Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. _______ 
INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE PM VARGAS 
AN ACT 
INCLUDING RESPONSIVE, EMPOWERED, AND SERVICE-CENTERED 
YOUTH IN THE DISASTER RISK REDUCTION AND MANAGEMENT 
COUNCIL IN ALL LEVELS, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC 
ACT NO. 10121, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE PHILIPPINE RISK 
REDUCTION AND MANAGEMENT ACT OF 2010 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Philippines, located at the rim of the turbulent Pacific Ocean and in 
the so-called "Ring of Fire", is extremely vulnerable to the climate crisis. In 
recent years, the country has endured major calamities, including Typhoon 
Yolanda (Haiyan) in 2013, which killed over 6,000 and affected 14 million 
people,  the 2013 Bohol earthquake and recurring typhoons in Mindanao. 
Historic disasters such as the 1990 Baguio earthquake, 1991 Pinatubo 
eruption, and the 2009 Storm Ondoy further highlight this vulnerability.  
Despite these challenges, Filipinos consistently show resilience and a 
strong spirit of volunteerism. The youth in particular, play a vital role—the 
schools serve as relief centers and youth groups lead community efforts. In 
Cebu City, (RAPID) Rescue Assistance Peacekeeping Intelligence Detail) has 
led major rescue missions, including during Typhoon Yolanda and a sea 
collision in Cebu. In Ormoc, the Hayag Youth Organization trains young 
people in disaster preparedness and water safety, contributing to the 
community’s safety during disasters.  
Given the country’s history of calamities, we must shift from a reactive 
relief to proactive preparedness, and youth must be at the center of this effort. 
This bill proposes including the Chairperson of the National Youth 
Commission (NYC) in the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management 
Council (NDRRMC). The NYC Chair will represent youth perspectives in 
disaster prevention, education, response, and recovery.  
August 4, 2025
8:00 am
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This measure acknowledges the youth’s critical role in disaster 
management and empowers them to help communities before, during and 
after crises.  
In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly 
sought. 
REP. PM VARGAS 
Fifth District, Quezon City 


Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. _______ 
INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE PM VARGAS 
AN ACT 
INCLUDING RESPONSIVE, EMPOWERED, AND SERVICE-CENTERED 
YOUTH IN THE DISASTER RISK REDUCTION AND MANAGEMENT 
COUNCIL IN ALL LEVELS, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC 
ACT NO. 10121, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE PHILIPPINE RISK 
REDUCTION AND MANAGEMENT ACT OF 2010 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines 
in Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as the "Youth Participation 
in Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act". 
SECTION 2. Section 3 of Republic Act No. 10121 is hereby amended as 
follows: 
SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. For purposes of this Act, the 
following shall refer to: 
xxx 
(PP) “YOUTH” – REFERS TO THOSE PERSONS AGED FIFTEEN (15) 
TO THIRTY (30) YEARS OLD AS PROVIDED UNDER REPUBLIC ACT 
NO. 8044. 
(QQ) "YOUTH PARTICIPATION" - REFERS TO THE PROCESS OF 
INVOLVING 
YOUNG 
PEOPLE 
IN 
THE 
INSTITUTIONS 
AND 
DECISIONS THAT AFFECT THEIR LIVES INCLUDING BUT NOT 
LIMITED TO ORGANIZING GROUPS FOR SOCIAL AND POLITICAL 
ACTIONS, PLANNING THEIR PROGRAMS, AND ADVOCATING 
THEIR 
INTEREST 
IN 
THE 
COMMUNITY 
TO 
RAISE 
CONSCIOUSNESS, EDUCATE OTHERS, AND PROVIDE SERVICES. 
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SECTION 3. Section 5 of the same Act is hereby amended as follows: 
 
