Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Constitution Hills, Quezon City

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NINETEENTH CONGRESS.
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. _ 5978

Introduced by 2™ District of Agusan del Norte Representative
HON. DALE B. CORVERA

AN ACT
STRENGTHENING LOCAL DISASTER RISK RESPONSE AND
MANAGEMENT OFFICES BY STANDARDIZING SALARY GRADE
LEVELS OF DISASTER RISK RESPONSE AND MANAGEMENT OFFICERS.
AND STAFF AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Philippines’ constant exposure to catastrophic natural events is due to its position
on the globe — lying on the Pacific Ring of Fire, which perennially causes destructive
earthquakes; and located at the western part of the Pacific Ocean, grappling with the
callousness of strong tropical cyclones. In fact, based on the recently released World Risk Index
2022, the Philippines has been alarmingly ranked as the most affected country by extreme
weather events. The World Risk Index is a tool used to assess and estimate the disaster risk of
‘country, using both external and internal hazard factors, including cyclones, floods, droughts,
sea level rise and societal conditions.

To mainstream the country’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management
system in all local and national development processes and to build the resilience of local
communities to disasters including climate change impacts, Republic Act (RA) No. 10121,
otherwise known as the “Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010”
was enacted.

Section 12 ofthe law mandated the establishment of Local Disaster Risk Reduction and
Management Office (LDRRMO) in every province, city or municipality. The LDRRMOs were
initially organized and composed of a Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM)
Officer plus three (3) staff responsible for: i) administration and training, ii) research and
planning, and iii) operations and warning. Under the National Disaster Risk Reduction and
Management Council (VDRRMC), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG),
Department of Budget and Management (DBM), and Civil Service Commission Joint
Memorandum Circular (JMC) No. 2014-01 or the Implementing Guidelines for the
Establishment of LDRRMOs or BDRRMCs in Local Government Units (LGUs) dated 04 April
2014, these four (4) positions are considered mandatory. Section 4.3 of JMC 2014-1 states that
the budgetary requirements for personnel services, maintenance and other operating,

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expenditures, and capital outlay of the LDRRMO shall be sourced from the General Fund of
the LGU.

‘To facilitate the implementation of the law, the salary for the mandatory positions were
exempted from the General Limitations provided under Section 325 (a) of the Local
Government Code of 1991 which mandates that the total appropriations, whether annual or
supplemental, for personnel services of a local government unit for one (1) fiscal year shall not
exceed forty-five percent (45%) in the case of first to third class provinces, cities and
municipalities, and fifty-five percent (55%) in the case of fourth class or lower, of the total
annual income from regular sources realized in the next preceding fiscal year. However, the
relaxation of the rule on PS limitation was for the initial year only. LGUs who were not able to
hire their respective DRRM Personnel during the first year of implementation for lack of
qualified applicants or for any other reason, especially those which have very limited fiscal
space, found it hard to comply with the law.

Making matters worse, Section 5.5 of JMC 2014-1 allowed the augmentation of
LDRRMO staff through any or a combination of the following options:

i, Designation or assignment of personnel of LGU to the LDRRMO in concurrent
capacities with their existing positions;

Reassignment of personnel of the LGU to the LDRRMO-

Full-time or part-time detail of existing personnel of other government agencies to
the LDRRMO; and/or

iv. Transfer of existing vacant positions from other units to the LDRRMO

‘These augmentation options paved the way for challenged LGUs to feign compliance
with the law by increasing the warm bodies in their LDRRMOs without actually appointing
the experienced and qualified DRRM Personnel as envisioned by the law.

Based on my experience, augmentation also contributed to the underperformance of
some LDRRMO. Designated staff to the LDRRMO not only lack the necessary skills and
training needed to perform the vital roles and responsibilities attributed to the position of a
DRRM personnel, but also hold concurrent positions in the LGU concerned and naturally will
have distracted focus and divided time to perform the critical DRRM functions. This should be
addressed now.

Asa last note on JMC 2014-1, it states that if an LGU is financially capable and has not
exceeded the personnel services limitation, the Local Sanggunian may elevate the organization
and staffing of the LDRRMO.

This representation believes that the proposed staffing pattern under JMC 2014-1 is not
only discriminatory in view of the elevation authority given to financially capable LGUs, but
alco not responsive to the current manpawer needs af | GLI ta efficiently perform their DRRM.
functions. Disasters do not select areas to affect based on financial capabilities of LGUs to fund
the Personnel Services (PS) requirements of additional DRRM personnel. For all we know,
some lower-classed LGUs stay in that classification because of their vulnerabilities to disasters
and their lack of DRRM experts to prepare against, mitigate or address the effects of disasters.


‘A more responsive staffing pattern should be based on the specific actual risk faced by
the LGUs, owing to their geographic location, social structures and other hazards and
conditions present in their respective jurisdiction.

