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RECEIVED
Republie of the Philippines

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES [|= DATE November 7, 2022 a
Quezon City

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO._5866

EXPLANATORY NOTE

‘This commendable bill had been filed in the past Congress and the present proponent
is acknowledging the wisdom and hard work of his predecessors.

The Philippines is cae of the most disaster-prone countries in the world as itis located
along the Pacific Ring of Fire and at the center of the typhoon belt. Every year the country
suffers from natural calamities such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, strong typhoons, and
floods.

While cach city and municipality have their own disaster preparation and coordination,
there are still loss of lives and damage to properties and crops. Disasters not only cause untold
devastation and suffering, but these also take 4 toll on the emotional and psychological
wellbeing of those affected. Damages to buildings and establishments send the economy back,
Agriculture and other livelihoods are atfected, thus, causing food insufficiency, lack of ready
resources, soaring prices of basic commodities. and more.

According 10 the 1987 Constitution, the State shall protect and promote the right to
health of the people and instill health consciousness among them. Likewise, the State shall
protect and advance the right of the people to a balanced and healthful ecology in accord with
the rhythm and harmony of nature,

In view hereof, our country needs'a department which shall function as the overall ine
‘charge and lead agency in times of disasters or hazards. This department is envisioned to have
readiness, more resources, and wider Functions to cater to the needs of the public before, during,
and after the occurrence of the disasters and hazards. Nonetheless it will focas on disaster risk
reduction, disaster preparedness and response and recovery’, and rehabilitation, Hence, this bill
aims the creation of Department of Disaster Resilience,

{In view of the foregoing, the urgent passage of this measure is sought,

VIOLAGO



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

‘Quezon City

NINETEENTH CONGRESS:
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL.NO. 5866

Introduced by five Joseph Gilbert F.

AN ACT
CREATING THE DEPARTMENT OF DISASTER RESILIENCE, DEFINING ITS
MANDATE, POWERS AND FUNCTIONS, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS:

THEREFOR
Be it enacted by the Senate amd the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
assembled:
Article t
GENERAL PROVISIONS

SEC. 1. Short Title, This Act shall be known as the "Disaster Resilience Act".
‘SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy, — \t shail be the policy of the State to:

(a) Protect the lives and properties of its citizens by addressing and preventing the causes
of vulnerabilities to natural disasters;

(b) Uphold the sacredness of human life by efficiently and effectively addressing
humanitarien emergencies, including calemities and disasters; through the
establishment of a focused, streamlined, independent, empowered. cupacitated,
specialized agency on disaster risk reduction and management us 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 disester risk and management efforts shall be
responsive to the humanitarian needs of the people, the dignity and value of the human
person, and respect for property;

(©) Promote a simple, strategic, systematic, continuous, comprehensive, inclusive, and
integrated approach to disaster risk reduction and management aimed at substantially
reducing vulnerabilities and the risk of disosters and other humanitarian emergencies,
towards the preservation of life and property, thereby ultimately preventing or deterring
the loss of lives and protecting the social, economic, historical and cultural heritage,
and environmental assets of the country;

(@) Establish a permanent, institutionalized, cohesive, and comprehensive framework for
disaster preparedness, prevention and mitigation, and response, to be implemented by
4 focused specialized agency with its own mandate, powers, und funding, and



coordinating with the ine government, other foreign governments and financial
institutions, international organizations, the private sector and civil society, Disaster
risk reduction and management shall first aim for the outright avoidance of the adverse
impacts of hazards and related disasters, With the knowledge and capacities to
effectively anticipate, respond to, and recover from the impacts of likely, imminent ot
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 af ememency services and public assistance, during or immediately after a
disaster;

(©) Create an integrated, systematic, comprehensive, and cohesive plan to simplify,
streamline, Integrate, and coordinate the various programs, projects, and activities of
the Government and such other actors of stakeholders in disaster risk reduction and
management to ensure accountability, responsibility, and transparency as well as to
ensure the efficient und effective performance of their functions;

(f Incukcate a culture of resifience and preparedness against natural disasters st the
national, regional, and loval levels;

{g) Establish a strong and empowered institution capable of responding 1 the greater
onslaught of normal or natural disasters brought by climate change, and spearhead
efforts to ensure disaster resilience by delivering the highly critical and intertwined
functions of disaster risk reduction and response, with a recovery strategy of "building
forward better”;

different concerns and needs of sectors with speciat needs or higher

such as women, children, elderly, persons with disabilities, and
indigenous peoples with respect to disusier resilience and disaster management;

(a) Foster an enabling environment for substantial and sustainable participation of non-
government stakeholders such as civil society organizutions, privale groups,
volunteers, and communities in disaster resilience programs and projects;

(6) Adopt 9 whole-of-society, whole-of-govemment, and whole-of-nation approach in
disaster preparedness to ineresse collaboration, planning, and dialogue among all
sectors of society in preparing for natural disasters and in improving their strategies
and action plans for disaster risk reduction; and

(©) Strengthen the chain of command and establish # unified command system for disaster
management,

SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. — As uscd in this Act:

(@) Adaptation refers to the adjustment in natucal or human systems in response to actual
or expected climactic stimuli or their efficts, which moderates harm or exploits
beneficial opportunities;

(b) Assisting actor reters to any assisting international or domestic actor following a
<igaster in the country;

(8) Assisting domestic actor refers to any not-for-profit entity established under domestic
laws, which is extending help following a disaster in the country:



{b) Assisting international actor refers to any foreign State, organization, entity or
individual extending help fallowing a disaster within the country or transiting through
the country to extend help following a disaster in another country;

(©) Biological hazards refer to hazards that are of organic origin or conveyed by biological
vectors, including puihogenic microorganisms, toxins, and bioactive substances.
Examples are bacteria, viruses or parasites as well as venomous wildlife and insects,
poisonous plants and mosquitoes carrying disease-causing agents;

(@) Building forward betier refers to an approsch to building of reconstructing an area or
community, which entails a shift from achieving simple recovery and restoration to
creating safer, more adaptive, resilient, and inclusive communities:

(© Business conromuty reters to the capability of an organization ta continue the delivery
of products or services at acceplable predefined levels following a disruptive incident;

(f) Capacity refers 10 the combination of attributes and resources available within a
community or area that can reduce the level of risk(s) from, or impaci(s) of. a disaster,

(Q) Civil society organizations (CSOs) refer to no-State actors whose aims are neither to
generate profits nor to sock governing power, but to unite poople to advance shared
goals and interests. CSOs may Include nongoverament organizations (NGOs),
professional associations, foundations, independent research institutions, community-
based organizations, and social movements;

(h) Climate change refers to a change in the state of the climate that can be identified by
changes in the mean and/or the variability of its properties, and that persists in am
extended period, typically decades or longer, whether due to natural internal processes
‘or extemal forees such as modulation of the solar cycles, volcanic eruptions, and
persistent anthropogenic changes in the composition of the atmosphere or in bund use;

() Complex emergency refers to a form of human-induced emergency in which the cause
‘of the emergency as well as the assistance to the afflicted is complicated by an intense
level of political considerations:

Consequence management refers ty the totality of interventions and measures taken to
restore essential operations and services in permissive environment. including
measures to protect public health and safety, restore essential government services, and
provide emergency relief to individuals, stakebolders, and communities affected by the
‘consequences of emergencies, hazards, and disasters;

(k) Contingency planning refers toa management process that analyzes specific potential
‘events or emerging situations that might threaten society or the environment and
establishes mrangements in advance to enable timely, effective, and appropriate
responses to such events and situations;

() Culnwal heritage refers to the totality of cultural property preserved and developed
through time and passed on to posterity;

(in) Deterministic risk assesoment cefers to an assessment that considers the possible
disaster impacts of a single scenario, in contrast to probabilistic risk assessment which
considers all possible scenarios, their likelihood, and associated impacts;

{n) Development assistance refers to financial, material or other forms of assistance t
‘support the evonomic, social, and environmental well-being of ereas ot people affected
by a natural disaster,


(0) Disability refers to an evolving concept that results from the interaction between
persons with impairments, as defined under Republic Act No. 7277, otherwise known
as the "Magna Carta for Disabled Persons" and aiitudinal end environmental barriers:
that hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others;

{p) Disaster refers to « serious disruption of the functioning of a community ar a society
involving widespread human, material, economic or environmental losses and impacts,
which exceeds the ability of the affected community to cope using its own resources.
Disasters are often described as.a result of the combination of: the exposure to a hazard;
the conditions of vulnerability that are prescnt; and insulficient capacity or measures
to reduce or cope with the potential negative consequences. Disaster impacts may
Inctude loss of life, injury, disease and other negative effects on human physical,
‘menial and social well-being, together with damage to property, destruction of assets,
loss of services, social and economic disruption and environmental degradation,
Unless otherwise specifically indicated in this Act, the tenn "disaster" shall refer to
“natural disaster”;

(@) Disaster assistence refers to financial, material, or other forms of assistance ter address
the immediate and long-term needs of people, communities or areas affected by a
disaster. This term includes humanitarian assistance and development assistance;

(0) Disaster management refers to the planning, organization, and application of measures
preparing for, responding to, and recovering from disasters:

(3) Disaster mitigation refers to the reduction or fimitation of the adverse impacts of
disasters and its reloted hazards:

() Disaver preparedness: refers to the knowledge and capacities developed by
governments, professional response and recovery organizations, communities and
individuals to effectively anticipate, respond to, and recover from, the impacts of
likely, imminent or current disasters and related hazards;

(u) Disader prevention refers to the intention to avoid, or the outright avoidance, of
potential adverse impacts of disasters and related hazards through action(s) taken in
advance;

(V) Diverter recovery refers to restoration or improvement of livelihoods and bealth, as
‘well as economic, physical, social, cultural and environmental assets, systems and
activities, of disaster-atfected community or society, aligning with the principles of
sustainable development und "build forward better’ to avoid or reduce future disaster
risk:

(w) Disaster response or disaster relief refers to the provision of emergency services and
public assistance during or immediately after a disaster in order to seowre and save
lives, reduce health impacts, ensure public safety and meet the busie subsistence needs
of the people affected, Disaster response is predominantly focused on immediate and
short term needs and is sometimes called "disaster relief";

(x) Disaster rehabilitation refers to restoration of basic services and facilities for the
function of a community ora society affecied by a disaster;

() Disaster resitience refers to the ability of a system, community, or society exposed to
hazards to resist, absorb, secommodate, adapt to; transform, and recover from the
effects of hazard, including the long-term impact of climate change, in a timely and



efficient manner, including through the preservition and restoration of its essential
basic structures and functions throwgh risk munagement;

(2) Disaster risk refers to the potential losses in lives, health status, livelihoods, assets and
services that may occur to a particular community or society due to a disaster in the
future, and is determined by @ combination of the vulnerability, capacity, exposure of
persons and assets, hazard characteristics and the environment;

(aa) Disasier risk governance refers to the manner in which public suthorities, civil
servants, media, private sector, and civil society coordinate at community, national and
regional levels in order to manage disaster snd climate related risks. This includes
ensuring that sufficient levels of capacity aad resources are made available to prevent,
Prepare for, manage and recover from disasters, It also entails mechanisms,
institutions, and processes for citizens to articulate their interests, exercise their legal
Fights and obligations, and mediate their differences;

(hb) Disaster risk management refers to the systematic approach or process of
implementing strategies, policies and programs to lessen the possibility and/or
adverse impacts of disasters and related hazards;

(co) Disaster risk reducsion refers 10 the prevention of new, of reduction of exising,
disaster risks and the management of residual risk, to enhance resilience to disasters;

(dd) Early warning system refers to an integrated system of hazard monitoring, forecasting
and prediction, disaster risk assessment, and communication and preparedness
activities and processes that enable individuals, communities, national government
agencies, local government units, the peivate sector, and others to take timely sction to
reduce disaster risks and adequately prepare for disasters;

(cc) Emergency refers to unforeseen or sudden occurrence, especially danger, demanding,
immediate action;

(£8) Emergency management refers to the organization and management of resources and
responsibilities for sddressing all aspects of emergencies, in particular, preparedness.
response and initial recovery steps

(gg) Environmental hazards refer to hazards which may be chemical, natural and biological,
and can be created by environmental degradation or physical or chemical pollution in
the air water and soil, However, many of the processes and phenomena that Rll Into
this category may be termed drivers of hazard and risk rather than hazards in
themselves, such as soil degradation, deforestation, loss of biodiversity, salinization
and sea-level rise;

(hh) Exposure refers to the situation of people, infrastructure, housing, production
capacities and other tangible human assets located in hazard-prone areas;

(ii) Framework Agreement shall refer to a written agreement between a procuring entity
‘and a supplier or service provider that identifies the terms and conditions under which
specific purchases are made for the duration of the agreement.

