Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _______ 
Introduced by HON. JORGE DANIEL S. BOCOBO 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
“If one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,’ but does 
nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?”  
James 2:16 
The Philippines, being located within the Pacific Ring of Fire and the typhoon belt, is no 
stranger to natural hazards and calamities. In recent years, the country has endured countless 
typhoons, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, floods, conflagrations, and other hazards, many of 
which have grown more intense. In 2024 alone, the Philippines endured one of its most active 
typhoon seasons on record with six tropical cyclones entering the country within just three 
weeks, affecting over 16 million people with an estimated damage of P15.6 billion1. That same 
year, the Office of Civil Defense2 reported 225 occurrences of small-scale natural hazards for 
2024—the most of which are flash floods or flooding, followed by tornadoes, destructive winds, 
or strong winds, and fire incidents. The Bureau of Fire Protection also recorded 18,256 fire 
incidents for 2024, causing nearly P14 billion in property damage and claiming 341 lives3. 
Beyond natural disasters, the country also confronts various man-made hazards and other 
humanitarian emergencies, including industrial accidents, environmental degradation, health 
crises, and public safety threats such as armed conflict and terrorism, which compound the 
risks faced by vulnerable communities. 
As a former barangay chairman, I have seen firsthand the realities faced by our local 
government units before, during, and after disasters and emergencies. I witnessed the 
struggles of communities left reeling from floods, fires, and typhoons. In those moments, our 
constituents looked to us for leadership, relief, and protection. 
The City of Taguig is fortunate to have invested heavily in disaster preparedness and 
community resilience. Over the years, our city has strengthened its disaster response 
capabilities, equipped our barangays, and trained personnel to respond quickly when 
calamities strike. These efforts have helped save lives and reduce losses. 
Yet, not all local government units are as fortunate. Many barangays and municipalities are 
left to shoulder responsibilities far greater than their limited resources. This gap is where 
1 World Food Programme (2025). 2024 Typhoon Season: WFP Philippines Response Report. Retrieved from 
https://www.wfp.org/publications/2024-typhoon-season-wfp-philippines-response-report 
2 as cited in PSA (2025). Compendium of Philippine Environment Statistics Highlights. Retrieved from 
https://psa.gov.ph/content/total-225-small-scale-natural-hazard-occurred-philippines-2024 
3 https://mb.com.ph/2025/1/5/bfp-nationwide-2024-fire-incidents-up-by-1-823-from-previous-year 
August 27, 2025
5:25 pm
4116


national government must step in—not to replace local leadership, but to empower and 
support it by providing adequate resources and better coordination. 
It is for this reason that a national Emergency Response Department (ERD) is hereby 
proposed—to ensure that every Filipino community, regardless of size or wealth, has the 
support it needs in the face of disaster. 
Under this proposed measure, the ERD shall serve as the lead implementing agency of a 
national master plan for disaster resilience. It shall institutionalize a whole-of-government and 
whole-of-society approach, ensuring that policies are no longer aspirational but operational, 
and that resources reach people when they need them most. With direct accountability over 
the four pillars of disaster risk reduction—prevention, response, recovery, and rehabilitation—
the ERD will provide a solution-driven mechanism to protect lives and build resilience in every 
community. 
The Bible, in James 2:16, captures the essence of meaningful service. It reminds us that words 
of comfort mean little if not matched with action. Preparedness and response, therefore, must 
go beyond rhetoric. In times of disaster, sympathy alone cannot rebuild homes, restore 
livelihoods, or save lives. What our people need is not just compassion, but concrete, 
immediate, and effective assistance. 
In view of the foregoing, the passage of the bill is earnestly sought. 
JORGE DANIEL S. BOCOBO 


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _______ 
Introduced by HON. JORGE DANIEL S. BOCOBO 
AN ACT CREATING THE EMERGENCY RESPONSE DEPARTMENT (ERD), 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as the “Emergency Response Department 
(ERD) Act”. 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State: 
(a) To uphold the sacredness of human life by efficiently and effectively addressing
humanitarian emergencies, including calamities and disasters, through the
establishment of a focused, streamlined, independent, empowered, capacitated, full-
time, specialized agency on disaster risk reduction and management as well as
emergency response, which is national in scope and civilian in character. The people
are the most important assets of the nation, and all disaster risk reduction and
management efforts, including preparations for, anticipation, response to, and
recovery from the impact of disasters, shall be responsive to the humanitarian needs
of the people, the dignity and value of the human person, and respect for property.
Recognizing that a strong and timely disaster response is essential to achieving our
long-term development goals, it is the policy of the State to ensure that emergency
measures are integrated into the recovery, rehabilitation, and development efforts.
Emergency measures is a step towards long-term development;
(b) To promote a simplified, strategic, systematic, continuous, comprehensive, inclusive,
and integrated approach to disaster risk reduction and management, with the end in
view of substantially reducing vulnerabilities and the risk of disasters and other
humanitarian emergencies, through principles such as Build Right at First Sight and
Anticipatory Action, and the utilization of science-based and data-driven decision-
making across all levels across the disaster risk reduction and management response,
towards the preservation of life and property, thereby ultimately preventing or reducing
the loss of lives and the social, economic, cultural, and environmental assets of the
country;
(c) To value the dignity of every human person and guarantee full respect for human
rights, as enshrined in Section 11, Article II of the 1987 Constitution. The state shall
establish a permanent, institutionalized, cohesive and comprehensive policy
framework for disaster preparedness, prevention and mitigation, and response,
anchored on best available science-based and data-driven approaches, to be
4116


implemented by a full-time and focused specialized agency with its own mandate, 
powers, and funding, in coordination and with the participation of the Philippine 
government, other foreign governments and financial institutions, international 
organizations, the private sector, and civil society.  
 
