1 
Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Constitution Hills, Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _____ 
Introduced by Hon. KRISTINE ALEXIE B. TUTOR 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Our proposed Disasters and Emergencies Management Act of 2023 seeks to further 
empower communities, local governments, and their local chief executives and legislative 
bodies to enable them to prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters and 
emergencies striking their areas. 
This bill is separate from but supportive of other legislative measures seeking to create the 
Department on Disaster Resilience and put in place other measures and systems to 
address disasters and emergencies. This is a standalone bill but also a companion 
measure to the proposed Department on Disaster Resilience which has an emphasis on 
the national domains. 
This measure is a comprehensive approach to Disaster Risk Reduction and Management, 
climate change adaptation and mitigation, and situations involving emergencies posing 
serious threats to life and property, and the functioning of communities and local 
governments. 
This bill contains decades of lessons learned, including recent lessons, by all levels of 
government and by the private sector and civil society pertinent to disasters and 
emergencies. 
The main focus of this bill is on the authority of local governments and the human 
resources needed to adequately respond to disasters and emergencies. Support roles for 
concerned agencies, enterprises, institutions, and organizations are also provided. 
The Strategy put forward in this bill is the overarching topic and umbrella encompassing 
the related sub-topics tackled in the provisions thereof. The objectives, issues, and 
measures stated in all the provisions are part of coverage of the Strategy. 
This bill draws inspiration from Senate Bill (SB) 174 of Senator Francis Tolentino, SB 939 
of Senator Win Gatchalian, and SB 686 by Senator Ramon Revilla, Jr. It also draws 
inspiration from the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act (Republic Act 11469). 
Considering the foregoing, swift passage of this bill is sought. 
Representative Kristine Alexie B. Tutor 
Bohol Province, Third District 
February 6, 2023
12:19 pm
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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Constitution Hills, Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _____ 
Introduced by Hon. KRISTINE ALEXIE B. TUTOR 
AN ACT ESTABLISHING A COMMUNITY-CENTRIC, HUMAN RESOURCE-ORIENTED, 
SCIENCE-BASED EMERGENCY AND DISASTER RESPONSE, RESILIENCE, 
ADAPTATION, AND MITIGATION STRATEGY TOWARD ZERO CASUALTIES AND 
SERVICES CONTINUITY, PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR,  
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives assembled, 
Section 1. Short Title. This Act shall be known as the “Disasters and Emergencies 
Management Act of 2023.” 
Section 2. Declaration of State Policies and Guidelines. It shall 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 emergencies and natural disasters at the community 
and local government levels; 
(b) Uphold the sacredness of human life by efficiently and effectively addressing 
humanitarian emergencies, including calamities and disasters;
(c) Promote, establish, and implement  a community-centric, human resource-oriented, 
science-based emergency and disaster response, resilience, adaptation, and 
mitigation strategy toward zero casualties and services continuity;
(d) Ensure the swift provision and deployment at the local levels of services and public 
assistance, before, during, and after a disaster or emergency; 
(e) Inculcate a culture of resilience and preparedness against emergencies and  
disasters at the community, municipal, city, provincial, and national levels; 
(f) Address the different concerns and needs of sectors with special needs or higher 
vulnerabilities such as women, children, elderly, persons with disabilities, and 
indigenous peoples with respect to disaster resilience and disaster management; 
and 
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(g) Foster an enabling environment for substantial and sustainable participation of 
nongovernment stakeholders such as civil society organizations, private groups, 
volunteers, and communities in disaster resilience programs and projects. 
 
Section 3. The Zero Disaster Casualties and Services Continuity Strategy 
Framework.  There is hereby established a  Zero Disaster Casualties and Services 
Continuity Strategy Framework that is community-centric to enable cities and 
municipalities nationwide to effectively address emergencies and disasters primarily 
through basic and scalable human resources contingents, funds, logistical resources, and 
decision-making authority primarily vested upon mayors and barangay councils. This 
Strategy Framework shall henceforth govern all disaster risk reduction and management 
programs, projects, and operations nationwide. 
 
Section 4. Goals of the Strategy Framework. To achieve the primary goals of zero 
casualty and services continuity, every local government shall adopt and continually 
implement the Every Household, Every Barangay Emergency Ready Program  to be 
jointly developed and promulgated by the Department of Health, Department of Social 
Welfare and Development, Department of the Interior and Local Government, Department 
of Science and Technology, and the Philippine Red Cross. 
 
These same agencies shall also jointly develop and promulgate a comprehensive First 
Responders Training and Empowerment Program for implementation in every 
community and local government with the support of national government field offices and 
personnel, including state universities and colleges. 
 
Section 5. Plain Language, Filipino, Local, and Other Languages. For effective 
communication and coordination, communities and local governments shall primarily use 
plain language and Filipino and local languages in their emergency and disaster activities. 
English, Arabic, and Chinese shall serve as suppletory languages where and whenever 
necessary.  
 
The Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino and the language, sociology, anthropology, and social 
work departments of state universities and colleges shall render relevant technical 
assistance to communities and local governments to implement this Section. 
 
The Department of the Interior and Local Government shall develop, promulgate, and 
implement a Crisis Communications Manual for all local government units and 
community and citizen organizations. This Manual shall include benchmarks and protocols 
on contact points and modes for the general public and news media,  composition of 
public notices, warnings, and update bulletins, evacuation orders,  conduct of press 
briefings, interviews, and news conferences, postings on social media, actions on 
feedback, response options to actionable field reports,   documentation and minutes of 
meetings, and operations timelines. 
 
