Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. _1749___ 
INTRODUCED BY HONORABLE LIANDA B. BOLILIA 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Due to its geographical location, the Philippines is exposed to high incidents of 
environmental hazards such as typhoons, floods, storm surges, tsunamis, 
earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, landslides, and droughts. This leaves various 
communities throughout the country in highly vulnerable situations. Typhoon Haiyan 
(Yolanda), one of the most powerful tropical cyclones ever recorded, was an example 
of how a natural disaster can devastate lives, properties, and entire communities. It 
left the country with more than 7,000 deaths (with thousands still unaccounted for) 
and 16 million affected people. The overall financial and economic impact of Typhoon 
Haiyan is estimated at $14 Billion.  
The Philippines ranked 17th in the world as the most affected country from extreme 
weather events in the Global Climate Risk Index (CRI) 2021 with a score of 26.67 
using 2019 data.1  In 2018, we ranked third in the  World Risk Index of most disaster-
prone countries in the world published by the United Nations University Institute of 
Environment and Human Security (UNU-HES), with a risk index of 27.69%. The 
Philippines also ranks third on the WRI’s list of countries with the greatest exposure 
to natural disasters, with a score of 52.46%, just ahead of Japan (45.91%).   
Given our exposure to threats of natural disasters, Republic Act No. 10121, otherwise 
known as the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010” 
(PDDRM), was enacted on 27 May 2010. The Act shifted the policy environment and 
the way the country deals with disasters from mere response to preparedness. RA 
10121 provides a comprehensive, all-hazard, multi-sectoral, inter-agency, and 
community-based approach to disaster risk management through the formulation of 
the National Disaster Risk Management Framework.2 
Notwithstanding the efforts and resources to reduce the risks and vulnerabilities to 
natural disasters, challenges are abounding so much so that our government’s efforts 
1 https://cpbrd.congress.gov.ph/images/PDF%20Attachments/Facts%20in%20Figures/FF2021-
09_Global_Climate_Risk.pdf 
2 http://www.lse.ac.uk/GranthamInstitute/law/philippine-disaster-reduction-and-management-act-ra-10121/ 
July 11, 2022
8:40 am


 
 
to achieve the DRRM objectives are hampered.  Some of the issues and challenges 
are: 
 
1. Weak coordination and collaboration among stakeholders – national 
government agencies, LGUs, civil society organizations, volunteers, and the 
private sector; 
2. Lack of capacity of line agencies and LGUs to perform DRRM functions; 
3. Less priority given to DRRM activities; 
4. Weak implementation of laws and policies; 
5. The lack of and difficulty in accessing DRRM data/information; 
6. Post-disaster focus of disaster funds; 
7. Monitoring of disaster fund expenditures; 
8. Slow disbursement of disaster funds; and  
9. Difficulty in tracking foreign disaster assistance.3 
 
The need for greater coordination and synchronization of disaster risk management 
at all levels should be a top priority. Thus, this measure will create a single agency 
that has a distinct and separate mandate for disaster management. The Department 
of Disaster Management shall be the focal government agency for policy-making, 
coordination, integration, supervision, monitoring and evaluation for all disaster and 
rehabilitation management policies and programs in the country.4  
 
With strong institutions, we can reverse the current trends of rising disaster impact. 
Everyone of us must be empowered to make decisions which reduce risk – from 
government to citizens.  
 
In view of the foregoing, the immediate enactment and approval of this bill is earnestly 
sought. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
LIANDA B. BOLILIA 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Representative 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
4th District, Batangas 
 
3 
https://www.senate.gov.ph/publications/SEPO/PB_Examining%20PH%20DRRM%20System_Revised_27June2
017.pdf 
4 This bill was patterned after Senate Bill 1553, otherwise known as, “An Act Creating the Department of 
Disaster and Emergency Management of 2017”, filed by Senator JV Ejercito in the 17th Congress.     


