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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Quezon City, Metro Manila DATE

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. _4518

Introduced by Representative Howard A. Guintu

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Six months after super typhoon Yolanda devastated numerous cities and municipalities,
the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and the Department of Environment and
Natural Resources (DENR) formally launched the Yolanda Rehabilitation Scientific
Information (YORINFO) Center. The YORINFO Center collates all maps created by different
government agencies, and creates multi- and flood hazard maps. These maps, which can go
down to the barangay level, pinpoint areas which are most exposed to hazards, and which areas
are the safest. These maps are an important tool for disaster planning, preparation, response,
and rehabilitation. Despite the significance of these maps, only 1 of the 171 Yolanda affected
areas have requested these maps.

Consistent with the State policy to protect its citizens from adverse effects of natural
disasters and calamities, this bill aims to address this deficiency by requiring DOST and DENR
to educate all local government units on the value and use of these maps. The provision of these
maps is mandatory, thus does not need any request for such. Furthermore, it requires all local
government units to disseminate the same information to all its barangay. This will enable local
government units to improve their disaster response planning, preparation, response, and
rehabilitation based on scientific research and information.

In view of this, the early passage of this bill is sought.



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila
TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 4518

Introduced by Representative Howard A. Guintu

AN ACT
REQUIRING MULTI-HAZARDS MAPS AND FLOOD HAZARD MAPS IN EVERY
LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNIT AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

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

SECTION. 1. Declaration of Policy. —\t is a policy of the State to prepare and protect
its citizens from the adverse effects of natural disasters and calamities. To this end, the State
shall provide mechanisms to adequately equip and inform local government units against
impending disasters and calamities such as but not limited to storms, typhoons, floods, storm
surges, earthquakes, and volcano eruptions including disaster, planning, preparation, response,
and rehabilitation.

SEC. 2. Scope. ~ This law shall apply to all local government units in the Philippines.
SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. — The following terms used in this Act are hereby define:

a. A multi-hazard map identifies the vulnerabilities of each local government unit to
threats such as but not limited to landslides, flooding, sea level rise, and storm
surges.

b. A flood hazard map identifies specific areas in the local government unit near river
systems that may be inundated by varying amounts of rainfall.

SEC. 4. Multi-Hazard Maps and Flood Hazard Maps. — The Department of Science
and Technology together with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources shall
provide every three (3) years, an updated multi-hazard map and a flood hazard map for each
local government unit in the country. The provision of these maps is mandatory, regardless of


the presence of a request for it.

SEC. 5. Seminar on the Use of the Multi-Hazard Map and Flood Hazard Map. ~The
Department of Science and Technology together with the Department of Environmental and
Natural Resources shall provide, free of charge, a seminar on the use of these maps to
representatives of each local government unit in the country.

SEC. 6. Role of the Local Government Unit. — Upon receipt of the multi-hazard map
and the flood hazard map, the local government unit shall have the following duties and
responsibilities.

a. Provide every three (3) years, an updated copy of each map to every barangay
within its territory;

b. Use the maps in its disaster response planning, preparation, and training; and

c. Conduct a seminar every three (3) years of representatives and residents of each
barangay on the use of these maps, as well as the municipality or city’s updated
disaster response plan incorporating these maps.

SEC. 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations. ~ The Department of Science and
Technology, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and the Department of
Interior and Local Governance shall jointly promulgate rules and regulations necessary to
implement the provisions under this law.

SEC. 8. Allocation of Funds, — The initial amount necessary for the implementation of
this Act shall be charged to the appropriations of the Department of Science and Technology.

SEC. 9, Separability Clause. — The amount necessary to carry out the provisions of this
Act shall be included in the General Appropriations Act of the year following its enactment
into law and thereafter.

SEC. 10. Repealing Clause. — All laws, decrees, executive orders, issuances, rules and
regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or
modified accordingly.

SEC. 11. Effectivity Clause. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,