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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. _________ 
Introduced by Representative Richard I. Gomez 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Province of Leyte has experienced numerous natural disasters that affected thousands 
of people. On November 5, 1991, the second deadliest typhoon in the Philippines, Typhoon 
“Uring” (Thelma), triggered flash floods in the province, resulting in 4,000 deaths, 3,000 injured, 
and 2,500 reported missing. In recent history, one of the most destructive typhoons in the country, 
Super Typhoon “Yolanda” (Haiyan), ravaged Eastern Visayas, including the Province of Leyte, 
and claimed at least 6,201 lives. In 2021, amidst the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, 
the province was once again challenged as Typhoons “Odette” and “Agaton” which affected 
245,375 families or 984,922 individuals in the southern part of Leyte Island.  
In these disasters and calamities, it is often the people who are left with the burden of 
rebuilding their lives. Aside from the direct effects of the disasters, there are underlying 
consequences that further exacerbate the situations of the people. During disasters when people 
are just trying to survive, Filipinos are denied their basic rights to a habitable living space with 
privacy and dignity, whenever they need to evacuate. And because schools and learning centers 
are converted as makeshift emergency shelters, by default, our children’s right to education is also 
jeopardized in the process.  
Hence, there is a compelling need to address the quality and availability of evacuation 
centers, most especially in the Fourth District of Leyte. As a “center,” the proposed Life Centers 
under this measure shall not only provide temporary shelter to those affected by disasters and 
calamities, but also provide the basic needs of the displaced families, who may not be able to return 
to their homes for an extended period of time. This response shall assist and empower the residents 
of the Fourth District of Leyte in the process of restoring their lives back into full normalcy. Once 
established, these Life Centers could also alternatively serve as community centers to function as 
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multipurpose centers. These Life Centers shall become a symbol of hope to the people of the 
Fourth District of Leyte and the entire province.  
In view of the foregoing, the approval of this bill is earnestly sought. 
RICHARD I. GOMEZ, DPA 


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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. _________________ 
______________________________________________________________________________ 
Introduced by Representative Richard I. Gomez 
AN ACT ESTABLISHING  LIFE CENTERS SERVING AS  DISASTER EMERGENCY 
AND DISPLACEMENT CENTERS IN EACH OF THE CITY OF ORMOC AND THE 
MUNICIPALITIES OF PALOMPON, ALBUERA, MERIDA, ISABEL, KANANGA, AND 
MATAG-OB IN THE FOURTH DISTRICT, PROVINCE OF LEYTE AND 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR  
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Fourth District of Leyte Disaster 
Emergency and Displacement Centers Act.”  
SEC. 2. Establishment of the Fourth District of Leyte Integrated Disaster Emergency and 
Displacement Center. - There shall be established a set of centers that shall be known as the 
“Fourth District of Leyte Integrated Disaster Emergency and Displacement Centers,” hereinafter 
referred to as “Life Centers.” There shall be one (1) Life Center constructed in each of the City 
of Ormoc and the Municipalities of Palompon, Albuera, Merida, Isabel, Kananga, and Matag-
ob in the Province of Leyte.  
SEC. 3. Objectives, Functions and Features. -- The Life Centers shall serve as 
evacuation centers during disaster, calamities or emergencies, providing temporary shelter and 
other basic needs to persons evacuated and/or displaced by calamities, whether natural or man-
made. The Life Centers must have (but not limited to)  the following features and characteristics: 
A) Decent living quarters for evacuated and/or displaced families;
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B) Availability of clean toilets and bathrooms, with a ratio of one (1) facility for every 
twenty (20) evacuees; 
C) Food preparation area; 
D) Trauma and other medical and rehabilitation services to victims of calamities;  
E) Other necessary amenities required for displaced families that are unable to 
immediately return to their homes after disasters; and 
F) The Life Center building must be disaster resilient and complaint with the National  
Building Code of the Philippines. 
SEC 4. Construction of Life Centers. — The construction of Life Centers shall be 
undertaken by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) under the supervision 
of the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) of the Department of National Defense (DND). Once 
established, the local government unit (LGU) concerned shall undertake the operation and 
maintenance of the Life Centers.  
SEC. 5. Appropriations. — The amount necessary for the construction and establishment 
of the Life Centers shall initially be appropriated from the budget of the DPWH and shall 
thereafter be included in the annual General Appropriations Act, as part of the budget of the 
DPWH. The amount necessary for the maintenance and operation of Life Centers shall be 
appropriated from the budgets of concerned LGUs.  
SEC. 6. Separability Clause. — If any provision of this Act is held invalid or unconstitutional, 
the other provisions not so declared shall remain in force and in effect. 
SEC. 7. Repealing Clause. — Any other law, issuance or part thereof inconsistent with this 
Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.  
SEC. 8. Effectivity Clause. — This Act shall take fifteen (15) days after its publication in the 
Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general circulation.  
 
 
Approved,