Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL No. __ 
_ 
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Introduced by HONORABLE ERNESTO "ERNIX" M. DIONISIO, JR. 
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AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING EVACUATION CENTERS IN EVERY CITY AND 
MUNICIPALITY, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
.EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Philippines' location and geography are the main reasons why the 
Philippines is considered one of the world's most disaster-prone countries. It is located 
along the boundary of major tectonic plates and at the center of a typhoon belt. As a 
result thereof, the Philippines are regularly affected by floods, typhoons, landslides, 
earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and droughts. Hence, the Philippines ranks among 
the top countries for population exposure and vulnerability1. 
Natural calamities are not a stranger to Filipinos, annually there are around 1 0 
to 25 natural calamities that affect the Philippines. There are an average of 20 tropical 
cyclones that enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility every year and roughly 900 
earthquakes are also recorded annually2. 
The Philippines is vulnerable to natural calamities as such. Us Filipinos have to 
endure and survive these disastrous natural phenomena that affect our country. 
This bill aims to provide the Filipino people with readily available evacuation 
centers in every city and municipality. This bill will ensure that in times of occurrence 
of natural calamities in our country, the victims or those greatly affected by the natural 
disaster have a safe sanctuary for them to stay in. Given that the Philippines is prone 
1 Perception of Disaster Resilience and Preparedness in the Philippines, Harvard Humanitarian 
Initiative, June 2018. 
2 Ibid. 
September 27, 2022
11:25 am
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to natural disasters such as floods, typhoons, landslides, earthquakes, volcanic 
eruptions and any other calamity, the immediate approval of this bill is necessary. 
NESTO "ERNIX" M. DIONISIO, JR. 
Assistant Majority Floor Leader 
Congressman 
First Congressional District of Manila 


Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL No. __ 
_ 
--------------------------------·----·--------------·--------
Introduced by HONORABLE ERNESTO "ERNIX" M. DIONISIO, JR. 
-----------------------·---· 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING EVACUATION CENTERS IN EVERY CITY AND 
MUNICIPALITY, 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 "local Evacuation 
Centers Act of 2022." 
Section 2. Establishment of evacuation Centers. -
There shall be 
established an evacuation center "in every city and municipality in the country which 
shall provide immediate and temporary accommodation for people who have been 
evacuated or displaced from their homes due to emergency events such as typhoons, 
floods, storm surges, drought, and other severe climate disturbances, as well as fire, 
and the outbreak of illnesses and diseases that present Imminent danger to life and 
property. 
Existing structures that would meet the minimum requirements or could be 
upgraded to effectively serve as evacuation centers could be designated as such In 
compliance with the local government unit concerned. 
Section 3. Requirements. - The following shall be the minimum requirements 
for every evacuation center that will be established under this Act: 
a. 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. 
That location shall be determined based on the following criteria: 
1. It must be centrally located in the community; 
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2. It must be of a safe distance from large trees, structures 
where hazardous materials are used and stored, or high-
voltage power lines; 
3. It must be near a health facility; 
4. It must be located on geotechnically stable land to avoid 
risk of landslides or exposure to potential landslide of 
adjacent lands; 
5. 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. 
b. Structural and Building Capacity. - The evacuation centers shall be 
constructed and designed to withstand super typhoons or wind speeds of at 
least three hundred kilometers per hour (300 kph) and seismic activity of at 
least 8.0 magnitude. The structure must be calamity-resilient, built with sturdy 
materials, and in accordance with the specifications of Republic Act No. 6541, 
otherwise known as the "National Building Code of the Philippines" or shall 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, including the formulation of building 
specifications and shall ensure that the same are based on standards, 
issuances, and other guidelines set by the DPWH, and are compliant with the 
provisions of the National Building Code. The DPWH shall also ensure that the 
construction of such evacuation centers is in accordance with the 
abovementioned requirements during its construction phase. 
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), as well as the 
Department of Health (DOH), other concerned government agencies and 
instrumentalities and non-government organizations, shalt be consulted in the 
construction of the evacuation centers. 
The specifications of the evacuation centers shall be periodically reviewed and, 
if necessary, revised by the DPWH every three (3) years. 
The evacuation centers must at least meet the following parameters: 
1. The structure must be elevated, in such a manner that is safety 
above the reach of a high tide storm surge level of at least ten 
(10) meters; 
2. 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 
3. The structure shall not be less than nine (9) meters in height 
and shalt be designed in accordance with earthquake load 
standards. 
c. Amenities and Accessibility. ~ The evacuation centers shall be well-ventilated 
and shall have the capacity to accommodate a large number of evacuees. The 
evacuation center shall have the following minimum amenities: 