1 
 
Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
 
House Bill No. _1749___ 
 
 
INTRODUCED BY HONORABLE LIANDA B. BOLILIA 
 
AN ACT 
CREATING THE DEPARTMENT OF DISASTER MANAGEMENT, 
DEFINING ITS POWERS AND FUNCTIONS, APPROPRIATING 
FUNDS THEREFOR, 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 "Department of Disaster 
1 
Management Act." 
2 
 
3 
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State: 
4 
 
5 
a. To uphold the sacredness and dignity of human life by efficiently and effectively 
6 
addressing the vulnerabilities to disasters, through the establishment of a 
7 
focused, streamlined, independent, empowered, capacitated, full-time, 
8 
specialized agency on disaster risk reduction and management; 
9 
 
10 
b. To establish a permanent, institutionalized, cohesive and comprehensive 
11 
framework for disaster preparedness, prevention and mitigation, and response, 
12 
to be implemented by a full-time and focused specialized agency with its own 
13 
mandate, powers, and funding, in coordination and with the participation of the 
14 
Philippine government, other foreign governments and financial institutions, 
15 
international organizations, the private sector, and civil society. 
16 
 
17 
c. Inculcate a culture of awareness, resilience and preparedness, and 
18 
rehabilitation for natural and man-made disasters;  
19 
 
20 
d. To create an integrated, systematic, comprehensive, and cohesive plan to 
21 
simplify, streamline, integrate, and coordinate the various programs, projects, 
22 
and activities of the Government and such other actors/stakeholders in disaster 
23 
risk reduction and management to ensure accountability, responsibility, and 
24 
transparency, as well as to achieve efficiency and effectiveness of in the 
25 
performance of their functions. 
26 
 
27 
SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. - For purposes of this Act, the following shall refer to: 
28 
 
29 


2 
 
a. Disaster - a serious disruption of the functioning of a community or a society 
1 
involving widespread human, material, economic or environmental losses and 
2 
impacts, which exceeds the ability of the affected community or society to cope 
3 
using its own resources; 
4 
 
5 
b. Disaster Management - the organization and management of resources and 
6 
responsibilities for addressing all aspects of disasters, in particular 
7 
preparedness, response and initial recovery steps; 
8 
 
9 
c. Emergency - any occasion or instance for which, in the determination of the 
10 
President, national assistance is needed to supplement local government 
11 
efforts and capabilities to save lives and to protect property and public health 
12 
and safety, or to lessen or avert the threat of a catastrophe in any part of the 
13 
country; 
14 
 
15 
d. Evacuation Centers and Facilities - permanent and typhoon resilient structures 
16 
equipped with facilities constructed exclusively for evacuation and humanitarian 
17 
relief operations during disasters. 
18 
 
19 
e. Geographic Information System - a database which contains, among others, 
20 
geohazard assessments, information on climate change, and climate risk 
21 
reduction and management; 
22 
 
23 
f. Government - includes the National Government, and any of its subdivisions, 
24 
agencies or instrumentalities, including government owned and controlled 
25 
corporations and their subsidiaries, and Local Government Units; 
26 
 
27 
g. Hazard - a dangerous phenomenon, substance, human activity or condition that 
28 
may cause loss of life, injury or other health impacts, property damage, loss of 
29 
livelihood and services, social and economic disruption, or environmental 
30 
damage; 
31 
 
32 
h. Humanitarian - one devoted to the promotion of human welfare and the 
33 
advancement of social reform; 
34 
 
35 
i. Response - any and all projects, programs, plans, and activities pertaining to 
36 
act on or inaction to prevent/ mitigate, prepare for, and generally perform any 
37 
and all activities in relation to, disasters. This includes, but is not limited to, the 
38 
provision of public assistance during or immediately after a disaster. Disaster 
39 
response that is predominantly focused on immediate and short-term needs 
40 
and is sometimes called "disaster relief"; and 
41 
 
42 
j. State of Calamity - a condition involving mass casualty and/or major damages 
43 
to property, disruption of means of livelihoods, roads and normal way of life of 
44 
people in the affected areas as a result of the occurrence of natural or human-
45 
induced hazard. 
46 
 
47 
Chapter 1 
48 
THE DEPARTMENT PROPER 
49 
SEC. 4. Creation of the Department of Disaster Management. - To carry out the 
50 
above-declared policy, there is hereby created the Department of Disaster 
51 


3 
 
Management, hereinafter referred to as the Department, which shall prepare, 
1 
integrate, coordinate, implement, supervise, control, monitor, and evaluate all plans, 
2 
programs, projects, and activities of the Government on disaster risk reduction and 
3 
management. 
4 
 
5 
SEC. 5. Powers and Functions. - In addition to the powers and functions provided 
6 
by this Act, the Department shall also assume the policy-making, coordination, 
7 
integration, supervision, monitoring and evaluation functions currently lodged with the 
8 
existing National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), and 
9 
shall take over all of the latter's responsibilities enumerated in Section 6 of Republic 
10 
Act No. 10121. It shall also assume the powers and functions of the Office of the Civil 
11 
Defense (OCD) as enumerated in Section 9 of Republic Act No. 10121. 
12 
 
