NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
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S.B. No.
SENATE
186
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‘22 JUL-7 P4 41
RliCEi'vLiJ ir
Introduced by SENATOR IMEE R. MARCOS
AN ACT
CREATING THE NATIONAL RESILIENCY AND DISASTER MANAGEMENT 
AUTHORITY, PRESCRIBING ITS POWERS AND FUNCTIONS, 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Article II, Section 5 of the 1987 Constitution provides that the State shall 
maintain peace and order and protect life and property. The State recognizes Its duty 
to ensure immediate and continuing means of assistance by the National Government 
to local government units on their responsibility in reducing the loss of life and 
property and protect the nation from all hazards.
The Philippines is an archipelago situated in the Pacific ring of fire, with more 
than 7,000 islands and 36,000 kilometers coastline that makes the country highly 
vulnerable to natural disasters.
The Philippines is one of the third most disaster-prone countries in the world. 
Apart from natural calamities, armed conflict and other man-made hazards further 
threaten the lives of Filipino communities. The country is said to be a "haven for 
terrorists" and was reported as one of the countries with the greatest number of 
terrorist organizations over the last decade. According to the Institute for Economics 
and Peace in its 2022 Global Terrorist Index (GTI), the Philippines ranked 16th on the 
list of countries most impacted by terrorism. One of the most significant terrorist attack 
In the Southeast Asia in the last fifteen (15) years was the siege In Marawi City, 
resulting in Php 18.6 billion in damages and losses.
The current practice in disaster risk reduction requires going through different 
government agencies delaying the mobilization of resources in times of disaster. 
During these events, lives are put in danger, basic needs like food, shelter water, and 
utilities are compromised and public infrastructures destroyed.
The bill seeks to create an Authority rather than a Department because the 
National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) itself prefer to 
be under the Office of the President since their response and rescue capabilities


require the cooperation of other departments and agencies. Moreover, the additional 
creation of a department would be in contrast to the administration's effort and 
direction in rightsizing the government.
Thus, it is imperative that an Authority be created under the Office of the 
President which will have the capacity to exercise command and control over 
concerned departments, agencies, government-owned and controlled corporations, 
and local government units, including the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and 
the Philippine National Police (PNP), on their respective functions, and be able to 
provide immediate response in times of disaster and other hazards.
In light of this, the approval of this bill is earnestly sought.
IMEE R. MARCOS


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE
S.B. No. 186
C. <vj;
'(0h'up of uif C'T' ' pt up
’22 JUL-7 P4:41
RHCEiVlD B'
Introduced by SENATOR IMEE R. MARCOS
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AN ACT
CREATING THE NATIONAL RESILIENCY AND DISASTER MANAGEMENT 
AUTHORITY, PRESCRIBING ITS POWERS AND FUNCTIONS,
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Phiiippines in 
Congress assembled:
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "National Resiliency 
and Disaster Management Authority Act"
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - The State shall uphold the people's right to life 
and property, strengthen the country's institutional capacity for disaster resiliency and 
disaster management, strengthen the capacities of departments, agencies, and Local 
Government Units (LGUs) in mitigating, preparing, responding, and recovering from 
the impact of disasters.
SEC. 3. National Resiliency and Disaster Management Authority. - There is 
hereby created the "National Resiliency and Disaster Management Authority^' 
hereinafter referred to as the "Authority" which shall be under the Office of the 
President.
The Authority shall be the primary agency responsible for preparing, leading, 
organizing, and managing the government's effort to disaster resiliency and 
management, including coordination with different departments, agencies, and LGUs 
In the different phases of disaster: (1) Prevention and Mitigation, (2) Preparedness, 
(3) Response, (4) Rehabilitation and (5) Recovery.
The Authority shall be empowered with policy-making, coordination, Integration, 
supervision, monitoring, implementation, evaluation, and capacityl9 building 
functions. The primary mission of the Agency is to reduce the loss of life and property 
and protect the country from all hazards, including natural and man2 made disasters 
and armed conflicts.