‘The Framework Agreement is in the nature of an option contact between the procuring
‘entity and the bidder(s) granting the procuring emlity the option to cither place an order
for any of the goods or services identified in the Framework Agreement, List ot not
buy’ at all, within the period of the Framework Agreement;


W) Geological or geophysical hazards refer to hazards which originate from internal earth
processes, such a3 earthquakes, volcanic activities and emissions, and related
geophysical processes which include mass movements, landslides, rock slides, surface
collapses and debris or mud flows. Hydronetedr logical factors are important
contributors to someone's processes. While tsunamis are triggered by undersea
eanthquakes and other geological events, they essentially become an oceanic process
that is manifested as a coastal water-related hazards;

(kk) Geographie Information system refers to 4 database which contains, smang others,
geo-hazerd assessments, information on climate change, and climate risk reduction and
management;

(Ul) Geographically isolated and disodvamaged area (GIDA) refers to an area with
marginalized population, which is physically and socio-cconomically separated from
the mainstream society and characterized by physical factor such as isolated due to
distance, weather conditions and transportation difficulties due to island, upland
lowlaed, landlocked, hard to reach and underserved communities; and/or socio-
economic factors such as high poverty incidence, presence of vulnerable soctor,
communities in oF recovering from a situation of crisis or armed conflict;

(um) Hazard refers to 2 phenomenon, substance, human activity, of condition that may cause
loss of life, injury or impacts to health; and social and economic disruption,
environmental damage, or loss of ar disruption to property, livelihood andor services:

(an) Historical landmarks refer to sites or structures that are associated with events or
achieverents significant to Philippine history as declared by the National Historical
Institute or the applicable agency;

(co) Human-induced disasiers refer to disasters induced entirely or predominantly by
human activities or choices, such as ideologically motivated conflict or criminality;

(pp) Humanitarian assistance refers 10 financial, material or other similar forms of
assistance to address the immediate needs of people affected by a natural disaster;

(aa) Hidrometeorological hazards refer to hazards that are of atmospheric, hydrological
and cecanographic origin, such as tropical cyclones also known as typhoons and
hhurricanes; flocks, including flash floods, drought: heatwaves and cold spells, constal
storm surges, and marine heatwaves, extreme sea events, and sea level rise,
Hydrometesrological conditions muy also be a factor in other hazards such as
landslides, wildland fires, locust plagues, epidemics, and in the transport and dispersal
of toxic substances and volcanic eruption material;

(r=) Impact and neede assessment sefer to assessing the nature and magnitude of @ disaster,
its impact on affected populations, the type and extent of emergency, and the
requirements for recovery and rehabilitation of the affected areas;

(33) Land-use planning refers to the process undertaken by public authorities to identity,
evaluate, and decide on different options for the use of land. including consideration
of long-term economic, social, and environmental objectives and the implications for
different communities and interest groups, and the subsequent formalation and
promulgation of plans that describe the pemnitted or acceptable uses;


(tt) Legal facilities refer to entitlements and exemptions that are granted to assisting
domestic oF international actors which are declared to be eligible pursuant to this Act
and its implementing rules and regulations;

(uu) Local Disaster Resilience Plan (LDRP) refers 10 4 document prepared by a local
‘government unit (LGU) based on the National Disaster Resilience Framework (NDRF)
and National Disaster Resilience Plan and Investment Program (NDRPIP) that sets oat
specific programs, objectives and goals to implement disaster risk mangement and
climate change adaptation measures at the local level. The plan shall include among
‘others, an evalustion and analysis of emerging disaster risks, hazards and
‘vulnerabilities applicable to an LGU, and specific programs and activities to ensure
responsive, effective, and the appropriate disaster preparedness and management at the
local level;

(vy) National continuity policy refers 10 a policy aimed st the development of on
organizational culture that has the ability to provide a minimum level of service during
interruptions, emergencies, and disasters, and retum to fall operations quickly:

(ww) National cultural treasure refers toa unique cultural property found locally, possessing
outstanding historical, cultural, artistic and/or selewtific value which is highly
‘significant and important to the country and nation, and officially declared as such by
the pertinent cultural agoncy:

(ax) National Disaster Resilience Framework (NDRF) refers to a framework that provides
for a comprehensive, all-hazards, multi-sectoral, inter-agency and community-based
approach to enable communities to resist, prevent, mitigate sgsinst, absorb,
accommodate, adapt to, recover, or build forward better from the effects of « hazard in
a timely and efficient manner through, among others, disaster risk reduction and
management and climate change adaptation and mitigation. ‘The NDRF shall be
composed of a National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Framework
(NDRRMF}, and National Framework Strategy on Climate Change (NFSCC);

(GY) National Disaster Resilience Plan and Investment Program (NDRPIP) refers to a plan
formulated and implemented by the Department of Disaster Resilience in accordance
with the NDRF that sets out the outcomes, goals and objectives, priorities, programs
and comesponding action plans for disaster risk reduction, preparedness, and
management, and climate change mitigation, It shall also include, among others, the
goals, objectives and action plans for a National Continuity Policy;

(22) Natural disaster refers to » disaster predominantly associated with and/or caused by
natural processes or phenomena, such as those related tn geoingy such as earthquakes,
ground rupture, liquefuction, landslides, tsunamis, sinkholes, volcanic activity:
hydrology and meteorology such as floods, severe winds, typhoons, storm surges,
climatological variability such as extreme temperatures, E} Nino, La Nina, and forest
fires; biological events such as epidemics or pandemics caused by outbreaks of viral,
bacterial, parasitic, fungal or prion infectious diseases affecting human, animal or plant
life, insect infestations or swarms; and extraterrestrial events such #5 a meteorite or
asteroid strikes;

Open data refer to facts and statistics that can be freely used, shared und built-on by

anyone, nywhere, for any purpose, which must be available in bulk, free of charge, oF



at Jeast at n0 more than # reasonable cost and permit people to use, re-use, and
redistribute, intermix with other dota providers;

(bbb) Post-Disaster recovery refers to the restoration improvement where appropriate, of
facilities, livelihood and living conditions, of disaster-atfected communities, including
efforts toreduce disaster risk fctors, in accordance with the peinciple of "build forward
bener";

(ccc) Preparedness refers to pre-disaster actions and measures being undertaken within the
context of disaster risk reduetion and management and are based on sound risk analysis
a5 well as prestisaster activities to avert or minimize loss of life and property such a3
community organizing, training, planning, equipping, stockpiling, hazard mapping,
‘insuring of assets, and public information and education initiatives. This also includes
the development of enhancement of an overall preparedness strategy, policy,
institutional structure, warning and forecasting capabilites, and plans that define
measures geared to belp at-risk communities safeguard their lives and assets by being
alert (0 hivards and taking appropeiate action in the face of an imminent threat or an
actual disaster;

(dda) Prevention refers wo activities and measures to avokd existing and new disaster risks,
and the concept and intention to avoid potential adverse impacts of hszardous events;

(ece) Prahabilistic risk assessment refers tothe simulation of those future disasters based on
scientific evidence, and which are likely to occur in order to resolve the problem posed
by the limits of historical data by reproducing the physics of the phenomena and
recreating the intensity of a large number of synthetic events, including all possible
scenarios, their likelihood, and associated impacts;

(19) Rehabititarion refers to measures that ensure the ability of affected communities or
areas 10 restore their normal level of functioning by rebuilding livelihood and
Infrastructures and increasing the communities’ organizational capacity;

(299) Resilience refers to the ability of a system, community or society exposed to hazards
to resist, absorh, accommodate, and recover fom the effects thereof in a timely and
‘efficient manner, including through the preservation and restoration of its essential
basic structures and functions ina manner that will make them more resistant to future
risks;

(hhh) Response refers to any concerted effort by two (2) or more agencies, public or private,
to provide assistance or intervention during or immediately after a disaster to meet the
life preservation and basic subsistence needs of those people affected and in the
restoration of essential public activities and facilities:

(ili) Retrofieing refers to an act reinforcing or upgrading existing structures to make them
more resistant and resilient to the damaging effects of hazards;

Gi) Risk refers to the combination of the probability of an event and its negative

consequences;
(kkk) Risk ansessment refers to ¢ methodology to determine the nature and extent of risks by
analyzing potential hazards and evaluating existing conditions of vulnerability that
together could potentially harm exposed people, property, services, livelihood aad the
environment on which they depend. Risk assesiment with associated risk mapping
include: a review of the technical characteristics of hazards such as their location,


intensity, frequency and probability; the analysis of exposure and vulnerability
including the physical, social, health, economic, and environmental dimensions; and
the evaluation of the effectiveness of prevailing and alternative coping capacities in
respect to likely risk scenarios;

(U) Rist wansfer refers to the process of formally or informally shifting the financial
consequerices of particular risks from one party to another whereby a houschold,
community, enterprise or State authority will obtain resources from the other party
afier » disaster occurs, in exchange for ongoing or compensatory social or financial
benefits provided to that other party:

(mmm) Safety stock refers to items of raw matcrials, component parts, or finished goods
‘maintained in inventory in order to reduce the risk that such item will be out of tock,
in anticipation of unforeseen shortages of unusual demand for such items;

(ann) State of Calamity refers to a condition involving mass casualty, disruption of means of
livelihoods, and/or major damages to property, roads and normal way of life of people
in the affected areas as 2 result of the occurrence of natural ce human-induced hazard;

(000) Sustainable development refers to development that meets the needs of the present
generation witout compromising the ability of future yenenations to meet their own,
It contains within it two (2) key concepts: first, the concept of “needs”, in perticular,
the essential needs of the world's poor, to which overriding priority should be given;
and second, the ides of limitations imposed by the state of technokigy and social
cohesion and harmony, and ecological integration of a sound and viable economy,
responsible governance, and ecological integrity to ensure that human development
ow and through future generations is a Hfe enhancing process;

(ppp) Volunteers refer to individuals, groups or entities that offer and provide services or
assistance, without compensation, to help people and areas affected by disasters;

(gq) Vulnerability refers to the characteristics and circumstances of a community, system
of asset that make it susceptible to the damaging effects of a hazard. Vulnerability may
arise from various physical, social, economic. and enviroamental factors such as poor
design and construction of buildings, inadequate protection of assets, lack of public
information and awareness, limited official recognition of risks and preparedness
measures, and disregard for wise environmental management;

(er) Vulnerable and marginalized groups refer to those that face higher exposure to disaster
tisk and poverty including women, children, the elderly, differently abled people, and
ethnic minorities;

(6:8) Whole-of-Saciety Approach refers to an approach that encourages the meaningful and
active participation and synergy of the different stakeholders of society toward climate
‘change adaptation and mitigation, and disaster risk reduction and management at the
national and local levels;

(tn) Whole-of Government Approach refers to an approach that instills and. fosters
collaboration among all government instrumentalities both at the national and local
Jevels toward shared sustainable development goals and outcomes; and

(au) Whole-of-Nation Approach refers to an approach that seeks to bring about a concerted
effort towards sustainable development. and national peace and security by creating
‘consensis and understanding of development and security that is shared not just among


core socurity forses and oversight goverment institutions, but also by the nation’s
stakeholders such as government, civil society, private sector, and the communities.

Article I
THE DEPARTMENT OF DISASTER RESILIENCE:
MANDATE, POWERS, AND FUNCTIONS

SEC. 4, Creation and Mandate of the Department of Disaster Resilience. There is
hereby created a Department of Disaster Resilience, herein after referred to as the Department.

‘The Department shall be the primary government agency responsible for leading,
organizing. and managing the national cffort to reduce disaster risk, prepare for and respond to
disasters, recover and rehabilitate, and build forward better after the occurrence of disasters.

‘The Department shall oversee and coontinate the preparation, implementation,
monitoring, aad evaluation of disaster and climate resilience plans, programs, projects and
actvitles, provide leadership in the continuous development of strategic and systematic
approaches t0 disaster prevention, mitigation, preparedness, response, recovery and
rehabilitation, to anticipatory adaptation strategies, measures, techniques, an! options.

The Department shall augment the capacity of local governments units in collaboration
‘with relevant national goverment agencies and other stakeholders to implement disaster risk
reduction and management and climate change action plans, programs, projects, and activities.

‘The Department shall be the principal government institution responsible for ensuring
safe, adaptive, and disuster resilient communities. it is mandated to provide clear and
‘comprehensive direction in the implementation of plans, programms, and projects to reduce the
risk of natural hazards and the effects of climate change and manage the impact of disasters

‘The mandate of the Department covers all natural hazards, which include, among
others, the following:

(a) Geological Phenomena and Related Hazards

1) Earthquake - ground rupture, ground shaking, liquefaction, tsunami, fire,
fandstides, and seiche or lake water oscillation

2) Volcanic activity - ash fall, pyroclastic flow, lava flow, lahar, fissuring, and
volcanic gas

3} Mass movernent - lundstides, debris flow, sinkholes

(b) Hydrological, Oceanographic und Meteorological Phenomena and Related Hazards
1) Tropical cyclone ~ severe winds, storm surge, rouge wuves, severe rainfall

including bail
2) Flood, rain-triggered landslides and storm surges


3) Erosion
4) Marine hestwaves, extreme sea evens

(©) Climate Variabitiry/Change with Releted Hazards of Compound Events and
Cascading Impacts

1) El Nido or La Nifia (ENSO) with associated rainfall and temperature (in
particular, projected extreme ENSOs)

2) Extreme temperature (heat wave or cold wave), extreme weather conditions
(drought or excessive rainfall)

3) Wildfire (forest or land fires)

(d) Biological and Related Hazards:

1) Epidemie/Pundemic- viral, bacterial, parasitic, fungal. prion infectious diseases
2) Insect Infestation - grasshoppersilocusts

(e) Extra-Temrestrial - Meteorite/ Asteroid impact

‘The Department shall manage and direct the implementstica of national, local, and
community-based disaster resilience and disaster management programs, projects and
activities, including disaster response, recovery and rehabilitation, when applicable, in
collaboration with relevant national government agencies, LGUs, CSOs, acadetnic institutions
‘and other stakeholders: Provided, That for human-induced disasters, the Department of the
Interior and Locel Government (DUL.G), Department of National Defense (OND), Department
of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), and other relevant government instrumentalities,
including the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP),
Philippine National Police (PNP), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), and Office of Civil Defense
(OCD), shall continue to perform their functions: Provided, further, That the Department shall
remain as the lead agency in recovery and rehabilitation efforts in collaboration with all
stakeholders when applicable.