13 
The Department shall also have administrative supervision and control over the 
14 
existing Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Offices (RDRRMOs), and 
15 
the Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Offices (LDRRMOs), organized 
16 
in all provinces, cities/municipalities and barangays in the country, which are hereby 
17 
thereafter called Regional Disaster Management Offices (RDMOs) and Local Disaster 
18 
Management Offices (LDMOs), respectively. 
19 
 
20 
The Department shall also cause the identification, establishment and 
21 
maintenance of permanent evacuation centers and facilities in priority cities and 
22 
municipalities. 
23 
 
24 
SEC. 6. Composition. - The Department shall be composed of the Office of the 
25 
Secretary and the Offices of the Undersecretaries and Assistant Secretaries, and the 
26 
bureaus and services of the Department as well as Regional and Local Offices. 
27 
 
28 
 
The Provincial, City, Municipal, and Barangay Disaster Management Offices 
29 
and Rescue Teams shall be under the control and supervision of their respective local 
30 
government units. The Department shall exercise supervisory powers over such 
31 
offices. 
32 
SEC. 7. Office of the Secretary. - The Office of the Secretary shall be consisting of 
33 
the Secretary and his/her immediate staff.  
34 
 
35 
SEC. 8. The Secretary. - The Secretary shall be appointed by the President, subject 
36 
to confirmation by the Commission on Appointments. 
37 
 
38 
 
The Secretary shall have the following powers and functions; 
39 
 
40 
a. Advise the President in issuing executive orders, regulations, proclamations 
41 
and other issuances, the promulgation of which is expressly vested by law 
42 
in the President relative to matters under the jurisdiction of the Department; 
43 
 
44 
b. Establish the policies and standards for the effective, efficient, and 
45 
economical operation of the Department pursuant to a national disaster risk 
46 
reduction and management framework which shall provide for a 
47 
comprehensive, all-hazards, multi-sectoral. Interagency and community-
48 
based approach to humanitarian emergency assistance and disaster risk 
49 
reduction and management, in line with Section 6(a) of the Philippine 
50 
Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010; 
51 
 
52 


4 
 
c. Promulgate rules and regulations necessary to carry out department 
1 
objectives, policies, functions, plans, programs, and projects; 
2 
 
3 
d. Promulgate 
administrative 
issuances 
necessary 
for 
the 
efficient 
4 
administration of the offices under his/her jurisdiction and for the proper 
5 
execution of the laws relative thereto; 
6 
 
7 
e. Exercise direct supervision and control over all functions and activities of 
8 
the Department, as well as all its officers and personnel; 
9 
 
10 
f. Create regional offices and such other service units and divisions, as may 
11 
be necessary; and 
12 
 
13 
g. Perform such other functions as may be necessary and/or proper to attain 
14 
the objectives of this Act. 
15 
 
16 
SEC. 9. The Undersecretaries. - The Secretary shall be assisted by four (4) 
17 
Undersecretaries in the performance of the Department's functions and duties related 
18 
to the pillars of disaster risk reduction and management, namely, (a) disaster 
19 
preparedness, (b) disaster response, and (c) disaster prevention and mitigation. 
20 
Another undersecretary shall be in charge of administrative and finance services. 
21 
 
22 
 
The Undersecretaries shall be appointed by the President upon the 
23 
recommendation of the Secretary. 
24 
SEC. 10. Assistant Secretaries. - The Secretary shall also be assisted by six (6) 
25 
Assistant Secretaries. The Assistant Secretaries shall be appointed by the President 
26 
upon the recommendation of the Secretary. 
27 
 
28 
SEC. 11. Qualifications. - No person shall be appointed Secretary, Undersecretary, 
29 
or Assistant Secretary of the Department, unless he/she is a citizen and resident of 
30 
the Philippines, of good moral character, and of proven experience or competence/ 
31 
expertise in humanitarian emergency assistance and disaster management over the 
32 
course of his/her career. The Secretary, Undersecretary, or Assistant Secretary shall 
33 
not hold any other position, public or private, during his/her tenure. 
34 
 
35 
SEC. 12. Bureaus and Service. - Subject to the power of the Secretary, with the 
36 
approval of the President, to reorganize, restructure, and redefine the functions of the 
37 
bureaus and services for the effective discharge of the powers and functions of the 
38 
Department under this Act, the Department shall have the following bureaus and 
39 
service: 
40 
 
41 
a. Bureau of Hazard Education and Risk Mitigation; 
42 
 
43 
b. Bureau of Disaster Preparedness; 
44 
 
45 
c. Bureau of Humanitarian Emergency Relief Operations; and 
46 
 
47 
d. Bureau of Administration and Finance. 
48 
 
49 
SEC. 13. Powers and Functions of the Bureaus and Service. - The bureaus and 
50 
service shall have the following powers and functions; 
51 