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Upon its creation, a Resiliency Administrator shall be appointed by the President,
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having a rank of cabinet secretary, who shall manage and coordinate the effective
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implementation of this Act.
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SEC. 4. Powers and Functions. - The Authority shall have the following powers
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and functions:
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(1) Formulate, in coordination with the Council, the "National Resiliency and Disaster
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Management Plan," as provided in Sections 5 and 6 of this Act;
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(2) Issue administrative directives and promote operational skills and capacities to
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implement strategies, policies, and improved disaster resilience and
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management capacities in order to lessen the adverse impacts of hazards;
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(3) Monitor the integration of disaster resilience and climate change adaptation in
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the national development plans and create an enabling environment that shall
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promote multi-stakeholder participation of concerned departments, agencies,
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local government units, organizations, and other stakeholders;
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(4) Coordinate and exercise command and control with the concerned departments,
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agencies, government-owned and controlled corporations, and local government
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units, including the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine
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National Police (PNP), on their respective functions in times of disaster and other
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hazards;
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(5) Organize, train, equip, and maintain a response capacity system for search,
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rescue, and retrieval and delivery and distribution of relief goods;
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(6) Monitor the implementation of this Act and the active participation of the
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concerned departments, agencies, government-owned and controlled
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corporations, and local government units, including the AFP and the PNP; and
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(7) Perform such other functions as may be necessary for the effective
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implementation of this Act.
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SEC. 5. Council. - To ensure the effective implementation of this Act, a "National
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Resilience and Disaster Management Cot/nc//"hereinafter referred to as the "Council,"
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shall be constituted to assist the Authority which shall be composed of the following:
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(1) Secretary of the Department of National Defense (DND);
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(2) Secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG);
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(3) National Security Adviser of the National Security Council (NSC)
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(4) Secretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD);
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(5) Secretary of the Department of Health (DOH);
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(6) Secretary of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH);
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(7) Secretary of the Department of Agriculture (DA);
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(8) Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources
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(DENR);


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(9) Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST);
(10) Secretary of the Department of Information and Communications 
Technology (DICT); and
(11) One (1) Commissioner from the Climate Change Commission.
The abovementioned members shall be considered as ex officio members.
SEC. 6. National Resiliency and Disaster Management Plan. - Within ninety (90) 
days after the effectivity of this Act, the Authority shall establish a "National Resiliency 
and Disaster Management Plan" hereinafter referred to as the "Plan" which shall 
contain a comprehensive, all hazards, multi-sectoral, inter-agency, and community- 
based strategy that shall build and strengthen capabilities necessary to prepare, 
respond, and recover from natural disasters, armed conflicts, and other man-made 
disasters while also building the unique capabilities necessary to respond to specific 
types of incidents that may pose greater risk.
The Plan shall set goals, objectives, and the guidelines for disaster resiliency and 
management in national and local levels, with a whole-of-nation approach. It shall 
also serve as the principal guide for the implementation of this Act and shall be 
reviewed every three (3) years thereafter, or as may be deemed necessary.
For purposes of this Act, "resilience"shall mean the ability of a system exposed 
to hazards to be able to, continuously and all year round, resist, absorb, respond, and 
recover from the immediate effects of a hazard, natural or man-made calamity, and/or 
armed conflict in a timely and efficient manner.
SEC. 7. Preparedness and Early Warning. - The Authority shall establish 
standards for disaster preparedness, contingency planning, localizing, 
operationalizing, disaster risk and vulnerability reduction and management, 
preparedness for disaster response, preparedness for disaster response and early 
recovery, continuity of essential needs and services, and other relevant preparedness 
activities.
The Authority shall mandate concerned government departments and agencies, 
such as the DOST, DICT, DILG, AFP, and PNP to establish integrated early warning 
systems, including information mechanisms, regarding meteorological, geologic, or 
terrestrial phenomena and man-made threats from real-time data both local and 
international sources.
The LCDs shall assist the Authority in identifying and/or establishing safe or 
strategic sites and evacuation centers with adequate facilities and in hazards 
assessment.
Provided/ That, early warning system shall refer to the set of capacities needed 
to generate and disseminate timely and meaningful warning information to enable 
individuals, communities, and organizations threatened by a hazard to prepare and to 
act appropriately and in sufficient time to reduce the possibility of harm or loss. The


