House approves bill for evacuation centers in every city

Leyte 4th District Rep. Lucy Torres-Gomez is pushing for House Bill 8900, which aims to establish standard evacuation centers in all towns and cities nationwide.

The bill passed its third and final reading at the House of Representatives on Thursday with 195 votes.

Rep. Angelina Tan, principal author of the measure from Quezon's 4th District, emphasized the importance of these centers for immediate accommodation during emergencies like typhoons, floods, fires, and disease outbreaks.

Tan highlighted that prioritizing vulnerable groups such as senior citizens, disabled individuals, children, and pregnant women is crucial to minimize loss of lives by bringing evacuation centers closer to communities.

The bill mandates local government units to operate the centers while the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council will oversee them.