5 
 
 
1 
a. The Bureau of Hazard Education and Risk Mitigation shall assist the 
2 
Secretary in the formulation of policies, programs, and plans related to 
3 
disaster prevention and mitigation, as defined in Sections 2(k) and 2(i), 
4 
respectively, of the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act 
5 
of 2010. In particular, it shall take the lead in: 
6 
 
7 
1. Making an inventory and checklist of all personnel, equipment, and 
8 
supplies critical during disasters in all local government units, in 
9 
accordance with protocols and contingency plans, and endeavoring that 
10 
the same be provided to the local government unit within a period of 
11 
twelve (12) months upon the passage into law of this Act; 
12 
2. Conducting a review of the National Building Code and Fire Code of the 
13 
Philippines, together with the relevant government department, and 
14 
submitting the results thereof to the Senate and House of 
15 
Representatives of the Philippines, with a view of developing legislation 
16 
which seeks to strengthen infrastructure In line with disaster prevention 
17 
and mitigation; 
18 
3. Developing, updating, and maintaining a national geographic information 
19 
system which shall be the basis of national, regional, and local disaster 
20 
protocols and contingency plans, which shall be under the control and 
21 
custody of the Department. The same shall also be maintained at all 
22 
local government units, as possible; 
23 
4. Mainstreaming and integrating disaster risk reduction and management 
24 
(DRRM) and climate change adaptation (CCA) in all national, sectoral, 
25 
regional and local development policies, plans and budgets, relating to 
26 
environmental protection, including, but not limited to, those for land use 
27 
and natural resource management, enforcement and updating of all 
28 
national legislation relating to modification of infrastructure towards 
29 
resiliency; 
30 
5. Developing and implementing community-based and scientific DRRM 
31 
and CCA hazard assessment, mapping, analysis, and monitoring; 
32 
6. Establishing disaster risk financing, insurance, and other risk transfer 
33 
mechanisms at the community level; 
34 
7. Establishing, developing and Improving the end-to-end monitoring and 
35 
forecasting of hazards, including early warning systems and practices; 
36 
and 
37 
8. Such other functions relevant to its mandate of disaster prevention and 
38 
mitigation. 
39 
 
40 
b. The Bureau of Disaster Preparedness shall assist the Secretary in the 
41 
formulation of policies, programs, and plans related to disaster 
42 
preparedness, as defined in Section 20 of the Philippine Disaster Risk 
43 
Reduction and Management Act of 2010. In particular, it shall take the lead 
44 
in; 
45 
 
46 
1. Developing DRRM and CCA information, communication and advocacy 
47 
plans; 
48 
2. Developing standard DRRM training modules and the conduct of 
49 
trainings, simulation exercises, and other capacity building activities for 
50 
communities and specific groups, including, but not limited to, quick 
51 


6 
 
respond teams, frontline government and private responders, and 
1 
humanitarian aid workers; 
2 
3. Developing and monitoring the implementation of locality based DRRM 
3 
contingency plans, and establishing/ monitoring the operations of 
4 
national and local Emergency Response Operation Centers; 
5 
4. Developing and implementing comprehensive, scenario-based national 
6 
and local preparedness policies, plans and systems, in primary 
7 
coordination with the local government unit/s concerned, in the wake of 
8 
an imminent humanitarian emergency and/or disaster. Such policies, 
9 
plans, and systems include, but are not limited to, preventive evacuation, 
10 
the procurement of facilities, equipment, tools, systems and other 
11 
mechanisms to cope with the effects thereof; the deployment of essential 
12 
personnel and manpower in critical areas of concern; and the formulation 
13 
of such other courses of action to avert the loss of lives, livelihood and/or 
14 
property; 
15 
5. Strengthening the partnership and coordination between and among all 
16 
key players and stakeholders in a humanitarian emergency and/or 
17 
disaster; 
18 
6. Preparing the criteria and procedure for the enlistment of accredited 
19 
community disaster volunteers (ACDVs), and the drafting of a manual of 
20 
operations for ACDVs, in consultation with relevant stakeholders; and 
21 
7. Such other functions relevant to its mandate of disaster preparedness. 
22 
 
23 
c. The Bureau of Humanitarian Emergency Relief Operations shall assist the 
24 
Secretary in the formulation and implementation of policies, programs, and 
25 
plans related to disaster response, as defined in Section 2(1) of the 
26 
Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010. In 
27 
particular, it shall take the lead in the following activities, in primary 
28 
coordination with the local government unit/s concerned: 
29 
 