‘Notwithstanding, the mandates and powers stated herein shall be without prejudice to
the President's directive to address natural, human-induced, or other disasters such as an
‘epidemic.

SEC. 5. Powers and Functions of the Department, -'Thie Department shall exercise

the following powers and functions, in collaboration with the relevant depariments, agencies,
and pongovernment stakeholders:

(a) General Functions

1) Conduct risk and vulnerability assessment at the local level based on the national
criteria, and establish a database that includes, among others, an inventory of hezards
to better prepare for and respond to natural disasters;


2) Undertake the establishment or construction of evacuation centers that conform to the
standards under the United Nations (UN) Humanitarian Charer and Minimum
Standards in Humanitarian Response or The Sphere Minimum Standards for Shelter
and Settlement, and

3) Republic Act No. 10821, otherwise known as the "Children’s Emergency Rebif and
Protection Act", among others, The upkeep and maintenance of the evacuation centers
shall be the responsibility of the concemed LGUs;

4) Undertake the formulation and implementation of the government's policies, plans,
programs, projects, and budget for disaster resilience including those related to disaster
risk reduction, response, recovery, rehabilitation, and building forward better;

5) Review and build upon, to the extent necessary, the existing disaster resilience
framework, plans and strategies in the crafting of an NDRF and the comesponding,
NDRPIP;

6) Oversee, review. and approve the translation, integration, and implementation of the
NDRPIP into LDRPs:

7) Facilitate the availability of highly competent DRR professionals at all levels and
prescribe benefits, allowances, und similar emoluments for DRR professionals, as it
may deem fit;

8) Communicate and disseminate critical information to help the public prepare for,
respond to, and recover from a disaster;

9) Receive, manage. administer and control all the funds, assets and properties received
by the Department to accomplish the purposes of this Act;

10) Recommend to the President of the Philippines the declaration of state of calamity
duc to a natural disaster, and the lifting theteof when conditions stabilize

11) Advise the President on maticrs conceming disaster resilience and make

ons, as appropriate:

12) Advance the country's interests relating to disaster resilience in the regional and global
arena;

13) Collaborate with any government entity to help ensure the attainment of the goals and
objectives of this Act; and

14) Perform such other functions, as provided by law or assignment of the President, and
undertake all other necessary actions fo ensure the attainment of the overall goals and
objectives of this Act.

(b) Disaster Risk Reduction

1) Develop coordinated regional and local strategies for the effective prevention and
mitigation of disaster risk resulting trom natural hazards, including the effects of
climate change:

2) Develop and implement policies and programs relating to the construction of mew
settlements oF relocation of settlements in ssife areas which shall, to the extent such
policies and programs relate to disaster risk reduction, mitigation, prevention or
building forward better, prevail over poicies or decisions of other govermment


departments, government agencies. government owned and/or controlled corporations,
LGUs, or other government institutions;

3) Develop, in coordination with relevant government agencies, policies and programs on
fand-use planning, urban planning and zoning which shall, to the extent such policies
and programs relate to disaster risk reduction, mitigation, prevention or building
forward better, prevail over policies or decisions of other govemment departments,
government agencies, government owned and/or controlled corporations, LGUs, or
other government institutions;

4) Estublish or enhance standards for disaster preparedness and continuity planning, such
as on infrastructure standards and desiyns;

3) Collaborate with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and other
relevant govemment agencies in the conduct of regular structural, safety audit of
buildings and other types of infrastructure, and require the submission of necessary
data, information or reports related thereto:

6) Formulate a National Continuity Policy including plans and programs to implement
government govemance and business continuity;

7) Ensure the use of advanced science and techitology In the anticipatory planning of
communities against the impact of natural hazards and climate change through
consultation, and employment with a reguisr department funding for relevant academic
‘or higher educational institutions with proven risk reduction record;

8) Establish a system to ensure that all disaster-related data ase accessible to all
stakeholders to generate the best seivatific information and technological products for
use in disaster resilience;

9) Ensure that all climate change-retated hazards are included in the development of
climate risk profiles of targeted LGUs ss provided for in the Climate Risk and
Management Framework (CRMF) policy document of the Climate Change
Commission (CCC) and that the appropriate institutions such as the academe and other
science experts or organizations who have the capahility to develop or have developed
methodologies to establish climate change risk profile are officially engaged:

10) Undertake programs and projects to reduce the vulnerability of physical infrastructure,
assets, and facilities including retrofitting, and structural and nonstructural upgrading,
{in coordination with the relevant government agencies;

11) Cail on relevant government agencies to develop alternative livelihood programs to
reduce the vulnerability to disasters of certain areas or certain sectors of society:

12) Formulate, facilitate and monitor efforts relating to certain resources or sectors toward
addressing the long-term effects of climate change on sustainable development, such as
water resources, agriculture, forestry, coastal and marine resources, health, and
infrastructure, in coordination with relevant goverment ugencies;

13) Design and implement an incentive system for greater private and public investment,
both at the local and national levels, on disaster risk reduction;

14) Oversee and ensure the mainstreaming of climate change aduptation and disaster risk
reduction: in development and land use planning, and the preparation of contingency
plans;



15) Create an enabling environment that shall promote broader multi-stakcholder
participation for disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation and mitigation;

16) Establish, develop, and monitor progranis and projects, in coordination with relevant
‘government agencies, that consider climate projections, including temperature increase
and rainfall change in the Philippines to ensure climate-resitient communities;

17) Establish and monitor national and local capacity for disaster risk financing ond
insurance and other risk transfer strategies in coordination with the Department of
Finance (DOF), Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), Land Bank of the
Philippines (LBP), and Insurance Commission;

18) Review and evaluate local disaster resilience plans and other local plans to ensure their
consistency with the National Disaster Resilience Framework; and

19) Undertake all other programs and projects necessary to attain the necessary outcomes
for disaster risk reduction,

(ec) Disaster Preparedness and Response

1) Lead, manage, and collaborate with the relevant government insirumentalitics,
nongavernment stakeholders. and international partners in providing the minimum
basic needs of people in affected areas before, during and/or immedistely after a disaster
to save lives and minimize casualtics;

2) Establish a corps of first responders in partnership with national and focal stakeholders,
both public and privates

3) Implement projects and programs that will enhance the capacity of LGUs to prepare for
and respond to disasters, giving priority to LGUs with low income or those situated in
high-risk areas,

4) Ensure the efficient prepositioning of goods, maintenance and disposal of safety stocks:

5) Averedit, monitor, and evaluate training institutions on disaster resilience;

6) Regulate the accreditation of donors, volunteers, and assisting nongoverament
stakeholders, both domestic end international;

7) Formulate standards for contingency planning that shall be adopted by the LGUs;

8) Develop a database of exposure or clements at risk per area to facilitate and ensare
quick impact and needs assessment in the event of a disaster:

9) Facilitate and regulate the scceptance, inventory, and accounting of humanitarian
assistance, including relief goods;

10) Maintain 1 database of volunteers and, when necessary, mobilize volunteers to
‘augment the personnel complement and logistical requirements for disaster response
and/or For the delivery of DRRM programs, projects and activities;

11) Qversce-and maintain a national early-waming and emergeacy alert system that
must provide a specific, areas-focused and time-bound warning that are accurate,
timely, understandable and readily accessible to national and local emergency response
‘organizations and the general public;

12) Coordinate information-sharing and other disaster risk reduction protocols
following the principle of inter-operability among national govemment agencies and
local government units:



13) Call upon other instrumentalities or entities of the government and
nongovermment aad civie 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 function includes the
power to call on the reserve force as defined in Republic Act No. 7077, otherwise
known as the "Citizen Armed Forces of the Philippines Reservist Act" to assist in relief,
rescue, retrieval and management of dead and missing persons during disasters or
calamities:

14) Organize, train, equip, and maintain a system of response capacity for search,
rescue and retrieval and the delivery and distribution of relief goods;

15) Recommend to the President to call upon the AFP and PNP to render the
necessary assistance in a disaster-atfected area by the authority of the President;

16) Call upon, by authority of the President, the Armed Forces of the Philippines,
the Philippine National Police, the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), the Philippine
Coast Guard, and other unifoemed services to the extent necessary for the Department
to achieve the purposes of this Act;

17) tablish « National Corps of Volunteers to) be composed of, among athers:
Reserve Officers’ raining Corps (ROTC), National Service Training Program (NSTP),
reservists, and other socio-civic organizations;

18) —_ Assist in mobilizing necessary resources to increase the overall capacity of local
government units, specifically those with fow income and situated in highsrisk areas;
and

19) Undertake all other programs and projects necessary to attain the necessary
‘outcomes for disaster preparedness and response,

(d) Recovery and Building Forward Better

1) Prepare, organize, lead, implement, and manage post-disaster assessment and recovery
and rehabilitation programs and plans, in coordination with the affected local
governments units, national goverment agencies, and other stakeholders:

2) Establish 2 system to promptly perform impact and needs assessment, including
strengthening the in-house capacity of the Department to conduct accurate and timely
‘impact and needs assessment;

3) Establish a system that utilizes templates. exposure database, and other tools, and
develop the Departinent’s in-house capacity for the prompt and expedient preparation
of rehabilitation plans, when needed, for disaster affected areas;

4) Formulate or direct relevant goverment egencies and LGUs to issue guidelines for
fas-tricking the issuance of permits, certifications, clearances and licenses to
implement disaster recovery and rehabilitation measures, including housing projects, in
affected areas;

5) Prepare und implement rehabilitation plans for disaster affected areas;

6) Manage and oversee the implementation of disaster recovery and rehabilitation
measures;


7) Collaborate with relevant government agencies to establish programs to restore or
generate livelihood in disaster affected areas;

8) Formulate policies and standards for post-disaster shelter recovery which may include,
among others, implementation arrangements, coordination arrangements with relevant
agencies and LGUs, and modalities for emergency transitional and permanent shelter
Tecovery;

9) Ensure that the principle of building forwan! better is applied to rehabilitation o
reconstruction efforts; and

10) Undertake all other programs and projects necessary to attain the necessary outcomes
for recovery and safer, adaptive, resilient, and inclusive communities.

(e) Other Functions

1) Constitue, call, convene or deputize agencies of gevernment, and invite
hongovernment and private organizations, w assist, advise, or coordinate with the
Department to achieve the purposes of this Act;

2) Inspect and examine the status of projects, programs, and activities undertaken by
national government agencies and local government units in furtherance of disaster
resilience efforts;

3) Save lives andice minimize damages to livelihood and property, complement and
collaborate with relevant government agencies and nongovernment stakeholders in
providing humanitarian response and the consequence menagement of husnan induced
disasters whenever it becomes necessary;

4) Negotiate, enter into, institutionalize, and coordinate arrangements with any private
person or entity for the purpose of ensuring the adequate and prompt availability of
goods and services necessary in anticipation of, during. and in the aftermath of
disasters;

5) Promulgate rules and regulations for the receipt, management, and accounting of
donations that are consistent with the rules of the Commission on Audit (COA) on the
use of foreign and local aid during calamities and disasters;

6) Create or reorganize offices and/or task forces, as may be necessary to carry out the
objectives of this Act, and

7) Perform such other functions, as may be necessary, forthe attainment of the objectives
of this Act,

Article TH
EMERGENCY MEASURES

SEC. 6. Emergency Measures. ~(3)To protect and preserve life and property and ensure snd
promote public safety and welfare, the Department may undertake and implement the following,
emergency measures in anticipation of, during. and in the aftermath of disasters:

1) Carrying out of preemptive evacuation;

2) Imposition of curfew;

3) Rationing of the distribution of basic goods in critical shortage, and when necessary,
preventing or restricting the transfer of such goods outside of the ares affected by the


disaster, including access to rice inventory of the National Food Authority (NFA)
office of storage located in the affected area:

4) When there is imminent danger of loss of lives or damage to property, temporarily
take over or direct the operation of any private utility or business, subject to payment
‘of just compensation; and

5) With the concurrence of the DOF, recommend to the Monetary Board the deferment
of the payment of monetary obligations of local government units and private entities
that have been severely affected by disaster.

(b) Local government units shall enact ordinances on and implement necessary and
approprinte emergency mensures fo ensure the protection and preservation of life and property
and the promotion of public safety and welfare in enticipation of, during. and in the aftermath
of disasters,

(©) Emergency measures shall be carried out ina manner that is humane, respecttul of
the dignity and culture of persons, without the use of discrimination and disproportionate force,
and with conscious attention to the needs of vulnerable and marginalized groups.

(d) Appropriate steps shall be taken to infirm the public of the need to implement
‘emergency measures for their safety.

