Republic of the Philippines
House Or REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

Sixteenth Congress
Second Regular Session

: BILLNO. 5150_

HOU:

Introduced by Honorable Evelina G. Escudero

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to provide for the construction of a multi-purpose building
in a strategic area in every barangay to serve as the evacuation center during a
calamity or disaster.

The Philippines is situated along the Pacific Ring of Fire where two
major tectonic plates meet. The Pacific Ring of Fire is an are of intense seismic
and volcanic activity stretching from New Zealand, along the eastern edge of
Asia, across the Aleutian Islands of Alaska and along the coast of North and
South America. This is why our country is vulnerable to disasters such as
typhoons, earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions and other natural calamities
that cause havoc to our lives and properties.

During a state of calamity, evacuation is one of the pre-disaster responses
that assure the safety and security of our people. Usually, schools, covered
courts and even churches are used as evacuation centers. The congestion in
these evacuation centers put at risk our children, pregnant women, senior
citizens and the disabled who are most vulnerable in times of disaster.
Moreover, these evacuation centers may even be located in unsafe areas or are
not structurally designed to withstand typhoons and strong earthquakes or their
aftershocks.

With this proposed bill, each barangay will have a multi-purpose building
that will be used as the evacuation center in times of calamity or disaster.
Barangays that are within disaster prone areas shall be given highest priority in
the construction of the multi-purpose building. The building may also be used
for other public purposes during ordinary times. The barangay council will issue
rules and regulations for the use of the multi-purpose building

Bill Drafting Service


With disasters now being a permanent fixture of the Filipino way of life,
temporary stop-gap measures such as the designation of public schools as
evacuation centers must be mini d, if not completely eradicated. This
practice causes disruption in the schedule and education of our school children
and even put many of the evacuees in dire danger. Instead a sturdy structurally-
sound permanent building that can be used as temporary safe haven for
evacuation in times of disaster must be established in strategic areas in every
barangay.

Hence, approval of this bill is highly recommended,

baat

EVELINA G. ESCUDERO


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Republic of the Philippines
House OF ReprEsENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

Sixteenth Congress
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILLNO, 5150_

Introduced by Honorable Evelina G. Escudero

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A MULTI-PURPOSE
BUILDING IN A STRATEGIC AREA IN EVERY BARANGAY TO
SERVE AS THE EVACUATION CENTER DURING CALAMITY OR
DISASTER AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

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

SECTION 1. Declaration of Policy. — \t is hereby declared the policy of
the State to uphold the people’s right to life and property by addressing the
cause of vulnerabilities to disasters and strengthening the institutional capacity
or resilience of local communities to disasters.

Towards this end, the State shall provide for the construction of a multi-
purpose building in every barangay to serve as the evacuation center to
guarantee the safety and well-being of the victims of natural or man-made
disasters, particularly children, pregnant women, senior citizens and the
disabled.

SEC. 2, Construction of the Multi-Purpose Building. — There shall be
constructed a multi-purpose building in a strategic area in every barangay of the

country that will serve as the evacuation center in times of calamities.

Bill Drafting Service


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SEC. 3. Implementing Agency. — The Department of Public Works and
Highways (DPWH) shall undertake the construction of the multi-purpose
building in every barangay: Provided, That any such construction is based on a
program prepared by the DPWH in coordination with the municipality or city
council: Provided, further, That the multi-purpose building shall be located in a
strategic area in every barangay. The municipal or city mayor and the barangay
captain shall be furnished with pertinent documents, data and information
before any construction can be commenced.

SEC. 4. Construction Priority. - The DPWH shall give priority to
barangays whose residents volunteer labor services in the construction thereof’
and for this purpose, the DPWH shall issue guidelines and receive applications
therefor. Barangays that are located in disaster prone areas shall be given the
highest priority in the construction of the multi-purpose building.

SE

. 5. Use of the Multi-Purpose Building. — The multi-purpose
building shall be used as evacuation center in times of disasters or calamities.
The multi-purpose building may also be used for other short-term purposes as
the barangay council may decide. It is hereby authorized to issue such rules and
regulations for the use of the multi-purpose building to the end that an equitable
and propottionate use may be made available among barangay residents or
associations and to impose such minimal charges as may be necessary for the

maintenance and repair of the building.


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SEC. 6. Submission of Reports. — Within ninety (90) days after the
approval of this Act, the Sceretary of Public Works and Highways shall submit
progress reports to each House of Congress on the implementation of this Act.

SEC. 7. Operation and Management. — The operation and management
of the multi-purpose building shall be under the office of the municipal or city
mayor in coordination with the barangay council.

SEC. 8. Appropriations. — The amount necessary for the implementation
of this Act shall be charged to the appropriations for the Department of Public
Works and Highways under the current General Appropriations Act.
Thereafter, such sum as may be necessary for the repair and maintenance of the
multi-purpose building shall be included in the annual budget of the barangay
where it is located.

SEC. 9. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,