Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

House BILL No, 7305

Introduced by HON. JOY MYRA S, TAMBUNTING

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Philippines has always been a hotbed for typhoons, earthquakes, and other natural and man-
made disasters geographic position in Southeast Asia. Just for the year 2020, even before the
COVID-19 pandemic hit the country, the country has been devastated by the eruption of Taal
Volcano early this year which has led to 39 deaths ', economic loss of around Php 6.7 billion in
agriculture, services, and industrial sector *, and thousands of people being displaced from their
homes.

Whilst the long-term goal is to reduce the country’s vulnerability to disasters by investing in
disaster risk reduction, ecosystem management, land-use planning, supply change management
and the like, there remains the need to cope with the problem of internal displacement due to
calamities. With several disasters hitting the county every year, local government units need to
strategically plan and dedicate temporary shelter facilities compliant to basic safety and security
guidelines for families affected by calamities. Corresponding support programs must also be
provided to these affected families for them to cope and recover from these unfortunate events.

This proposed measure seeks to establish mandatory evacuation and quarantine centers in every
city, province and municipality throughout the country which shall provide shelter, basic needs
and assistance to all evacuees. This bill also sets minimum requirements for the establishment of
these evacuation centers to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the evacuees. It will also be a
structure ready in the event of a possible pandemic in which persons will need to be quarantined.

On behalf of the people of Parafiaque City’s Second District, and for the common good of the
Filipino people, the approval of the said measure is earnestly sought.

REF. YRA S. TAMBUNTIN
/ pd District, Parafiaque City

+ https://mb.com.ph/2020/02/01/39-deaths-recorded-during-taal-volcanos-eruption/
2 https://business.inquirer.net/289357/taal-volcano-seen-to-cost-calabarzon-economy-p6-7b-but-economic-
impact-on-rest-of-ph-minimal-says-bsp


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 7305

Introduced by HON. JOY MYRA S. TAMBUNTING

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING MANDATORY EVACUATION AND QUARANTINE CENTERS IN ALL CITIES
PROVINCES AND MUNICIPALITIES APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

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

Sec. 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Mandatory Evacuation and Quarantine
Center Act”.

Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. ~ It is hereby declared the policy of the State to protect the
people's right to life and property that is rooted and embedded in our Constitution, and to promote
their general welfare. It is for this reason that the establishment of an evacuation center shall be
undertaken in all cities, provinces, and municipalities to address the vulnerability of the Philippines
to the impacts of climate change and other human-made disasters. This is also to strengthen the
country's institutional capacity for building the resilience of local communities to adhere and adopt
the universal standards of humanitarian assistance.

Sec, 3, Establishment/ Construction of Evacuation Centers. — There shall be an established
evacuation center in every city, province and municipality throughout the country which shall
provide basic needs and assistance to all evacuees, and shall serve as their temporary shelter
that will guarantee the safety and wellbeing of all who have 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 ther 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:

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 LGUs
concerned.

The location shall be determined based on the following criteria:


._ Tt must be centrally located in the community;

. Tt must be of a safe distance from large trees, structures where hazardous materials are
used and/or stored, or high-voltage power lines;

. It must be near a health facility;

|. Tt must be located on geotechnical stable land to avoid risk of landslides and/or exposure
to potential landslide of adjacent lands;

e. 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.

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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.

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. 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.

Amenities and Accessibility 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:

‘a. Sleeping quarters for the evacuees;
b. Separate Shower and toilet facilities designated for males and females with a facility-
to-user ratio of 1 :10 persons;

Amenities to enable access thereto by and accommodation of the disabled;
Provisions for emergency/exit doors;

Food preparation areas which are provided with adequate ventilation;

Trash and waste segregation and collection areas;

Health care areas which shall include an Isolation and/or quarantine area for
potentially infectious persons;

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h. Rainwater harvesting and collection facilities; and
i, 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. Role of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council. — The
National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), or its successor, 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.

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), or its successor.

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) and the DPWH, 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

Approved,