SEN. Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada on Tuesday pushed for the implementation of Republic Act (RA) 12345, or the Ligtas Pinoy Centers Act, which mandates the establishment of safe, permanent and disaster-resilient evacuation centers.
Estrada urged the swift implementation of the law after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. highlighted the rollout of the Ligtas Pinoy Centers Act during his fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday.
Estrada, who sponsored and shepherded the measure's approval in the Senate in September 2024, said the law was enacted to ensure that families displaced by disasters and public health emergencies have access to safe and dignified temporary shelters.
"We may not be able to stop typhoons, earthquakes, and other disasters, but we can ensure that our fellow citizens have a safe place to take shelter. That is the purpose of this law — to make reliable, durable, and fully equipped evacuation centers the standard throughout the country," he said.
The senator recalled that the measure was among the priority legislative initiatives under the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2023–2028, recognizing the country's vulnerability to natural hazards and the need to strengthen disaster preparedness and response.
"In light of the human toll and devastation brought about by more frequent and more intense natural calamities caused by our rapidly changing climate, we must have permanent evacuation centers that will not only offer sanctuary to affected families during disasters but also provide them shelter while they rebuild their homes," Estrada said.
Under RA 12076, permanent evacuation centers must be built in safe and accessible locations and designed to withstand super typhoons with wind speeds of up to 300 kilometers per hour and earthquakes of at least magnitude 8.0.
The law likewise prescribes minimum standards for humane living conditions, including adequate sleeping quarters, sanitary facilities, kitchens and food-preparation areas, health stations, women and child-friendly spaces, standby power supply, and communication facilities.
Estrada also pointed to another landmark disaster-resilience measure enacted during the First Regular Session of the current 20th Congress — RA 12287, or the Declaration of State of Imminent Disaster Act, of which he is the principal author and sponsor.
It marks a historic milestone for the Philippines as the first country in the region, and possibly worldwide, to legislate anticipatory disaster action.
"These two landmark laws work hand in hand. One allows government to act before disaster strikes, while the other ensures that our people have safe and dignified shelters when they need to evacuate. Together, they represent a decisive shift toward a more proactive, comprehensive, and people-centered approach to disaster risk reduction and management," Estrada said.
"These laws are not just about policies and systems; they are about protecting lives, safeguarding communities, and ensuring that our people are better prepared for whatever challenges nature may bring," he added.
