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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session  
House Bill No. ________ 
Introduced by REP. JAVIER MIGUEL L. BENITEZ 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Philippines ranks among the most disaster-vulnerable countries in the world, 
experiencing frequent and severe natural hazards such as typhoons, floods, earthquakes, 
and volcanic eruptions. In 2023 alone, over 2.2 million individuals were affected by such 
events across the country.1 At the forefront of preparedness, response, and recovery 
operations are the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (“DRRM”) Officers and 
Personnel who carry out these critical functions under challenging and high-risk 
conditions. 
Despite their indispensable role, many DRRM personnel remain in non-permanent 
positions, with limited access to benefits, inadequate training, and no clear career 
progression. According to the Commission on Audit (“COA”), some Local Governmetn 
Units (“LGU”) still do not have properly functioning Local DRRM Offices as required by 
law.2 This bill seeks to address these gaps by providing DRRM personnel with security 
of tenure, standardized compensation, hazard pay, access to mental health and wellness 
programs, and continuing professional development. 
It is the declared as the policy of the State to recognize the essential contribution of DRRM 
personnel in protecting lives, safeguarding communities, and minimizing disaster-
related losses. As such, the State shall ensure their institutional support, 
professionalization, and welfare as an integral component of a resilient and responsive 
governance framework. 
1 National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC). “SitRep No. 15 re Preparedness 
Measures for Typhoon Egay and Southwest Monsoon,” August 2023. 
2 Commission on Audit (COA). Annual Audit Report on the National Disaster Risk Reduction and 
Management Fund (NDRRMF), 2022. 
July 2, 2025
5:01 pm
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While existing laws such as Republic Act No. 10121 (2010) have laid the groundwork for 
DRRM systems and structures, there remains a pressing need to institutionalize support 
for the individuals responsible for their implementation. A 2021 Senate report also 
emphasized the lack of career development and support mechanisms for DRRM workers, 
particularly at the local level.3 This proposed Magna Carta seeks to fill that gap and to 
secure the rights, protection, and development of DRRM officers and personnel across all 
levels of government. 
In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
JAVIER MIGUEL L. BENITEZ 
3 Senate Economic Planning Office. “Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management: Issues and 
Challenges,” Policy Brief, January 2021. 


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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. ________ 
Introduced by REP. JAVIER MIGUEL L. BENITEZ 
AN ACT PROVIDING FOR A MAGNA CARTA OF DISASTER RISK REDUCTION AND 
MANAGEMENT OFFICERS AND PERSONNEL, INSTITUTIONALIZING 
THEIR RIGHTS, WELFARE, SECURITY OF TENURE, AND PROFESSIONAL 
DEVELOPMENT, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
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 “Magna Carta for 
Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Offices and Personnel.” 
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. – It is the policy of the State to recognize the critical 
role of Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (“DRRM”) Officers and Personnel in 
saving lives, protecting communities, and mitigating the adverse effects of disasters. In 
line with this, the State shall ensure the institutional protection, welfare, capacity-
building, and professionalization of DRRM workers to enhance climate resilience at all 
levels of governance. 
SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. – For the purposes of this Act, the following terms are 
defined as follows: 
(a) DRRM Officers and Personnel – refers to individuals employed, appointed,
designated, or contracted in the public sector in a permanent, temporary,
contractual, or job order capacity to perform disaster risk reduction and
management functions, including prevention, mitigation, preparedness,
response, recovery, and rehabilitation.
(b) DRRM Functions – includes risk assessment, planning, early warning,
emergency response, search and rescue, incident command, evacuation,
humanitarian logistics, disaster recovery, rehabilitation, preparedness
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programs, and other activities aligned with the four thematic areas under R.A. 
No. 10121. 
 
(c) DRRM Office – refers to the local or national government unit, division, or 
department responsible for implementing Republic Act No. 10121 (2010), 
including the Local DRRM Office (“LDRRMO”) or National Disaster Risk 
Reduction and Management Council (“NDRRMC”) Secretariat. 
 
SEC. 4. Coverage. – This Act shall apply to all DRRM officers and personnel 
engaged in DRRM-related functions, whether regular, permanent, contractual, or 
designated, in national government agencies, Local Government Units (LGU), state 
universities and colleges, and government-owned and controlled corporations. 
 