Section 6.  Science and Jargon Laymanized.  The terms and scientific jargon and 
technical concepts in this Act and those used in the Science, Chemistry, Mathematics, 
Medicine, and Engineering involved in emergencies and disasters shall be explained in 
ways these matters can be easily and plainly understood in terms of impact, clear 
analogies, and examples. All implementing agencies and local government units shall 
interpret and implement this Section in conjunction with Section 19 of this Act. 
 


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Section 7.  Definition of Terms.  As used in this Act and its Implementing Rules and 
Regulations, and Implementing Programs and Manuals: 
 
a) Adaptation refers to the adjustment in natural or human systems in response to 
actual or expected climactic stimuli or their effects, which moderates harm or 
exploits beneficial opportunities;  
 
b) Assisting actor refers to any assisting international or domestic actor following a 
disaster in the country;  
 
c) Biological hazards refer to hazards that are of organic origin or conveyed by 
biological vectors, including pathogenic 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; 
 
d) Building forward better refers to an approach to building or reconstructing an area 
or community, which entails a shift from achieving simple recovery and restoration 
to creating safer, more adaptive, resilient, and inclusive communities;   
 
e) Business continuity refers to the capability of an organization to continue the 
delivery of products or services at acceptable predefined levels following a 
disruptive incident;  
 
f) Capacity refers to the combination of attributes and resources available within a 
community or area that can reduce the level of risk(s) from, or impact(s) of, a 
disaster;  
 
g) Civil society organizations (CSOs) refer to non-State actors whose aims are neither 
to generate profits nor to seek governing power, but to unite people to advance 
shared goals and interests. CSOs may include nongovernment 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 
an extended period, typically decades or longer, whether due to natural internal 
processes or external forces such as modulation of the solar cycles, volcanic 
eruptions, and persistent anthropogenic changes in the composition of the 
atmosphere or land use;  
 
i) 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; 
 
j) Consequence management refers to the totality of interventions and measures 
taken to restore essential operations and services in a permissive environment, 
including measures to protect public health and safety, restore essential 
government services, and provide emergency relief to individuals, stakeholders, 
and communities affected by the consequences of emergencies, hazards, and 
disasters; 
 


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k) Contingency planning refers to a management process that analyzes. specific 
potential events or emerging situations that might threaten society or the
environment and establishes arrangements in advance to enable timely, effective, 
and appropriate responses to such events and situations; 
l)
Continuity policy refers to a policy aimed at the development of an organizational 
culture that can provide a minimum level of service during interruptions, 
emergencies, and disasters, and return to full operations quickly; 
m) Cultural heritage refers to the totality of cultural property preserved and developed 
through time and passed on to posterity; 
n) Deterministic risk assessment refers 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;  
o) Development assistance refers to financial, material, or other forms of assistance to 
support the economic, social, and environmental well-being of areas or people 
affected by a natural disaster; 
p) 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 attitudinal and 
environmental barriers that hinder their full and effective participation in society on 
an equal basis with others; 
q) Disaster refers to a serious disruption of the functioning of a community or a society 
involving widespread human, material, economic or environmental losses and 
impacts, which exceeds the ability of the affected community 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 present; and 
insufficient capacity or measures to reduce or cope with the potential negative 
consequences. Disaster impacts may include loss of life, injury, disease, and other 
negative effects on human, physical, mental, 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 term “disaster” shall refer to “natural disaster”. 
r)
Disaster assistance refers to financial, material, or other forms of assistance to
address the immediate and long-term needs of people, communities, or areas
affected by a disaster. This term includes humanitarian assistance and development 
assistance; 
s) Disaster management refers to the planning, organization, and application of 
measures preparing for, responding to, and recovering from disasters;
t)
Disaster mitigation refers to the reduction or limitation of the adverse impacts of 
disasters and their related hazards; 
u) Disaster preparedness refers to the knowledge and capacities developed by 
governments, professional response and recovery organizations, communities, and 


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individuals to effectively anticipate, respond to, and recover from, the impacts of 
likely, imminent or current disasters and related hazards;  
 
v) Disaster 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;  
 
w) Disaster recovery refers to the restoration or improvement of livelihoods and health, 
as well as economic, physical, social, cultural and environmental assets, systems 
and activities, of a disaster-affected community or society, aligning with the 
principles of sustainable development and “build forward better” to avoid or reduce 
future disaster risk;   
 
x) Disaster response or disaster relief refers to the provision of emergency services 
and public assistance during or immediately after a disaster in order to secure and 
save lives, reduce health impacts, ensure public safety and meet the basic 
subsistence needs of the people affected. Disaster response is predominantly 
focused on immediate and short-term needs and is sometimes called “disaster 
relief’;  
 
y) Disaster rehabilitation refers to restoration of basic services and facilities for the 
function of a community or a society affected by a disaster;   
 
z) Disaster resilience refers to the ability of a system, community, or society exposed 
to hazards to resist, absorb, accommodate, adapt to, transform, and recover from 
the effects of a hazard, including the long-term impact of climate change, in a timely 
and efficient manner, including through the preservation and restoration of its 
essential basic structures and functions through risk management; 
 
aa) 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 a combination of the vulnerability, capacity, 
exposure of persons and assets, hazard characteristics and the environment;  
 
bb) Disaster risk governance refers to the manner in which public authorities, civil 
servants, media, private sector, and civil society coordinate at community, national 
and regional levels in order to manage disaster and climate related risks. This 
includes ensuring that sufficient levels of capacity and 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 rights and obligations, and mediate their differences;  
 
cc) 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; 
 
dd) Disaster risk reduction refers to the prevention of new, or reduction of existing, 
disaster risks and the management of residual risk, to enhance resilience to 
disasters;  
 


