NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
First Reguiar Session

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

2826

House Bill No.

Introduced by Representative Ralph G. Recto

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A MULTIPURPOSE GYM IN ALL
MUNICIPALITIES AND CITIES TO SERVE AS EVACUATION CENTER DURING
TIMES OF CALAMITY OR DISASTER AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS
THEREFOR

Explanatory Note

Schoois have traditionally been utilized as default evecuation centers in times

of calamities, . Schools h ot weil

sters, conflicts, and emer

equipped to accummodate evacuees since these lack the necessary facilities for
displaced families.
The use of schools as evacuation centers for displaced famikes also gives rise

to another group of displaced individuals: the students. The education of children is

severely affectad when families cannot immediately vacate school premses because

their houses have not yet been repaired or reconstructed. Tt ates students to

makeshift classrooms that may not be conducive te fearing. Morea

5 cost cant

tal

way from the meager budget what could be better ublized for more permanent
solutions to problems brought about by disasters.

The construction of muttigun yms in the country’s 1,488 municipalities

and 19G citias! nationwide will be 2 permanent recourse for evacuation in times of

calamities and natura! orm de di

tors, The gym must be able to vuthstan¢

typhoons, earthquakes and other disasters. It must be designed to have space that

can be used flexibly for social activities, sporting events, and as sleeping quarters

heat

1


must ie well-ventilated, able to

dunng the evacuatien. The multipurpose 9)

accommodate large groups of people, and must have ample bathing anc sanitation

facilites. When not in use 35 3 center, the muihpurpose gyn, which should be

12 tocation wt nel can easily access, can be

ore people and emergency rescue persu

3 storehouse for disaster rescue eguipm

With the reality af stronger ryphe bout by climate change and the

geographicat locaton of the country making & the eight most disaster-prone

country!, s22king temporary solutions to the displacement of families by using 3c

as evacuation centers must bé stopped. There should pe no tradeoff between

ves and the education of

A better and more permanent facility

protecting

must be made avatiable to people in times of emergencies.

ai of this,

the light of the foregeing, the appr

fy sought

F tuoreRiskReoor 202: of The
Remned Corfher (PRIy 1" Ruby

 Fonkitate fa Internati su

sche celwabrvekebonent



NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
First Regular Session )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

2826

House Bill No.

Introduced by Representative Ralph G. Recto

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A MULTIPURPOSE GYM IN ALL
MUNICIPALITIES AND CITIES TO SERVE AS EVACUATION CENTER DURING
TIMES OF CALAMITY OR DISASTER AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS
THEREFOR

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines 1

Section 1 own as the “Multipurpose Gym in

unicipaiities anc C

policy of the State to protect the

ards this

pie

disasters, shat p! 2 muultspurp:

municwpaity end city 10 ser 1 displaced

caiamities and disasters.

issn The Department of Public

hail undertake the constructian of a multipurpose gym

Works and +

civic center

ut the cour neue a

in every municipality 2

and as an evacuation center for r s during calamities

disasters: Prowded,

Fs bas dination

That any such cons

ner, That

tive of the mumeipality

with & represen

the mun:cipat


ernment Units (LGUs) may include in their respective local infrastructure progran)

Go

the construction of a multipurpose gym.
See. 4. Construction Prority. ~ The DPWH shall give construction priority to

yeas, The

located in disaster-pror

third to sixth class municipalities, especially these
DPWH shall coordinate with the Natronal Disester Risk Reduction and Management

and the LGUs concerned td

isaste

rmie vihicl prone areas te proritize

Counc:

in the construction of the facilt

YY.

Priprity shall also be gis volunteer labor

to municipalities.

services for the construction thereof and for this purpose, the DPWH shall issue the

necessary guidelines

Sec. 5, Multipuipose Gynt Requirements. ~The following shall be the minimum

requirements for every Multpurpose Gym that vall be established under this Act

a. Location ~ Each location for every evacuation center shall be determuned by
the Department of Environment and Naturat Resources (DENR), in close coordination

wath the LGUs conce

ned.