SEC. 5. Rights and Benefits. – DRRM Officers and Personnel shall be entitled to 
the following: 
 
(a) 
Security of tenure and protection against unjust termination or political 
interference; 
 
(b) 
Hazard pay not less than twenty percent (20%) of their monthly basic salary 
when exposed to hazardous conditions during operations; 
 
(c) 
Subsistence allowance and other risk-related compensation in accordance 
with law; 
 
(d) 
Legal assistance and indemnification for acts done in the lawful 
performance of duty; 
 
(e) 
Continuing education, specialized training, and access to scholarship and 
certification programs; 
 
(f) 
Access to psychosocial services, mental health programs, and wellness 
support; 
 
(g) 
Inclusion in government insurance, medical assistance, death and disability 
benefits; 
 
(h) 
Opportunities for promotion and merit-based career advancement; 
 
(i) 
Right to self-organization, collective negotiation, and participation in 
DRRM policy-making processes; 
 


 
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(j) 
Appropriate work-hour policies, compensatory time-off, and rest after 
prolonged deployment. 
 
SEC. 6. Standards and Qualifications. – The Civil Service Commission (“CSC”), 
in coordination with the Department of the Interior and Local Government (“DILG”), the 
Office of Civil Defense (“OCD”), and the Department of Budget and Management 
(“DBM”), shall: 
 
(a) 
Establish qualification standards, competency benchmarks, and plantilla 
positions for DRRM officers and personnel; 
 
(b) 
Institutionalize a competency-based framework to guide recruitment, 
training, and promotion; 
 
(c) 
Ensure DRRM personnel are designated or hired in all LGUs in accordance 
with the provisions of R.A. No. 10121.  
 
SEC. 7. Professional Development. – DRRM Officers and Personnel shall undergo 
mandatory training in accordance with standards prescribed by the OCD, the 
Department of Science and Technology (“DOST”), and other relevant agencies. They shall 
also have access to government-funded and accredited training, certification, and 
capacity-building programs. The OCD, in partnership with academic institutions and 
training providers, shall develop a standardized national training curriculum. 
 
SEC. 8. Institutional Mechanisms. 
 
(a) 
LGUs and national government agencies shall ensure the proper 
functioning of their DRRM offices and provide sufficient resources for DRRM personnel; 
 
(b) 
LGUs shall utilize their Local DRRM Fund (“LDRRMF”) to support the 
welfare, training, and logistical needs of DRRM personnel; 
 
(c) 
Agencies shall provide DRRM personnel with protective equipment, 
communications tools, mobility, and other logistical support necessary for effective and 
safe performance of duties; 
 
(d) 
National DRRM agencies shall integrate personnel welfare programs in 
their institutional plans. 
 
SEC. 9. Insurance and Benefits. – All DRRM Officers and Personnel shall be 
entitled to government service insurance coverage, including: 
 
(a) 
Death and permanent disability benefits for duty-related injury or death; 


 
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(b) 
Medical treatment and hospitalization; 
 
(c) 
Access to mental health support and post-trauma interventions; and 
 
(d) 
Accident insurance coverage during deployment or training. 
 
SEC. 10. Health, Wellness, and Safety Programs. – Employing agencies shall 
institute programs that promote physical, mental, and emotional well-being, including 
mandatory health assessments, psychological debriefing post-deployment, and wellness 
leave. 
 
SEC. 11. Database and Monitoring. –  The DILG and OCD shall establish and 
maintain a national registry of all DRRM officers and personnel, monitor compliance with 
this Act, and submit an annual report to Congress on the implementation of the Magna 
Carta and the status of DRRM human resources nationwide. 
 
SEC. 12. Funding. – The amount necessary for the implementation of this Act shall 
be charged against current appropriations and shall thereafter be included in the annual 
General Appropriations Act. Local government units shall likewise allocate funds to 
support DRRM personnel under their jurisdiction. 
 
SEC. 13. Implementing Rules and Regulations (“IRR”). – Within ninety (90) days 
from the effectivity of this Act, the CSC, in coordination with the DBM, DILG, OCD, and 
other relevant agencies, shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations to 
implement this Act. 
 
SEC. 14. Separability Clause. – If any provision of this Act is declared 
unconstitutional or invalid, the other provisions not affected thereby shall remain in full 
force and effect. 
 
SEC. 15. Repealing Clause. – All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders, and 
rules inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified 
accordingly. 
 
SEC. 16. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
 
Approved,