EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
Second Regular Session )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez

House Bill No, 7315
EXPLANATORY NOTE

According to the latest World Risk Index, the Philippines is ranked as the ninth riskiest
country worldwide. The World Risk Index states the risk of disaster in consequence of extreme
natural events for 180 of the world's countries

This shows how badly the Philippines is hit by disasters whether it be floods, typhoons,
earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, fire, or outbreak of illnesses and diseases

The common practice is that schools, covered courts, and other government buildings are
used as evacuation centers during calamities. However, this practice results to interruption of
classes and disruption of services of government offices. The lack of basic facilities in schools,
covered courts, and other government infrastructures pose great threats to health, safety, and
overall wellbeing of the evacuees. The establishment of permanent evacuation centers with the
necessary facilities and complete amenities will address these issues.

There is an urgent need for the government to be more prepared to face these disasters
which hit that country every year. The construction of emergency evacuation center that is
durable, safe, properly-designed, and suitable to the needs of the evacuees and prospective
users must be established.

In view of the foregoing, immediate approval of this measure is earnestly requested.

RUFUS B. ROBRIGUEZ


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
Second Regular Session )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

__ Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez

House Bill No, 7315

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING EMERGENCY EVACUATION CENTERS IN ALL PROVINCES AND
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

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

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

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - \t is the policy of the State to serve and protect the life and
property of the people, and promote the general welfare. The State recognizes the vulnerability
of the Philippines to all kinds of natural calamities and disasters. Calamities such as floods,
typhoons, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and other severe climate disturbances, including
fire, outbreak of illnesses and diseases have taken many lives and caused damage to
properties. Towards this end, the State shall construct a durable, safe, properly-designed, and
fully-equipped emergency evacuation center in all provinces to serve as temporary shelter for
individuals and displaced families in times of calamities and disasters.

SEC. 3. Establishment of Emergency Evacuation Center. — Emergency evacuation
centers shall be established in all provinces to serve as immediate and temporary shelters that
guarantee the safety and wellbeing of the people who are evacuated or displaced from their
homes due to natural calamities and disasters. If not being used as temporary shelters of the
evacuees, emergency evacuation centers may be utilized as learning center for disaster
trainings, calamity drills, and other disaster preparedness and prevention activities,

SEC. 4. Facilities and Amenities — Emergency evacuation centers must have the capacity
to accommodate a large number of evacuees. It must have the following amenities and
facilities:
(2) Sleeping quarters;
(b) Separate bathing facilities and toilet cubicles for males and females, with a facilty-to-
user ratio of 1-20 persons,
(c) Breastfeeding areas or lactation stations;
(d) Wheelchair ramps and handrails for elderly and people with disabilities;
(e) Centralized kitchen or areas for food preparation with adequate
(f)_ ventilation;
(9) __ Eating or dining areas;
(h) Fire alarm system and emergency exit doors;
()) Trash and waste segregation and collection areas;
() Health care areas including an isolation or quarantine area for potentially infectious
people;
(k) Storage room for supplies;
() Generators and fuel;


(m) Laundry and drying areas;

(n) Pet and livestock holding areas;

(0) Rainwater harvesting and collection facilities

(p) Recreation areas and child-friendly space that may be used as playground;

() Command center with conference room for government officials and agencies; and
(1) Other facilities necessary in an evacuation center,

SEC. 5. Location of Emergency Evacuation Center. - The emergency evacuation center
shall be located on a stable and safe area of the province, not susceptible to landslides,
flooding, storm surges, and other hydrological and meteorological hazards. Site selection must
be based on the most current risk assessments using geo-hazard maps produced by the
Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Mines and Geosciences Bureau, the
Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and
Astronomical Services Administration and the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and
Seismology.

The location of the emergency evacuation center shall be based on the following

conditions or considerations:

(a) Must be strategically located to enable immediate access to basic goods, services,
and utilities;

(b) Near to any health facilities;

(c) Far from military base camps, camps of insurgency groups, high voltage power
plants, and other areas where occurrence of human induced disasters are very high;
and

(d) Must allow for year-round access to and from the evacuation centers by means of
vehicular transportation specially before, during and after a hazard event.

SEC. 6. Structural and Building Capacity. - The emergency evacuation center must be
designed and constructed in compliance with Republic Act No. 6541, as amended, otherwise
known as the “National Building Code of the Philippines,” and can withstand super typhoons
or wind speed of at least three hundred (300) kilometers per hour, or storm surge level of at
least ten (10) meters, and moderate seismic activity of at least 8.0 magnitude on the Richter
Scale. Emergency evacuation centers must be sufficiently ventilated in such a way that fresh
air and natural lights are ensured during operation,

SEC. 7. Responsibilities of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). —
The DPWH shall be responsible for formulating the design and specifications of the emergency
evacuation centers based on existing laws, issuances, rules and regulations, and in
compliance with the National Building Code. The design and specification must be based on
the needs of the evacuees and shall consider the weather pattern, topographical features, and
climate condition of the province where the emergency evacuation center is located. The
alternative uses of emergency evacuation centers shall be taken into account by the DPWH
It shall review and revise the design and specification of the evacuation centers every three
(3) years.

SEC. 8. Management of Emergency Evacuation Center. - The provincial government of
the province where the evacuation center is located shall be primarily responsible for the
operation, supervision, and management of the emergency evacuation center.

The provincial government shall, in consultation with the Department of Education,
promulgate guidelines, rules and regulations for the effective operation, supervision, and
management of the emergency evacuation centers when being used as leaming centers for
educational purposes.


The amount necessary for the operation, management and supervision of the emergency
evacuation centers shall be charged to the funds of Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and
Management Council

SEC. 9. Mandatory Audit. - The provincial engineer or building officials, shall conduct a
mandatory audit of the emergency evacuations centers at least once a year or immediately
after the occurrence of a hazard or disaster to ensure the structural integrity and safety of the
evacuees.

SEC. 10. Role of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council
(NDRRMC). - The NDRRMC shall be the lead agency in overseeing the implementation of
this Act. It shall provide technical assistance and support services to the provincial government
in the management and maintenance of emergency evacuation centers.

SEC.11. Appropriations. - The amount necessary for the implementation of this Act shall be
charged to the current appropriations of the NDRRMC. Thereafter, such sums as may be
necessary for its continued implementation shall be included in the annual General
Appropriations Act,

SEC. 12. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — Within thirty (30) days from the effectivity
of this Act, the chairperson of the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council shall,
in consultation with the Secretary of the Interior and Local Government, Secretary of Public
Works and Highways and Secretary of Education, issue the rules and regulations for the
effective implementation of this Act.

SEC. 13. Repealing Clause. — All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations, and other
issuances, or parts thereof, which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, are hereby
deemed repealed, amended or modified accordingly,

SEC. 14. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the
Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation

Approved,