In disaster risk reduction and management, disaster prevention and mitigation shall, 
first of all, aim the outright avoidance of the adverse impacts of hazards and related 
disasters. However, with the knowledge and capacities to effectively anticipate, 
respond to, and recover from, the impacts of likely, imminent or current hazard events 
or conditions, preparedness action shall be carried out in the most effective and 
efficient manner. In a disaster scenario, the response shall ensure the provision of 
emergency services and public assistance, during or immediately after, a disaster; 
 
(d) To create an integrated, systematic, comprehensive, and cohesive plan to simplify, 
streamline, integrate, and coordinate the various programs, projects, and activities of 
the Government by implementing a whole-of-government approach. This includes 
collaboration with other actors/stakeholders in disaster risk reduction and management 
and post-disaster rebuilding and rehabilitation efforts, consistent with One Country 
Team Approach as adopted in Executive Order No 74, s. 1993, to ensure policy 
coherence, alignment of priorities, and effective coordination in the program delivery 
to ensure accountability, responsibility, and transparency, and enhance efficiency and 
effectiveness of all involved institutions in the performance of their functions; and, 
 
(e) Toward a unified emergency system, the State shall sustain and strengthen the “911” 
Nationwide Emergency Hotline established under Executive Order No. 56, series of 
2018, as the unified center for all requests for police, fire, medical, rescue and disaster-
related assistance. 
  
SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. – For purposes of this Act, the following shall refer to: 
 
(a) Anticipatory Action – action taken to reduce the adverse humanitarian and other 
impacts of a forecasted hazard before it occurs, or before its most acute impacts are 
felt. It is performed by any individual, organization, or concerned government agency 
to mitigate a disaster’s impact on people, animals, and properties that are likely to be 
affected; 
 
(b) Contingency Planning – a management process that analyzes specific potential events 
or emerging situations that might threaten society or the environment and establishes 
arrangements in advance to enable timely, effective and appropriate responses to such 
events and situations; 
 
(c) Disaster – a serious disruption of the functioning of a community or a society involving 
widespread human, material, economic or environmental losses and impacts, which 
exceeds the ability of the affected community or society to cope using its own 
resources; 
 
(d) Disaster management – is the organization, planning and application of measures 
preparing for, responding to, and recovering from disasters; 
 
(e) Disaster Risk – is the potential loss of life, injury, or destroyed or damaged assets 
which could occur to a system, society or a community in a specific period of time, 
determined probabilistically as a function of hazard, exposure, vulnerability and 
capacity; 
(f) Disaster Risk Assessment – the qualitative or quantitative approach to determine the 
nature and extent of disaster risk by analysing potential hazards and evaluating 


existing conditions of exposure and vulnerability that together could harm people, 
property, services, livelihoods and the environment on which they depend; 
 
(g) Disaster risk management (DRM) – is the application of disaster risk reduction policies 
and strategies to prevent new disaster risk, reduce existing disaster risk and manage 
residual risk, contributing to the strengthening of resilience and reduction of disaster 
losses; 
 
(h) Disaster risk reduction (DRR) – is aimed at preventing new and reducing existing 
disaster risk and managing residual risk, all of which contribute to strengthening 
resilience and therefore to the achievement of sustainable development; 
 
(i) Emergency – any occasion or instance for which, in the determination of the President, 
national assistance is needed to supplement local government efforts and capabilities 
to save lives and to protect property and public health and safety, or to lessen or avert 
the threat of a catastrophe in any part of the country; 
 
(j) Emergency Management – the organization and management of resources and 
responsibilities for addressing all aspects of emergencies, in particular preparedness, 
response and initial recovery steps; 
 
(k) Exposure – the situation of people, infrastructure, housing, production capacities and 
other tangible human assets located in hazard-prone areas; 
 
(l) Geographic Information System – a database which contains, among others, geo-
hazard assessments, information on climate change, and climate risk reduction and 
management; 
 
(m) Government – includes the National Government, and any of its subdivisions, agencies 
or instrumentalities, including government-owned and controlled corporations and their 
subsidiaries, and Local Government Units; 
 
(n) Hazard – a dangerous phenomenon, substance, human activity or condition that may 
cause loss of life, injury or other health impacts, property damage, loss of livelihood 
and services, social and economic disruption, or environmental damage; 
 
(o) Humanitarian – promoting and ensuring compliance with the principles of humanity, 
neutrality, impartiality, and independence. Humanitarian action must be autonomous 
from the political, economic, military or other objectives that any actor may hold with 
regard to areas where humanitarian action is being implemented;  
 
(p) Pre-Disaster Risk Assessment – the process of evaluating a hazard’s level of risk given 
the degrees of exposure and vulnerability in a specific area. It presents the possible 
impacts on the people, animals, production capacities, environmental services, and 
properties and is basis to determine the appropriate level of response actions from the 
national government agencies down to LGUs; 
 
(q) Response – any and all projects, programs, plans, and activities pertaining to action 
or inaction to prevent/mitigate, prepare for, and generally perform any and all activities 
in relation to, disasters and other humanitarian emergencies. This includes, but is not 
limited to, the provision of emergency services and public assistance during or 
immediately after a disaster. Disaster response that is predominantly focused on 
immediate and short-term needs and is sometimes called “disaster relief”;  
 


(r) State of Calamity – a condition involving mass casualty and/or major damages to 
property, disruption of means of livelihoods, roads and normal way of life of people in 
the affected areas as a result of the occurrence of natural or human-induced hazard; 
 
(s) State of Imminent Disaster (SID) – a legal regime declared by the President, or by a 
Local Chief Executive (LCE) within the limits of their jurisdiction, when a PDRA 
demonstrates that an extreme hazard is highly probable to occur and cause severe 
impacts within at least seventy‑two (72) hours; and, 
 
(t) Vulnerability – the conditions determined by physical, social, economic and 
environmental factors or processes which increase the susceptibility of an individual, 
a community, assets or systems to the impacts of hazards. 
 
