance.
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Sec. 3. Establishment/Construction of Evacuation Centers. - There shall be an
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established evacuation center in every city, province and municipality throughout the
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country which shall provide basic needs and assistance to all evacuees, and shall serve
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as their temporary shelter that will guarantee the safety and wellbeing of all who have


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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.
Sec. 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 LCDs 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.


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The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) shall be in charge of 
the construction of 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 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 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
c. The structure shall not be less than nine (9) meters in height and designed 
in accordance with earthquake load standards.
C. Amenities and Accessibiiity of the Evacuation Center - The evacuation 
centers shall 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;


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5) Food preparation areas which are provided with adequate ventilation;
6) Trash and waste segregation and collection areas;
7) Health care areas which shall include an isolation and/or quarantine area 
for potentially infectious persons;
8) 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."
Sec. 5. Operations and Management of the Evacuation Center. - 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 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.
Sec. 6. Roie of the Nationai Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Councii. 
-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.
Sec. 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.


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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 (LDRRMC).
Sec. 7. 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.
Sec. 8. 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.
Sec. 9. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, or parts thereof 
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, amended, or modified 
accordingly.
Sec. 10. 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,