Also, under the Local Government Code of 1991, several officers of an LGU are
required to be in the frontline of delivery of their respective services, particularly those which
occur during and in the aftermath of man-made or natural disasters or calamities. Thus, it is
necessary to upgrade the rank of the Head of the LDRRMO to a Department Head to ensure
that his/her recommendations pertaining to DRRM measures and policies will not be silenced
by political ascendancy alone.

Disaster Risk Reduction and Management is critical in the preservation of lives and
property. Its transcendental importance to social and economic order can be highlighted now
more than ever, as we are ranked first in the World Risk Index 2022. There is an urgent need
to strengthen LDRRMOs by upgrading the rank of its head to a Department Head, by
perpetually exempting the budgetary requirements for PS of the four (4) mandatory DRRM
personnel from the General Limitations of the General Fund under the Local Government
Code, and by ensuring that LDRRMOs are manned by competent, skilled, and qualified
personnel focused to do the vital roles and responsibilities of a DRRM personnel.



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Constitution Hills, Quezon City

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. _5978

Introduced by 2™ District of Agusan del Norte Representative
HON. DALE B. CORVERA

AN ACT
STRENGTHENING LOCAL DISASTER RISK RESPONSE AND
MANAGEMENT OFFICES BY STANDARDIZING SALARY GRADE
LEVELS OF DISASTER RISK RESPONSE AND MANAGEMENT OFFICERS
AND STAFF AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES:

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

Section 1. Short Title. ~ This act shall be known as the “Local Disaster Risk Reduction
and Management Offices Strengthening Act”.

Section 2. Section 12 of Republic Act No. 10121, otherwise known as the “Philippine
Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010”, is hereby amended to read as follows:

“Section 12. Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office
(LDRRMO). - (a) There shall be established an LDRRMO in every province,
city and municipality, and a Barangay Disaster Risk Reduction and
Management Committee (BDRRMC) in every - barangay which shall be
responsible for setting the direction, development, implementation and
coordination of disaster risk management programs within their territorial
jurisdiction.

(b) The LDRRMO shall be under the office of the governor, city or municipal
mayor, and the punong barangay in case of the BDRRMC. The LDRRMOs
shall be initially organized and composed of a DRRMO to be assisted by three
(3) staff responsible for: (1) administration and training; (2) research and
nilannina: and (2) anerations and warning. The TDRBMOe and the BADD MC
shall organize, train and directly supervise the local emergency response teams
and the ACDVs. THE LOCAL DRRM O} SHALL HOLD THE RANK
OF _A__DEPARTMENT HEAD (DH). ACCORDINGLY, LOCAL
GOVERNMENT UNITS SHALL BE GUIDED BY THE FOLLOWING
STANDARDS ON POSITION TITLES AND SALARY GRADES OF
DEPARTMENT HEADS, ASSISTANT DEPARTMENT HEADS (ADH).

AND THE HIGHEST POSITIONS BELOW THE ADH:



LGU Department Head ‘Assistant Highest Position
Department Head | Below the ADH
Provinces Provincial Govt. Dept. | Provincial Govt. Asst. | Local DRRM Officer
Head (SG 26) Dept. Head (SG 24) _| IV (SG 22)
Special Cities (Manila | City Govt. Dept. Head | City Govt. Asst. Dept. | Local DRRM Officer
and Quezon City) IL (SG 27) Head Ill (SG 25) V (SG 24)
Highly Urbanized | City Govt. Dept. Head | City Govt. Asst. Dept. | Local DRRM Officer
Cities 11(8G 26) Head Il (SG 24) IV (SG 22)
‘Component Cities | City Govt Dept. Head | City Govt. Asst. Dept. | Local DRRM Officer
1(SG 25) Head I (SG 23) IV (SG-22)
T* to 3 Class |Mun. Govt. Dept [ Mun. Govt. Asst. | Local DRRM Officer
Municipalities Head 11 (SG 25) Dept. Head TI (SG 23) | III (SG 18)
4" to 6" Class | Mun. Govt. Dept. | Mun. Govt. Asst. | Local DRRM Officer
Municipalities Head I (SG 24) Dept. Head I (SG 22) | (SG 15)

THE HEAD OF THE LDRRMO SHALL HAVE AS_HIS/HER STAFF.
LOWER-LEVEL POSITIONS. AS__ APPROPRIATE, USING _ THE
FOLLOWING SERIES OF LOCAL DRRM OFFICER POSITIONS:

Position Title Salary Grade
Local DRRM Officer V 24
Local DRRM Officer IV 22
Local DRRM Officer III 18
Local DRRM Officer II 15
Local DRRM Officer I i
Local DRRM Assistant 8

(c) THE MINIMUM QUALIFICATION STANDARDS FOR THE LOCAL
DRRM OFFICER AND STAFF SHALL BE AS FOLLOWS:

Position Title | Education Experience Training
Provincial Govt. Dept. | Bachelor's | 5 years in position 32 hours of | Career Service
Head (SG 26) Degree involving management _| training in | Professional /
and supervision, | year of | managemen
City Govt. Dept. Head which is relevant to tand
HUI (SG 25-27) DRRM supervision
‘on DRRM

Mun. Govt. Dept.
Head II (SG 25)

City Govt. Asst. Dept.