Chapter I 
THE DEPARTMENT PROPER 
  
SECTION 4. Emergency Response Department. – To carry out the above-declared policy, 
there is hereby created the Emergency Response Department, hereinafter referred to as the 
Department, which shall plan, prepare, integrate, coordinate, implement, supervise, control, 
monitor, and evaluate, and improve all policies, plans, programs, projects, and activities of the 
Government on humanitarian emergency assistance and disaster risk reduction and 
management, mobilizing convergence using the whole of government and the whole of 
society, including the international development community. 
 
SECTION 5. Powers and Functions. – The Department shall exercise the powers and 
functions relevant to Disaster Risk Reduction, Disaster Preparedness and Response, and 
Recovery, in collaboration with the relevant departments, agencies, and other stakeholders. 
 
In addition to the powers and functions provided by this Act, the Department shall also assume 
the policymaking, coordination, integration, supervision, monitoring and evaluation functions 
currently lodged with the existing National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council 
(NDRRMC), and shall take over all of the latter’s responsibilities enumerated in Section 6 of 
Republic Act No. 10121. It shall also assume the powers and functions of the Office of the 
Civil Defense (OCD) as enumerated in Section 9 of Republic Act No. 10121.  
 
To this end, all references to the NDRMMC and the OCD in Republic Act No. 10121 shall be 
understood to refer to the Department created under this Act.  
 
The Emergency 911 Office created pursuant to Executive Order No. 56, s. 2018, is hereby 
attached to the Department for policy and program supervision. The Emergency 911 National 
Office shall continue to function as the primary implementing office of the Emergency 911 
National Program. 
 
The Department shall also have administrative supervision and control over the existing 
Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Offices (RDRRMOs), and the Local 
Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Offices (LDRRMOs), organized in all provinces, 
cities/municipalities and barangays in the country, which are hereby thereafter called Regional 
Emergency Response Offices (REROs) and Local Emergency Response Offices (LEROs), 
respectively. 


  
SECTION 6. Composition. – The Department Proper shall be composed of the Office of the 
Secretary and the Offices of the Undersecretaries and Assistant Secretaries, and the bureaus 
and services of the Department, including field units under Section 5 hereof. 
 
SECTION 7. Office of the Secretary. – The Office of the Secretary shall consist of the 
Secretary and immediate support staff. 
  
The Secretary shall be appointed by the President, subject to confirmation by the Commission 
on Appointments.  
  
The Secretary shall have the following powers and functions: 
  
a) Advise the President in issuing executive orders, regulations, proclamations and other 
issuances, the promulgation of which is expressly vested by law in the President 
relative to matters under the jurisdiction of the Department; 
 
b) Establish the policies and standards for the effective, efficient, and economical 
operation of the Department pursuant to a national disaster risk reduction and 
management framework that is science-based, data-driven, and risk-informed, which 
shall provide for a comprehensive, all-hazards, multi-sectoral, inter-agency and 
community-based approach to humanitarian emergency assistance and disaster risk 
reduction and management; 
 
c) Promulgate rules and regulations necessary to carry out department objectives, 
policies, functions, plans, programs, and projects that are science-based and data-
driven; 
 
d) Promulgate administrative issuances necessary for the efficient administration of the 
offices under his/her jurisdiction and for the proper execution of the laws relative 
thereto; 
 
e) Exercise direct supervision and control over all functions and activities of the 
Department, as well as all its officers and personnel; 
 
f) Create field units and such other service units and divisions, as may be necessary, 
subject to applicable laws, rules and regulations;  
 
g) Serve as Co-Chairperson of the Emergency 911 Commission jointly with the Secretary 
of the DILG; and,  
 
h) Perform such other functions as may be necessary and/or proper to attain the 
objectives of this Act.    
 
SECTION 8. The Undersecretaries.  – The Secretary shall be assisted by four (4) 
Undersecretaries in the performance of the Department’s functions and duties related to the 
pillars of disaster risk reduction and management, namely, (a) disaster preparedness, (b) 
disaster response, and (c) disaster prevention and mitigation. Another undersecretary shall be 


in charge of internal management to oversee legal, planning, administrative and finance 
services.4 
  
The Undersecretaries shall be appointed by the President upon the recommendation of the 
Secretary. They shall have the powers and functions, as provided in Section 10, Chapter 2, 
Book IV of the Administrative Code of 1987, relative to the scope of their responsibilities. 
  
The Office of the Undersecretaries shall consist of the Undersecretaries and their respective 
immediate staff. 
 
SECTION 9. Assistant Secretaries. – The Secretary shall also be assisted by three (3) 
Assistant Secretaries, one (1) for training; one (1) for operations; and one (1) for legal affairs. 
The Assistant Secretaries shall be appointed by the President upon the recommendation of 
the Secretary. 
 
SECTION 10. Qualifications. – No person shall be appointed Secretary, Undersecretary, or 
Assistant Secretary of the Department, unless he/she is a Filipino citizen, of good moral 
character, and of proven experience or competence/expertise in humanitarian relief 
assistance and disaster risk reduction and management, local and regional governance, 
economics and other social sciences, physical science and green infrastructure, community 
development, among other related disciplines.  
  
