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Republic of the Philippines DATE
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES UNE
Quezon City
16 Congress

20 Regular Session

5758

HOUSE BILL NO._“*

INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE ALFREDO D, VARGAS IIL

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Philippines located at the rim of the turbulent Pacific Ocean and in the so-called
“Ring of Fire” (an area where a large number of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions
occur in the basin of the Pacific Ocean), is extremely vulnerable to climate change.

In the past few years alone, the country was battered by a series of natural calamities.
One of the most devastating was typhoon Haiyan in November 2013, called locally as
typhoon “Yolanda’, one of the deadliest typhoons in Philippine History. It killed more
than 6,000 and affected some 14 million people. The October 2013 Bohol earthquake
devastated Bohol, Cebu and most of Central Visayas.

Also, for several Decembers now, Mindanao had been hit by typhoons which devastated
large swaths of areas. Within living memory, the Philippines fell victim to such disasters
as, among others, the July 16, 1990 Baguio earthquake, 1991 Pinatubo explosion, 2009
Storm Ondoy, several Ormoc and Leyte landslides.

But despite these disasters or natural calamities, the Philippines had always been to rely
on our people's resilience and spirit of volunteerism, which are rare source of comfort
and inspiration for our often beleaguered nation.

Our youth sector, specifically, serves as beacon of hope and catalyst of action, Our
schools often become depositories of donations and efficient centers for packing and
deployment of relief goods. There is never a dearth of willing volunteers.

In our Queen City of the South ~ Cebu City - there are volunteer firefighters, first
responders and peacekeepers in their respective localities, such as the Rescue
Assistance Peacekeeping Intelligence Detail (RAPID)

In Eastern Visayas, there is the Hayag Youth Organization, based in Ormoc, Leyte.

Cebu City's RAPID has vast experience in relief and rescue operation. Its personnel were
among the earliest responders in Tacloban City after the onslaught of Typhoon Yolanda.
Last year, in Cebu’s waters, RAPID also helped rescue passengers of a passenger vessel
which collided with a cargo ship.


Ormoc-based Hayag, on the other hand, had been teaching disaster preparedness, first
aid, swimming and open water safety training, among others to young people. When
typhoon Yolanda hit Ormoc City in November 2013, it was happily clear that they have
successfully taught their members since no one among them had a major accident,

Given the Philippines’ sad history with regards to disasters, it is necessary and
important to segue from post-disaster relief to proactive disaster preparedness.

It is equally important to include young Filipinos in these activities, evolving discussion
and preparation, We need to engage our youth in our quest to build a country that
capable of efficiently responding to natural calamities and of reducing these calamities’
damagev and negative impact on the affected areas in their trying times.

This legislative proposal seeks to include the Chairperson of the National Youth
Commission (NYC) as a member of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and
Management Council (NDRRMC) or the National Council.

The NYC Chairperson shall be the voice for the concerns, proposals and interests of the
Filipino Youth. He shall act as a sounding board for the youth on, among others,
disasters prevention, promotion education, rescue and rehabilitation,

This legislative measure will go a long way in including the Filipino youth in the nation’s
disaster risk reduction policy body, It recognizes the youth's role in disaster and risk
management, and empowers them with the information and skills to help affected
communities in times of crisis.

For all abovementioned reasons, the approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

ALEBENO U. VARGAS IIL


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

16% Congress
2e¢ Regular Session

5758

HOUSE BILL NO.

INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE ALFREDO D. VARGAS III

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 SCT 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 of 2014”.

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:
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(PP) “YOUTH” - REFERS TO THOSE PERSONS AGED FIFTEEN (15) TO THIRTY
YEARS OLD AS PROVIDED UNDER REPUBLI 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.

Section 3. Section 5 of RA No. 10121 is hereby amended as follows:

Section 5. National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council. - The present
National Disaster Coordinating Council of NDCC shall henceforth be known as the


National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, hereinafter referred to
as the NDRRMC of the National Concil.

The National Council shall be headed by the Secretary of the Department of National
Defense (DND) as Chairperson with the Secretary of the Department of the Interior
and Local Government (DILG) as Vice Chairperson for Disaster Preparedness, the
Secretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) AS Vice
Chairperson for Disaster Response, the Secretary of the Department of Science and
Technology (DOST) as Vice President for Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, and
the Director-General of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA)
as Vice Chairperson for Disaster Rehabilitation and Recovery.