Head Ill (SG 25)

Mun. Gove. Dope ap BA hours of | Carver Service

Head I (SG 24) involving management —_| training in _| Professional /
and supervision, 1 year of | managemen | 2" Level

Provincial Govt. Asst. which is relevant to tand Eligibility

Dept. Head (SG 24) DRRM supervision

on DRRM

City Govt. Asst. Dept.
Head I (SG 24)



City Govt. Asst. Dept. | Bachelor's | 3 years in position Té hours of | Career Service
Head I (SG 23) Degree _| involving management Professional /
and supervision, | year of | managemen | 2% Level
Mun. Govt. Asst. which is relevant to tand Eligibility
23.93) ‘ on DRRM.
Local DRRM Officer | Master's 4 years in position 24 hours of | Career Service
V (SG 24) Degree involving management training in | Professional /
and supervision, 1 year of | managemen | 2 Level
which is relevant to tand Eligibility
DRRM supervision
| ‘on DRRM.
Local DRRM Officer | Bachelor's | 3 years in position 16 hours of | Career Service
Iv(SG22) Degree | involving management —_| relevant —_| Professional /
and supervision, | year of | training on | 2 Level
which is relevant to DRRM Eligibility
_ DRRM.
Local DRRM Officer | Bachelor's | 2 years in position Shours of | Career Service
TH (SG 18) Degree involving management relevant Professional /
and supervision, | year of | trainingon | 2™ Level
which is relevant to DRRM Eligibility
DRRM
Local DRRM Officer | Bachelor’s | 1 year in position 4 hours of | Career Service
11 (SG 15) Degree involving management relevant Professional /
and supervision, | year of | trainingon | 2™ Level
which is relevant t0 DRRM —_| Eligibility
DRRM
Local DRRM Officer | Bachelor's | None required ‘None Career Service
1(SG 11) Degree required Professional /
2™ Level
Eligibility
Local DRRM Completion | | year of relevant hours of | Career Service
Assistant (SG 8) of 2 years in | experience on DRRM_ relevant ‘Sub-
College training Professional /
1* Level
Eligibility

LGUS ARE HEREBY ALLOWED TO SET HIGHER QUALIFICATION
STANDARDS FOR DRRM_POSITIONS IN_THEIR_RESPECTIVE

STAFFING PATTERN, SUBJECT TO THE APPROVAL OF THE CIVIL
SERVICE COMMISSION.

(D) The provincial, city and municipal DRRMOs or BDRRMCs shall perform
the following functions with impartiality given the emerging challenges
brought by disasters of our times:

XXX

(E) The BDRRMC shall be a regular committee of the existing BDC and shall
be subject thereto. The punong barangay shall facilitate and ensure the
participation of at least two (2) CSO representatives from existing and active
‘community-based people’s organizations representing the most vulnerable and
‘marginalized groups in the barangay.”


Section 3. Perpetual Exemption from General Limitation on Total Appropriations for
Personnel Services. ~The budgetary requirements for personnel services of the DRRM Officer
and three (3) staff responsible for: (1) administration and training, (2) research and planning,
and (3) operations and warning, shall be sourced from the General Fund of the LGU and shall
be perpetually exempted from the enforcement of Section 325(a) of the Local Government
Code of 1991.

Section 4. Prohibition on Designation or Assignment of DRRM Personnel to
Concurrent Position, Detail or Transfer of DRRM Personnel to Other Positions. - No LGU
shall designate or assign any DRRM personnel to a concurrent capacity or otherwise detail or
transfer such personnel to other positions.

Section 5. Limitation on Staffing Augmentation. — No designation, assignment,
reassignment, detail or transfer of non-DRRM personnel to the LDRRMO shall be allowed,
unless all mandatory positions have been filled up.

Section 6. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — Within ninety (90) days from the
approval of this Act, the NDRRMC, in coordination with the DILG, DBM, CSC and other
relevant government agencies, shall formulate the necessary rules and regulations for the
effective implementation of this Act.

Section 7. Separability Clause. — If, for any reason, any section, clause or term of this
‘Act is held to be illegal, invalid, or unconstitutional, such parts not affected by such declaration
shall remain in full force and effect.

Section 8. Repealing Clause. — All laws, presidential decrees, issuances, executive
orders, letters of instruction, rules, and regulations inconsistent with the provisions of this Act
are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

Section 9. Effectivity Clause. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its

publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,