Section 5. National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management 
Council. The present National Disaster Coordinating Council or 
NDCC shall henceforth be known as the National Disaster Risk 
Reduction and Management Council, hereinafter referred to as the 
NDRRMC of the National Council. 
xxx 
The National Council's members shall be the following: 
xxx 
(v) Commissioner of the National Anti-Poverty Commission Victims 
of Disasters and Calamities Sector (NAPCVDC): 
(W) CHAIRPERSON OF THE NATIONAL YOUTH COMMISSION 
(NYC); 
[(w)] (X) Chairperson, National Commission on the Role of Filipino 
Women; 
 
xxx 
SECTION 4. Section 7 of the same Act is hereby amended as follows: 
Section 7. Authority of the NDRRMC Chairperson. – The Chairperson 
of the NDRRMC may call upon other instrumentalities or entities of 
the government and non-government [and], civic, AND YOUTH 
ORGANIZATIONS, for assistance in terms of use of their facilities and 
resources for the protection and preservation of life and properties in 
the whole range of disaster risk reduction and management. This 
authority includes the power to call on the reserve force as defined 
in Republic Act No. 7077 to assist in relief and rescue during 
disasters or calamities. 
 
SECTION 5. Section 10 of the same Act is hereby amended as follows: 
 
Section 10. Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Organization 
at the Regional Level. - 
 
XXX 
The existing regional offices of the OCD shall serve as secretariat of 
the RDRRMCs. The RDMMCs shall be composed of the executives of 
regional offices and field stations at the regional level of the 
government agencies[.], AS WELL AS REPRESENTATIVES FROM 
THE CIVIL SOCIETY AND YOUTH ORGANIZATIONS. 


SECTION 6. Section 11 of the same Act is hereby amended as follows: 
Section 11. Organization at the Local Government Level. 
xxx 
 
(a) Composition: The LDRRMC shall be composed of, but not limited 
to, the following: 
 
xxx 
(17) A LOCAL YOUTH REPRESENTATIVE AS MAY BE 
DETEMINED BY THE LGU, IN CONSONANCE WITH THE 
GUIDELINES ISSUED BY NYC AND THE DEPARTMENT OF 
INTERIOR AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT (DILG); 
[(17)] (18) Four (4) accredited CSOs, members; and 
[(18)] (19) One (1) private sector representative, member. 
xxx 
SECTION 7. Section 12 of the same Act is hereby amended as follows: 
Section 12. Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office 
(LDRRMO) – 
 
xxx 
 
(c) 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 
(8) Conduct continuous disaster monitoring and mobilize 
instrumentalities and entities of the LGUs, CSOs, private 
groups 
and 
organized 
volunteers, 
INCLUDING 
YOUTH 
ORGANIZATIONS, to utilize their facilities and resources for the 
protection and preservation of life and properties during 
emergencies 
in 
accordance 
with 
existing 
policies 
and 
procedures; 
xxx 
 
(17) MONITOR AND ENSURE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF 
RESPONSE 
AND 
REHABILITATION 
PROGRAMS 
FOR 
CHILDREN AND YOUTH, SUCH AS MENTAL HEALTH AND 


PSYCHO-SOCIAL SERVICES, GENDER SENSITIVITY AND 
SECURITY, LIVELIHOOD AND EDUCATION; 
 
[(17)] (18) Within its area, promote and raise public awareness of and 
compliance with this Act and legislative provisions relevant to the 
purpose of this Act; 
 
xxx 
(d) 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 ONE (1) YOUTH 
REPRESENTATIVE, THROUGH THE GUIDELINES FORMULATED 
BY THE NYC AND THE DILG; AND two (2) CSO representatives from 
existing and active community-based people’s organizations 
representing the most vulnerable and marginalized groups in the 
barangay. 
SECTION 8. Section 13 of the same Act is hereby amended as follows: 
 
Section 13. Accreditation, Mobilization, and Protection of Disaster 
Volunteers and National Service Reserve Corps, CSOs, YOUTH 
ORGANIZATIONS, and the Private Sector. – The government 
agencies, CSOs, YOUTH ORGANIZATIONS, private sector, and LGUs 
may mobilize individuals or organized volunteers to augment their 
respective personnel complement and logistical requirements in the 
delivery of disaster risk reduction programs and activities. The 
agencies, CSOs, YOUTH ORGANIZATIONS, private sector, and LGUs 
concerned shall take full responsibility for the enhancement, welfare 
and protection of volunteers, and shall submit the list of volunteers 
to the OCD, through the LDRRMOs, for accreditation and inclusion 
in the database of community disaster volunteers. 
 
