NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
)
First Regular Session
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
HOUSE BILL NO. ____
Introduced by REPRESENTATIVE VIRGILIO S. LACSON
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Traditionally, school buildings have been utilized as safe shelters in times of
typhoons. Families often seek refuge in local public schools that they find generally safer
than their homes. However, school buildings are also among the public facilities that are
prone to the impacts of natural disasters. Many of our schools are not built to sustain the
impact of strong typhoons. Especially with the looming effects of climate change, these
natural disasters are only about to get stronger.
In DepEd Order no. 64, s.2017, the architectural design standard for classrooms is
provided. For ceilings, it must be a drop-type ceiling. The clear height of rooms from FFL
to the finished ceiling line (FCL) must be at least 2.70 meters. Materials to be used for the
ceiling must provide thermal comfort inside the classroom. Maintenance access to the
ceiling cavity must be through the corridor. For the roofing, the material must be
adequately protected from rust/oxidation, salt air, acid rain, or other sources and forms
of corrosion. If made of metal, the roofing sheets shall be of 0.40 mm base metal thickness
(BMT) and securely fastened to the roof frames. For single-storey school buildings,
gutters may not be included; however, a properly sloped trench drain on both sides must
be provided. For multi-storey school buildings, the roof must be provided with concrete
gutter and eaves which shall be at least 1.10 meters from the corridor.
Admittedly, the architectural standards for schools are not designed to withstand
stronger natural hazards. School buildings that are vulnerable to the impact of typhoons,
will not only expose school children and teachers, but also those families who seek
refuge in these facilities, to greater risks.
This Bill aims to establish a typhoon vulnerability reduction program for the
public education sector. It shall provide a guide to the design, and construction of
public-school buildings across the country, in accordance with the extent of the school’s
August 3, 2022
3:51 pm
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exposure to typhoon hazards. It shall identify the schools that are high-risk, and mandate
the
construction
and
improvement
of
the
facilities of identified schools to be
typhoon-proof.
For the foregoing reasons, the passage of this Bill is immediately sought.
VIRGILIO S. LACSON
Manila Teachers Partylist


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
)
First Regular Session
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
HOUSE BILL NO. ____
Introduced by REPRESENTATIVE VIRGILIO S. LACSON
AN ACT
MANDATING THE CREATION OF THE TYPHOON VULNERABILITY
REDUCTION PLAN FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS 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 “Typhoon Vulnerability
Reduction for Public Schools Act.”
Section 2.
Typhoon Vulnerability Reduction Plan. – The Department of Education
shall organize a Committee tasked to identify the vulnerability rate of public schools,
based on location, school building layout, structure and construction work. The
vulnerability rating shall be classified into three types: low, medium, and high risk.
The Committee shall undertake the creation of the Natural Hazard Vulnerability
Reduction Plan for the implementation of school building retrofitting to address existing
structural issues.
Section 3.
Construction of Public School Buildings, Requirement. – All public school
buildings to be erected in identified high-risk areas shall be constructed with reinforced
concrete flooring and roofing, and other disaster-mitigating structural specifications the
Committee may require.
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Sec. 4.
Implementing Rules and Regulations - The Department of Education
(DepEd) shall promulgate the corresponding implementing rules and regulations of this
Act within sixty (60) days from the date of its effectivity. 
Sec. 5.
Appropriations. - The amount necessary for the implementation of this
Act shall be treated as a distinct and separate budget item from the regular appropriation
of the Department of Education.
Sec. 6.
Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, and rules and regulations
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified
accordingly. 
Sec. 7.
Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in two (2) newspapers of general circulation or in the Official Gazette. 
Approved,