30 
1. Establishing and implementing a comprehensive, well-coordinated, 
31 
effective, and efficient Disaster Response Action Plan (DRAP) for every 
32 
humanitarian emergency of disaster, with the primary goal of preventing 
33 
or deterring the loss of lives, property and livelihood; 
34 
2. Developing and implementing an integrated and coordinated system of 
35 
search, rescue and retrieval (SRR), and evacuations procedure; 
36 
3. Establishing a mechanism to ensure the prompt and accurate 
37 
assessment of damage in disaster areas, including, but not limited to, 
38 
the loss of lives, bodily injuries, damages to infrastructure and public 
39 
facilities, and the destruction of social, economic, cultural, and 
40 
environmental assets; 
41 
4. Establishing a mechanism to ensure the prompt and accurate 
42 
assessment of humanitarian needs in disaster areas, including, but not 
43 
limited to, food, nutrition, health, clothing, shelter, livelihoods, water, 
44 
sanitation, hygiene, protection, and the preservation of peace and order; 
45 
5. Identifying standard-based relief shelters and sites for internally 
46 
displaced persons, as well as developing and implementing of a set of 
47 
minimum standards for such temporary shelters; 
48 
6. Identifying priority cities and municipalities where the permanent 
49 
Evacuation 
Centers 
and 
Facilities 
shall 
be 
established 
and 
50 
recommending the need to establish the same in other local government 
51 
units; 
52 


7 
 
7. Consolidating the established evacuation centers in the local 
1 
government units and formulating a standard operating procedure in 
2 
maintaining these evacuation centers and ensuring their functionality 
3 
and operationality in times of disasters and emergencies; 
4 
8. Supplementing the efforts of the local government unit concerned in 
5 
providing basic social services, livelihood-oriented activities and 
6 
psychosocial interventions to the affected population, whether inside or 
7 
outside temporary shelters; and 
8 
9. Such other functions relevant to its mandate of disaster response. 
9 
 
10 
d. The Bureau of Administration and Finance shall be composed of the Office 
11 
of the Legal Counsel and the Financial and Management Office. The Office 
12 
of the Legal Counsel shall be responsible for providing legal services and 
13 
advice on all policies, programs, and operational matters of the Department. 
14 
It shall provide legal counseling services in cases where the Department is 
15 
a party and shall also handle administrative cases against any personnel of 
16 
the Department and submit recommendations pertaining thereto. 
17 
 
18 
Chapter 2 
19 
ATTACHED AGENCIES AND COORDINATION WITH OTHER 
20 
GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS 
21 
 
22 
SEC. 14. The Disaster Management Coordinating Council. - There shall be a 
23 
National Coordinating Council, hereinafter referred to as the Council, which shall 
24 
coordinate and integrate the efforts of the concerned government agencies and 
25 
offices, nongovernmental and people's organizations, and assist the Department in 
26 
the delivery of quick and efficient humanitarian relief operation among others in times 
27 
of disasters and emergencies. 
28 
 
29 
 
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) 
30 
referred to in Section 5 of the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management 
31 
Act of 2010 shall compose the Council and shall be headed by the Secretary of 
32 
Department of Disaster and Emergency Management. 
33 
 
34 
The Secretary is hereby empowered to constitute, call, convene, meet with, 
35 
and/or deputize agencies of government, or an aggrupation or cluster thereof, to 
36 
assist, advise or otherwise coordinate with the Secretary. The representatives from 
37 
the civil society/non-governmental organizations and the private sector may also be 
38 
included, as necessary, as members of the coordination mechanism called for by the 
39 
Secretary. 
40 
 
41 
SEC. 15. Relationship and Coordination with Other Government Departments. - 
42 
In the discharge of their respective responsibilities, the Department's bureaus shall 
43 
coordinate with the relevant Government departments, agencies, offices and 
44 
instrumentalities, those powers and functions are relevant to each bureau's respective 
45 
focus area. 
46 
SEC. 16. Attached Agencies. – The following agencies and offices and their 
47 
respective appropriation, records, equipment, and personnel are hereby transferred to 
48 
the Department: 
49 
(1) Office of Civil Defense (OCD); 
50 
(2) The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services 
51 
Administration (PAG-ASA); 
52 