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ee) 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 private sector, and 
others to take timely action to reduce disaster risks and adequately prepare for 
disasters; 
 
ff) Emergency refers to the unforeseen or sudden occurrences, especially danger, 
demanding immediate action;  
 
gg) Emergency management refers to the organization and management of resources 
and responsibilities for addressing all aspects of emergencies, in particular, 
preparedness, response, and initial recovery steps;  
 
hh) 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 fall 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;  
 
ii) Exposure refers to the situation of people, infrastructure, housing, production 
capacities and other tangible human assets located in hazard-prone areas;  
 
jj) 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 contract between the procuring 
entity and the bidder(s) granting the procuring entity the option to either place an 
order for any of the goods or services identified in the Framework Agreement List or 
not buy at all, within the period of the Framework Agreement; 
 
kk) Geological or geophysical hazards refer to hazards which originate from internal 
earth processes, such as earthquakes, volcanic activities and emissions, and 
related geophysical processes which include mass movements, landslides, 
rockslides, surface collapses and debris or mud flows. Hydrometeorological factors 
are important contributors to some of these processes. While tsunamis are 
triggered by undersea earthquakes and other geological events, they essentially 
become an oceanic process that is manifested as a coastal water-related hazards;  
 
ll) Geographic information system refers to a database that contains, among others, 
geo-hazard assessments, information on climate change, and climate risk reduction 
and management;  
 
mm) 
Geographically isolated and disadvantaged area (GIDA) refers to an area 
with a marginalized population, which is physically and socio-economically 
separated from the mainstream society and characterized by a physical factor such 
as isolated due to distance, weather conditions and transportation difficulties due to 
island, upland lowland, landlocked, hard to reach and underserved communities; 
and/or socio-economic factors such as high poverty incidence, presence of 
vulnerable sector, communities in or recovering from a situation of crisis or armed 
conflict;   


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nn) Hazard refers to a phenomenon, substance, human activity, or condition: that may 
cause loss of life, injury or impacts to health; and social and economic disruption, 
environmental damage, or loss of or disruption to property, livelihood and/or 
services; 
 
oo) Historical landmarks refer to sites or structures that are associated with events or 
achievements significant to Philippine history as declared by the National Historical 
Institute or the applicable agency; 
 
pp) Human-induced disasters refer to disasters induced entirely or predominantly by 
human activities or choices, such as ideologically motivated conflict or criminality;  
 
qq) Humanitarian assistance refers to financial, material or other similar forms of 
"assistance to address the immediate needs of people affected by a natural 
disaster;  
 
rr) Hydrometeorological hazards refer to hazards that are of atmospheric, hydrological 
and oceanographic origin, such as tropical cyclones also known as typhoons and 
hurricanes; floods, including flash floods, drought; heatwaves and cold spells, 
coastal storm surges, and marine heatwaves, extreme sea events, and sea level 
rise. Hydrometeorological conditions may 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;   
 
ss) Impact and needs assessment refers to assessing the nature and magnitude of a 
disaster, its impact on affected populations, the type and extent of emergency, and 
the requirements for recovery and rehabilitation of the affected areas;  
 
tt) Land-use planning refers to the process undertaken by public authorities to identify, 
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 formulation and 
promulgation of plans that describe the permitted or acceptable uses;  
 
uu) Legal facilities refer to entitlements and exemptions that are granted to assisting 
domestic or international actors which are declared to be eligible pursuant to this 
Act and its implementing rules and regulations;  
 
vv) Local Disaster Resilience Plan (LDRP) refers to a 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 out specific programs, objectives and goals to implement disaster risk 
management and climate change adaptation measures at the local level. The plan 
shall include among others, an evaluation 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;  
 
ww) 
National cultural treasure refers to a unique cultural property found locally, 
possessing outstanding historical, cultural, artistic and/or scientific value which is 


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highly significant and important to the country and nation, and officially declared as 
such by the pertinent cultural agency;  
 
xx) Natural disaster refers to a disaster predominantly associated with and/or caused 
by natural processes or phenomena, such as those related to geology such as 
earthquakes, ground rupture, liquefaction, landslides, tsunamis, sinkholes, volcanic 
activity; hydrology and meteorology such as floods, severe winds, typhoons, storm 
surges, climatological variability such as extreme temperatures, El 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 as a meteorite or asteroid strikes;   
 
yy) Post-Disaster recovery refers to the restoration improvement where appropriate, of 
facilities, livelihood and living conditions, of disaster-affected communities, including 
efforts to reduce disaster risk factors, in accordance with the principle of “build 
forward better”;  
 
zz) Preparedness refers to pre-disaster actions and measures being undertaken within 
the context of disaster risk reduction and management and are based on sound risk 
analysis as well as pre-disaster activities to avert or minimize loss of life and 
property such as community organizing, training, planning, equipping, stockpiling, 
hazard mapping, insuring of assets, and public information and education initiatives. 
This also includes the development or enhancement of an overall preparedness 
strategy, policy, institutional structure, warning and forecasting capabilities, and 
plans that define measures geared to help at-risk communities safeguard their lives 
and assets by being alert to hazards and taking appropriate action in the face of an 
imminent threat or an actual disaster;  
 
aaa) 
Prevention refers to activities and measures to avoid existing and new 
disaster risks, and the concept and intention to avoid potential adverse impacts of 
hazardous events;  
 
bbb) 
Probabilistic risk assessment refers to the 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;  
 
ccc) 
Rehabilitation refers to measures that ensure the ability of affected 
communities or areas to restore their normal level of functioning by rebuilding 
livelihood and infrastructures and increasing the communities’ organizational 
capacity;  
 
ddd) 
Resilience refers to the ability of a system, community or society exposed to 
hazards to resist, absorb, accommodate, and recover from the effects thereof in a 
timely and efficient manner, including through the preservation and restoration of its 
essential basic structures and functions in a manner that will make them more 
resistant to future risks;  
 
eee) 
Response refers to any concerted effort by individuals, groups and agencies, 
public or private, to provide assistance or intervention during or immediately after a 


