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THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
First Regular Session 
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OF THE PHILIPPINES 
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S E N A T E  
1753 
S. No. 
Introduced by Senator S. R. Osmetia 111 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Philippines, being in the so-called Circum-Pacific belt of fire and 
typhoon, is constantly subjected to disasters and calamities. According to a 
Philippine National Red Cross statement, the Philippines leads the world in the 
types and frequency of natural disasters and ranked fourth in the number of 
people killed or affected by floods, tsunamis, typhoons, landslide, earthquakes, 
volcanic eruptions and man-made disaster. 
With each disaster comes considerable damage to infrastructure, property 
and natural resources. Other effects include severe soil erosion, food shortage, 
and loss of life. 
Disaster management encompasses a wide range of disaster-related 
activities that are undertaken before, during, and after the occurrence of a 
disaster-causing event, namely: hazards assessment and zoning, disaster 
protection and risk reduction, monitoring and prediction, contingency planning, 
emergency 
response, 
recovery, 
rehabilitation 
and 
reconstruction 
or 
redevelopment. As observed, the most effective strategy to minimize the adverse 
effect of disasters remains to be mitigation and preparedness. Part of Philippines’ 
preparedness strategy is to strengthen linkages with various volunteer groups 
nationwide. 
The government needs to effectively address the issue of rehabilitation 
and restoration of the affected areas. A coordinating body, headed by the most 
authoritative leader of the affected region, is therefore the most logical 
organization for dealing with disasters. Thus, this bill seeks to amend Section 3 
of Presidential Decree No. 1566, also known as “An Act Strengthening the 
Philippine Disaster Control, Capability and Establishing the National Program on 
Community Disaster Preparedness” to provide a more responsive Regional 
Disaster Coordinating Council. It shall act as the central agency in evacuating 
victims as well as rehabilitating areas affected by the natural disasters. 
In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly requested 
SERGIO OSMENA 111 
Senator 


THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
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OF THE PHILIPPINES 
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First Regular Session 
S E N A T E  
Introduced by Senator S. R. OsmeAa 111 
AN ACT 
AMENDING SEC. 3 OF PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO. 1566, ALSO KNOWN 
AS AN ACT STRENGTHENING THE PHILIPPINE DISASTER CONTROL, 
CAPABILITY AND 
ESTABLISHING THE 
NATIONAL PROGRAM ON 
COMMUNITY DISASTER PREPAREDNESS 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Republic of 
the Philippines in Congress assembled: 
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SECTION 1. Sec. 3 of Presidential Decree No. 1566 is hereby amended 
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to be read as: 
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"See. 3. Organization of the Regional Rehabilitafion Council 
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- At the regional level, there shall be constituted a Regional 
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Disaster Coordinating Council [with Regional Commissioner or the 
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official so designated by the President as Chairman]. The Council 
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shall be composed of the [executives of regional offices and field 
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stations at the regional level] DENR REGIONAL DIRECTOR, 
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DPWH 
REGIONAL 
DIRECTOR, 
THE 
PROVINCIAL 
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ENVIRONMENT 
OFFICE 
(PEO), 
ClTYlMUNlClPAL 
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ENVIRONMENT OFFICE, AND CITY/MUNICIPAL ENGINEERING 
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OFFICE. THEY SHALL ELECT AMONG THE MEMBERS OF THE 
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REGIONAL 
REHABILITATION 
COUNCIL 
THE 
CHAIRMAN 