SECTION 11. Bureaus and Services. – Subject to the power of the Secretary, with the 
approval of the President, to reorganize, restructure, and redefine the functions of the bureaus 
and services for the effective discharge of the powers and functions of the Department under 
this Act, the Department shall have the following bureaus and services: 
  
(a) Bureau of Hazard Education and Risk Mitigation; 
 
(b) Bureau of Disaster Preparedness;  
 
(c) Bureau of Humanitarian Emergency Relief Operations;  
 
(d) Bureau of Data Science; 
 
(e) Bureau of Administration and Finance; 
 
SECTION 12. Powers and Functions of the Bureaus and Services. - The bureaus and 
service shall have the following powers and functions: 
 
(a) The Bureau of Hazard Education and Risk Mitigation shall assist the Secretary in the 
formulation of policies, programs, and plans related to disaster prevention and 
mitigation, as defined in Sections 2(k) and 2(i), respectively, of the Philippine Disaster 
Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010. In particular, it shall take the lead in: 
 
(1) Making an inventory and checklist of all personnel, equipment, and supplies 
critical during disasters in all local government units, in accordance with 
protocols and contingency plans, and endeavoring that the same be provided 
to the local government unit within a period of twelve (12) months upon the 
passage into law of this Act; 
 
(2) Conducting, in coordination with relevant agencies, a review of the National 
Building Code and Fire Code of the Philippines, and submitting the results 
 
4 Section 15, EO No. 292 or the Administrative Code of 1987 


thereof to the President, as also recommended by heads of line agencies 
concerned, for authorization for adoption and implementation, and to the 
Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines, with a view of 
developing legislation, which seeks to strengthen infrastructure in line with 
disaster prevention and mitigation; 
 
(3) Developing, updating, and maintaining a national geographic information 
system which shall be the basis of national, regional, and local disaster 
protocols and contingency plans, which shall be under the control and custody 
of the Department. The same shall also be maintained at all local government 
units, as possible; 
 
(4) Mainstreaming and integrating disaster risk reduction and management 
(DRRM) and climate change adaptation (CCA) in all national, sectoral, regional 
and local development policies, plans and budgets, relating to environmental 
protection, including, but not limited to, those for land use and natural resource 
management, enforcement and updating of all national legislation relating to 
modification of infrastructure towards resiliency; 
 
(5) Developing and implementing community-based and best available science-
based and data-driven DRR-CCA hazard assessment, mapping, analysis, and 
monitoring; 
 
(6) Establishing disaster risk financing, insurance, and other risk transfer 
mechanisms at the community level; 
 
(7) Establishing, developing and improving the end-to-end monitoring and 
forecasting of hazards, including early warning systems and practices; 
 
(8) Such other functions relevant to its mandate of disaster prevention and 
mitigation. 
 
(b) The Bureau of Disaster Preparedness shall assist the Secretary in the formulation of 
policies, programs, and plans related to disaster preparedness, as defined in Section 
2(j) of the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010. In 
particular, it shall take the lead in: 
 
(1) Developing DRRM and CCA information, education, communication and 
advocacy plans; 
 
(2) Developing standard DRRM training modules and the conduct of trainings, 
simulation exercises, and other capacity-building activities for communities and 
specific groups, including, but not limited to, quick respond teams, frontline 
government and private responders, and humanitarian aid workers; 
 
(3) Establishment of a 24-hour National Operation Center consolidating all relevant 
information on disaster prevention such as hazard maps, hospitals, evacuation 
centers, NDRRMC offices, among others; 
 
(4) Developing and monitoring the implementation of locality-based DRRM 
contingency plans; 
 
(5) Developing and implementing comprehensive, scenario-based national and 
local preparedness policies, plans and systems, in primary coordination with 
the local government unit/s concerned, in the wake of an imminent 


humanitarian emergency and/or disaster. Such policies, plans, and systems 
include, but are not limited to, preventive evacuation; the procurement of 
facilities, equipment, tools, systems and other mechanisms to cope with the 
effects thereof; the deployment of essential personnel and manpower in critical 
areas of concern; the conduct of rapid needs assessment to identify the needs 
of the affected population; and the formulation of such other courses of action 
to avert the loss of lives, livelihood and/or property;  
 
(6) Strengthening the partnership and coordination between and among all key 
players and stakeholders in a humanitarian emergency and/or disaster; 
 
(7) Preparing the criteria and procedure for the enlistment of accredited community 
disaster volunteers (ACDVs), and the drafting of a manual of operations for 
ACDVs, in consultation with relevant stakeholders; and 
 
(8) Such other functions relevant to its mandate of disaster preparedness. 
 
(c) The Bureau of Humanitarian Emergency Relief Operations shall assist the Secretary 
in the formulation and implementation of policies, programs, and plans related to 
disaster response, as defined in Section 2(l) of the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction 
and Management Act of 2010. In particular, it shall take the lead in the following 
activities, in primary coordination with the local government unit/s concerned: 
 
(1) Establishing and implementing a comprehensive, well-coordinated, effective 
and efficient Disaster Response Action Plan (DRAP) for every humanitarian 
emergency or disaster, with the primary goal of preventing or deterring the loss 
of lives, property and livelihood; 
 
(2) Developing and implementing an integrated and coordinated system of search, 
rescue and retrieval (SRR), and evacuations procedure; 
 
(3) Establishing a mechanism to ensure the prompt and accurate assessment of 
damage in disaster areas, including, but not limited to, the loss of lives, bodily 
injuries, damages to infrastructure and public facilities, and the destruction of 
social, economic, cultural, and environmental assets; 
 