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disaster to meet the life preservation and basic subsistence needs of those people 
affected and in the restoration of essential public activities and facilities;  
 
fff) Risk refers to the combination of the probability of an event and its negative 
consequences;  
 
ggg) 
Risk assessment refers to a 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 and the environment on which they depend. Risk assessment 
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; 
 
hhh) 
Safety stock refers to items of raw materials, component parts, or finished 
goods maintained in inventory in order to reduce the risk that such item will be out 
of stock, in anticipation of unforeseen shortages or unusual demand for such items;  
 
iii) 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 a result of the occurrence of natural or 
human-induced hazard; 
 
jjj) Volunteers refer to individuals, groups or entities that offer and provide services or 
assistance, without salaries, to help people and areas affected by disasters;  
 
kkk) 
Vulnerability refers to the characteristics and circumstances of a community, 
system or asset that make it susceptible to the damaging effects of a hazard. 
Vulnerability may arise from various physical, social, economic, and environmental 
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;  
 
lll) Vulnerable and marginalized groups refer to those that face higher exposure to 
disaster risk and poverty including women, children, the elderly, differently abled 
people, and ethnic minorities; and  
 
mmm) 
Whole-of-Society 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. 
 
 
Title One 
Communities and Local Government 
 
Section 8. Communities and Local Governments. The most important focal points of 
emergency and disaster management are the communities and local government. To 
these frontlines, all necessary authority shall be focused and all essential capabilities, and 
resources shall be generated and provided. Field operations command, control, 


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coordination and communications authority shall be vested in every barangay chairperson 
and every mayor of a city or municipality. Provincial, regional, and national authorities shall 
orient their support role, services, and logistics, including capability-building, training, and 
relief, 
rescue, 
and 
recovery, 
to 
communities 
and 
local 
governments.                  
 
Section 9. Calamity Fund. In addition to its current allowed uses by virtue of existing laws 
and regulations, the local government Calamity Fund of a barangay, municipality, city, or 
province may also be used for the following purposes: 
 
a. compensation to private owners for temporary use of their buildings and other 
facilities for emergency and disaster response operations;   
b. construction and set-up of temporary evacuation facilities, field command posts, 
field hospitals and first aid trauma stations;  
c. unprogrammed emergency purchases and replenishment of urgently needed 
supplies and tools; 
d. deployment of special equipment for rescue, search, and recovery operations;  
e. deployment of mobile water treatment, purification, and refilling equipment; and  
f. deployment of portable fueled power generators and solar-powered charging 
stations. 
 
Section 10. Local Government Support Fund. The Department of Budget and 
Management shall promulgate criteria, guidelines, rules and regulations on allocations in 
the Local Government Support Fund (LGSF) for training, capacity-building and operational 
logistical support to First Responders Teams and city and municipal Emergency and 
Disaster Management Department (EDMDs).  
 
Section 11. Local Public-Private Partnerships and Expanded Build-Operate-Transfer 
Modes. For capital outlays which annual appropriations cannot accommodate because of 
the enormous investment needed, the legislative bodies of cities, municipalities, and 
provinces are hereby authorized to enter into public-private partnerships and expanded 
build-operate-transfer modes of implementing scalable disaster resilience and climate 
adaptation and mitigation projects, including, but not limited to: 
 
a. disaster-resilient facilities that shall serve as permanent evacuation centers, 
warehouses for relief goods, and multipurpose centers; 
b. underground, earthquake resistant utilities cabling and pipings for electricity 
transmission and distribution, telecommunications and high-capacity fiber optics, 
water distribution, and sewerage; 
c. indoor vertical food production; 
d. cold storage facilities for food; 
e. protection, growth and development of  natural mangroves and coral reefs; 
f. reforestation of geohazardous terrain; 
g. construction of artificial barrier reefs, storm surge barriers, and coastal closure 
dams;  
h. construction of floodways, landslide barriers; and 
i. rivers desilting, dredging, and river basin flooding warning systems. 
 
The National Economic and Development Authority, Department of Finance, and the 
Department of the Interior and Local Government shall jointly promulgate the standards, 
guidelines, rules and regulations to govern: (1) local government-proposed Expanded BOT 
and PPP projects for disaster resilience and mitigation and climate change adaptation; (2) 
development, construction, and deployment of multi-purpose and special-purpose 


12 
 
microsatellites, nanosatellites, and low Earth orbit satellites, and remote-controlled 
unmanned aerial and sea drones; and (3) other capital-intensive projects that would span, 
involve, and benefit more than one local government unit jurisdiction and which the NEDA, 
DOF, DILG, and the Department of Budget and Management deem necessary to 
undertake with private investors. 
 
Section 12.  LGU Building Standards. Local government units’ legislative bodies are 
hereby authorized to set reference and benchmark building standards higher than those 
set in the National Building Code, as amended, and factoring in the local disaster hazards 
specific to areas within their jurisdictions.  
 
The Bureau of Research and Standards of the Department of Public Works and Highways, 
the Bureau of Philippine Standards of the Department of Trade and Industry, the 
Construction Industry Authority of the Philippines, an attached agency of the Department 
of Trade and Industry, the Bureau of Working Conditions of the Department of Labor and 
Employment, Local Government Academy of the Department of the Interior and Local 
Government, and the National Engineering Center at the University of the Philippines shall 
render technical assistance to local governments on setting their reference and 
benchmark building standards and establishing systems for monitoring, evaluation, and 
audits. 
 