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THEREOF. The Council shall establish an operating facility to be 
known as the Regional Disaster Operations Center. 
THE REGIONAL REHABILITATION COUNCIL SHALL 
APPOINT 
AN 
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND 
THREE 
(3) 
TECHNICAL STAFF TO TAKE CHARGE OF THE TECHNICAL 
AND ADMINISTRATIVE OPERATIONS OF THE REGIONAL 
REHABILITATION COUNCIL, 
A. 
POWERS OF THE REGlONAL REHABILITATION 
COUNCIL. - IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE THE GOALS AND 
OBJECTIVES 
UNDER 
THIS 
ACT, 
THE 
REGIONAL 
REHABILITATION COUNCIL SHALL HAVE THE FOLLOWING 
POWERS: 
(1) 
TO FORMULATE POLICIES AND PLANS FOR THE 
EVACUATION AND REHABILITATION OF VICTIMS IN THEIR 
SPECIFIC AREAS OF CONCERN; 
(2) 
TO COORDINATE AND CONSULT WITH THE 
CONCERNED NATIONAL AND LOCAL OFFICIALS, 
BOTH 
ELECTIVE AND APPOINTIVE, AS WELL AS ACCREDITED NON- 
GOVERNMENT 
ORGANIZATIONS 
(NGOs) 
IN 
THE 
IMPLEMENTATION 
OF 
ITS 
EVAC U AT1 0 N 
AND 
REHABILITATION EFFORTS; 
(3) 
TO CALL UPON ANY OFFICE, INSTRUMENTALITY, 
AGENCY, 
OR 
ANY 
POLITICAL 
SUBDIVISION 
OF 
THE 
GOVERNMENT FOR SUCH ASSISTANCE, AS 
MAY BE 
NECESSARY FOR THE ATTAINMENT OF THE OBJECTIVES OF 
THE COMMISSION; 


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(4) 
TO 
PERFORM 
SUCH 
OTHER 
FUNCTlONlACTlVlTlES TO WILLFULLY CARRY OUT THE 
OBJECTIVES OF THIS ACT. 
B. 
EFFECT 
Of 
RECOMMfNDATION. 
- 
THE 
RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE REGIONAL REHABILITATION 
COUNCIL, DULY ADOPTED AND ISSUED, SHALL BE BINDING 
ON THE REGIONAL REHABILITATION COUNCIL AND OTHER 
CONCERNED AGENCIES OF THE GOVERNMENT. 
C. 
CONSTRUCTION 
OF 
PROVINCIAL 
REHABILITA TlON 
CENTERS. 
THERE 
SHALL 
BE 
CONSTRUCTED REHABILITATION CENTERS, IN PROVINCES 
TO BE DETERMINED BY THE COMMISSION, WHICH SHALL 
SERVE 
AS 
PRIMARY 
EVACUATION 
CENTERS 
AND 
REHABILITATION CENTERS IN EVENT OF DISASTERS, BOTH 
NATURAL AND MAN-MADE CALAMITIES. 
D. 
FUNDING. - THERE IS HEREBY AUTHORIZED 
THE APPROPRIATION OF THE SUM AS MAY BE NECESSARY 
OUT OF ANY FUNDS IN THE NATIONAL TREASURY NOT 
OTHERWISE APPROPRIATED TO ORGANIZE THE RRC AND 
SUPPORT ITS INITIAL OPERATIONS. THEREAFTER, THE 
AMOUNT 
NECESSARY 
FOR 
THE 
OPERATION 
AND 
MAINTENANCE OF THE COMMISSION SHALL BE INCLUDED IN 
THE ANNUAL APPROPRIATIONS. 
E. 
RULES AND REGUlATIONS. - THE COUNCIL 
SHALL ISSUE WITHIN 60 DAYS FROM THE EFFECTIVITY OF 
THIS ACT THE NECESSARY REGULATIONS FOR THE 
EFFECTIVE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS ACT." 


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SEC. 2. Repealing Clause. All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and 
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regulations or any part thereof which are inconsistent herewith are hereby 
deemed repealed or modified accordingly. 
SEC. 3. Separability Clause. If for any reason, any section or provision of 
this Act or any portion of this Act thereof, or the application of such section, 
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provision or portion is declared invalid or unconstitutional, the remainder thereof 
shall not be affected by such declaration. 
SEC. 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval. 
Approved,