Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
‘Second Regular Session

House Bill No. 5637

Introduced by HON. IRWIN C. TIENG; HON. MARIANO MICHAEL M. VELARDE
and HON. JOSE L. ATIENZA, JR.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Philippines is one of the world’s disaster-prone countries due to its
geographical location. Recent natural calamities have brought enormous damage and
devastation to the lives and property of our countrymen such as the super typhoon
Yolanda.

The most vulnerable to the effect of these natural disasters are our young people
who may experience trauma. However, our youth can be the very people who can make:
a real difference especially in time of disasters owing to their ability to bring about
meaningful change in social behavior and attitudes.

This bill seeks to involve Filipino youth in the nation’s disaster risk reduction
management. This will include the membership of the National Youth Commission
(NYC) Chairman in the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council
(NDRRMC). He will serve as an instrument in reaching out the concerns and proposals
of the youth related to disaster prevention, promotion, education, rescue, rehabilitation
and other activities.

It is high time that we encourage our youth to participate in the implementation of
disaster risk reduction activities and involve them in decision making and planning. By
educating and empowering our youth, they become aware of their responsibilities and
potentjal to take an active part in the efforts to make our communities safer and more
resiliefy to disasters.

MARIANO MICHAEL M. VELARDE

JOSE L. ATIENZA, JR.


HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

House Bill No.__ 0637

Introduced by HON. IRWIN C. TIENG, HON. MARIANO MICHAEL M. VELARDE
and HON. JOSE L. ATIENZA, JR.

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 DISASTER RISK REDUCTION AND
MANAGEMENT ACT OF 2010

BE IT ENACTED by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines
in Congress assembled.

Section 1. 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 (RA) 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 (30) YEARS OLD AS PROVIDED UNDER REPUBLIC ACT
(RA) 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 RANo. 10121 is hereby amended as follows:

Section 5. National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council. -
The present National Disaster Coordinating Councilor NDCC shall henceforth
be known as the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council,
hereinafter referred to as the NDRRMC or the National Council.


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

(W) CHAIRPERSON OFTHE NATIONAL YOUTH COMMISSION
(NYC);

[(w)] (X) 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 nongovernment, CIVIC, AND YOUTH ORGANIZATIONS, for
assistance in terms of the 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
Regional Level. - The current Regional Disaster Coordinating Councils shall
henceforth be known as the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and
Management Councils (RDRRMCs) which shall coordinate, integrate,
supervise, and evaluate the activities of the LDRRMCs. 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 RDRRMCs 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 is hereby amended to read as follows:

Section 11. Organization at the Local Gavernment 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 (BDCs) 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
DETERMINED BY THE LGU, IN CONSONANCE WITH THE
GUIDELINES ISSUED BY NYC AND THE DEPARTMENT OF THE
INTERIOR AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT (DILG);

[(16)] (47) 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.

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(b) 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:

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(8) Conduct continuous disaster monitoring and mobilize
instrumentalities and entities of the LGUs, CS0s, 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;

[(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;

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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 SK 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 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 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 in the
school curricula of secondary and tertiary level of 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 LDRRMOs, 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 identified 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 provisions of this Act.

Section 10. Section 15 is hereby amended to read as follows:
Section 15. Coordination During Emergencies. - The LORRMCs 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, if a barangay is affected;


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

(c) The provincial DRRMC, if two (2) or more cities/municipalities are
affected;

(d) 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 LDRRIMCs.

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
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.

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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 be held unconstitutional or invalid, the other

provisions not otherwise affected shall remain m full force and effect.
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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.