SEC. 7, Preemptive and Force Evacuations, — Preemptive evacuation shall be the
preferred and peimary mode of moving and relocating people that will be affected by impending,
disasters,

AA forced evacuation shall be considered as an emergency measure of last resort that
may be underuken in anticipation of or during w disaster and carried out by the concerned local
goVemment unit: Provided, That in case of the failure or inability of the local government units
to implement the same, the forced evacuation shall be implemented by the Department, which
may direct and compel the assistance of law enforcement and other government agencies to
implement such measure,

Any person who willfully disregards or disobcys a preemptive or forced evacuation
carried out by the local government unit orthe Department releases such local government unit
‘or the Department, as the case may be, from any liability for injury, death, damage to, or loss
of property due to such disobedience,

‘Article IV
ORGANIZATION AND MANAGEMENT

SBC 8. The Secretary ~The Department shall be headed by the Secretary of Disaster
Resilience, hereinafter referred to as the Secretary, who shall be appointed by the President,
subject to confirmation by the Committee on Appointments. The Secretary shall preferably
have a good background in any of the scientific, engineering. and public management fiekds


relevant 10 the attainment and promotion of resiliency to natural hazards and climate
change, and demonstrated managerial acumea.

SEC. 9. Powers and Functions of the Secretary. - Tho Secretary shall have the
following powers and functions:

a) Provide executive direction and supervision over the entire operations of the

Department;

b) Establish end promulgate policies, rules, and regulations for the effective and
efficient operation of the Department and implement these to cary out its
‘mandate, functions, programs, and activities;

‘s) Exercise control and supervision overall functions and activities of the Department
and its officers and personnel;

d) Manage the financial, buman and other resources of the Department:

©) Appoint and designate officers and employees of the Department, excluding those
requiring presidential appointment as provided for by law;

1) Exercise disciplinary powers over officers and employees of the Department in
accordance with law, and investigste such erring officers and employees, or
designate a committee or officer to conduct an investigation;

2) Collaborate with other goverment agencies, the private sector, and civil soctety
Organizations on the policies, programs, projects, and activities of the Department,
asimay be necessary;

hy Advise the Presicent on the promulaation of executive and administrative orders,
and the formulation of regulatory and legiststive proposals on matters pertaining
to disaster resilience;

’) Represent the Philippines and articulate the national contribution 1 global,
regional, and other inter-govermmental disaster risk reduction and humanitarian
platforms. in coordination with the Department of Foreign Affairs;

J) Formutate such rules and regulations, and exercise such other powers as may be

required to implement the objectives ofthis Act;

Serve asa member of the Government Procurement Policy Board (GPPB); and

1) Perform such other tasks as may be provided by law or assigned by the

President.

oe

SEC, 10. The Undersecretaries, - The Secretary shall be assisted by four (4)
Undersecretaries. which shall be responsible for the following key result areas:

2) Disaster Preparedness and Response - to implement projects and programs thet
will enhance the capacity of LGUs to prepare against, and respond to, disasiers.
‘This also includes development of a database of exposure or elements at risk per
‘area and database of volunteers, among others, It involves the establishment of
evacuation centers and the implementation of responsive and efficient
pripositioning of goods, maintenance and disposal of stocks, among others;

')_ Disaster Risk Reduction - to formulate, adopt, and/or implement, among others, a
‘whole-af-society approach in policies and programs to prevent new, if not reduce


existing disaster risks, to address the effects of climate change, and to minimize
Joss and damage to lives and properties, This includes the formulation of the
required policies and/or programs for disaster risk reduction and climate change
adaptation in, among others, the NDRF and the NDRPIP;

©) Recovery and Building Forward and Better - to formulate and implement
rehabilitation plans for disaster-affected areas, and t ensure the implementation
of disaster recovery and rehabilitation measures, such as, but not limited to, post-
disaster sheers and livelihood projects, in collaboration with relevant agencies.
LGUs, and other stakeholders; and.

4) Support t» Operations - to formulate and implement, among others, policies,
‘programs and/or projects to ensure the efficient, effective, and responsive delivery
of the Department's key result areas. Support to Operations covers knowledge
management, institutional development and planning, finance, office
administration, human resources management, and development of the
Department's in-house capacities, among others

SEC, 11, The Assistant Secretaries and Directors. - The Departenent shall have four
(4) Assistant Scoretaries and appropriate number of Directors to ensure for the effective,
efficient, and responsive implementation of the mandate and functions of the Department.

SEC. 12. Qualifications, - No person shall be appointed Secretary, Undersecretary, or
Assistant Secretury of the Department unless a citizen and resident of the Philippines, of good
moral character, and of proven experience, competence or expertise in humanitarian relict
assistance and disaster management. The Secretary, Undersecretary, or Assistant Secretary
shall not hold any other position, public or private, during their terms of office.

SEC 13, Structure and Staffing Pattern. ~The Department shall determine its
‘organizational structure and staffing patter and create such services, divisions, and units, as it
may require or deem necessary, subject to the approval of the Department of Budget and
Management.

SEC, 14, National Disaster Operations Cenver, Alternative Command Center, and
Research and Training Institute, - Ue Department shall establish, within one (1) year from
the approval of this Act, and act as the primary operator, the National Disaster Operations
Center (NDOC), Altemative Command and Control Center (ACCC) 2s may, be necessary in
each of the country’s major island groups, and the Disaster Resilience Research und Training,
Institute (DRRTT).

‘The Department is authorized to collect fees derived from the DRRT!.

‘The NDOC is a physical center equipped with the necessary tools and systems to
‘monitor, manage, and respond to disasters in all aress of the country, The NDOC shall also
provide the necessiry support for the overall coordination and implementation of emergency
and disaster response measures throughout the country.

ron


The ACCCs are command centers established in other locations to provide
supplemental support to the NDOC, The number and focation of ACCC shall be determined
by the Department. Temporary ACCCs may likewise be established by the Deparment, if
necessary,

SEC. 18 DRRTI Functions and Inter-Agency Knowledge Sharing. - The DRRT1
shall be a platform for providing training preferably on site, and for collecting, consclidating,
‘managing, analyzing, and sharing knowledge and information to improve or enhance disaster
resilience,

The DRRTI shall:

12) Establish reliable and up-to-date disaster-related information and communication
systems and technologies through close collaboration with the DOST and with
academic institutions;

'b) Institutionalize, maintain, and update an integrated disaster resifience information
system (IDRIS), which includes, among others, mubti-hazard mapping,
probabilistic risk assessment, risk analysis, carly waming, exposure database,
communication and emergency management systems;

©) Establish a database that includes relevant information from other government
‘agencies and third parties for the Department to better prepare and respond to
natural hazards including, but not limited to, an inventory of hazardous materials
per ares;

4) Consult und coordinate with, and consolidate informationAaus from, relevant
government agencies, such as, but not limited to, DOST, LGUs, academic
institutions, and relevant CSOs to enhance the: IDRIS and to promote knowledge
sharing among all stukeholders;

©) Conduct disaster-related research programs, seminars, and trainings for all types
of stakeholders,

1) Consolidate, organize andor prepare training matierlals ark publications; and

2) Conduct other activities consistent with promoting the formation and
dissemination of knowledge and information relating to disaster resilience and
disaster management.

SEC. 16. Compliance and Accreditation of DRRTI with International Standards. -
The Department shall strive to obtain certification from, an accreditation by, Intemational
accreditation bodies of the DRRTI to ensure DRR'T's compliance with international standards,
“The Departinent shall likewise ensure collaboration with key countries and intemational
organizations to incorporate best practices on disaster resilience in the Department's policies
and programs.

SEC. 17, Disaster Assistance Action Center, - ‘The Depastment shall institutionalize a
‘one-stop shop mechanism through a Disaster Assistance Action Center (DAAC) which shall,
among others, process necessary documents for hoth domestic and international assisting
actors.



SEC. 18 Incentives. ~ The Department has the authority to prescribe henefits,
allowances, and similar emoluments for disaster management professionals and disaster
resilience officers at the national and local levels.

Article ¥
NATIONAL AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT RELATIONS:

SEC. 19. Retention of Local DRRM Offices and Creation of Local Disaster
Resilience Offices. ~ The Local DRRM Offices (LDRRMOs) in provinces, cities, and
sunicipalities shall be retained and renamed as Provincial, City, and Municipality Disaster
Resilience Offices, respectively. They shall colleetively be called Local Disaster Resilience
Offices (LOROs). All LGUs shall establish an LORO at the provincial, city, and municipal
levels. All Local DRRM Councils (LORRMCS) shall be abolished.

“The budgetary requirements for personal services, mainicnance and other operating
‘expenses, and capital cutlay of the LDROs shall be sourced from the General Fund of the LGU,
subject to Section 76 of Republic Act No, 7160, otherwise known as the "Local Government
Code of 1991", as amended.

Other maintenance and operating expenses and other capital outlay requirements of the
LDRO jn the implementation of disaster risk and vulnerability reduction management and
climate, change adaptation programs shall be charged to the Local Disaster Resilience Fund of
the LGUs,

Provinces, cities or municipalities shall be exempted from the Personnel Services (PS)
limitation on local government budgets in relation fo the creation of the LDROs and the
appointment of its officers and personnel.

SEC. 20. Composition and Organization of LDROs. - The LDRO stall be under the
supervision and control of the provincial governor, and city or municipal mayor, as applicable.
‘The LDRO shall he composed of un officer and five (5) permanent personnel responsible for.
‘among others, administration, research and planning. training. and operations. The
organization, composition, funetions, and responsibilities of retained LDRRMOs shall be
‘modified to the extent provided in, and shatt comply with the requiremems and standards of,
this Act and the IRR for the establishment, maintenance and operations of LDROs.

SEC. 21. Local Disaster Resilience Officer, -The LDRO still be headed and managed
by s well-qualified and full-time Local Disaster Resilience Officer with regular plantitta
position. The Local Disaster Resilience Officer and Staff shall be appointed by the Local Chief
Executive subject to the requirements and endowed with the emoluments and benefits in
‘accordance with existing laws, rules and regulations.

SEC, 22 Powers and Functions of City and Municipal DROs, - The City ond
Municipal (CDRO and MDRO) shall have the following powers and functions:


(@) Formulate and implement, in close coordination with the Department, a
comprchensive and integrated LDRP in accordance with the NDRF and the
NDRPIP,

(>) Design, program, coordinate, and implement disaster resilience activities
including preparedness, risk reduction, response, recovery and rehabilitation
measures consistent with the standards and guidelines provided by the
Department, and implement the NDRF and the NDRPIP at the city or municipal
level

(€) Prepare and submit to the local Sanggunian, the LDRP, the proposed
programming ofthe LDR Fund, other dedicated disaster resilience resources, and
other regular finding source of the LDRO;

(@) Recommend to the loca! Sanggunian the enactment of local ordinances to
implement the LDRP, NDRF and NDRPIP at the city or municipal level, and to
comply with other requirements of this Act;

(e) Prepare and submit to the Department, the local Commission on Audit, and the
applicable Regional Disaster Resilience Office # report on the utilization of its
Local Disaster Resilience Fund und other disaster risk reduction and managesnent
resources,

(i) Establish and maintain, in coordination with the Department, an information
management system within the LGU which, among others, consolidates and
includes local risk information on natural hazards, profile of the LGL"s
vulnerable or marginalized groups, local risk maps. and a disaggregated database
of human resource, equipment, services, resources, directories and location of
critical infrastructures with their capacities 4s hospitals and evacuation centers;

(2) Operate and maintain, in coordination with the Department, a multi-hazard carly
\waming and communications system to provide accurate and timely information
to the public:

(h) Organize and conduct training and knowledge management activities on disaster
resilience at the local level. in coordination with the DRRTI:

Procure emergency works, goods, and services. in compliance with the
regulations, orders, and policles of DBM and Government Procurement Policy
Board (GPPB), to implement the DRP or support early recovery and post-disaster
activities;

G) In coordination with the Department. the DOF and other relevant agencies, access
foreign loans to finance its projects, programs, and policies for disaster
preparedness, response, recovery, and rehabititation, subject to terms and
conditions agreed upon by the LDRO and the lender;

(kK) (&)Monitor and mobilize instrumentalities and entities of the LGU and its partner
LGUs CSOs, private sector, organized volunteers, and sectoral organizations for
disaster resilience activities, in accordance with policies and procedures of the
Department and applicable laws;

(1) Coordinate and provide the novessary support or assistance to the Department in
the implementation of rehabilitation plan within the city or municipality covered
by the LDRO;



(e1) Coontinate with the Department, other government agencies, members of the
private sector and other stakeholders in the LGU to establish » Business
Continuity Plan as part of their LDRP's disaster preparedness measures;

(0) Establish linkage or network and coordination mechanisms with other LGUs and

the

(0) Department for disaster resilience activities and to achieve the purposes of this
Act; and

(p) Conduct other activities and/or act on other matters, in accordance with policies
and procedures of the Department and applicable laws, to achieve the purposes
ofthis Act,

SEC. 23, Provincial Disaster Resilience Officer, - The Provincial Disaster Resilience
Office (PDRO) shall be headed and managed by a Provincial Disaster Resilience Officer with
regular plantilla position.