(4) Establishing a mechanism to ensure the prompt and accurate assessment of 
humanitarian needs in disaster areas, including, but not limited to, food, 
nutrition, health, clothing, shelter, livelihoods, water, sanitation, hygiene, 
protection, and the preservation of peace and order; 
 
(5) Identifying standard-based relief shelters and sites for internally displaced 
persons, as well as developing and implementing of a set of minimum 
standards for such temporary shelters; 
 
(6) Supplementing the efforts of the local government unit concerned in providing 
basic social services, livelihood-oriented activities and psychosocial 


interventions to the affected population, whether inside or outside temporary 
shelters;  
 
(7) Developing and implementing best available science-based and data-driven 
Rehabilitation and Rebuilding Plans; and, 
 
(8) Such other functions relevant to its mandate of disaster response.  
 
In case there is a total or considerable breakdown of authority resulting from 
the humanitarian emergency or disaster, which requires response that goes 
beyond the mandate or capacity of the local government unit/s concerned, the 
Bureau shall, with prior authorization from the Department, directly formulate, 
implement, manage and coordinate all disaster response activities. In such 
case, the Department shall be possessed with the power to call upon other 
agencies and instrumentalities of government, and neighboring local 
government units, to augment, supplement and/or implement disaster 
response efforts. Further, the authority of the Bureau shall be provided, 
described, and limited in the authorization.  
 
(d) The Bureau of Data Science shall assist the Secretary in the provision of best available 
science-based and data-driven technical support across all phases of disaster risk 
reduction and management, including both pre-disaster and post-disaster activities. 
 
(e) The Bureau of Administration and Finance shall be composed of the Office of the Legal 
Counsel and the Financial and Management Office. The Office of the Legal Counsel 
shall be responsible for providing legal services and advice on all policies, programs, 
and operational matters of the Department. It shall provide legal counseling services 
in cases where the Department is a party and shall also handle administrative cases 
against any personnel of the Department and submit recommendations pertaining 
thereto. 
 
The Financial and Management Office, which shall consist of the Human Resources 
Management Division, General Services Division, and the Finance Division, shall be 
responsible for providing the Department with services relative to personnel information, 
records, supplies, equipment, collection and disbursements, security, and custodial work. It 
shall also be responsible for providing the Department with staff advice and assistance on 
budgetary, financial, and management improvement matters. 
   
Chapter II 
ATTACHED AGENCIES AND COORDINATION WITH OTHER ENTITIES 
  
SECTION 13. Relationship with Other Government Departments. – In the discharge of 
their respective responsibilities, the Department’s bureaus shall coordinate with the relevant 
Government departments, agencies, offices and instrumentalities, whose powers and 
functions are relevant to each bureau’s respective focus area. 
  
SECTION 14. Coordination with Other Entities. – The Secretary is hereby empowered to 
constitute, call, convene, meet with, and/or deputize agencies of government, or an 
aggrupation or cluster thereof, to assist, advise or otherwise coordinate with the Secretary. 
The representatives from the civil society/non-governmental organizations and the private 
sector may also be included, as necessary, as members of the coordination mechanism called 
for by the Secretary. 
  
SECTION 15. Attached Agencies. – The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and 
Astronomical Services Administration (PAG-ASA) and the Philippine Institute of Volcanology 


and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) are hereby placed under the supervision of the Department; 
Provided, however, that they shall continue to perform their respective functions as provided 
by law. 
   
Chapter III 
THE HUMANITARIAN EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE 
AND DISASTER FUND, DONATIONS, AND ACCOUNTABILITY 
 
SECTION  16. Humanitarian Emergency Assistance and Disaster Fund. – At least one 
percent (1%) of the estimated revenue from regular sources of government, or Twenty Five 
Billion Pesos (PhP 25,000,000,000.00), whichever is higher, shall be set aside as an annual 
lump sum appropriation for unforeseen expenditures arising from the occurrence of calamities: 
Provided, however, That such appropriation shall be used only in the area, or a portion thereof, 
of the country declared as in a state of calamity. Provided further, that the unutilized fund shall 
be reverted to the national treasury. 
  
The present National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund (NDRRMF) and the 
Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund (LDRRMF) shall henceforth be known 
as the Humanitarian Emergency Assistance and Disaster Fund (HEAD Fund) and Local 
Humanitarian Emergency Assistance and Disaster Fund (Local HEAD Fund), respectively.  
  
The ERD shall manage, mobilize, and with the approval of the President, release resources 
for disaster risk reduction and management, including the funds herein provided for. It shall 
also monitor and provide the necessary guidelines and procedures for the release, utilization, 
accounting, and auditing of the Local HEAD Fund. 
 
The HEAD and Local HEAD Funds may also be used to fund anticipatory action programs. 
Identified funds shall be disbursed immediately for this purpose and may be used until the 
lifting of the declaration of a State of Imminent Disaster. 
 
In coordination with the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department 
of Budget and Management (DBM), Department of Finance (DOF), and the Department of 
Economy, Planning and Development (DEPDev), and the Climate Change Commission 
(CCC), devise a system of budgetary allocation for transformative and anticipatory 
interventions based on scientific evidence and local circumstances, including development 
gaps and needs for long-term rehabilitation, as may also be supported by tracking budgets 
and expenditures for resilience building, to inform public and private investments for the 
purpose. 
 
