Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

~ 7506
House Bill No.

INTRODUCED BY HONORABLE LIANDA B. BOLILIA

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Over the past decades, schools have been used to house hundreds or
thousands of evacuees during disasters and calamities. These conditions have
disrupted education, caused damage to educational facilities and equipment, and
displaced students from learning. Schools have insufficient contingency plans on
camp management and preparedness to act as evacuation centers. Thus, public
schools should not be used as evacuation centers in order to ensure the continuity of
education even in the midst of disasters and calamities.

This measure aims to establish an evacuation center in all cities and
municipalities that will become temporary shelter of victims of disasters. Such
structure should withstand the impacts of disaster, reduce social vulnerability for
certain groups, meet certain safety standards, ensure reliable water supply and
uninterrupted power supply, and set up facilities for sanitation and hygiene.

In view of the foregoing, the immediate enactment and Approval of this bill is

earnestly sought.

LIAND) B/BOLILIA
Representative
4 District, Batangas


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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

House Bill No, _/9°8

INTRODUCED BY HONORABLE LIANDA B. BOLILIA

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING A MANDATORY EVACUATION CENTER IN ALL CITIES
AND MUNICIPALITIES, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

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

SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Mandatory Evacuation
Center Act of 2020.”

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - It shall be the policy of the State to protect the
people's right to life and property, and to promote their general welfare. Towards
this end, the government must invest in building life-saving, disaster-resilient
evacuation centers in all municipalities and cities as a strategic component for
disaster mitigation and preparedness framework and for long-term development

agenda for local communities.

SECTION 3. Establishment/Construction of Evacuation Centers. - There shall be
an established evacuation center in every city 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 hazards/emergency events such
as, typhoons, floods, fire, storm surges, weather disturbances, earthquakes, volcano
eruption, and outbreak of illnesses/diseases that may cause imminent danger to
their life and property.


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SECTION 4. Evacuation Center Requirements. - The following shall be the
minimum requirements for every evacuation center that will be established under
this Act:

a. Location - The evacuation center should be easily accessible to evacuees
and to emergency rescue personnel. It should be located away from
potential primary and/or secondary hazards. Local Government Units
(LGUs) concerned shall coordinate with the Department of Environment
and Natural Resources to identify the appropriate location of the
evacuation center.

b. Structural Capacity - The evacuation center must be able to withstand
category 5 typhoons and magnitude 8 earthquakes. It shall be built in
accordance with Republic Act No. 6541, otherwise known as the “National
Building Code of the Philippines” and should adhere to the International
Building Code.

c. Facilities - The evacuation center shall have adequate water, sanitation and
hygiene facilities, and uninterrupted power supply. It shall have special
shelter arrangements for more vulnerable individuals including lactating
mothers, children, the elderly, and persons with disability.

SECTION 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.

SECTION 6. Role of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management
Council - The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, or its
successor, shall be the primary lead agency which shall oversee the implementation
of this Act.

SECTION 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


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necessary for the construction and maintenance of evacuation center 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.

SECTION 8. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within ninety days (90) after
the effectivity of this Act, the Department of Interior and Local Government, the
Department of Public Works and Highways, and the National Disaster Risk
Reduction and Management Council, shall formulate the necessary rules and
regulations to carry out the objectives of this Act.

SECTION 9. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations, or
portions thereof, inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified
accordingly.

SECTION 10. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or at least two (2) national newspapers of general

circulation.

Approved,