SEC. 24, Powers and Functions of the PDRO. - The PDRO shall have the following
Powers and functions:

(a) Formulate and implement, in close coordination with the Department and cities or
municipalities within its jurisdiction, « comprehensive and integrated Provincial
LDRP in accordance with the NDRF and the NDRPIP;

(b) Review the LDRPs of cities and municipalities within its jurisdiction, and require
‘the amendment of such LDRPs if mecessury, 1 ensure compliance with the
Provincial LORP and/or the NDRF and NDRPIP;

(©) Design, program, coordinate, and/or implement disaster resilience activities
consistent with the standards and guidelines provided by the Department, and
implement the NDRF and the NDRPIP at the provincial level:

(4) Prepare and submit to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, the Provincial LDRP, the
proposed programming of the province's Local Disaster Resilience Fund, other
dedicated disaster resilience resources, and other funding sources of tye PDRO:

(©) Recommend to the Sangguniang Punlalawigan the enactment of focal ordinances
10 implement the Provincial LDRP, NDRF and NDRPIP at the provincial level,
and to comply with other requirements of this Act;

(8) Prepare nel submit to the Department, the local Commission on Audit, and the
applicable Regional Disaster Resilience Office # report on the utilization of the
province's Local Disaster Resitience Fund and other disaster risk reduction and
management resources;

{g) Establish and maintain, in coordination with the Department, a Provincial
Command and Control Center (PCC) which includes, among others, an
information management system at the provincial level which consolidates and
integrates information from the cities and/or municipalities within ts jurisdiction,
a multi-hazard carly werning and communications system that is connected with
the cities and/or municipalities within lis jurisdiction, and a monitoring system
that enables the PDRO to oversee, supervise, monitor and respond to the needs of


cities and/or municipalities within its jurisdiction in relation to disaster resilience
activities;

(h) Procure emergency works, goods, and services in compliance with the regulations,
orders, and policies of DBM and GPPB, to implement the provincial LDRP or
support early recovery and post-disaster activities of the PDRO;

() In-coordination with the Department and the DOF, access foreign loans to finance
its projects, programs, and policies for disaster preparedness, response, recovery,
‘and rehabilitation, subject to terms and conditions agreed upon by the PDRO and
the lender,

G) Formulate and establish mechanisms to mobilize and direct LOROs within its
Jurisdiction as necessary for disaster preparedness and response at the provincial
level;

(k) Coordinate and provide the necessary support or assistance to the Department in
the implementation of rehabilitation plan(s) within the cities and/or municipalities
‘covered by the PDRO; and

(1) Conduct other activities and/or act on other matters, in accordance with policies
‘and procedures of the Department and applicable laws, to achieve the purposes of
this Act.

SEC. 25, Regional Offices. - Toe Department shall establish and maintain Regional
Offices (ROs) at each region, and 2 National Capital Region Office (NCR), The size,
‘composition and organization of ROs and NCR shall be based on parameters provided in the
IRR on the ability of LGUs within its jurisdiction 10 cope with previous disasters, of to
implement their LDRPs or Provincial LDRPs;the level of income, population, hazard exposure
of LGUs. The ROs and NCR shall be funded by the Department.

SEC. 26. Regional Director. - Bach RO and the NCR shall be headed and managed by
a Regional Director with regular planilla position. The Regional Director shall be appointed
bby the Departinent Secretary for a fixed term pursuant to requirements, terms of office and
endowed with the emoluments and benefits subject to existing laws, rules and regulations.

SEC. 27. Powers and Functions of ROs anit NCR. ~The ROs and the NCR shall have
the following powers and functions:

(a) Review the LDRPs and Provincial LDRPs of LGUs within its jurisdiction, and
require the amendment of such LDRPs and/or Provincial LDRPs if necessary, to
censure compliance with the NDRF and NDRPIP;

(b) Monitor and direct LDROs und PDROs to implement their respective LDROs and
POROs;

(o) Recommend to the appropriate Sanggunian at the city, municipat or provincial
level, the enactment of local ordinances to implement the LDRP, NDRF and
NDRPIP at the city. municipal or provincial level, and to comply with other
requirements of this Act;


(@) Review reports on the utilization of the LDRF and other disaster risk reduction and
‘management resources of LGUs within its jurisdiction, and give recommendations,
as necessary;

(©) Disburse to, and monitor the use by, LGUs of Supplemental LDRF as granted by
the Department pursuant to this Act and its IRR;

() Provide, upon the request of LGUs or unilaterally at its own discretion, assistance
fo LGU(s) within its jurisdiction as necessary to ensure the implementation af
LDRPs of Provincial LDRPs, NDRF and NDRPIP, and to render efficient and
{imely disaster preparedness, response and recovery measures;

(g) Identify and report to the Department issues and problems relating to, or affecting,
the disaster resilience of LGUs within its jurisdiction, and make recommendations
to the Departmeat and/or to the LGUs to address such issues or problems:

{(h) Procure goods and services in compliance with the the regulations, orders, and
policies of DBM and GPPB, to implement the NDRPIP and NDRF at the regional
level;

(@ Formulate and establish mechanisns to mobilize and direct LDROs and PDROs
within its jurisdiction as necessary for disaster preparedness and response at the
regional level;

Establish and maintain, in coordination with the Department, a Regional Command
and Control Center (RCC) which includes, among others, an_ information
management system at the regional level which consolidates and integrates
information from the provinces, cities and municipalities within its jurisdiction. a
mmulti-hazard carly warning and communications system, and a monitoring system
that enables the RO to oversee, supervise, monitor and respond to the needs of
LGUs within its jurisdiction in relation to disaster resilience activities; insplement
‘or assist in the implementation, as directed by the Department, of rehabilitation
plans for LGU's within its coverage: and

(k) Conduct other activities and/or act on other matters, in accordance with policies and
procedures of the Department and applicable laws, to achieve the purposes of this
Act.

SEC. 28. Inter-Regional Disaster Resilience Office Collaboration. — \he Department
shall create policies and programs to establish collaboration and coordination among the
different ROs.

SRC. 29. Levels of Responsibility for Disaster Preparedness and Response. The
primary responsibility for disaster preparedness and response shall be exorcised at the local and
national leve! in collaboration with the relevant departments and agencies, es follows:

LEVEL OF RESPONSIBLE CONDITIONS
RESPOSIBILITY OFFICIALS



Level | —City or Mayor of the City / Ifa disaster affects a single

Municipality Municipality municipality / city
(Lead)
Level 2 Province Local Disaster Resifience | If a disaster affects two or
Office ‘more municipalities / cities
(In the case of BARMM:
Municipal / City Mayor and
BARMM Local Disaster
|__ResillenceOffice) |
Level 3 - Region ‘Governor (Lead) | Ifa disaster affects two or
‘more province andior
independent component or
vena saa hightight urbanized cities
Resilience Office

Applicable Local Disaster
Resilience Offices

(ln the case of BARMM:

Provincial Governor and

BARMM Local Disaster
Resilience Office/s)

‘Level 4 — National Secretary of the Department | a. When a state of calamity
of Disaster Resilience is declared by the President

During a state of Calamity
‘in any area(s) or affecting b. Ifa disaster affects at
several regions Governors of the affected 1wo (2) regions

SEC, 30. Inter-Local Government Assistance. - LGUs are berchy authorized to extend
assistance to another LGU, whether through funding or donation of goods andior services, 10


censure effective disaster preparedness and response, such as the pre-positioning and provision
‘of basic goods, and taining of first responders, among others, subject to auditing und
‘accounting,

SEC. 31. Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Powers of the Department. - The
Department shall be primarily responsible for the identification, planning and funding of
priority reconstruction and rehabilitation projects and programs on areas affected by disasters:
Provided, That the Departmen of Public Works and Highways shall be the primary
‘implementor of all infenstructure-related rehabilitation and reconstruction projects, including
retrofitting of structures to make them more resistant and resilient to the effects of natural
disasters.

SEC. 32. Service Continuity of the Department, - To ensure service continuity, the
Deparunent and its regional and wttached offices shall be established in a reasonably resilient
location; and undertake the necessary interventions to muke its offices and systems disaster-
resilient.

SEC, 33. Assistance to Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanay
‘The National Government, thru the Secretary of Disaster Resilience, and the Bangsamoro
Autonomous Regional Government shall create an inter-govemmental mechanism for
humanitarian relief assistance in the BARMM during times of natural disasters,

Article IV
WHOLE OF GOVERNMENT, WHOLE OF NATION, AND WHOLE OF SOCIETY
APPROACH AND INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS

SEC. 34, Inter-operability of Sysiems, - The Department shall establish mechanisms
to ensure the inter-operability of systems among government agencies, and to allow access of
agencies to the IDRIS as established pursuant to Section 15 of this Act. It shall develop
protocols to allow real-time access to information by government agencies in relation to natural
disastors and the implementation of disaster resilience measures.

SEC, 35. Synergy with Stakeholders, - The Depsrtment shall ensure close
collaboration and coordination with stakeholders, including CSOs, the academe, and the
private sector, in relation to disaster resilience programs and projects, and the development and
promotion of education and training mechanisms with relevant stakeholders,

The Department shall establish « platform and mechanisms for coordination with
stakeholders, including the development of starkiard operating procedures for collaboration in
the event of a disaster

SRC. 36, Establishment of Multi-Stakcholders Convergence Unit - The Department
shall, with the assistance of other relevant government agencies and stakeholders, establish a
Mult-Stakeholders Convergence Unit (MSCU) which shall align the disaster resilience efforts
of the private sector, CSOs, academe and other stakeholders with that of the Depariment by


assisting, coordinating or providing services that strengthen public-private coordi
disaster resilience, including the following:

(a) Establishment and implementation of business continuity practices to ensure the
continued delivery of products and serviecs in the event of & natural disaster,
(b) Crafting and implementation of a National Continuity Policy to ensure service
continuity during interruptions, emergencies, and disasters and ensure the quick |
retum to full operations; |
(©) Establishment, incorporation, and application of business continuity plans as part |
of the LDRP of LGUs;
(4) Facilitation or assistance in obtaining or processing incentives for the private sector
or other nongovernment stakeholders, such as tax credits: and
(@) Preparation and facilitating the issuance of special rules for Micro, Small, and
‘Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) such as mechanisms involving procurement and
liquidity to create enabling environments for disaster preparedness and recovery.

The MSCU shall establish a plationn that includes, among others, @ database for
monitoring and coordinating efforts and resources of nongovernment stakeholders. It shall be
headed by one (1) of the Undersecretaries of the Department

SEC, 37. Roles and Responsibilities of Stakeholders. - The commitment, goodwill,
knowledge, experience and resources of relevant stakeholders are critical to reatize a safer,
adaptive, resitient and inclusive Filipino community. Citizens shall have the shared vision and
duty to provide support to the State in the implementation of policies and programs, particularly
the Disaster Resilience Framework and Disaster Resilience Plan at the national, regional, end
local levels.

(a) Civil society, nongovemmental organizations, international nongoveramental
organizations. private sector, DRRM practitioners, and volunteers shall participate,
in collaboration with publie institutions, in the exchange of information, lesmings,
d guidance on disaster resilience. The Department shall encourage ond
instinutionalize their engagement in the implementation of local, regional, national,
and global plans and strategies to enhance public awareness and promote a culture
of disaster resilience;

(b) Women, children, and youth, as agents of change, shall endeavor to contribute
actively and paricipaie in disaster resilience trainings and information
dissemination;

(©) Senior citizens and persons with disabilities shall contribute their knowledge and
experience on disaster preparedness and resiliency;

(d) Migrants and the urban and rural poor shall participate in building resilient
resettlement communities;

(e) Emergency responders and volunteer organizations shall contribute to resilience by
promptly and efficiently responding to disasters and emergencies consistent with
the policies of the Department;


(f) Academia, scientific and research eatities, and networks are encouraged to
undertake relevant research on disaster resiliency in partnership with the
Department and other stakeholders for better decision-making:

(g) The private sector is encouraged to integrate disaster resiliency. projects and
programs in their corporate social responsibility initistives; and

(h) (h)The medie shall provide prompt and accurate information to the public on early
warming sysicms, natural hazards, and disaster resilience activities of the
‘Department.

“The Department, with the assistance of the ROs, shall establish und convene a Disaster
Resilience Assembly at the regional and national levels which shall be held on a quarterly basis
10 ensure the proactive engagement of different stakeholders, such as government agencies, the
Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (LAP), League af Cities of the Philippines
(LCP), League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP), CSOs, NGOs, academe, DRRM
practitioners, and the private sector, to ensure end foster coordination and colloboration
towards achieving the goals of this Act.

LGUs may convene local DRAs within their jurisdictions, as necessary for the
‘artainment of disaster resilience at the local level

SEC. 38, Recognition and Incentives. ~The Department, i, partership with the
private sector, shall establish an incentives program that shall recognize the outstanding
performance of DRO, NGOs, CSOs, schools, hospitals. and other stakeholders in promoting
and implementing significant disaster risk reduction management-climate change adaptation
programs and innovations, and meritorious acts of individuals, groups or institutions during
notural disasters subject to existing laws, rules and regulations,

Article VIE
PREPAREDNESS AND INTEGRATED EARLY WARNING

‘SEC. 39. Standards for Disaster Preparedness Activities. -(a) The Department shall

disasters and undertaking early recovery. continuity of essential services, and other relevant
preparedness activities.

(b) LGUs shall identify safe and strategic sites, and establish evacuation centers with
appropriate and adequate fecifties in accordance with government-approved standards as
provided under Republic Act No. 10821, otherwise known as the "Children's Fimergency Relief
Protection Act”, to avoid disruption of school classes and lessen the use of school buildings
and facilities as evacuation centers.