Section 13. National Standards for Designing Disaster Resilient Structures. The  
Designing Resilient Structures Handbook of the Department of Interior and Local 
Government is hereby adopted as a set of national standards for the design of disaster-
resilient housing for poor and low-income households and for basic local infrastructure. 
The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) is hereby  mandated 
to propagate and impart these national standards through free training programs to 
homebuilders, construction workers, electricians, plumbers, and masonry workers in 
communities and local governments so they can build their own and their neighbors’ 
disaster-resilient houses and basic community facilities. 
 
Title Two 
Human Resources 
 
Section 14. Barangay First Responders. Every barangay in cities and first class to 
second class municipalities shall have at least two First Responders Teams, so they can 
deploy to two simultaneous but separately-located emergencies or disasters. One BFRT 
shall be on daytime duty while the other BFRT shall be on nighttime duty. Duty shifts shall 
be rotated or switched every fifteen (15) days or two (2) weeks.  Third class to sixth class 
municipalities shall maintain at least one First Responders Team. 
 
A BFRT shall have the following full-time volunteer corps of personnel: One (1) Team 
Leader: One (1) Assistant Team Leader: Six (6) First Aiders-Rescuers; Two (2)  
Administrative Support Staff-Rescuers; and four (4) firefighters-rescuers. 
 
BFRTs shall work alongside and closely coordinate with personnel of the field units of the 
Bureau of Fire Protection and Philippine National Police and other national agencies’ 
disaster response teams. 
 
Barangays which are unable to constitute, operate, and sustain their own BFRTs may 
team up with neighboring barangays to establish Joint BFRTs and share the cost burden 
and expenses.  


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BFRTs shall perform such other related roles and functions as the barangay chairperson 
and barangay council shall order and direct. 
Section 15. Honoraria and Benefits of Barangay First Responders Team Members. 
The members of the Barangay First Responders Team shall have the following honoraria, 
allowances, special allowances, stipend, and benefits: 
Honoraria and Allowances: 
a. Monthly Honoraria: P4,000.00
b. Monthly Subsistence Allowance: P2,200.00
c. Monthly Transportation Allowance P2,200.00
Special Allowances and Stipend: 
a. Night Duty Allowance: P200 per night shift
b. Hazard Duty Risk Allowance: P1000.00 per day 
c. Holiday Allowance: P1,000 per holiday or special non-working day
d. Training Stipend: P1,000 per training day (as participant or trainor)
Benefits:
a. Maternity Leave/Paternity Leave 
b. Accident Annual Term Insurance
c. Two days off weekly
d. PhilHealth Coverage
The Team Leader and Assistant Team Leader shall have a food allowance of at least  
P1,000.00 per month. 
These honoraria, allowances, special allowances, stipend of the BFRT members may be 
disbursed on a bi-weekly or monthly basis. The Barangay Treasurer shall prepare the 
annual budget, disbursement vouchers and other documentation necessary for the prompt 
and timely release of all financial obligations and benefits due to the BFRTs. The Barangay 
Council shall approve the budget while the barangay chairperson shall approve the other 
documentation in prompt, timely, in due course, and according to due process. 
Section 16. Minimum Qualifications for Members of the Barangay First Responders 
Team.  The Barangay First Responders Team shall have the following minimum 
qualifications: 
a. Age: At least twenty-five (25) years old for Team Leader and Assistant Team 
Leader;  at least sixteen (16) years old for First Aiders-Rescuers and for 
Firefighters-Rescuers;
b. Health: In excellent physical and mental health as duly confirmed with fit to work 
certifications by specialist medical doctors;
c. Gender: Of any gender. Principles of gender equity shall govern;
d. Educational Qualifications: At least senior high school graduate for the Team Leader 
and Assistant Team Leader and First Aiders-Rescuers; at least elementary school 
graduate for Firefighters-Rescuers;


14 
 
e. Training: Completed relevant training on first aid, rescue skills; physical fitness 
training;  
f. Prior Relevant Work Experience: At least two years of work experience for Team 
Leader and Assistant Team Leader in any capacity; no work experience required for 
First Aiders-rescuers and Firefighters-Rescuers; 
g. Civil service eligibility: At least sub-professional civil service eligibility for Team 
Leader and Assistant Team Leader; no civil service eligibility required for First 
Aiders-rescuers and Firefighters-Rescuers. 
 
Section 17. Emergency and Disaster Management Department. Every city and 
municipality shall constitute, operate, and maintain an Emergency and Disaster 
Management Department (EDMD). The EDMD shall take the place of the Local Disaster 
Risk Reduction and Management Offices in these local government units. All assets,  
personnel, records, responsibilities and functions of these DRRMOs are hereby 
transferred to the EDMOs. The mayor shall have control and supervision of the EDMD, 
subject to civil service laws and regulations, and shall approve all plans, programs, and 
projects recommended by the EDMD. 
 
The EDMD shall have these primary functions: 
 
a. Implement the  First Responders Training and Empowerment Program in all 
barangays within the city or municipality; 
 
b. Support Barangay First Responder Teams in responding to emergencies and 
disasters; 
 
c. Allocate logistical resources, equipment, and needed inventories to BFRTs within 
the city or municipality;  
 
d. Implement the emergency and disaster preparedness drills for households, 
business establishments, leaders of neighborhood associations, barangay peace 
and security officers (barangay tanods), barangay nutrition scholars, barangay 
health workers, and other barangay personnel; 
 
e. Formulate and recommend to the mayor and the city or municipal council the Local 
Services and Business Continuity Plan, the Local Disaster Management Program, 
and inputs to the Comprehensive Land Use Plan and Local Shelter Plan of the city 
or municipality; 
 
f. Work alongside and closely coordinated with the field units of the Bureau of Fire 
Protection and Philippine National Police, the Philippine Coast Guard in responding 
to emergencies and disasters; and  
 
g. Perform such other related roles and functions as the mayor shall order and direct. 
 