The location shall be determined ba

Jed on the following criteria:
1. It must be centrally tocated in the community;

2, it must be at @ safe distance from large trees, structures where

hazardous materials are used and stored, or high-voltage power lines:

3. It must be near a heaith facility;
4. Tt must be lucated on a geotechnically stable land to avoid risk oF
landsides or exposure to potentiat landslide of adjacent lands; and

5. [i must not be located near military base camps, camps of insurgent

groups, nower plants, factories, and other are fe the occurrence

‘of human-induced disasters are very high
b. Structural and Building Capacity - The muitrpurpose gyms shall be
s and wind speeds of at least

« to withstand super t

cructed and desig)

300 kilometers per hour (300 kph) and seismic activity ef at least 8.6 magnitude. The

structure must be celamity-resitent, built vith sturdy materials, and in accordance

with the specifications of Repulic Act No, A541, otherwise known as the “National



Building Code of the Philippines” or shall be at par with fards set hy the

International Building Code.

The DPWH shall be in charge of the constr

ian of mullipurpase gyms,

including the formulation of building specifications and shall ensure that the same are

based on standards, issuances. and other guidelines set by the GPWH, and are

compliant with the provisions of the National Building Code. The DPWH shall atso

re that the construction of suci multipurpose gyms 1s in accordance with the

abovementioned requirements during its construction phase.
The specifications of the multipurpose gyms shall be periodically reviewed and,
f necessary, revised by the DPWH every three (3) years.

The multipurpose aym must at least meet the follovang parameters:

2. The struct be elevated, in such a mannor that is safely above

the reach of high tide storm surge level of at least ten (10) met

2. The st one (4) meter abor

a minimum e averagy

ne same shall be built; and

nod level ini the area wher
3. The structure shall not be less than ning (9) meters in height and shall

sndards.

be designed in accordance ‘sith earthquake load

c. Amenities and Accessiblity - The muttipurpese gym must be well-ventilated

‘and shall have the capacity to accommodate large numbers of evacuees. The

multipurpose gyms shall have the folowing minimum amemties:
1. Floor area devoid of permanent fixtures to be used flexibly for

assemblies, sports events, and as sleeping quarters for @ 8;

2. Separate shower and toilet facitities designated for males and females,

with one (1) facility for every twenty (20) persons;

3. Amenities to enable acezss thereto by persans with disabilities;

Emergency ent dnors

4
5. Food preparation areas with adequate ventilation;

a

Trash and wa:

Hy Breas,

|. Isolated area that can be used as a clinic or isolation zone for

potentially infectious pietsons;

8, Rainwater harvesting and collection faciitres; and



wo

ua

12

9. Other factlities as may be prescribed by the appropriate authorities.
Sec. 6. Operston and Management of the Multipurpose Gym. ~ The LGUs
concerned shall be primarily responsible fer the operation, supervision, and

management of multipurpo: ms established under this Act. They are also hereby

authorized to issue rules and regulations on their proper use and maintenance.

The focal sanggunian shall promulgate guidelines and procedures for thi: use
and operation of the evacuation center under its jurisdiction, The guidelines shail

prescribe rules en the utilization ef the evacuation center when iL 1s not used as such

Provided. That the evacuation center may only be used for such other activities or
purposes that involve the use of collapsible amenities and those that shall not in any

way compromise the serviceability of the evacuation center or impede the use thereof

when a disaster occurs: Provided further, That the LGU shall impose such penalties as
may be deemed proper on the organizers of authorized activities when the
multipurpdse qyms suffer any damage, defacement, or toss during or as a result of
such activities.

The mandatory audit of infrastructures used as evacuation centers shall be

conducted by the City or Municipality at lea every year and immediately after
the occurrence of a hazard or disaster
Sec. 7. Appropriations. - 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 Apprapriations Act.
The LGUs are authorized to utilize locel funds as may be provided in theit
respective appropriation ordinances for the implementation of this Act
and Reguiations. - Within thirty (30) days from the:

Sec. 8, Implementing Rul
effectivity of this Act, the DPWH shail promulgate the rules and regulations for the
effective implementation of the provisions of this Act. The implementing rules and

its,

regulations issued pursuant to this Act shall lake effect thirty (30) days aft

pubiication in two (2) national newspapers of general circulation:


Sec. 9. ity Clause - In the event that eny provision of this Act is

declared unconstitutional or invalid, the vahdity of the other provisions shali not be

‘epar:

affected by such declaration.

Sec, 10. Repealing Clause ~All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations, or

portions thereof, inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified
accordingly.

chai! take effect tiftean (15) days following its

Set. i. Eifecti
publication in at least ive (2} newspapers of general circulatian or in the Official
Gazette.

Approved,