(©) The concemed LGUs shall immediately compensate schools used as evacuation
centers. The schools used as evacuation centers may seck compensation for renovation,
replacement, or repairs of damaged facilities for such use,

SEC. 40, Multi-tazard Barly Warning amd Risk Communication Standards ~ There
shall be & streamlined policy governing esrly waraing systems and risk communication
protocols to ensure effective and efficient measures to prepare for. respond to and recover from
potential risks and disasters.

‘The Department shall formulate and implement multi-hazard early warning protocols
integrating all disaster preparedness systems in collaboration with local executives.
community-based organizations, civil society organizations, and other nongovernmental
organizations for proper use and application.

SEC. 41. £arly Warning Mandate. -(a) The Department shall issue an integrated early
‘warning alert for the impending occurrence of hazards that will enable the public to prepare in
time and act appropriately to minimize potential harm ar loss.

(b) The Department atthe national and local level shall use an integrated early warning,
system to ensure it is consistent and locally contextualized with the communication protocol
and safe evacuation procedure of the affected communities. It shatl work with other agencies
for onguaizations om precrisis information mapping of the humanitarian needs of et-rsk
‘communities that will enhance the overall prepositioning of resources at the national and local
level,

(©) The Department shall require mobile phone service providers to send out alerts at
regular intervals in the event of an impending natural hazard, in accordance with Republic Act
‘No, 10639, otherwise known as “The Free Mobile Disaster Alerts Act”.

(d) The Department shail recognize and proactively support local or indigenous modes
of carly waming systems and allow open access 10 near real-time data from both local snd
international sources made avaitable through various platforms such as websites, mobile apps,
and social media to empower local communities and individuals. Any person who, transmits
early warning concerning the abovementioned phenomena by means of signs in designs, colors,
lights, or sound shalt do so in compliance with the methods recognized ar approved by the
Department.

Article VII
HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE

SEC. 42, Management of Humanitarian Assistance, -() The Depsetment shall have
the power to receive and manage humanitarian assistance from any person or entity, whether
from local or international sources.

(b) The importation by, and acceptince of humanitarian assistance donated to the
Department, consisting of, among others, food, clothing, medical assistance, equipment, and


materials for relief, recovery and other disaster management activities, sre hereby authorized
in accordance with Sections 120 and 121 of Republic Act No. 10863, otherwise known as the
"Customs Modemization and Tariff Act (CMTA)", and the prevailing provisions of the General
Appropriations Act covering national intemal reveauc taxes and import duties of national and
loca government agencies.

SEC. 43. International Humanitarian Assistance. - The Department, ia consultation
with the Bureau of immigration and the Bureau of Customs shall promulgate guidelines on
international humanitarian assistance, including the initiation, entry, facilitation, transit,
regulation and termination thereof, as well as those involving international disaster relief and
personnel assisting intemational actors vist waiver, recognition of foreign professional
qualifications, entry of intemational disasier goods and equipment, and exemption from port
duties, taxes, and restrictions,

SEC, 44, Assessment of the Need for International Humanitarian Assistance, - (a)
Immediately after the declaration of a state of calamity by the local Sanggunian of the relevant
local goverment unit or by the Department, as the case may be, the Department shall
determine whether demestic capacities are likely to be sufficient to attend to the needs of
affected persons for international humanitarian assistance. This determination may also be
made, at the discretion of the President, prior to the onset of an imminent disaster.

(b) Inthe event of a determination by the Department that domestic response capacities
are not likely to be sufficient due to the impact of the disaster, the Department shall recommend
to the President that a request be made for international humanitarian assistance,

(©) A determination that domestic capacities are likely 10 be sufficient and that
international humanitarian assistance is therefore unnecessary may be reviewed and rescinded
by the Department, with the approval of the President, at any time, in light of prevailing,
circumstances and available information

SEC. 45, Humanitarian Assistance Action Center. - The Department shall create an
inter-agency one-stop shop mechanism called the Humanitarian Assistance Action Center
(HAAC) forthe processing and release of entry and facilitation of goods, articles or equipment
and services and Intemational relief workers for the provision of intematicnal humanitarian
assistance and the processing of necessary documents for assisting international actors,

‘The Department shall lead ond manage the HAAC, which shall be composed of the
following:

(a) Bureay of Customs,
(b) Department of Foreign Atinirs:

(©) Department of Social Welfare and Development;
(@) Department of Health:

(e) Food ané Drug Administration;

(9) Department of Agriculture:


(g) Department of Energy:

h) Department of National Defense;

(@) Philippine Nstional Police,

) Philippine Coast Guard;

(&) Department of Transportation;

() Department of Environment and Natural Resources: and (m) Bureau of Immigration,

SEC. 46. Request for International Humanitarian Assistance, - (a) In cognizance of
the urgency, criticality and intensity of an imminent risk, the Department shall issue a flash
appeal to the family of nations, under regional and multilateral conventions, for assistance in
propuredness, including preemptive measures, search, rescue, and retrieval, relief, recovery,
and reconstruction.

(b) The President may request intemational humanitarian assistance, upon the advice
‘of the Secretary, Such request may be specifically directed to particular assisting international
actors of may be a general request directed to the intemational community.

SEC. 47, Regulation of Humanitarian Assistance. - (a) The Department shall ensure
the efficient and effective monitoring of humanitarian assistance from domestic or international
donors. establish and operate a platform, including an online platform, to facilitate, and provide
public access to information on donations.

(>) The Department shail include in the Implementing Rules and Regulations of this
Act guidelines and accountabilities on the receipt, management, distribution, eccounting, and
reporting of all humanitarian assistunce, whether in cash or in kind, consistent with the rules
co the use of foreign and local aid during calamities and disasters issued by the, COA and other
relevant government agencies.

SEC. 48. Humanitarian Relief for Human-Induced Disasters. - The Secretary of the
Department of Disaster Resilience shall have the authority to provide humanitarian relief in the
consequence managsment of human-induced emergencies such ax acts of terrorism,
insurgency, fire, and other related human-induced disasters.

Article IX
OFFER AND FACILITATION OF HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE TO FOREIGN
STATES

‘SEC. 49. Offer and Facilitation of International Humanitarian Assistance to
Foreign States. - In the event of a disaster occurring in a foreign State for which international
bumanitarian assistance is required, the Department, in coordination with the DPA, may offes,
facilitate, provide, and deploy international humanitarian assistance to said foreign State, which
shall be subject to guidetines to be promulgated by the Department for the purpose,

SEC. 50. Accreditation. - The Department, in coordination with relevant goverment
agencies and organizations, shall provide and facilitate the necessary training and accreditation



to the respective govemment personnel to be deployed for such offer, faciitation and provision
of imernational humanitarian assistance to.a foreign State.

Article X
DECLARATION OF STATE OF CALAMITY

SEC, 51. Declaration of State of Calamity. - The Department shall recommend to the
President the declaration of state of calamity, whether in whole or part of sn area, in case of
‘an extraordinary disaster wherein the repercussions on public safety and welfare are serious
and far-reaching,

‘SEC, 52, Conditions for the Declaration of a State of Calamity - The President shall
declare a state of calamity when sil of the following requisites are present;

(a) There is @ grave, unforeseen, or stdden occurence which demands immediate
action;

(b) The occurrence was caused by a natural disaster;

(c) The occurrence is likely to cause a threat to fife and/or danger 10 property; and

{d) The declaration of state of calamity shall cover a limited period only.

SEC. $3. Mandatory and Remedial Measures, - The deciaration of a state of calamity
shall allow the immediate implementation of any or all of the following remedial measures:

(a) Imposition of price ceiling on basic necessities and prime commodities by the
President upon the recommendation of the implementing agency ss provided for
under Republic Act No. 7581, otherwise known as the “Price Act", or the National
Price Coordinating Council;

(b) Monitoring, prevention and contro! by the Local Price Coordination Council of
overpricing of profiteering and hoarding of prime commodities, medicines and
petroleum products;

(¢) Grant of tax credits or exemptions by the BIR, upon the recommendation of the
President or the Department: and

{d) Use of altemative methods of procurement under Article XVI of Republic Act (RA)
No, 9184, otherwise known as the "Government Procurement Reform Act", its
‘implementing rules and regulations (IRR) and other issuances of the Government
Procurement Policy Board by the Department, LGUs or the relevant govemment
instramentalities in relation to the urgeat procurement of emergency works, goods
and services to effectively respond to, quickly respond to disasters, and build
forward better.

Article XT
RECOVERY


SEC. $4, Standards for Recovery. - The Department shall observe intemationally
accepted standants for recovery, planning, programming and implementation of the recovery
process. Towards this end, the Department shall:

(@) Improve the community's physical, social and economic resilience, consistent with
the principle of "building forward bear";

(b) Use locally driven centrally supported processes based on legsl mandates with
‘supplementary capacity support when requested;

(c) Redincet development outside danger zones to minimize loss of lives and structures
resulting from typhoons, flooding, landslides, and other hazards;

(d) Employ ouicome-driven planning and implementation:

(6) Maximize use of private-public sector partaership where possible;

(f) Consider local conditions such as culture, security situation and existing capacities
of communities in identifying programs and projects:

(a) Ensure access to public transport, physical and mental health services, markets,
‘schools, sustainable livelihoods, and other public servicesin planning for settlement
areas: and

(h) Ensure restoration of peace and order and recovery of govertment functions.

Article X11
FUNDS AND RESOURCES:

‘SEC. 55. Fund Regulations. - The DBM and COA shall establish rules and regulations
‘to ensure that funds required for disaster response, recovery, and rehabilitation are available
and/or released efficiently and expeditiously through innovative budgeting and auditing
mechanisms,

SEC. 56, Local Disaster Resitience Fund and Local Disaster Contingency Fund. -
LGUs shall annually set aside not less five percent (5%) of their local budget, to constitute a
Local Disaster Resilience Fund (LDRF) The LGU shall use its LDRF to maintain and operate
its LDRO to maintain the officers, employees and staff of the LDRO, and to implement plans,
Programs and activities under its LDRP. Thitty percent (30%) of the LDRF shall be set aside
as Local Disaster Contingency Fund (LDCF) which shall be used for disaster response and
uick recovery measures,

Nothing contained in this Act shall prevent LGUs from providing additional funding or
allocating additional resources for disaster resilience activities, plans and programs within their
jurisdiction.

SEC. 57. Supplemental LDRE. - The Department may allocate and disburse funds to
supplement an LGU's LDRF based on parameters and requirements indivated in the IRR. In
determining such parameters and requirements, the IRR. shall aim to provide supplemental
funds to LGUs with low income and/or high exposure to natural hazards. Supplemental LDRFs
shall, as much as possible, fill gaps or shortages in LGU resources to ensure that LGUs ean


implement disasier resilience measures such as, among others, implementing their LDRP or
Provincial LDRP. establishing their LDROs or PDROs, obtaining and/or maintaining the
necessary equipment and staff in their LDROS or of PDROs, D and implementing the NDRF
and the NDRPIP at the local levels.

‘SEC. 58. National Disaster Resilience Fund. - (a) The National Disaster Risk
‘Reduction and Management Fund (NDRRM Fund) created under Section 22 of Republic Act
‘No, 10121; otherwise known as the “Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act
of 2010". appropriated under the annual General Appropriations Act is hereby renamed as the
National Disaster Resilience Fund (NDRF) and shall be managed and controlled by the
‘Department. The NDRF shall be used for disaster risk reduction or mitigation, prevention, and
preparedness activities such as training of personnel, procurement of equipment, and capital
‘expenditures. it can also be utilized for relief, recovery, reconstruction, and other work or
services in connection with natural or human-induced calamities which may occur during the
budget year or those that occurred in the past two (2) years from the budget year.

(b) Thirty percent (30%) of the amount appropriated for the NDRF shall be allocated
‘88 Quick Response Pund (QRF) or stand-by fund and shall also be under the management and
‘control of the Department. The QRF shall be used for relief and recovery programs to quickly
nomalize the situation and living conditions of people in communities or arcas stricken by
disasters, calamities, epidemics, or complex emergencies, and other related programs, projects
and activities formulated at the national level,

SEC. $9, People’s Survival Fund, The Secretary of the Department shall be a member
of the People’s Survival Fund Board mandated to manage and administer the People's Survival
Fund created under Republic Act No, 10174, otherwise known as the "Climate Change Act of
2000", and facilitate its utilization hy LGUs, through ROs, to implement climate change
adaptation projects of LGUs, and equip vulnerable LGU communities against the impacts of
climate change.

SEC. 60, Multi-Donor Trust Fund - The Depertment shail create and manage, together
with the Bureau of Treasury, a Multi-Donor Trust Fund for the processing, releasing and
accounting of money and other similar resources intended for disaster assistance. The
Department shall establish a system to ensure transparency in the management and use of the
Multi-Donor Trust Fund.

‘SEC. 61, Donations Management - The Department shall have the power to receive
and manage donations from any person or entity, whether from local or international sources,

‘The importation by, and donation to, the Depertment of, among others, food, clothing,
medical assistance, oquipment, and materials for relief, recovery and other disaster
activities are hereby authorized in accordance with Sections 120 and 121 of
Republic Act No. 10863, otherwise known as the "Customs Modernization and Tariff Act
(CMTA)", and the prevailing provisions of the General Appropriations Act covering national
ineernal reverwe taxes and import duties of national and local government agencies.