Section 18. EDMD Composition, Qualifications, Salary Grade.  Each city  and every 
first class and second class municipality EDMD shall have the following core complement 
of regular plantilla personnel: one (1) Department Head; one (1) Deputy Department Head;  
two (2) Medical Doctors; two (2) Nurses; one (1) Training Coordinator; and four (4) 
Support Service Personnel. Cities and municipalities may also exercise the option of 
adding one (1) Criminology and Hostage Negotiation Specialist to the EDMD on a 
consultancy basis; 


15 
 
 
Third class to sixth class municipalities shall have the following basic complement of  
personnel: One (1) Emergency and Disaster Management Officer; One (1) Medical Doctor; 
One (1) Nurse; and Six (6) Support Service Personnel. 
 
The Department Head, the Deputy Department Head and Emergency and Disaster 
Management Officer shall have the following minimum qualifications: 
 
a. Age: At least twenty-five (25) years old; 
b. Health: In excellent physical and mental health as duly confirmed with fit to work 
certifications by specialist medical doctors; 
c. Gender: Of any gender. Principles of gender equity shall govern; 
d. Educational Qualifications: College graduate of any of these degree programs: 
meteorology, geology, seismology, nursing, medicine, civil engineering, hydrology; 
e. Training: Completed relevant training in emergency and disaster management, 
skills, and services.  
f. Prior Relevant Work Experience: Preferred, an advantage, especially in direct and 
allied fields; 
g. Civil Service Eligibility:  Professional civil service eligibility 
 
For cities, the salary grades of the Department Head and Deputy Department Head shall 
be at least Salary Grade 24 and Salary Grade 22, respectively. For first class and second 
class municipalities, the salary grades of the Department Head and Deputy Department 
Head shall be Salary Grade 22. For third class to sixth class municipalities, the salary 
grade of the Emergency and Disaster Management Officer shall be at least Salary Grade 
15. 
 
The Training Specialist shall have the following minimum qualifications: 
 
a. Age: At least twenty-five (25) years old; 
b. Health: In excellent physical and mental health as duly confirmed with fit to work 
certifications by specialist medical doctors; 
c. Gender: Of any gender. Principles of gender equity shall govern; 
d. Educational Qualifications: 
e. Training: Prior Relevant Work Experience: Preferred, an advantage, especially in 
direct and allied fields; 
f. Prior Relevant Work Experience: Preferred, an advantage, especially in direct and 
allied fields; 
g. Civil Service Eligibility:  Professional civil service eligibility 
 
For cities, the salary grade of the Training Specialist shall be at least Salary Grade 18. For 
first class and second class municipalities, the salary grade of the  Training Specialist shall 
be Salary Grade 15. For third class to sixth class municipalities, the salary grade of the 
Training Specialist shall be Salary Grade 11. 
 
Support Service Personnel. 
 
a. Age: At least eighteen (18) years old; 
b. Health:  In excellent physical and mental health as duly confirmed with fit to work 
certifications by specialist medical doctors; 
c. Gender: Of any gender. Principles of gender equity shall govern; 
d. Educational Qualifications: At least senior high school graduate 


16 
 
e. Training:  
f. Civil Service Eligibility: Sub-professional eligibility 
 
The Criminology and Hostage Negotiation Specialist shall have the following minimum 
qualifications:  
 
a. Age: At least twenty-five (25) years old; 
b. Health: In excellent physical and mental health as duly confirmed with fit to work 
certifications by specialist medical doctors; 
c. Gender:  Of any gender. Principles of gender equity shall govern; 
d. Educational Qualifications: 
e. Training: Completed specialist training on hostage negotiation, criminal psychology, 
abnormal psychology, forensic psychology, and allied fields; 
f. Prior Relevant Work Experience: Preferred, an advantage, especially in direct and 
allied fields; 
 
Section 19. Volunteer Multiplier Forces. Mayors and barangay chairpersons are hereby 
authorized to mobilize and train multiplier forces for disaster and emergencies  response  
consisting of volunteers from civic organizations, neighborhood associations, professional 
associations, and youth groups and associations. 
 
 
Title Three 
Roles of Science Agencies, Other Agencies and Entities 
 
Section 20. Role of the Science Agencies. For purposes of this Act, the Science 
Agencies are the following: the Department of Science and Technology and Attached 
Agencies, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the Department of 
Information and Communications Technology, and their Attached Agencies,  
 
These Science Agencies shall jointly develop and implement a nationwide Training, 
Advocacy, and Capacity-Building Program for the First Responders and Emergency and 
Disaster Management personnel and volunteers of all barangays, cities, municipalities, 
provincial governments, and community-based organizations. These Science Agencies 
shall also develop short courses, workshops, seminars, and briefings to educate 
practitioners in news media and social media nationwide about the Science, Chemistry, 
Mathematics, Medicine, and Engineering involved in emergencies and disasters to enable 
them to communicate better with stakeholders and the general public. 
 
Attendance, participation, and competencies  certification of BFRT and EDMD personnel, 
and other participants in these training programs shall be free-of-charge and costs shall be 
chargeable to each Science Agency, LGU Calamity Funds, the Local Government Support 
Fund, and Contingency Funds of the Office of the President,  
 
These Science Agencies shall also work with the Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino and 
Commission on Higher Education, state universities and colleges, and local universities 
and colleges on effectively implementing Section 4, Section 5, and Section 6, of this Act. 
 
