Senator Jinggoy Estrada on Tuesday, July 28 called for the immediate implementation of Republic Act No. 12076 or the Ligtas Pinoy Centers Act saying President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s move to mention it during his fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA) affirms the urgent need to fully implement the measure. 

Estrada, sponsor of the measure which was approved into law in September 2024, said it is imperative to ensure its swift and proper implementation given the frequency of natural disasters occuring in the country. 

RA No. 12076 mandates the establishment of safe, permanent and disaster-resilient evacuation centers across the country. 

The law was enacted to ensure that families displaced by disasters and public health emergencies have access to safe and dignified temporary shelters.

“We cannot prevent typhoons, earthquakes and other calamities, but we can ensure that our countrymen have safe shelter. This is the purpose of this law—to make it the norm to have reliable, robust and complete evacuation centers throughout the country,” Estrada stressed. 

The measure, he recalled, was among the priority legislative initiatives identified under the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2023 to 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, it is imperative that we have permanent evacuation centers which will not only offer sanctuary to affected families during disasters but also provide them shelter while they rebuild their homes,” the senator said.

The law primarily mandates the creation of permanent evacuation centers 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. It also 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.

The law, he said, complements another landmark disaster resilience measure enacted during the First Regular Session of the current 20th Congress, the Republic Act No. 12287, or the Declaration of State of Imminent Disaster Act, which he is the principal author and sponsor.

“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,” he 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 stressed.