The National Council's members shall be the following:

(v) Commissioner of the National Anti-Poverty Commission-Victims of
Disasters and Calamities Sector (NAPCVDC):

(W) CHAIRPERSON OF THE NATIONAL YOUTH COMMISSION (NYC);
[(w)] 09 Chairperson, National Commission on the Role of Filipino Women;
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Section 4. Section 7 is hereby amended to read 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, 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 is hereby amended to read as follows:

Section 10 . Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Organization at the Regiohal
Level. - The current Regional Disaster Coordinating Councils shall henceforth be
known as the Regional Risk Reduction and Management Councils (RDRRMCs)
which shall coordinate, integrate, supervise, and evaluate the activities of the
LDRRMCs. The RDRRMCs. The RDRRMC shall be responsible in ensuring disaster
sensitive regional development plans, and in case of emergencies shall convene the
different regional line agencies and concerned institutions and authorities.

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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 thesregional level of the government agencies, AS WELL AS
REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE CIVIL SOCIETY AND YOUTH ORGANIZATIONS.

Section 6. Section 11 is hereby amended to read as follows:

Section 11. Organization at the Local Government Level. - The existing Provincial,
City and Municipal Disaster Coordinating Councils shall henceforth be known as the
Provincial, City, and Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Councils.
The Barangay Disaster Coordinating Councils shall cease to exist and its powers and
functions shall henceforth be assumed by the existing Barangay Development
Councils (DCs) which shall serve as the LDRRMCs in every barangay.

(a) Composition: The LDRRMC shall be composed of, but not limited to, the
following:

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(15) The President of the Association of Barangay Captains (ABC), member;
(16) A LOCAL YOUTH REPRESENTATIVE AS MAY BE DETEMINED BY THE
LGU, IN CONSONANCE WITH THE GUIDELINES ISSUED BY NYC AND THE
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT (DILG);
{[(16)] (17) The Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC), member;
[(17)] (18) Four (4) accredited CSOs, members, and
{(18)] (19) One (1) private sector representative, member.
Section 7. Section 12 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 provincial, city, municipal DRRMOs or BDRRMcs shalll perform the following

functions with impartiality given the emerging challenges brought by disasters
of our time;


(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:

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(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:

[@7)] (48) Within the area, promote and raise public awareness of and
compliance with this Act and legislative provisions relevant to the purpose of
this Act;

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(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; THE
CHAIRPERSON; 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 is hereby amended to read as follows:

Section 13. Accreditation, Mobilization, and Protection of Disaster Volunteers and
National Service Reserve Corps, CSOs and the Private Sector. - The government
agencies, CSOs, YOUTH ORGANIZATIONS, private sector and LGUs may mobilize
individuals or organize 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 takr full responsibility for the enhancement,
welfare and protection of volunteers, and shall submit the list of volunteers for 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 ESPECIALIZE 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 is hereby amended to read 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 DepEd, the CHED, the Technical Education and Skills
Development Authority (TESDA) in coordination with the OCD, the National Youth
Commission (NYC), the DOST, the DENR, the DILG-BFP, the DOH. The DSWD and
other relevant agencies, shall integrate disaster risk reduction and management
education, including the National Service Training Program (NSTP), whether private
or public, including formal and non-formal, technical-vocational, indigenous
learning, and out-of-school youth courses and programs.

The NDRRMC, the RDRRMCs, the LDRRMCs, the BDRRMCs, the SK councils, AND
THE BARANGAY YOUTH REPRESENTATIVE, shall ENSURE COMMUNITY
PARTICIPATION, SPECIFICALLY THE YOUTH, [encourage community, specifically
the youth participation] in disaster risk reduction and management activities, such
as organizing quick response groups, particularly in indentified disaster-prone
areas, as well as, the inclusion of disaster risk reduction and management programs
as part of the SK programs and projects.

The public sector employees shall be trained in emergency response and
preparedness, The training is mandatory for such employees to comply with the
provision of this Act. ,

Section 10. Section 15 is hereby amended to read as follows:

Section 15. Coordination During Emergencies, ~ The LDRRMCs shall take the lead in
preparing for, responding to, and recovering from the effects of any disaster based
on the following criteria:

(a) The BDC, ifa barangay is affected;

(b) The city/municipal DRRMG, if two (2) or more barangays are affected;


(c) The provincial DRRMG, if two (2) or more cities/municipalities are affected;
(@) The regional DRRMC, if two (2) or more provinces are affected; and

(e) The NDRRMC, if two (2) or more regions are affected.

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 is hereby amended to read 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, The LDRRMC shall monitor and evaluate the
use and 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.

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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.

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Section 12. All other laws, decrees, executive orders, proclamations, and other executive

issuance's which are inconsistent with or contrary to the provisions of this Act are hereby
amended or repealed accordingly.

Section 13. If any provision of this Act shall held unconstitutional or invalid, the other
provisions not otherwise affected shall remain in full force and effect.


Section 14. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following its complete publication in
the Official Gazette or in two (2) national newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,