Section 21. Role of the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development. 
The  Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development, in coordination with the 
Science Agencies, shall collaborate with cities, municipalities, and provinces on identifying 
and declaring Permanent Danger Zones and Buffer Zones wherein human settlements 


17 
 
and commercial structures shall not be allowed to be built and wherein local government 
units shall  conduct forced evacuation and are authorized to demolish any such 
settlements and structures. The Department of Human Settlements and Urban 
Development, Department of the Interior and Local Government and the Supreme Court of 
the Philippines shall adopt and promulgate implementing rules and regulations 
government forced evacuations and demolitions in permanent danger zones and buffer 
zones.  
 
Section 22. Role of State Universities and Colleges and Local Universities and 
Colleges. State universities and colleges (SUCs) and local universities and colleges 
(LUCs) are hereby mandated, as part of their extension, outreach, stakeholder relations 
and research functions, to develop and implement capacity-building training programs and 
technical assistance for barangays, local government units, and community-based 
organizations. Attendance, participation, and competencies  certification of BFRT and 
EDMD personnel in these training programs shall be free-of-charge and costs shall be 
chargeable to the LGU Calamity Funds, the Local Government Support Fund, and 
Contingency Funds of the Office of the President,  
 
Section 23. Role of Special Purpose Service Cooperatives. The Cooperative 
Development Authority and Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Bureau of 
Working Conditions shall foster the establishment of service cooperatives for the specific 
purpose of providing outsourced emergency and disaster resilience, adaptation, mitigation, 
response and relief services. These special purpose service cooperatives may be 
contracted by cities and municipalities to augment EDMD and FRT personnel whenever 
their mayors deem urgent and necessary. These special purpose service cooperatives 
may also provide their outsourced services to non-government organizations, civic groups, 
corporate foundations, and charitable groups.  These special purpose service cooperatives 
may also be contracted to perform specialized rescue operations with qualified, certified, 
and accredited specialists.  
 
Section 24. Role of Microfinance Agencies and Lending Cooperatives. The Small 
Business Corporation is hereby mandated to establish, operate, and sustain a Business 
Recovery and Continuity Lending Program for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises, 
prioritizing farmers, fisherfolk, agribusiness, retail, and service enterprises.  
 
The Cooperative Development Authority shall foster the participation of lending 
cooperatives, through concessional loans, waived service charges, and waived penalties, 
during post-disaster Services Continuity and Local Economic Recovery of communities 
and local governments. 
 
 
Title Four 
Post-Disaster Services Continuity and Local Economic Recovery 
 
Section 25. Limited Emergency Powers of Local Chief Executives. Subject to the 
jurisdictional limits and administrative borders of their local government units and for no 
longer than sixty (60) days during a declared state of calamity, emergency, or public health 
emergency, local chief executives are hereby authorized the following limited emergency 
powers:  
 
a) Implement the approved Local Services and Business Continuity Plan; 
  


18 
 
b) Ensure the availability of essential goods, in particular food and medicine, and other 
basic commodities and prime commodities, by adopting measures as may 
reasonably be necessary to facilitate and/or minimize disruption to the supply chain, 
especially for basic commodities and services to the maximum extent possible; 
 
c) Enforce measures to protect the people from hoarding, profiteering, injurious 
speculations, manipulation of prices, product deceptions, and cartels, monopolies 
or other combinations in restraint of trade, or other pernicious practices affecting the 
supply, distribution and movement of food, clothing, hygiene and sanitation 
products, medicine and medical supplies, fuel, fertilizers, chemicals, building 
materials, implements, machinery equipment and spare parts required in 
agriculture, industry and other essential services, and other articles of prime 
necessity, whether imported or locally produced or manufactured; 
 
d) Ensure that donation, acceptance and distribution of food, health, and other 
disaster and emergency relief items intended to address the state of calamity or 
public health emergency are not unnecessarily delayed and that health products for 
donation duly certified by the regulatory agency or their accredited third party from 
countries with established regulation shall automatically be cleared: Provided, That 
this shall not apply to health products which do not require a certification or 
clearance from Food and Drug Administration (FDA); 
 
e) Regulate and limit the operation of all sectors of transportation through land, sea or 
air whether private or public; 
 
f) Conserve and regulate the distribution and use of power, fuel, energy and water, 
and ensure adequate supply of the same; 
 
g) Move statutory deadlines and timelines for the filing and submission of any 
document, the payment of taxes, fees, and other charges required by law, and the 
grant of any benefit, in order to ease the burden on individuals under state of 
calamity or community quarantine; 
 
h) Direct all banks, quasi-banks, financing companies, lending companies, and other 
financial institutions, public and private, including the Government Service 
Insurance System Social Security System and Pag-ibig Fund, to implement a 
minimum of a thirty (30)-day grace period for the payment of all loans, including but 
not limited to salary, personal, housing, and motor vehicle loans, as well as credit 
card payments, falling due without incurring interests, penalties, fees, or other 
charges, persons with multiple loans shall likewise be given the minimum thirty 
(30)-day grace period for every loan; 
 
i) Provide for a minimum of thirty (30)-day grace period on residential rents falling due 
within the period of the enhanced community quarantine, without incurring interests, 
penalties, fees, and other charges; 
 
j) Undertake the procurement of the following as the need arises, in the most 
expeditious manner, as exemptions from the provisions of Republic Act No. 9184 or 
the "'Government Procurement Reform Act" and other relevant laws:  
 
1. Goods and services for social amelioration measures in favor of affected 
communities; 


19 
 
 
2. Lease of real property or venue for use to house health workers or serve as 
quarantine centers, medical relief and aid distribution locations, or temporary 
medical facilities; 
 
3. Establishment, construction, and operation of temporary emergency,  medical, and 
educational facilities; 
 
4. Utilities, telecommunications, and other critical services in relation to operation of 
disaster relief centers, quarantine facilities, medical and aid distribution centers and 
temporary medical facilities; and 
 
5. Ancillary services related to the foregoing. 
 
 
Section 26. Fortuitous Events. No person shall be responsible for fortuitous events and 
effects of such events, which, could not be foreseen, or which, though foreseen were 
inevitable, except in cases specified by the law, or when it is otherwise declared by 
stipulation, or when the nature of the obligation requires the assumption of risk.  
 
