RESSS
Ki eePRE. SES

RECEIVED
JUN 15 2020 '
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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City i

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House BILL No, 7004

Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR.

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

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Philippines is susceptible to natural hazards, unforeseen disasters and other calamities
because of its location along the so-called “Pacific Ring of Fire; an area where
earthquakes and volcanic eruptions are more recurring than in any other areas of the
world. The country fronts the Pacific Ocean, making it vulnerable to frequent typhoons
and related weather disturbances regularly especially at the onset of climate change.

These catastrophic incidences create a disastrous state in the lives of the Filipino.
Among the Filipinos, the underprivileged are the ones who suffer the most during these
times. They have lost their shelters; they have no food to eat; sometimes, even lives
are taken by these calamities. Indeed the country cannot avoid these natural hazards,
but the government can reduce the effects to the lives and living of the Filipinos. Thus,
there is an urgent need for the State to establish evacuation centers in all cities,
provinces, and municipalities.

These mandatory evacuation centers will be able to provide them temporary shelters
even before the forecasted disaster actually happens. Further, while the victims are
temporarily staying in the evacuation centers, the government can not only cater to their
basic needs, but can also guarantee their safety, promote their social wellbeing, and
guard their welfare while they recover and rebuild their homes and their lives.

To emphasize, this bill seeks to establish the availability of mandatory evacuation
centers not only in some chosen areas of the archipelago but in all cities, provinces and
municipalities ensuring equal protection among the citizens.

While the State cannot control the indefinite occurrence of these calamities, it can
however control the preparedness of the government and its people in facing such


unfortunate incidents. The more prepared we are, the less impact these disasters can
leave in the lives of the people.

In view of the foregoing, the approval of this measure is eamestly sought.

il A

Lu} MUND “I \Y” F. VILLAFUERTE JR.,


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS

First Regular Session

House Bit no._7094

Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR.

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

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

Section 1. Title of the Act. — This Act shall be known as the "Mandatory Evacuation
Center Act of 2020."

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 be cause imminent danger to their 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:

a. It must be centrally located in the community;

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

c. It must be near a health facility;

d, It 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 24
groups, power plants, factories, and other areas where the occurrence of
human-induced disasters are very high.

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 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 persons;

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

e. Food preparation areas which are provided with adequate ventilation;

f. Trash and waste segregation and collection areas;

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

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 concemed
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 30 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 10 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. 8. 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. 9. 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. 10. 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. 11. Effectivity Clause. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its complete

publication in the Official Gazette or at least two (2) national newspapers of general
circulation.

Approved