SECTION 17. Donations. – All monetary contributions, and donations in kind from local or 
international sources, including, but not limited to, equipment, food, clothing, medicine, and 
related supplies from international and local sources, shall be coordinated with the 
Department. This central coordination mechanism would ensure that the same are equitably 
and properly allocated and utilized actually, directly, and solely/exclusively for disaster risk 
reduction and management efforts.  
  
The Department shall maintain and make publicly available a complete, accurate, timely, and 
separate record and transparency portal of such donations, indicating the particular areas 
where such were allocated, and the exact purposes for which the same were utilized. 
  
SECTION 18. Accountability, Responsibility, Transparency, and Access to Information. 
– The Department and all regional and local councils and offices under its supervision or 
control, shall make available to the public for scrutiny, copying, and reproduction, (i) any and 
all records of their financial transactions, including, but not limited to, donations received, funds 
allocated, and amounts disbursed; (ii) all information pertaining to their official acts, 


transactions or decisions; and (iii) relevant research data used as basis for policy 
development, regardless of the physical form or format in which such record, information, or 
data is contained. 
  
The Department and the Local Government Units (LGU) concerned shall also upload such 
records, information or data on their websites, which shall be regularly updated every fifteen 
(15) days. In case of voluminous records, information or data, the Department and/or local 
government units concerned may, in its/their discretion, upload only an executive summary 
thereof, with a note outlining the procedure/requirements to obtain full access to the complete 
record, information, or data. 
 
The record, information, or data uploaded in the websites may be withdrawn after a period of 
three (3) years from the time of uploading; Provided, That an abstract thereof shall remain 
uploaded in the website, with an indication of the dates of posting and withdrawal, and a note 
outlining the procedure/requirements to obtain full access to the withdrawn record, 
information, or data. 
 
Chapter IV 
TRANSITORY PROVISIONS 
  
SECTION 19. Abolition of the Office of Civil Defense; Transfer of Powers and Functions.  
– The Office of Civil Defense is hereby abolished, and its powers and functions are hereby 
transferred to the Department. The foregoing transfer of powers and functions shall include all 
applicable funds and appropriations, records, equipment, property, and personnel, as may be 
necessary. 
  
The Department shall, by virtue of this Act, be subrogated to all the rights and assume all the 
liabilities of the Office of Civil Defense, and all other agencies, or government units whose 
functions and powers have been transferred to the Department, and all their funds, records, 
property, assets, equipment, and such personnel as necessary, including unexpended 
appropriations and/or allocations. All contracts and liabilities of the said offices, agencies, and 
government units are hereby transferred to and assumed by the Department and shall be 
acted upon in accordance with the Auditing Code and other pertinent laws, rules, and 
regulations; Provided, That the officers and employees of said offices, agencies, and 
government units shall continue in a holdover capacity until such time as the new officers and 
employees of the Department shall have been duly appointed pursuant to the provisions of 
this Act. 
  
The same shall apply to agencies and government units which have not been abolished, but 
whose functions have been transferred to the Department. 
 
SECTION 20. Structure and Staffing Pattern. – The organizational framework and staffing 
pattern of the Department shall be prescribed and approved by the Secretary, in coordination 
with DBM, within sixty (60) days after the approval of this Act and the authorized positions 
created therein shall be filled by regular appointments by the President or the Secretary as 
the case may be; Provided, That, in the filling of positions created, preference shall be given 
to the personnel of the Office of Civil Defense. 
 
The Department, in coordination with the DILG and DBM, shall endeavor to create or 
institutionalize DRRM units in the LGUs, to be staffed with qualified personnel, consistent with 
the Civil Service Commission rules and regulations and the Local Government Code. 
  
SECTION 21. Separation from Service. – Employees separated from the service as a result 
of this reorganization shall, within six (6) months from their separation from the service, receive 


the retirement benefits to which they may be entitled under existing laws, rules, and 
regulations. 
  
SECTION 22. Appropriations. – The amount needed for the initial implementation of this act 
shall be taken from the current year’s appropriations of the National Disaster Risk Reduction 
and Management Council, the Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Councils, and 
the Office of Civil Defense. Thereafter, the amount needed for the operation and maintenance 
of the Department and its Line Agencies shall be included in the annual General 
Appropriations Act. 
  
Chapter V 
STATE OF IMMINENT DISASTER 
 
SECTION 23. Declaration of State of Imminent Disaster. – The President of the Philippines, 
upon the recommendation of the ERD utilizing recognized and adopted pre-disaster risk 
assessment mechanisms as informed by mandated national government agencies, may 
declare a State of Imminent Disaster over a cluster of barangays, municipalities, cities, 
provinces, and regions. The Local Chief Executive, upon the recommendation of the, may 
declare a State of Imminent Disaster through an executive order in their respective 
jurisdictions that are forecasted to be affected by an imminent disaster. 
 
If the latest pre-disaster risk assessment states that the projected impacts are not met, the 
ERD or REROs shall recommend the immediate lifting of such declaration by the President or 
the local chief executive, respectively. The State of Imminent Disaster shall automatically be 
lifted upon the occurrence of the hazard. 
 
The ERD shall monitor the areas declared to be under a State of Imminent Disaster by the 
President, while concerned government agencies shall report to the ERD: (a) the status of 
declarations at the local level, (b) Anticipatory Action Funds and utilizations, and (c) estimated 
economic and social costs minimized.  
 