A national roster of ACDVs, National Service Reserve Corps, CSOs, 
YOUTH ORGANIZATIONS, and the private sector shall be 
maintained by the OCD through the LDRRMOs. Accreditation shall 
be done at the municipal or city level. 
YOUTH ORGANIZATIONS UNDER THE YOUTH ORGANIZATION 
REGISTRATION PROGRAM (YORP) OF THE NYC, ESPECIALLY 
THOSE THAT SPECIALIZE IN DISASTER RISK, REDUCTION AND 
MANAGEMENT, SHALL BE TAPPED BY THE NDRRMC TO ASSIST 
IN PREPARING FOR, RESPONDING TO, AND RECOVERING FROM 
DISASTERS. 
 
Mobilization of volunteers shall be in accordance with the guidelines 
to be formulated by the NDRRMC consistent with the provisions of 
this Act. Any volunteer who incurs death or injury while engaged in 
any of the activities defined under this Act shall be entitled to 


compensatory benefits and individual personnel accident insurance 
as may be defined under the guidelines. 
 
SECTION 9. Section 14 of the same Act is hereby amended as follows: 
Section 14. Integration of Disaster Risk Reduction Education into 
the School Curricula and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Program and 
Mandatory Training for the Public Sector Employees. 
 
The NDRRMC, the RDRRMCs, the LDRRMCs, the LDRRMOs, the 
BDRRMCs, [and] the SK councils, AND THE BARANGAY YOUTH 
REPRESENTATIVE, 
shall 
[encourage] 
ENSURE 
community, 
specifically the youth, participation in disaster risk reduction and 
management activities, such as organizing quick response groups, 
particularly in identified disaster-prone areas, as well as the 
inclusion of disaster risk reduction and management programs as 
part of the SK programs and projects. 
xxx 
 
SECTION 10. Section 15 of the same Act is hereby amended as follows: 
Section 15. Coordination During Emergencies. – 
xxx 
 
The NDRRMC and intermediary LDRRMCs shall always act as 
support to LGUs which have the primary responsibility as first 
disaster responders. Private sector and civil society groups, 
INCLUDING YOUTH ORGANIZATIONS, shall work in accordance 
with the coordination mechanism and policies set by the NDRRMC 
and concerned LDRRMCs. 
 
SECTION 11. Section 21 of the same Act is hereby amended as follows: 
Section 21. Local Disaster Risk” Reduction and Management Fund 
(LDRRMF). – 
The present Local Calamity Fund shall henceforth be known as the 
Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund (LDRRMF). 
Not less than five percent (5%) of the estimated revenue from regular 
sources shall be set aside as the LDRRMF to support disaster risk 
management activities such as, but not limited to, pre-disaster 
preparedness programs including training, purchasing life-saving 
rescue equipment, supplies and medicines, for post-disaster 
activities, and for the payment of premiums on calamity insurance. 
NOT LESS THAN FIVE PERCENT (5%) OF THE LDRRMF SHALL BE 
ALLOCATED TO SUPPORT YOUTH-ORIENTED PRE- AND POST- 


DISASTER ACTIVITIES INCLUDED IN THE YOUTH PLAN SUCH AS, 
BUT NOT LIMITED TO, TREE-PLANTING, TRAINING, INFORMATION 
DISSEMINATION, AND CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION EFFORTS. 
The LDRRMC shall monitor and evaluate the use and disbursement 
of the LDRRMF based on the LDRRMP as incorporated in the local 
development plans and annual work and financial plan. Upon the 
recommendation of the LDRRMO and approval of the sanggunian 
concerned, the LDRRMC may transfer the said fund to support 
disaster risk reduction work of other LDRRMCs which are declared 
under state of calamity. 
 
xxx 
SECTION 12. Non-Impairment Clause. – Nothing in this Act shall be 
construed as to diminish, impair, or repeal rights recognized, granted, or 
made available to disadvantaged, marginalized, or specific sectors under 
existing laws. 
 
SECTION 13. Separability Clause. – If any portion or provision of this Act 
is declared unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act or any provisions not 
affected thereby shall remain in force and effect. 
SECTION 14. Repealing Clause. – Any law, presidential decree or issuance, 
executive order, letter of instruction, rule or regulation inconsistent with the 
provisions of this Act is hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
 
SECTION 15. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days 
following its complete publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) 
newspapers of general circulation. 
 
Approved,