8 
 
(3) Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS); 
1 
(4) Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP); 
2 
(5) Health Emergency Management Bureau (HEMB); 
3 
(6) Philippine Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Agency (PRRA); 
4 
(7) Philippine National Volunteer Service Coordinating Agency; 
5 
(8) Climate Change Office (CCO); 
6 
(9) Geo-Hazard Assessment and Engineering Geology Section of the Mines 
7 
and Geoscience Bureau; and 
8 
(10) 
Disaster Response Assistance and Management Bureau of the 
9 
Department of Social Welfare and Development. 
10 
 
11 
The attached agencies shall operate in accordance with their respective 
12 
organizational structures and perform functions and duties assigned to them by law.  
13 
 
14 
Chapter 3 
15 
THE HUMANITARIAN EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE AND DISASTER FUND, 
16 
DONATIONS, AND ACCOUNTABILITY 
17 
 
18 
SEC. 17. Disaster Management Funds. — The present National Disaster Risk 
19 
Reduction and Management Fund (NDRRM Fund) shall be known as the National 
20 
Disaster Management Fund (NDMF) and the Local Disaster Risk Reduction and 
21 
Management Fund (LDRRMF) shall be known as the Local Disaster Management 
22 
Fund (LDMF), respectively. 
23 
 
24 
The Department shall manage, mobilize, and with the approval of the President, 
25 
release resources for disaster risk reduction and management, including the funds 
26 
herein provided for. 
27 
 
28 
There shall also be created a regular fund for the personnel, resource 
29 
requirements, and other administrative costs related to the operations of the 
30 
Department. 
31 
 
32 
SEC. 18. Donations. - All monetary contributions, and donations in kind, including, 
33 
but not limited to, equipment, food, clothing, medicine, and related supplies from 
34 
international and local sources, shall be coordinated with the Department. This central 
35 
coordination mechanism would ensure that the same are equitably and properly 
36 
allocated and utilized, directly and solely/ exclusively for disaster risk reduction and 
37 
management efforts.  
38 
 
39 
The Department shall maintain and make publicly available a complete, 
40 
accurate, timely, and separate record of such donations, indicating the particular areas 
41 
where such were allocated, and the exact purposes for which the same were utilized. 
42 
 
43 
SEC. 19. Accountability, Responsibility, Transparency, and Access to 
44 
Information. - The Department and all regional and local councils and offices under 
45 
its supervision or control, shall make available to the public for scrutiny, copying, and 
46 
reproduction, (i) any and all records of their financial transactions, including, but not 
47 
limited to, donations received, funds allocated, and amounts disbursed; (ii) all 
48 
information pertaining to their official acts, transactions or decisions; and (iii) relevant 
49 
research data used as basis for policy development, regardless of the physical form 
50 
or format in which such record, information, or data is contained.  
51 
 
52 


9 
 
Chapter 4 
1 
ESTABLISHMENT OF PERMANENT AND TYPHOON-RESILIENT 
2 
EVACUATION CENTERS AND FACILITIES 
3 
 
4 
SEC. 20. Establishment of Evacuation Centers and Facilities. - There shall be 
5 
established permanent and typhoon-resilient Evacuation Centers and Facilities (ECF) 
6 
in priority municipalities and cities identified by the Department in coordination with the 
7 
Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the Department of the Interior and 
8 
Local Government (DILG) and local government units. This shall form part of the 
9 
national disaster risk reduction and management framework.  
10 
 
11 
The established evacuation centers prior to this Act shall be consolidated and shall 
12 
form part of the directory of ECFs under the control of the Department. 
13 
 
14 
SEC. 21. Administration. - The Regional Disaster Management Offices (RDMOs), 
15 
under the supervision of the Bureau concerned, shall lead the management, 
16 
maintenance, and operation of the newly established and existing ECFs.  
17 
 
18 
Chapter 4 
19 
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS 
20 
 
21 
SEC. 22. Visitorial Powers. - The Secretary of the Department and/or his/her 
22 
authorized representative shall have visitorial and examining authority over 
23 
governmental and non-governmental entities engaged in post-disaster relief in order 
24 
to ensure that all donations, financial or otherwise, coursed through them, are actually 
25 
used for disaster risk reduction and management efforts.  
26 
 
27 
During such examination, the entity concerned shall produce all the reports, 
28 
records, books of accounts, and other papers that may be required. 
29 
 
30 
The refusal by any such entity to allow an examination of its books of accounts 
31 
and pertinent records, or the concealment of any material information concerning its 
32 
financial status, shall constitute a legal ground for the cancellation of its registration, 
33 
and the revocation of all tax-exemption privileges and other benefits granted to it by 
34 
law, in the case of a nongovernmental entity, or the institution of any proper legal action 
35 
against the erring official concerned, in case of a governmental entity. 
36 
 
