SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
) 
) 
) 
SENATE 
S.B.No.~57 
~!?mttf 
iflfh;c vI 14a,jI.,. .. blo\l 
"13 
JUL -3 P12:52 
·(E 
,',Y: ~.[ 
Introduced by Senator LOREN LEGARDA 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Philippines, located in the Pacific Ring of Fire, is at constant risk of 
earthquakes apart from other disasters. Schools and health facilities, aside from 
being shelter for the vulnerable- children, sick and elderly, are critical public 
infrastructures, especially in times of disaster when victims need emergency refuge, 
services and medical care. Therefore, schools and hospitals should be disaster-
resilient. 
This bill seeks to enhance our resiliency to disasters by preparing the 
citizenry, particularly school children and the occupants of health-care institutions, 
their administrators, operators, and personnel on the proper response and actions to 
take in cases of fires, earthquakes, and other hazardous phenomena .. 
In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
---
o 
DA 
Senator 


SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
) 
) 
) 
SENATE 
S.B.No. 357 
§l.!'Itttll' 
{1-;}ff\;r tlf t!jl;' _~,-ttf"v_h'r~ 
"13 
.JllL -3 Pl2:52 
Introduced by Senator LOREN LEGARDA 
AN ACT 
MANDATING THE CONDUCT OF FIRE, EARTHQUAKE, AND OTHER 
HAZARDOUS PHENOMENA DRILLS IN EDUCATIONAL BUILDINGS AND 
ESTABLISHMENTS, SCHOOL BUSES, AND HEALTH-CARE INSTITUTIONS 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
1 
Section 1. Title. This Act shall be known as the "Preparedness in BUildings 
2 
during Fire, Earthquake and other Hazardous Phenomena Act." 
3 
4 
Section 2. Statement of Policy. It is hereby declared the policy of the State to 
5 
train its people in the quick and proper response to times of fires, earthquakes, and 
6 
other hazardous phenomena so as to reduce the risks on their lives, limb, and 
7 
properties. 
8 
9 
Section 3. Drills in Educational Establishments and Buildings. 
10 
11 
a. Fire and earthquake drills shall be held at least once a month in educational 
12 
establishments where such establisl:unents constitute the major function of a 
13 
building. Thus, there shall be at least 10 drills in each school year. 
14 
b. The drills shall include practice and instruction concerning the location, use 
15 
and operation of emergency exits, fire escapes, doors and fire extinguishers 
16 
and other facilities provided for such purpose in buildings as well as the 
17 
proper evacuation of buildings by persons in the event of fires, earthquakes 
18 
and other hazardous phenomena. 
19 
c. Fire and earthquake drills shall include complete evacuation of all persons 
20 
from the building, if necessary. Teachers and personnel shall be trained in 
21 
assisting students in the evacuation of a building in times of fire, earthquakes, 
22 
and other hazardous phenomena. 
1 


1 
d. A record of all fire and earthquake drills shall be kept, and persons in charge 
2 
of buildings/establishments shall file quarterly written reports with the 
3 
respective Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council 
4 
(RDRRMC) of each region, giving the time and date of each drill held. 
5 
6 
Section 4. Drills on School Buses. 
7 
8 
a. All schools using or contracting school buses and other vehicles for 
9 
transporting school children shall conduct at least two emergency evacuation 
10 
drills on school buses and other vehicles during each school year. The first 
11 
emergency evacuation drill shall be conducted during the first quarter of the 
12 
school year and the second during the third quarter. 
13 
b. Each drill shall include practice and instruction concerning the proper 
14 
evacuation of buses in cases of fires, earthquakes, and other hazardous 
15 
phenomena. 
16 
c. Bus operators and drivers shall be trained and instructed by the Regional 
17 
Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) with proper 
18 
training and instructions to enable them to carry out the provisions of this 
19 
Act. 
'20 
d. The school principal or bus operator/ owner shall certify in writing to the 
21 
RDRRMC that the drills reqUired herein have been conducted. 
22 
e. Operators and drivers of public utility vehicles such as jeepneys and buses 
23 
shall likewise be prOVided with proper training and instructions to enable 
24 
them to carry out the provisions of this Act. 
25 
26 
Section 5. Drills in Health-Care Institutions. 
27 
28 
a. Administrators of hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, orphanages and other 
29 
buildings or structures used for the care of or occupied by the sick, infirm, or 
30 
disabled shall be required to conduct safety drills on a monthly basis. Hence, 
31 
there shall be at least twelve (12) drills in health-care institutions 'in a year. 
32 
b. Said drills shall be conducted with the administration and personnel of the 
33 
hospital, nursing home, or other building or structure used for the care of or 
34 
occupied by the sick, infirm, or disabled persons. 
2 


1 
c. 
A record of all fire and earthquake drills shall be kept, and persons in charge 
2 
of buildings/ establishments shall file quarterly written reports with the 
3 
RDRRMC giving the time and date of each drill held. 
4 
5 
Section 6. Implementing Agency. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and 
6 
Management Council (NDRRMC) and its regional and local offices shall oversee the 
7 
implementation of this Act in each locality and shall keep a record of the reports 
8 
submitted by educational building, health-care institution administrators and school 
9 
bus operators and drivers. 
10 
11 
Section 7. Penalties. Building administrators or any person in charge of the 
12 
administration or management of educational establishments/buildings, health-care 
13 
institutions, and school bus operators and drivers who refuses or fails to carry out 
14 
the provisions of this Act shall be given a warning for the first offense; a fine of One 
15 
Thousand Pesos (Pl,OOO.OO) for the second offense; a fine of Five Thousand Pesos 
16 
(P5,OOO.OO) for the third offense; and imprisonment of one (1) month and a fine of 
17 
Ten Thousand Pesos (PI0,OOO.OO) for subsequent offenses. The fines shall go to the 
18 
funds of the local NDRRMC office and shall be used for disaster prevention and 
19 
mitigation programs of the locality. 
20 
21 
Section 8. Repealing Clause. All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and 
22 
regulations or parts thereof, inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby 
23 
repealed or modified accordingly. 
24 
25 
Section 9. Separability Clause. If any provision of this Act shall be declared 
26 
unconstitutional or invalid, other provisions hereof not affected thereby shall 
27 
continue in full force and effect. 
28 
Section 10. EffectiVity. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
29 
publication in two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
30 
31 
Approved, 
3