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system comprises of the following elements: (1) knowledge of risks; (2) monitoring,
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analysis, and forecasting of the hazards; (3) communication or dissemination of alerts
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and warnings; and (4) local capabilities to respond to the warning received.
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SEC. 8. Disaster Response and Early Recovery. - The Authority shall ensure the
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provision of emergency services and public assistance during or immediately after a
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disaster or armed conflict in order to secure and save lives, reduce health impacts,
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ensure public safety and meet the basic subsistence needs of the people affected.
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Such response includes Immediate relief assistance focused on immediate and short-
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term needs of the victims and the vulnerable.
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The Authority may declare a state of calamity, when appropriate, of affected
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barangays, municipalities, cities, provinces, and region and the lifting thereof based
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on the criteria set forth by the Council. Provided that, the declaration and lifting of the
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declaration may be issued by the LGUs, through a Resolution by the concerned
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Sanggunian, or by the President through the recommendation of the Authority based
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on the results of the damage and assessment and needs analysis.
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The Authority shall ensure that the concerned departments and agencies, such
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as the DOH, DPWH, and DSWD will deliver immediate and adequate goods, articles,
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and/or equipment for relief assistance to affected areas.
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Emergency responders, community practitioners, and organized volunteer
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organizations may contribute by providing timely and efficient emergency response
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and providing training on basic life support, first aid, and search and rescue, in
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accordance with the standards as may be provided by the Authority.
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SEC. 9. Rehabilitation and Recovery. - The Authority shall coordinate and ensure
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that concerned departments and agencies, such as the DSWD, DPWH, and DOH
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prepare, organize, implement, and manage post-disaster assessment and recovery
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and rehabilitation programs, in coordination with the affected LGUs, and other
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stakeholders.
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Rehabilitative measures should provide the affected individuals and communities
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the ability to restore their normal level of functioning by restoring livelihoods and
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services, reconstructing damaged infrastructures and increasing the communities'
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organizational capacity, among others.
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The Authority shall also encourage and promote an approach to expedite
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rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts. Provided that, the principle of "Build Forward
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Better" shall be applied to rehabilitation and recovery efforts. For purposes of this Act,
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"Build Forward Better"shaW refer to an approach to building and/or reconstructing an
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area or community, which entails a shift from simple recovery and restoration to safer,
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more adaptive, resilient, and inclusive communities.
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SEC. 10. Regional Offices. - Upon the effectivity of this Act, Regional Offices
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shall be established in each region which shall be headed by a Regional Administrator


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who shall be appointed by the Resiliency Administrator and shall have the expertise
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in emergency response and management taking into consideration his/her familiarity
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with the geographic and demographic characteristics of the region.
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Provided that, no person shall be appointed Regional Administrator unless he/she
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is a citizen and resident of the Republic of the Philippines, is of good moral character,
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and is of proven competence and integrity.
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The Regional Administrator shall have the following responsibilities:
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(a) Ensure coordinated and integrated regional preparedness, protection, response,
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recovery, and mitigation activities and programs for natural disasters, acts of
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terrorism, and other man-made disasters (including planning, training, exercises,
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and professional development);
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(b) Assist in the development of regional capabilities needed for a national
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catastrophic response system;
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(c) Coordinate the establishment of effective regional operable and interoperable
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emergency communications capabilities with the concerned stakeholders;
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(d) Designate an individual responsible for the development of strategic and
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operational regional plans In support of the Framework;
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(e) Foster and promote the development of mutual aid and other cooperative
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agreements;
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(f) Identify critical gaps In regional capabilities to respond to populations with special
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needs;
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(g) Maintain and operate a Regional Response Coordination Center;
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(h) Coordinate with the private sector to help ensure private sector preparedness for
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natural disasters, armed conflicts, and other 
man-made disasters;
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(i) Assist State, local, and tribal governments, where appropriate, to pre-identify and
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evaluate suitable sites where a multijurlsdictional incident command system 
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quickly be established 
and operated from, if the need for such a system arises;
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and
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(j) Perform such other responsibilities, as may be necessary in the implementation of
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this Act.
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SEC. 11. Donations. - The Authority shall have the power to receive donations
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and grants from any person, government institution, corporation, international
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organization, and other similar entities, and the power to recommend the procurement
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of developmental assistance for the purpose of disaster risk and vulnerability reduction
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and management and climate change adaptation.