37 
SEC. 23. Stand-by Arrangements with the Private Sector. - At any time, the 
38 
Secretary of the Department shall have the power to negotiate, enter into, 
39 
institutionalize, and coordinate arrangements with any private person, natural or 
40 
juridical, for the purpose of ensuring the adequate, prompt, and ready availability of all 
41 
goods and services, necessary for disaster response, for as long as the emergency 
42 
circumstances require, to be deployed before, during, and after an emergency or 
43 
disaster, subject to the payment of just compensation in appropriate cases.  
44 
 
45 
SEC. 24. Commandeering Private Property for Public Purpose. - The Secretary of 
46 
the Department shall have the power to commandeer any private property for urgent 
47 
public purpose, subject to payment of just compensation in appropriate cases, when 
48 
there is a clear and present danger that a disaster or humanitarian emergency would 
49 
cause imminent loss of lives and/or the massive destruction of property, and time is of 
50 
the essence. The commandeering powers shall last no longer than necessary or for 
51 
as long as the circumstances require. 
52 


10 
 
 
1 
 
The refusal by any such person or entity to be commandeered, shall constitute 
2 
a legal ground for the cancellation of its registration, if any, and the revocation of all 
3 
tax-exemption privileges and other benefits granted to it by law, in the case of a non-
4 
governmental entity, .or the institution of any proper legal action against the erring 
5 
official concerned, in case of a governmental entity. In addition, the official of the 
6 
establishment, institution, or functionality shall be subjected to a fine and/or 
7 
imprisonment as provided for in Sec. 31 of this Act. 
8 
 
9 
SEC. 25. Declaration of State of Calamity. - Whenever warranted by circumstances, 
10 
the Department shall recommend to the President of the Philippines the declaration of 
11 
a state of national calamity and the lifting thereof. It shall also have the power to, motu 
12 
proprio or upon the favorable recommendation of the LDRRMCs, declare a cluster of 
13 
barangays, municipalities, cities, provinces, and regions under a state of calamity, and 
14 
the lifting thereof, based on the criteria set by the Department. The President's 
15 
declaration shall entail access to international humanitarian assistance, as deemed 
16 
necessary.  
17 
 
18 
The declaration and lifting of the state of calamity shall be based on the results 
19 
of the damage assessment and needs analysis. The causes, effects and incidents of 
20 
the calamity and the need for the declaration shall be specified. 
21 
 
22 
SEC. 26. Emergency and Contingency Powers. - Whenever it becomes necessary, 
23 
the Department Secretary, subject to the chain of command and with the consent of 
24 
the President, may call out the Armed Forces of the Philippines and/or the Philippine 
25 
National Police to prevent or suppress lawless violence, and to, ensure the protection 
26 
and preservation of life and/ or properties, in the whole range of disaster risk reduction 
27 
and management.  
28 
 
29 
In times of disasters, and whenever warranted by the circumstances, the 
30 
Department Secretary may call upon other instrumentalities or entities of the 
31 
government and nongovernment and civic organizations for assistance in terms of the 
32 
use of their facilities and resources for the protection and preservation of life and 
33 
properties in the whole range of disaster risk reduction and management. This 
34 
authority includes the power to call on the reserve force as defined in Republic Act No. 
35 
7077 to assist in relief and rescue during disasters or calamities. 
36 
 
37 
SEC. 27. Prohibited Acts. - In addition to the prohibited acts penalized under Section 
38 
20, in relation to Section 19, of the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and 
39 
Management Act of 2010:  
40 
 
41 
a. Any person, group or corporation who directly or indirectly requests or 
42 
receives any part of the funds devoted to disaster risk reduction and 
43 
management, as well as monetary contributions and donations in kind, 
44 
where such person, group or corporation has no right to receive such 
45 
proceeds from the fund, in whole or in part, monetary contribution or 
46 
donation, shall be guilty of the crime of corruption of calamity funds or 
47 
donations, and shall be prosecuted and upon conviction shall suffer a fine 
48 
of not less than Two Hundred Fifty Thousand Pesos (Php 250,000.00) or 
49 
any amount not to exceed One Million Five Hundred Thousand Pesos (Php 
50 
1,500,000.00) or Imprisonment of not less than twelve (12) years and one 
51 
(1) day, nor more than twenty (20) years, or both, at the discretion of the 
52 


11 
 
court, including perpetual disqualification from public office if the offender is 
1 
a public officer, and confiscation or forfeiture in favor of the government of 
2 
the objects and the instrumentalities used in committing the herein 
3 
prohibited act; 
4 
 