Fortuitous events include the following: 
 
a. War; 
b. Martial Law; 
c. Devastating or destructive national emergencies; 
d. Public health emergencies; 
e. Natural calamities; 
f. Insurrection; 
g. Acts of public enemies; 
h. Riots; 
i. Strikes; 
j. Fire, wildfire, chemical leaks, and oil spills; 
k. Any law, order, regulation, direction or request of the Philippine Government; 
l. Power and water service outages; 
m. Massive, system failure of information; communications technology, and financial 
technology systems;  
n. Electronic or computer-aided hacking, intrusion, or sabotage; and 
o. Other circumstances beyond the control of a party or parties to an agreement. 
 
Section 27. Prohibited Acts.  The following acts are prohibited in the contexts and 
circumstances of this Act: 
 
a. Engaging in hoarding, profiteering, injurious speculations, manipulation of prices, 
product deceptions, and cartels, monopolies or other combinations in restraint of 
trade, or other pernicious practices affecting the supply, distribution and movement 
of food, clothing, hygiene and sanitation products, medicine and medical supplies, 
fuel, fertilizers, chemicals, building materials, implements, machinery equipment 
and spare parts required in agriculture, industry and other essential services, and 
other articles of prime necessity, whether imported or locally produced or 
manufactured; 
 


20 
 
b. Refusal to prioritize and accept contracts for materials and services necessary to 
respond to disasters and public emergency; 
 
c. Refusal to provide the grace periods provided under the preceding Section; 
 
d. Individuals or groups creating, perpetrating, or spreading false information on social 
media and other platforms, such information having no valid or beneficial effect on 
the population, and are clearly geared to promote chaos, panic, anarchy, fear, or 
confusion; and those participating in cyber incidents that make use or take 
advantage of the current crisis situation to prey on the public through scams, 
phishing, fraudulent emails, or other similar acts; 
 
e. Failure to comply with reasonable limitations on the operation of certain 
transportation sectors or sectors, whether land, sea or air, be it private or public; 
and 
 
f. Impeding access to roads, streets and bridges; putting- up prohibited 
encroachments or obstacles; and maintenance of illegal constructions in public 
places that have been ordered to be removed. 
 
Title Five 
Concluding Provisions 
 
Section 28. Appropriations.  The amount necessary for the implementation of this Act 
shall be funded as follows: 
 
a. For the national government entities, the amount shall be charged against existing 
appropriations for the purpose of the departments, bureaus, offices, and agencies 
concerned. Thereafter, such sums as may be necessary for the continuous 
implementation of this Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriations 
Act; 
 
b. For local government units, the amount shall be charged against their respective 
funds, subject to the provisions of Sections 325 and 331 of Republic Act No. 7160 
or the "Local Government Code of 1991"; and 
 
c. For government-owned or -controlled corporations and their subsidiaries, the 
amount shall be charged against their respective corporate funds. 
 
Additional funding shall also be sourced from concessional foreign loans, technical grants, 
and other official development assistance from multilateral and other sources, and from 
two (2) percent of the gross revenues of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office 
(PCSO) and of the Philippine Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR). 
 
In the event that the foregoing sourcing of funding are insufficient, the National 
Government is hereby authorized to issue long-term bonds in the domestic and 
international financial markets. 
 
Section 29. Mandatory Review. The Department of the Interior and Local Government, 
together with other concerned agencies shall conduct a mandatory review of this Act and 
its implementation every five (5) years to determine continuing relevance, applicability, and 
effectiveness, and submit its reports to Congress. 


21 
 
 
Section 30. Suppletory Application of Relevant Laws and Regulations. Relevant law 
and regulations, except those which has been repealed, revised, modified, and amended, 
shall have suppletory application to this Act and shall include, but not be limited to the 
following laws, as amended, and their implementing rules and regulations, as amended: 
 
a. Republic Act 7160: Local Government Code of 1991; 
b. Republic Act 10121; Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 
2010 
c. Republic Act 11201: Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development 
Act; 
d. Republic Act 6957 and Republic Act 7718: The Build Operate and Transfer Law and 
The Amended BOT Law;  
e. Republic Act 7581: The Price Act; and   
f. Republic Act 9184; Government Procurement Reform Act 
 
Section 31. Interpretation.  If there is conflict between a provision of this Act and a 
provision of any other law, this Act shall govern unless the other law specifically cites or 
amends the conflicting provisions of this law. 
 
Section 32. Implementing Rules and Regulations. The concerned implementing national 
agencies, cities, municipalities, and barangays shall promulgate the pertinent 
implementing rules and regulations of this Act not later than sixty (60) days from its 
effectivity. Non-compliance with this provision shall result in the immediate reduction or 
withholding of national annual appropriations by at least five (5) percent based on the 
current fiscal year. Every three (3) years after this Act takes effect, the amounts stated in 
Section 15 shall be automatically adjusted by the Department of Budget and Management 
to account for inflation and its erosion effect on purchasing power. 
 
Section 33. Repealing Clause. All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations or parts 
thereof inconsistent with any of the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, amended, 
or modified accordingly. 
 
Section 34. Separability Clause.  If any provision of this Act shall be held unconstitutional 
or invalid, the other provisions not otherwise affected shall remain in full force and effect. 
 
Section 35. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect immediately upon its publication in a 
newspaper of general circulation or the Official Gazette. 
 
Approved,