1. Sleeping quarters for the evacuees; 
2. Separate shower and toilet facilities designated for males and 
females, with one (1) facility for every twenty (20) persons; 
3. Amenities to enable access thereto by persons with 
disabilities; 
4. Emergency exit doors; 
5. Food preparation areas with adequate ventilation; 
6. Trash and waste segregation and collection areas; 
7. Health care areas which shall include isolation or quarantine 
area for potentially infectious persons; 
8. Rainwater harvesting and collection facilities; and 
9. Other facilities as may be prescribed by the appropriate 
authorities. 
Section 4. Operation and management - The. LCDs 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 their proper use and maintenance. 
The Local Sanggunian shall promulgate guidelines and procedures for the use 
and operation of the evacuation centers under its jurisdiction. The guidelines shall 
prescribe rules on the utilization of the evacuation center when it is not used as such: 
Provided, That the evacuation center may only be used for such other activities or 
purposes that involve the use of collapsible amenities and those that shall not In any 
way compromise the serviceability of the evacuation center or impede the use thereof 
when a disaster occurs: Provided further, That the LGU shall impose such penalties 
as may be deemed proper on the organizers of authorized activities when the 
evacuation center suffers any damage, defacement, or loss during or as a result of 
such activities. 
The mandatory audit of infrastructures used as evacuation centers shall be 
conducted by the City or Municipality at least once every year and immediately after 
the occurrence of a hazard or disaster. 
Section 5. Role of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management 
Council (NDRRMC) and Progressive Realization of this Act- The National Disaster 
Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) shall be the lead implementing 
agency of this Act. The objectives of this Act shall be realized progressively. In 
implementing this Act, the NDRRMC shall prioritize the construction of evacuation 
centers based on the LGUs: (a) vulnerability to disasters/calamities; (b) financial 
capability; and (c) existing evacuation centers suitable to their needs. 
The NDRRMC shall enter into memoranda of agreement (MOA) with the 
concerned LGUs for the maintenance, operation, and management of a permanent 
evacuation center in their respective areas of jurisdiction. It shall provide technical 
assistance and support services to these LGUs in the management of the facility. 


Local chief executives concerned shall evaluate and provide suitable sites for 
evacuation centers to determine their geographical stability, and public accessibility in 
times of disasters. They shall provide for the maintenance, operation, and 
management of the facility taking Into consideration the goal of life preservation and 
meeting the basic subsistence needs of affected populations based on acceptable 
standards during or immediately after a disaster. 
Section 6. Coordination among Agencies. - The NDRRMC shall coordinate 
with the DPWH and the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) with regard 
to the design specifications, cost estimates, and construction details of the evacuation 
centers that will be constructed pursuant to this Act. 
Concerned government agencies and instrumentalities such as the DOH and 
DSWD when necessary, shall provide assistance to the NDRRMC to ensure the 
effective and efficient implementation of this Act. 
Section 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within sixty (60) days 
from the effectivity of this Act, the NDRRMC shall, in consultation with the DPWH, 
DOST, DSWD, DOH, League of Cities of the Philippines, League of Municipalities of 
the Philippines, and other concerned government and private agencies, promulgate 
the necessary rules and regulations to carry out the provisions of this Act. 
Section 8. Appropriations. -
The amount necessary for the Initial 
implementation to fund the construction and maintenance of multipurpose gyms to 
serve as evacuation centers shall be charged against the budget for this purpose 
under the DPWH. Thereafter, such amounts necessary for the construction of 
multipurpose gyms as evacuation centers shall be included in the Annual General 
Appropriations Act. The LGU concerned shall provide the continued maintenance, 
operation, and management of the facility. 
Section 9. Separability Clause. - If any provision, section, or part of this Act 
shall be declared unconstitutional or invalid, such judgment shall not affect, invalidate 
or impair any other provisions, sections or parts hereof. 
Section 1 O. Repealing Clause. - All provisions of existing laws, orders, rules 
and regulations or parts thereof which are in conflict or inconsistent with the provisions 
of this Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly. 
Section 11. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general 
circulation. 
Approved,