SIXTEENTH CONGRESS ) i 6 DEC 2
OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES —) i tf do AY
Second Regular Session ) \o

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

House Bill No. 5300

Introduced by REP, BEN P. EVARDONE,
Lone District, Eastern Samar

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The recent typhoon ‘Ruby’ (international name, ‘Hagupit’) concretely shows that natural
hazards do not necessarily bring about disaster. Adequate preparation has certainly saved millions of
lives in the central Philippines, prompting Malacaftang to describe our present state (of mind) as under
“a culture of preparedne:

However, typhoon ‘Ruby’ has also exposed the need for more typhoon-proof evacuation
centers, and the immediateness of providing the same,

This bill mandates the establishment of evacuation centers in every city and municipality
ionwide, and in a cluster of 10 barangays or for every 5,000 evacuees, with sufficient water,
sanitation and hygiene (WASH) facilities, and areas suitable for food preparation and storage,
breastfeeding and lactation, and convenient to persons with disabilities,

‘Also, this bill mandates that each evacuation center be provided sufficient emergency supplies
and equipment, such as emergency water and power supply, medical emergency equipment and
supplies, emergency communications equipment (e.g. satellite phones), emergency rescue and
response equipment.

Under the bill, the DPWH, DOST, DENR, and concerned agencies are mandated to come up
with a calamity-proof, especially caused by typhoons, infrastructural design and related requirements
for such evacuation center.

To be sure, the establishment of such ‘natural hazards’-resilient evacuation centers will
address the health and sanitation issues currently experienced in present evacuation sites due to the
lack of sufficient water and toilet facilities. Also, it will avoid the use of classrooms as evacuation
sites and thereby ensure the immediate return to normalcy of classroom education of students.

More importantly, the establishment of such evacuation centers in strategic areas will hasten
the delivery of social services such as the delivery of relief goods, and the maintenance of peace and
order.

On this score, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

< P, EVARDONE,


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SIXTEENTH CONGRESS )
OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
Second Regular Session )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

House Bill No, 5300

Introduced by REP. BEN P, EVARDONE
Lone District, Eastern Samar

AN ACT
MANDATING THE IMMEDIATE ESTABLISHMENT OF EVACUATION
CENTERS IN ALL CITIES AND MUNICIPALITIES NATIONWIDE, AND IN
STRATEGIC AREAS THEREIN, PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR
OTHER PURPOS

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

SECTION 1, Policy. — It is the policy of the State to promote and ensure the safety,

health and well-being of its people at all times. Toward this end, it shall establish and upgrade

its facil

es and capabilities designed for this purpose,

SECTION 2. There shall be established typhoon-, earthquake- and other natural
hazards resilient evacuation centers in every city and municipality nationwide.

Additional evacuation center shall be established in a strategically safe area to
accommodate constituents of a cluster of ten 10 barangays and/or for every five thousand

(5,000) evacuees.

In no case shall these requirements be construed as prohibiting the establishment of
evacuation centers for a cluster of less than ten (10) barangays or less than five thousand

(5,000) evacuees.

SECTION 3. The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Department
of Science and Technology (DOST), Department of Environment and Natural Resources
(DENR), in coo!

ion with appropriate national government agencies and concerned local

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government units, shall be the lead ageney in ensuring the formulation, planning and
implementation of infrastructural design and related requirements for such evacuation center.

tion and

‘The infrastructural design shall provide sufficient water supply, sanit
hygiene (WASH) facilities, including areas suitable and convenient for breastfeeding and

lactation, persons with disabil

ies, food storage and preparation, storage of disaster/calamity

rescue equipment, medical emergency provisions, and electricity generators.
Each evacuation center shall be provided sufficient emergency supplies and
equipment, such as water and power supply, medical emergency equipment and supplies,

emergency communications equipment, emergency rescue and response equipment.

SECTION 4. 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, without prejudice to a supplemental Appropriations Act enacted for this purpose.

SECTION 5. All laws, decrees, executive orders, proclamations, rules and

regulations, or parts thereof inconsistent herewith are hereby modified accordingly.
SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect immediately after its complete publication in
the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) national newspapers of general circulation

whichever comes earlier.

Approved