SECTION 24. Criteria for Declaration of State of Imminent Disaster. – The ERD or the 
REROs shall conduct a pre-disaster risk assessment in anticipation of a highly probable 
disaster with projected catastrophic impacts which shall serve as the basis for the Declaration 
of a State of Imminent Disaster. The following conditions shall be present in the pre-disaster 
risk assessment:  
 
(a) Classification of a forecasted hazard’s impacts as severe or its equivalent, with 
adverse effects on the concerned population, particularly vulnerable groups of the 
community, and on significant sectors such as, but not limited to, agricultural, business, 
and industrial sectors taking into consideration the local risk profiles, institutional 
capacities, and potential for occurrence of cascading hazards notwithstanding the 
forecasted impacts falling below the established thresholds for scenarios classified as 
severe; and  
 
(b) An allowable or sufficient lead time of three (3) days, which may be extended to five 
(5) days for the national or local government to implement Anticipatory Action 
interventions. 
 
SECTION 25. Anticipatory Measures for the Disaster Risk Reduction Management 
Councils. – The declaration of a State of Imminent Disaster shall allow the ERD, REROs, and 
LEROs the use of national and local resources and mechanisms to implement anticipatory 
actions within the identified or allowable lead time, including but not limited to the following:  
 


(a) Issue and disseminate public information advisories on recommended actions to 
relevant sectors in consultation with experts from various concerned agencies; 
 
(b) Mobilize and strategically preposition inter-agency response teams; 
 
(c) Initiate pre-emptive or forced evacuation, as needed; 
 
(d) Mobilize duly accredited and trained volunteers; 
 
(e) Procure, mobilize, strategically preposition, and distribute food and non-food items to 
forecasted affected population; 
 
(f) Implement a social amelioration program for the indigent and most vulnerable 
members of the population within their jurisdiction; 
 
(g) Implement contingency plans to mitigate damage to agricultural products and food 
supply; and 
 
(h) Provide technical and advisory assistance for the management, control, and reduction 
of the immediate threats to public health and safety. 
 
SECTION 26. Funding for Anticipatory Measures. - The ERD and LGUs shall include 
anticipatory action measures in their regular Programs, Plans, and Activities (PPAs) lodged 
under their HEAD and Local HEAD Funds, respectively. The unexpended fund from the HEAD 
and Local HEAD Funds, accruing to the Special Trust Fund may also be used for such 
anticipatory action measures, in addition to the purposes provided under this Act. Further, the 
ERD and LGUs may obtain funds from other sources to fulfill the objectives of this Act, subject 
to pertinent accounting and auditing laws and regulations.  
 
The disbursement of funds shall be graduated and proportionate to the forecasted severity, 
lead time, and anticipated extent of damage as determined in the pre-disaster risk 
assessment. The graduation of allowable disbursements for each level of forecasted hazard 
and risk shall be defined in the implementing rules and regulations (IRR), taking into account 
scientific forecasts, operational feasibility, and the need to balance responsiveness with fiscal 
prudence. The graduation of disbursement shall not apply to other funding sources that may 
be lawfully utilized for anticipatory action, including agency budgets, external grants or 
donations, or other sources authorized by law.  
 
All relevant national government agencies shall ensure that anticipatory action measures are 
included in their regular agency PPAs to be funded by their regular agency budgets as 
Anticipatory Action Funds and be properly included in the General Appropriations Act.  
 
Chapter VI 
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS 
  
SECTION 27. Visitorial Powers. – The Secretary of the Department and/or his/her authorized 
representative shall have visitorial and examining authority over governmental and non-
governmental entities engaged in post-disaster relief in order to ensure that all donations, 
financial or otherwise, coursed through them, are actually used for disaster risk reduction and 
management efforts. During such examination, the entity concerned shall produce all the 
reports, records, books of accounts, and other papers that may be required. 
  
The refusal by any such entity to allow an examination of its books of accounts and pertinent 
records, or the concealment of any material information concerning its financial status, shall 
constitute a legal ground for the cancellation of its registration, and the revocation of all tax-


exemption privileges and other benefits granted to it by law, in the case of a non-governmental 
entity, or the institution of any proper legal action against the erring official concerned, in case 
of a governmental entity. 
 
SECTION 28. Stand-by Arrangements with the Private Sector. – At any time, the Secretary 
of the Department shall have the power to negotiate, enter into, institutionalize, and coordinate 
arrangements with any private person, natural or juridical, for the purpose of ensuring the 
adequate, prompt, and ready availability of all goods and services, necessary for disaster 
response, for as long as the emergency circumstances require, to be deployed before, during, 
and after an emergency or disaster, subject to the payment of just compensation in appropriate 
cases. 
 
SECTION 29. Commandeering Private Property for Public Purpose. – The Secretary of 
the Department shall have the power to commandeer any private property for urgent public 
purposes, when there is a clear and present danger that a disaster or humanitarian emergency 
would cause imminent loss of lives and/or the massive destruction of property, and time is of 
the essence. Provided, That reasonable compensation for any additional damage or costs 
incurred by the owner or the possessor of the subject private property solely on account of 
complying with the directive shall be given to the person entitled to the possession of such 
private properties or businesses after the situation has stabilized or at the soonest time 
practicable. The commandeering powers shall last no longer than necessary or for as long as 
the circumstances require. 
  
The refusal by any such person or entity to be commandeered, shall constitute a legal ground 
for the cancellation of its registration, if any, and the revocation of all tax-exemption privileges 
and other benefits granted to it by law, in the case of a non-governmental entity, or the 
institution of any proper legal action against the erring official concerned, in case of a 
governmental entity. In addition, the official of the establishment, situation, or functionality shall 
be subjected to a fine and/ or imprisonment as provided for in Sec. 28 of this Act. 
 