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The importation and donation of food, clothing, medicine, and equipment for
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relief and recovery and other disaster management and recovery-related supplies is
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authorized in accordance with Sec. 800 of R.A. No. 10863 otherwise known as the
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''Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA)/' as amended, and the prevailing
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provisions of the General Appropriations Act. Provided that, the Authority shall
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acknowledge, through receipts, ail donations and grants to ensure judicious
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management including proper and accurate audit reporting.
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SEC. 12. International Humanitarian Assistance. - The Authority, in coordination
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with the Council, shall promulgate guidelines on international assistance including
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Initiation, entry, facilitation, transit, regulation, and termination thereof, as well as
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those involving international disaster relief and personnel assisting international
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actors, visa waiver, recognition of foreign professional qualifications, entry of
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international disaster goods and equipment, and exemption from port duties, taxes,
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and restrictions.
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In the event that the Authority determines that domestic response capabilities
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are not sufficient, the Authority may recommend to the President that request/s be
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made for International humanitarian assistance.
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SEC. 13. Visa Waiver. - As may be determined by the Authority, eligible assisting
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international actors who shall perform disaster relief and initial recovery assistance
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shall be entitled to waiver of entry visa requirements, including associated fees and
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charges, in so far as such are still needed in the affected areas.
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SEC. 14. Customs Facilitation and Priority Treatment - The Bureau of Customs
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(BOC) shall facilitate and assist in the rapid Importation and/or consignment of goods
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and equipment by eligible assisting actors and shall accord them priority treatment In
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handling.
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SEC. 15. Exemption from Import Duties, Taxes, and Restrictions. - Consignment
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of goods and equipment by or on behalf of eligible assisting International actors shall
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benefit from exemption of all duties and taxes; waiver of economic prohibitions and
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restrictions, except for categories of special goods, as may be determined by the
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Authority; and clearance without regard to the country of origin or the country from
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which the goods have arrived, subject to monitoring for public health and security
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concerns.
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SEC. 16. Emergency Procurement. - In order to expedite disaster response and
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recovery, the procurement or lease of equipment and delivery of goods and services
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through emergency procurement or purchase at site shall be allowed. Periods of action
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on procurement activities may also be waived for the same purpose and conditions.
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SEC. 17. Disaster Resilience and Climate Change Management Information
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System. - The Authority shall establish a Disaster Resilience 
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Climate Change
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Management Information System which shall constitute an online central database of


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all disaster and climate change data including a geographic information system 
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mapping, geo-hazard assessment, climate risks, disaster-risk analysis, and climate
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change vulnerability assessment. Such Information System shall be made available to
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all concerned departments and agencies.
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SEC. 18. Transfer and Attachment - Upon the effectivity of this Act, the
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applicable powers, functions, funds, assets, personnel, and appropriation of the
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National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) shall be
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transferred to the Authority.
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SEC. 19. Fiscal Management - The Authority shall manage all funds
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appropriated to it by Congress and from other sources, including donations as
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provided in Sec. 11 of this Act.
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SEC. 20. National Disaster Resilience Fund (NDRF). - The utilization and
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allocation of the entire NDRF and its quick response fund component shall be managed
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by the Authority except as provided in other laws.
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SEC. 21. Appropriation. - The amount needed for the implementation of this Act
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shall be included in the General Appropriations Act (GAA).
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SEC. 22. Implementing Rules and Regulations - Within ninety (90) days, the
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Authority, in coordination with the Council, shall Issue the necessary rules and
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regulations for the effective Implementation of this Act.
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SEC. 23. Separability Clause. - If any portion or provision of this Act is declared
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unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act or any provision not affected thereby shall
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remain in force and effect.
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SEC. 24. Repealing Clause. - All provisions of existing laws, orders, rules and
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regulations or parts thereof which are in conflict or Inconsistent with the provisions of
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this Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.
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SEC. 25. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days following
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the completion of its publication either in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of
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general circulation in the Philippines.
Approved,