SEC. 62. Regulation of Donations - The Department shail establish and operate a
platform, including an online platform, to facilitate, monitor, ond provide public access to
information on donations. To ensure complete accounting and reporting of donations, the
Department shall formulate and issue rules and guidelines for the receipt, management and
accounting of donations, which are consistent with the rules on the use of foreign and local aid
daring calamities and disasters issued by COA and other relevant government agencies.

Article XH
SPECIAL RULES ON BORROWING, TAXES, RCOZONES AND PROCUREMENT

SEC. 63. Rules on Borrowing. - The LGUs shall coordinate with the DOF, Bangko
Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), and other relevant agencies age to access foreign loans to implement
disaster prevention, mitigation, early recovery, and rehabilitation measures at the provincial,
city, or municipal level,

SEC. 64. Special Rutex on Tax and Duties, - To facilitate prompt and efficient
response to, andlor recovery from disasters, the following shall be granted special exemptions
from existing taxation laws, rules, and regulations:

(8) Foreign disaster assistance or international donations coursed through the
Department shall be exempted from taxes and import duties;

(b) Local disaster assistance shall be exempted from donors tax and allowing the
treatment of donations as a deductible expense for local disaster assistance
coursed through the Department;

(©) Goods or services donated from abroad coursed through the Department shall be
exempted from the value added tax (VAT); and

(4) Aid or assistance rendered by members af the private sector or their investments
in disaster resilience and climate change adaptation measures for their residence,
communities or businesses.

LGUs may also implement local tax rules which would grant disaster victims
reasonable reduction, exemption, or deferment of local taxes or other types of tax assessments;
oo take other nesessary action at the local level to provide tax relief to disaster victims.

SEC, 65. Customs Duties and Tariffs on Donations. - The BOC shall create rules
which would, among others, hasten the processing and release of donated goods and equipment
to disaster victims and/or affected areas pursuant to Sections 120 and 121 of Republic Act No,
10863, otherwise known as the "Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA)".

SEC. 66. Economic Recovery and Development of Disaster-Prone Areas - (a) The
Department, in coordination with the Department of Trade and Industry (DT1) and other
relevant agencies, shall create and provide policies, programs, and projects, such as, business
tax relief and subsidies, 10 encourage business investments, and to stimulate economic
activities in affected or disaster-prone areas,


(b) ‘The Department, in the collaboration with the relevant LGUs and other
stakeholders, shall likewise establish dual purpose structures in disaster affected areas, such as,
among others, community agricultural centers, classrooins, and water harvesting tanks to
develop and promose investments in affected or disaster-prone areas.

SEC. 67. Procurement - The Deparment, ROs, or LGUs may resort to any of the
Atemative Methods of Procurement provided inRA No, 9184, including Negotiated
Procurement (Emengeacy Cases) under Section $3(b) of RA No. 9184, in any of the following
instances:

2) Incase of imminent danger to life or property during a state of calamity,
1b) When time is of the essence arising from natural or man-made calamities: and
©) Other causes where immediate action is:

i. To prevent damage to or loss of life or property, or

fi, Restore vital public serviees, infrastructure facitities and other public utilities,

Furthermore, the Department, ROs, or LGUs may use Shopping under Section 52{a) of
RA No. 9184, when there is an unforeseen contingency requiring immediate purchase.

SEC. 68. Alternative Modes of Procurement, - The Department, ROS, of LGUs may
resort to any of the Alternative Methods of Procurement provided in RA No, 9184, including
‘hut not limited to, Shopping and Negotiated Procurement (Emergency Cases) under Sections
$2(-) and $3(b) of RA No. 9188.

‘The Department, ROs, of LGUs may also use Framework Agreements in acconlance
with the rules and regulations of the GFPB.

SEC. 69. Special Rules on Procurement for Reconstruction und Rehabilitation of
Affected Areas. - (a) The GPPB shall create special rules on procurement for services, goods,
and materials to be used for reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts in case of a natural disaster
including, but not limited to, the construction of post-disaster shelters and provision of service
contracts. 10 ensure the procurement of quality-oriented goods, materials, and equipment snd
0 guarantee effective, efficient, and speedy procurement to achieve the goals of this Act.

(b) In case of procurement of services, goods, or materials for reconstruction und
rehabilitation efforts, whether from local or intemational sources, the Department and the
relevant government agencies shull provide less bureaucratic resirictions, or exemption from,
‘of reduction of, customs duties.

SEC, 70. Procurement from Qualified Suppliers or Contractors. - The Department
shall have the power to procure goods and services from either local or foreign suppliers or
contractors fur purposes of implementing programs, projects. and activities related to disaster
resilience and disaster management in accordance with RA No. 9184, its IRR and other
issuances of the GPPB.


SEC. 71. Framework Agreements. - The Department shall have authority to enter into
Framework Agreements for the purpose of, among others, establishing a logistics system for
the efficient and prompt distribution of goods, equipment or other materials required for
disasicr response and management; securing food, medicines, fuel, or other supplies from
‘groceries, pharmacies, gas stations or other sources in the event of a disaster in a specific area:
‘ensuring an altemative source of power or water from private utilities in the event of a disaster
{ina specific area; or arranging the immedinic supply of other goods, services or equipment
necessary for disaster response and management. The conditions, limitations and parameters
of contracts or arrangements authorized under this section shall be provided in RA No. 9184
and its 2016 IRR.

SEC. 72. Other Procurement Rules aad Policies. -n view of the urgency and avoid
unnecessary delays 10 procure goods, scrvices, and implememt projects for the purpose of
providing responsive, effective, and efficient rescue, recovery, relief, and rehabilitation efferts
for, and to continue the provision of basic services to disaster victims or disaster affected areas,
the GPPB shall issue appropriate resolutions, orders, and policies to, effectively implement the
provision of this Act.

Article XIV.
DISASTER RISK TRANSFER AND INSURANCE

SEC. 73. Mandated Insurance Coverage. - To atain disaster resilience and achiewe
the purposes of this Act, the Department shall have the discretion and authority to require
government agencies, government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCS), or LGUs to
insure their assets and/or properties such ss, among. others, vessels, vehicles, equipment,
machineries, permanent buildings, properties stored therein, of properties in transit against
insurable risks and pay the premiums therefor, fo compensate the Government, GOCC or LGU,
as applicable, for any damage to, or loss of, properties duc to a natural disaster.

Article XV
YOUTH ASSISTANCE AND PARTICIPATION

SEC. 74, Youth Organizations, - The Depariment, with the assistance of the National
‘Youth Commission (NYC), shall create policies, projects, and programs that address the special
needs of the youth for disaster preparedness snd mansgement which shall include, among
others:

(a) Supporting youth-oriented pre-and post-disaster activities:

{b) Conducting disaster risk, training and management programs involving the
‘youth; Coordinating with the Departmeat of Education to create school curricula
‘or programs that educate and train children on disaster risk awareness and
disaster preparedness;


{c) Mobilizing youth organizations, and Encouraging the participation of the youth,
through the barangay youth representative and the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK)
to participete in disaster resilience and disaster management activities.

SEC. 75. Youth Oriented Disaster-Related Programs, Policies, and Projects, - (a)
“The Department, with the assistance of the National Youth Commission, shall provide training
‘on, and implement, response and rehabilitation programs forthe youth, including mental health
‘and psycho-social services,

(b) ‘The Department, in collaboration with the Department of Education (DepEd), the
‘Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and other relevant agencies,
‘shall integrate disaster risk and disaster resilience education in the school curriculum,

SEC. 76. Comprehensive Emergency Program for Children, Pregnant and Lactating
Mothers. - The Department shall establish and implement a comprehensive emergency
program to provide emergency relief and protection to children, and pregnant and lactating
mothers in the event of a natural disaster.

Article XVI
PROHIBITED ACTS AND PENALTIES

SEC. 77, Prohibited Acts, - Any public official, private person, eroup oF corporation
‘who commits any of the following prohibited ncts shall be held liable and be subjected to the
criminal and administrative penalties 3 provided for in Section 78 of this Act, without
prejudice to the imposition of other criminal, civil and administrative liabilities under existing
Jaws.

(a) Prohibited Acts of Public Officials. The following acts, if committed by public
officials without justifiable cause, shall be considered as gross neglect of duty:

1) Dereliction of duty which leads to destruction, loss of lives, critical damage of
facilities and misuse of funds;

2) Failure to enforce laws, standards, or regulations such as the National Building
‘Code, Solid Waste Management Act, Water Code. and other relevant laws,
thereby increasing the risk of disasters or adversely affecting of disaster
resilience:

3) Falture to expeditiously act on reported violations;

4) Faiture to create LDRO(s) or PDRO{s) and appoint a permanent Local or
Provincial Disaster Resilience Officer within six (6) months from the approval
of this Act. and

5) Failure to prepare and implement an LDRP or PORP. as applicable or 3
‘contingency plan for hazards frequently occurring within their jurisdiction,

(b) Prohibited Acts of Public Officials end Private Persons or Institutions.


1) Delaying without justifiable cause the delivery of aid commodities, their
improper handling or storage, resulting to damage or spoilage:

2) Withholding the distribution of relief goods due to (2) political or partisan
considerations; (b) discrimination based on race, ethnicity, religion, or gender;
and (c) other similar circumstances;

3) Preventing the entry and distribution of relief goods in disaster-stricken areas,
inctuding appropriate technology, tools, equipment, accessories, disaster cams:
of experts:

4) Buying. for consumption or resale, from disaster relief agencies any relief
‘goods, cquipmeat or other and commioditics which arc intcaded for distribution
to disaster affected communities;

5) Buying, for consumption or resale, from the disaster affected persons eny relief
‘goods, cquipmeat or other aid commodities received by them:

6) Selling of relief goods, equipment or other aid commodities which are intended.
for distribution to disaster victims;

7) Forcibly scizing relief goods, equipment or other aid commodities intended for
‘or consigned to. specitic group of viedms or relief awency;

8) Diverting or misdelivering relief goods, equipment or other aid commodities to
‘persis other than the rightful recipient or consignee:

9) Accepting, possessing, using or disposing relief goods, equipment or other aid
‘commodities intended for or consigaed to other rightful recipient or consignee;

10) Misrepresenting the source of relief goods, equipment or other aid commodities
by:

i, Bither covering, replacing or defacing the labels of the containers w
‘make it appear that the goods, equipment or other aid commodities came
‘from another agency or person;

ii, Repacking the goods, equipment or other aid commodities into
containers with different maskings to make it appear that the goods came
from another agency or persons or was released upon the instance of a
particular agency or person;

fii, Making false verbal claim that the goods, equipment or other and
‘commodity in its untampered original containers actually came from
‘another agency of person or was released upon the instance of a
particular agency or person:

11) Substituting or replacing eelief goods, equipment or other aid commodities with
the same items of inférior oF cheaper quality;

12) Megat soliciting of relief goods, equipment or other aig commodities by persons
‘of organizations representing others as defined in the standards anid guidelines
set by this Act's IRR;

13) Deliberately using false or inflated data in support of the request for funding,
relief goods, equipment or other aid commodities for emergency assistance of
‘other projects; and

14)Tampering with of stealing hazard monitoring and disaster preparedness
equipment aad paraphernalia.


SEC. 78 Penaities. - Any individual, corporation, partnership, association oF other
juridical entity that commits any of the prohibited acts in the preceding Section shail be made
ligble for the following:

(@) A fine of not less than Onc hundred thousand pesos (PhP 100,000.00) or not to
exceed Five hundred thousand pesos (PAP 500,000.00), or imprisonment of not
less than six (6) months and one (1) day nor more than twelve (12) 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 yovernment of the objects and the instrumentalities used in committing any of
herein prohibited acts,

(b) Ifthe offender is a corporation, partnership or association, or other juridical entity,
the penalty shall be imposed upon the officer or officers of the corporution,
partnership, association or entity responsible for the violation without prejudice
to the cancellation or revocation of the Ticense or accreditation issued to these
entities by any licensing or accredited body of the government. IFsuch offender is,
‘an alien, he or she shall, in addition to the pensities preseribed im this Act, be
‘deported without further proceedings after service of the sentence.

(©) If the offender 1s 4 public officer, the offense shall also be punishable by
administrative suspension of six (6) months and one (1) day to one (1) year for the
first offense, and dismissal from the service for the second offense. The penalty
of dismissal shall carry with it the cancellation of eligibility to or forfeiture of
retirement benefits, pernetual disqualification from holding public office and
disqualification from taking civil service examinations.

Acts committed in violation of this Section shall be without prejudice to the imposition
of other criminal, civil and sdministrative liabilities under other existing laws.

SEC. 79, Liability for Unlawful Performance of Duties and State Liability in Case of
Defense Litigation, - \n case & cswsult is Died against an officer or employee of the Deparunent
asa result of the performance of official duties, and such performance was found to be lawl,
the officer shall or employee shall be reimbursed by the Department for reasonable costs of
{itigation.