SECTION 30. Declaration of State of Calamity. – Whenever warranted by circumstances, 
the Department shall recommend to the President of the Philippines the declaration of a state 
of national calamity and the lifting thereof.  It shall also have the power to, motu proprio or 
upon the favorable recommendation of the LDRRMCs, declare a cluster of barangays, 
municipalities, cities, provinces, and regions under a state of calamity, and the lifting thereof, 
based on the criteria set by the Department. The President’s declaration shall entail access to 
international humanitarian assistance, as deemed necessary. 
  
The declaration and lifting of the state of calamity shall be based on the results of the damage 
assessment and needs analysis. The causes, effects and incidents of the calamity and the 
need for the declaration shall be specified. 
  
SECTION 31. Emergency and Contingency Powers. – Whenever it becomes necessary, 
the Department Secretary, subject to the chain of command and with the consent of the 
President, may engage the Armed Forces of the Philippines and/or the Philippine National 
Police to ensure the protection and preservation of life and/or properties, in the whole range 
of disaster risk reduction and management.  
  
In times of disasters, and whenever warranted by the circumstances, the Department 
Secretary may call upon other instrumentalities or entities of the government and 
nongovernment and civic 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 32. Prohibited Acts. – In addition to the prohibited acts penalized under Section 
20, in relation to Section 19, of the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act 
of 2010: 
 
a) Any person, group or corporation who directly or indirectly requests or receives any 
part of the funds devoted to disaster risk reduction and management, as well as 
monetary contributions and donations in kind, where such person, group or corporation 
has no right to receive such proceeds from the fund, in whole or in part, monetary 
contribution or donation, shall be guilty of the crime of corruption of calamity funds or 
donations, and shall be prosecuted and upon conviction shall suffer a fine of not less 
than One Hundred Fifty Thousand Pesos (Php150,000.00) or any amount not to 
exceed One Million Five Hundred Thousand Pesos (Php1,500,000.00), or 
imprisonment of not less than twelve (12) years and one (1) day, nor more than twenty 
(20) years, or both, at the discretion of the court, including perpetual disqualification 
from public office if the offender is a public officer, and confiscation or forfeiture in favor 
of the government of the objects and the instrumentalities used in committing the 
herein prohibited act; 
 
b) Any person who, with intent to gain, but without violence against or intimidation of 
persons nor force upon things, shall take personal property devoted to any disaster 
risk reduction and management activity, without the consent of the Secretary, shall be 
guilty of the crime of qualified theft, and shall be prosecuted and upon conviction shall 
be punished by the penalties next higher by three degrees than those respectively 
specified in Article 309 of the Revised Penal Code; 
 
c) Any public officer who, by reason of the duties of his office, is accountable for calamity 
funds or property devoted to disaster risk reduction and management efforts, shall 
appropriate the same or shall take or misappropriate or shall consent, through 
abandonment or negligence, shall permit any other person to take such public funds, 
or property, wholly or partially, or shall otherwise be guilty of the misappropriation or 
malversation of such funds or property, shall be punished by the penalties next higher 
by three degrees than those respectively specified in Article 217 of the Revised Penal 
Code; 
  
In all the above, if the offender is a corporation, partnership or association, or other juridical 
entity, the penalty shall be imposed upon the officer or officers of the corporation, partnership, 
association or entity responsible for the violation, without prejudice to the cancellation or 
revocation of these entities license or accreditation issued to them by any licensing or 
accredited body of the government. If such offender is an alien, he or she shall, in addition to 
the penalties prescribed in this Act, be deported without further proceedings after service of 
the sentence. 
  
The prosecution for the offenses shall be without prejudice to any liability for violation of 
Republic Act No. 3185, as amended, otherwise known as the Revised Penal Code, and other 
civil liabilities. 
 
SECTION 33. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – The Department shall issue the 
necessary rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act within ninety (90) 
days after approval of this Act. The Secretary, in consultation with relevant government 
agencies and other key stakeholders, shall take the lead in the preparation of the implementing 
rules and regulations. 
  
SECTION 34. Annual Report. – The Department shall submit to the Office of the President, 
the Senate, and the House of Representatives, within the first quarter of the succeeding year, 


an annual report relating to the progress of the implementation of all disaster risk reduction 
and management efforts, and a detailed inventory of available personnel, supplies and 
equipment. Such reports shall be made available to the public for scrutiny, copying, and 
reproduction, and shall also be uploaded in the Department’s website. 
  
SECTION 35. Congressional Oversight Committee. – There is hereby created a 
Congressional Oversight Committee to monitor and oversee the implementation of the 
provisions of this Act. The Committee shall be composed of six (6) members from the Senate 
and six (6) members from the House of Representatives with the Chairpersons of the 
Committees on National Defense and Security of both the Senate and the House of 
Representatives as joint Chairpersons of this Committee. The five (5) other members from 
each Chamber are to be designated by the Senate President and the Speaker of the House 
of Representatives, respectively. The minority shall be entitled to pro rata representation but 
shall have at least two (2) representatives from each Chamber. 
  
SECTION 36. Sunset Review. – Within five (5) years after the effectivity of this Act, or as the 
need arises, the Congressional Oversight Committee shall conduct a systematic evaluation of 
the accomplishments and impact of this Act, as well as the performance and organizational 
structure of the Department, for purposes of determining remedial legislation. 
  
SECTION 37. Repealing Clause. – All other laws, decrees, executive orders, proclamations, 
and other executive issuances which are inconsistent with or contrary to the provisions of this 
Act are hereby amended or repealed accordingly. 
 
SECTION 38. Separability Clause. – If any provision of this law is declared unconstitutional, 
the remaining provisions thereof not affected thereby shall remain in full force and effect. 
 
SECTION 39. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in 
the Official Gazette or in two (2) national newspapers of general circulation. 
  
Approved,