5 
b. Any person who, with intent to gain, but without violence against or 
6 
intimidation of persons nor force upon things, shall take personal property 
7 
devoted to any disaster risk reduction and management activity, without the 
8 
consent of the Secretary, shall be guilty of the crime of qualified theft, and 
9 
shall be prosecuted and upon conviction shall be punished by the penalties 
10 
next higher by three degrees than those respectively specified in Article 309 
11 
of the Revised Penal Code; 
12 
 
13 
c. Any public officer who, by reason of the duties of his office, is accountable 
14 
for calamity funds or property devoted to disaster risk reduction and 
15 
management efforts, shall appropriate the same or shall take or 
16 
misappropriate or shall consent, through abandonment or negligence, shall 
17 
permit any other person to take such public funds, or property, wholly or 
18 
partially, or shall otherwise be guilty of the misappropriation of malversation 
19 
of such funds or property, shall be punished by the penalties next higher by 
20 
three degrees than those respectively specified in Article 217 of the Revised 
21 
Penal Code; 
22 
 
23 
In all the above, if the offender is a corporation, partnership or 
24 
association, or other juridical entity, the penalty shall be imposed upon the 
25 
officer or officers of the corporation, partnership, association of entity 
26 
responsible for the violation, without prejudice to the cancellation or 
27 
revocation of these entitles license or accreditation issued to them by any 
28 
licensing of accredited body of the government. If such offender is an alien, 
29 
he or she shall, in addition to the penalties prescribed in this Act, be 
30 
deported without further proceedings after service of the sentence.  
31 
 
32 
The prosecution for the offenses shall be without prejudice to any liability 
33 
for violation of Republic Act No. 3185, as amended, otherwise known as the 
34 
Revised Penal Code, and other civil liabilities. 
35 
 
36 
SEC. 28. Appropriations. – The amount necessary for the initial implementation of 
37 
this Act shall be taken from the current fiscal year’s unexpended and unobligated 
38 
appropriations of all agencies herein absorbed, transferred and attached to the 
39 
Department. Thereafter, the amounts necessary for the operation of the Department 
40 
and the effective implementation of this Act shall be included in the Annual General 
41 
Appropriations Act.  
42 
 
43 
SEC. 29. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Department shall issue the 
44 
necessary rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act within 
45 
ninety (90) days after approval of this Act. The Secretary, in consultation with relevant 
46 
government agencies and other key stakeholders, shall take the lead in the 
47 
preparation of the implementing rules and regulations.  
48 
 
49 
SEC. 30. Annual Report. - The Department shall submit to the Office of the President, 
50 
the Senate, and the House of Representatives, within the first quarter of the 
51 


12 
 
succeeding year, an annual report relating to the progress of the implementation of all 
1 
disaster risk reduction and management efforts, and a detailed inventory of available 
2 
personnel, supplies and equipment. Such report shall be made available to the public 
3 
for scrutiny, copying, and reproduction, and shall also be uploaded in the Department's 
4 
website.  
5 
 
6 
SEC. 31. Congressional Oversight Committee. - There is hereby created a 
7 
Congressional Oversight Committee to monitor and oversee the implementation of the 
8 
provisions of this Act. The Committee shall be composed of six (6) members from the 
9 
Senate and six (6) members from the House of Representatives with the Chairpersons 
10 
of the Committees on National Defense and Security of both the Senate and the House 
11 
of Representatives as joint Chairpersons of this Committee.  
12 
 
13 
The five (5) other members from each Chamber are to be designated by the Senate 
14 
President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, respectively. The minority 
15 
shall be entitled to pro rata representation but shall have at least two (2) 
16 
representatives from each Chamber. 
17 
 
18 
SEC. 32. Repealing Clause. - All references to the NDRMMC in existing laws, 
19 
including, but not limited to, the Philippine National Disaster Risk Reduction and 
20 
Management Act of 2010, shall be understood to refer to the Department created 
21 
under this Act. All other laws, decrees, executive orders, proclamations, and other 
22 
executive issuances which are inconsistent with or contrary to the provisions of this 
23 
Act are hereby amended or repealed accordingly.  
24 
 
25 
SEC. 33. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this law is declared 
26 
unconstitutional, the remaining provisions thereof not affected thereby shall remain in 
27 
full force and effect.  
28 
 
29 
SEC. 34. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication 
30 
in the Official Gazette or in two (2) national newspapers of general circulation.  
31 
 
32 
Approved, 
33