For this purpose. the Department is authorized to procure the applicable liability
Insurance for its officers and employees,

SEC. 80. Disciplinary Powers of the President, The President, upon recommendation
of the Department Secretary, shall impose administrative and sanctions against local chief
executives and barangay officials for willful or negligent acts performed in the implementation
‘of, or compliance with, this Act and its IRR or relating 10 their official functions which
adversely affect disaster resilience projects such as delayed issuance of permits of failure to
implement local ordinances


Article XVIL
SPECIAL COURTS AND INJUNCTIONS,

SEC. 81. Special Courts on Disaster Resilience Matters, - Yo ensure the prompt and
expeditious resolution of disputes relating to disaster response, recovery oF rehabilitation
‘measures, the Supreme Court shall establish special courts to hear, try, and decide cases arising
from the following, among others:

{a) Implementation of the government's policies, plans, programs, projects and budge
related to the NDRPIP, LORP. PDRP, other disaster resilience activities, or
pursuant 10 the provisions of this Act,

{b) Construction of new settlements, or relocation of informal settlers or settlements. to
promote disaster resilience:

(©) Expropriation, eminent domain or righi-of way issues relating to the
implementation of disaster resilience projects;

(4) Failure to comply with standards for disaster preparedness and continuity planning,
including, but not limited to infrastructure standards and designs;

(©) Declaration of state of calamity under Article X of this Act;

(A) Imposition of tax, customs duties, or the implementation of tax relief, exemptions,
reductions and other tax’ or customs rules and regulations in relation to donations,
disaster assistance, or other tax policies implemented by the BIR or BOC pursuant
to the provision of this Act:

{g) Commission of prohibited acts unger Article XVI of this Act;

{h) Disputes involving donations. relief goods, or contracts executed or implemented
pursuant to the provisions of this Act, and

(i) Other matters relating to achieving the purposes of this Act which the Supreme
Court may determine as falling under the jurisdiction of the special courts created
‘pursuant to this Section,

SEC. 82, Dispute Resolution Mechanisms. - The Department shill establish a Disaster
Resolution Board which shall resolve disputes involving administrative matters related to:

(a) Accreditation or denial of acereditution of disaster resilience training. institutions,
trainers, instructors, donors, volunteers, and Assisting Domestic or Intemational
Actors;

(©) Decisions of the ROS;

(6) Contracts entered into by the Department or ary of its agents pursuant to the provisions
ofthis Act; and

(a) Other administrative matters or issues as may be determined by the Department.

(¢) The composition, structure, and other organizational matters related to the DRB shall
be defined and provided in the IRR of this Act.

SEC, 83. Special Prosecutors. - ‘the Ombadsman shall designate special prosecutors
to handle end prosecute violations of this Act involving public officials and employees,


SEC. 84. Imposition of Temporary Restraining Order. . No Court, except the Supreme
‘Court, shall have the powers to issue an injunction or a temporary restraining order against ny
action taken or projects implemented by the Department of its agents pursuant to this Act,

Article XVIIL
FINAL PROVISIONS

SEC. 85, Transfer. -

8) The disaster risk reduction and management powers, functions, assets, personnel,
fund and appropriations of the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) currently under the
DND, are hereby transferred to the Department, and the civil defense functions
‘shall remain with the DND,

‘The existing organizational and administrative systems and processes of the OCD,
8 transferred, shall serve as the core organization of the Department.

bb} The applicable powers, functions, funds and appropriations of the Disaster
Response Assistance and Management Buresu and the National Resource and
Logistics Management Bureau under the DSWD, are hereby transferred to the
Dey

4) The NDRRMC is hereby abolished,

The DILG, DND, DSWD, and other relevant government instrumentalities, including
the AFP, BFP, PNP, PCG, and OCD, shall continue to perform their functions related to the
‘consequence management of human-induced disasters, as provided for by existing laws.

‘The Department shall, by virtue of this Act, be subrogated to all the rights and assume
all the Liabilities of the agencies transferred under this Act, and all their funds, records, property,
assets, equipment, and suck personne! as necessary, including unexpended appropriations or
allocations. All contracts and liabilities of the suid agencies 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.

SEC. 86. Coordination and Convergence with the Climate Change Commission. -
‘The Department, and the Climate Change Commission, pursuant to its mandate under Republic
‘Act No, 9729, as amended, shall establish snd implement a convergence mechanism to
ilitate coordination on the following arcas:

4} Conduct of current and future climate and disaster risk assessment as basis for
sustainable development snd resitient investment planning and programming at
the national, sectorial, and local levels:

b} Establishment of a National Iniegrated Climate and Disaster Risk Information
System, a singular platform for integrating and sharing climate and disaster risk
‘information;


¢} Development and implementation of capacity-building and technical assistance
programs for local government units and stakeholers on climate change
adaptation and disaster risk reduction:

b) Monitoring and evaluation of progress of implementation of national, seciovial,
and local plans and programs on climate change adaptation and disaster risk
reduction; and

¢) Development of knowledge exchange platforms and impkmentation of
information, education, and communication program, including good practices on
Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction.

SEC. 87, Transitory Provision. - The transfer of functions, assets, ands, equipment,
properties, transactions, and personnel of the affected and tansferred agencies, and the
formulation of the imterral organic structure, staffing pattern, operating system, and revised
buidget of the Department, shall be completed within two (2) years from the effectivity of this
Act, during which time the existing personnel shall continue to assume their posts in holdover
capacities until new appointments are issued: Provided, That, after the abolition of the agencies
as specified in Section 85 of this Act, the Department, in coordination with the DBM. shall
evaluate, abolish old and/or create new positions.

SEC. 88. Interdeparimenial Relations and Coordination - The DDR shall
continuously call upon the following departments: (a) DOST for the Philippine Atmospheric,
Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) and Philippine Institute of
Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS); (b) DENR for the Geohazard Assessment and
Engineering, Geology Section of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB), (¢) DOH for the
Health Emengeney Management Bureau (HEMB); and (4) DILG for the Bureau of Fite and
Protection: Provided, That DDR and these departments shall establish systems and protocols
for fostering interdepartmental relations and close coordination, through sustained sharing of
data, information technology, facilites, and other resources critical to the DDR, among ethers:
Provided, further, That the said ayencies will cooperate fully with the DDR, in unticipation of,
during and as necessary in the determination of the DDR Secretary, and perform agency
mandates in close coordination with DDR as circumstances warrant in the aftermath of
‘emergencies and disasters: Provided. finally, That PAGASA, PHIVOLCS and the Geohazards
‘Unit of the MGB shall provide staff augmentation to DDR Operations Center as the need arises.

SEC. 89. Transfer of Resources. - The transfer of powers and functions of agencies
fisted ia Section 85 shall include the corresponding funds and appropriations, plantitia
positions, records, equipment, facilities, and properties of such agencies, subject to the power
of the Department to reorganize or reallocate the resources and positions from such agencies,
‘as may be necessary to attain the objectives of this Act.

SEC. 90. Program Management Office for the Earthquake Resiliency of the Greater
Metra Manila Area - The Program Management Office for the Earthquake Resiliency of the
Greater Metro Manila Area (PMOERG), us crested pursuant to Executive Onder No. 52, s.
2018, shall be transferred to the Department under the supervision and control of the Secretary
and shall continue to exercise its mandated functions,


SEC. 91. Post-Disaster Shelters. - The Department shall establish s post-disaster
shelter recovery policy framework fur low-income or informal settler families, with the
assistance of the appropriate housing agencies and the concerned LGUs. It shall, among others,
desermine the appropriate sheer modalities depending on the following post-disaster phases;
‘emergency, temporary or transitional, and permanent. The Department shall likewise identity,
aasvess, and designate safe zones where the appropriate shelters shall be built.

SEC. 92. Cultural Heritage. - Yo protect, preserve, and promote the nation's historical
and cultural heritage, the Department shall assist the appropriate cultural agencies and the
appropriate LGUs to give priority proteetion and restoration to all national cultural treasures or
ational historical landmarks, sites, or monuments h post-disaster recovery or rehabilitation
measures

SEC. 93, Indigenous People, - (a) The Department shall, with the assistance of the
National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) and the concerned LGUs, devise and
mechanisms that foster social protection for indigenous communities are vulnerable to the
effects of natural disasters.

(b) The Deparment shall ensure respect for, and protection af, the traditional resource
‘ight ofthe Indigenous Cultural Communities Indigenous Penple (ICC or IPs) to their ancestral
domains and recognize the customary laws and traditional resource use and management,
knowledge, and practices in ancestral domains.

{¢) Inancestral domains which are disaster-prone, the Department, with the assistance
of the end applicable LGUs, shall create an Ancestral Domain Disaster Management and
Resiliency Plan. It shall likewise properly communicate and explain information on disaster
risks in ancestral domains with the concemed ICs or IPs and, as much as possible, engage
such ICCs or 1Ps in jointly formulating a disaster resiliency plan for their ancestral domain,

SEC, 94, Livelihood. ~ The Department shall, with the assistance of the relevant
government agencies, such as the DT! and Department af Labor and Employment (DOLE)
‘establish policies and programs to restore andior generate livelihood in areas affested by natural
disasters.

SEC. 95. Structural Audit of Government Buildings. - The Department, with the
assistance of the DPWH and other relevant goverment agencics and stakeholders, shall cnsure
‘and conduct structural audit, as often as necessary, on government buildings, especially those
located in congested and disaster-prone areas, to ensure structural integrity and disaster risk of
urban buildings and to prevent the loss of life and property i the event of an anticipates natural
disastor.

SEC. 96. Magna Carta Benefits. - Qualified employees of the Department including
those of its attached agencies, shall be covered by and entitled to the benefits under Republic
‘Act No, 8439, otherwise known as the "Magna Carta for Scientists, Engineers, Researchers and
other Science and Technology Personnel in the Goverment"; and Republic Act No, 7305,


otherwise known as the "Magna Carta of Public Health Workers": and Republic Act No. 9433,
‘otherwise known as the "Magna Carta for Public Social Workers".

SEC. 97. Hazard Pay. - Qualified personnel of the Department and the local disaster
resilience offices are entitled to receive havand pay, subject to existing policies and guidetines,

SEC. 98, Separation Benefits of Officials and Employees of Affected Agencies. -
Public sector employees who have been displaced or separated from the service pursuant 10
reorganization under this Act shall be entitled to separation pay, retirement and other benefits
in accordance with Republic Act No. 6656 or the Government Reorganization Law, and other
laws, and rules and regulations issued by the Civil Service Commission en government
reorganization.

In no case shall there be any diminution of benefits under the separation plan wri the
{ull implementation of this Act.

Employees who shall be displaced or separated asa result of the implementation of this
‘Act “shall be given preference for appointment in the Department and in other government
agencies if they mest the qualification requirements of the positions.

No new employees shall be considered for appointment until all incumbent employees
have been placed. The placement of an incumbent employee to @ higher position which
constitutes 2 promotion shall not be allowed until all incumbent employees have been placed
to comparable positions for which they are considered.

SEC, 99, Appropriations. - The amount necessary for the initial implementation of this
‘Act shall be taken from the curent fiscal yew"'s appropriations of all agencies herein absorbed
‘and transferred to the Department. Thereafter, the amounts necessary for the operation of the
Department and the implementation of this Act shall be included In the annual General
Appropriations Act.

SEC, 100. Implementing Rules and Regulations, - ‘The Department, DBM, GPPB.
DND, DOF, DILG, DOST, NEDA, DSWD, CSC, and the Career Executive Service Board
(CESB), the House and Senate Committees on Government Reorganization, and
representatives from relevant government agencies, academe. business sector, nongovernment
organizations, and civil society organizations shall prepare and issue the implementing rules
‘and regulations (IRR) to implement this Act within ninety (90) days from its effectivity.

SEC. 101. Joint Congressional Oversight Committee on Disaster Resilience. - There
shall be created a Joint Congressional Oversight Committee on Disaster Resilience to monitor
the implementation of this Act. The Committee shall be composed of six (6) members of the
House of Representatives and six (6) members of the Senate to be designated by the Speaker
of the House of Representutives and the President of the Senate, respectively: Provided, That
two (2) members of the House of Representatives and two (2) Senators shall come from the
Minority of their respective houses of Congress. The Commitiee shall be jointly chaired by a


Member of the House of Representatives and a Senator designated hy the Speaker of the House
of Representatives and the President of the Senate, respectively.

‘The Joint Congressional Oversight Committee on Disaster Resilience shall be assisted
bby a-secretariat o be compased by personnel under secondment from the Sentate and the House
of Representatives and may retain consultants,

SEC. 102, Mandatory Review, - Within five (3) years after the effectivity of this Act,
of as the need arises, the Congressional Oversight Committee shall conduct a systematic
evaluation of the accomplishments and impacts of this Act, 4s well as the performance, and
organizational structure of the Department, for purposes of determining remedial legislation.

SEC. 103, Jnterpretation, - Any doubt in the interpretation of any provision of this Act
shall be resolved in fivor of @ libera! intecpretation that will fulGl! the objectives of this Act,
especially in relation to the provision of effective, efficient and timely disaster response,
rehabilitation and recovery.

SEC. 104. Separahility Clause. - V0 any provision of this Act shall be dectared
‘unconstitutional or invalid, the other provisions or parts thereof not otherwise affected shall
remain in full force and effect.

SEC, 108. Repeating Clause. - The provisions of Republic Act No. 10121, otherwise
known as the "Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010"; Republic
Act No. 71 601, otherwise known as the "Local Government Code of 1991"; Republic Act No.
7916. otherwise known as "The Special Economic Zone Act of 1995"; and all other laws,
decrees, executive orders, proclamations and other executive issuances, which are not
consistent with or contrary to the provisions of this Act, are hereby repealed or amended,

SEC, 106, Eyffecttvity ~ This Act shall take effect fitteen (15) days after its publication
in the Official Guzette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,