Page  1 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO.  3955 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
Introduced by Representative MARLYN L. PRIMICIAS-AGABAS 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Philippines is among the most disaster-prone countries in the 
world, located within the Pacific Ring of Fire and along the typhoon belt. 
Every year, the country experiences a wide range of natural hazards—
including powerful typhoons, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, floods, and 
landslides—which have collectively caused thousands of deaths, massive 
displacement, and billions in economic losses. These disasters continue to 
disrupt essential services, deepen existing social inequalities, and 
undermine national progress toward sustainable development. 
While the enactment of Republic Act No. 10121 or the “Philippine 
Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010” was a landmark 
policy reform, experience over the past decade has revealed significant 
gaps in the coordination, implementation, and sustainability of disaster-
related programs. The current structure, where disaster management 
responsibilities are fragmented across various national and local 
government agencies, has resulted in overlapping functions, delayed 
response, and uneven institutional capacities, especially at the local level. 
In light of these enduring challenges and the increasing frequency and 
intensity of disasters exacerbated by climate change, there is a compelling 
need to institutionalize a more cohesive, empowered, and accountable 
disaster governance framework. This bill seeks to create the Department of 
Disaster Resilience (DDR)—a dedicated national agency solely focused on 
leading and coordinating the government’s efforts in building disaster and 
climate resilience. 
August 26, 2025
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The proposed DDR will centralize and harmonize policies and actions 
related to disaster risk reduction and management, climate change 
adaptation, environmental protection, and sustainable development. It will 
also provide direct support to local governments and communities before, 
during, and after disasters, with a strong emphasis on science-based 
planning, risk-informed governance, and inclusive, people-centered 
interventions. 
At its core, the creation of the DDR affirms the State’s duty under the 
Constitution to protect the life, health, and property of every Filipino, and to 
promote a balanced and healthful ecology. It also reinforces the Philippines’ 
commitments under international frameworks such as the Sendai 
Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, the Paris Agreement on Climate 
Change, and the Sustainable Development Goals. 
This measure is not merely about institutional restructuring—it is 
about ensuring that no community is left behind in the face of crisis. It is 
about transforming the way we prepare, respond, and recover—by acting 
early, coordinating effectively, and building back stronger and safer. 
In view of the growing risks and urgent realities we face, the swift 
enactment of this measure is not only necessary, it is long overdue. 
MARLYN L. PRIMICIAS-AGABAS 


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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
HOUSE BILL NO.  3955 
Introduced by Representative MARLYN L. PRIMICIAS-AGABAS 
AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE DEPARTMENT OF DISASTER RESILIENCE, 
DEFINING ITS POWERS AND FUNCTIONS, APPROPRIATING FUNDS 
THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled: 
CHAPTER I 
1 
GENERAL PROVISIONS 
2 
SECTION 1. Short Title – This Act shall be known as “Department of Disaster 
3 
Resilience Act” 
4 
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policies and Principles- (a) Duties of the State. 
5 
The State shall carry out and harmonize the policies on disaster risk 
6 
and vulnerable reduction and management, environmental management, 
7 
and climate change adaption, and sustainable development to uphold the 
8 
welfare of the people particularly the vulnerable sectors of society. 
9 
The State shall uphold its commitment to the achievement of the 
10 
sustainable development goals specifically, integrating and implementing 
11 
policies and plans towards inclusion, resource efficiency, mitigation and 
12 
adaption to climate change, resilience to disaster, and develop and 
13 


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implement a holistic disaster risk management at all levels in line with the 
14 
Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030. 
15 
 
The State shall uphold its commitment to the United Nations 
16 
Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in the stabilization of 
17 
greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that prevents 
18 
dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system, achievable 
19 
within a time frame sufficient to allow the natural adaptation of the ecosystem 
20 
to climate change, to ensure food production and food security, and to secure 
21 
sustainable economic development. 
22 
 
The State shall integrate and accelerate the implementation of the 
23 
principles, and concepts of climate change, disaster risk and vulnerability 
24 
reduction contained in the Paris Agreement of the United Nations Framework 
25 
Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the Sendai Framework for 
26 
Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation 
27 
(APEC) Disaster Risk Reduction (DDR) Framework, the 2030 Agenda for 
28 
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and the Philippine Development 
29 
Plan (PDP) 2017-2022 in various phases in policy formulation, development 
30 
plans and investment,  poverty reduction strategies and other development 
31 
tools, and techniques by all national and local agencies, institutions and 
32 
instrumentalities of the government to enhance the country’s climate change 
33 
adaptive capacity. 
34 
 
 
It shall be the duty of the State to: 
35 
 
(1)  
Uphold the people’s constitutional right to life and property by 
36 
minimizing, if not eradicating, the root causes of vulnerabilities 
37 
to disasters, strengthening the country’s institutional capacity 
38 
for disaster risk and vulnerability reduction and management, 
39 
and building the resilience of local communities to disasters 
40 
including climate change impacts, and human induced 
41 
disasters; 
42 


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(2)  
Incorporate internationally accepted principles of disaster risk 
43 
and vulnerability reduction and management, and climate 
44 
change adaptation, including universal principles and 
45 
standards for humanitarian assistance, developing and 
46 
implementing national, regional and local sustainable 
47 
development and poverty reduction strategies, policies, plans 
48 
and budgets, as part of the country’s commitment to overcome 
49 
human suffering due to disasters; 
50 
 
(3)  
Ensure a science-based in a whole-of-society approach and 
51 
bottom-up participation, representation, and decision-making 
52 
in climate-disaster risk governance, risk assessment, risk 
53 
reduction and risk management, and adopt a comprehensive, 
54 
integrated, 
and 
proactive 
approach 
to 
lessening 
55 
socioeconomic and environmental impacts of disasters and 
56 
climate change; 
57 
 
(4)  
Promote and advance the implementation of a comprehensive 
58 
Disaster Risk and Vulnerability Reduction Plan (DRVRP) that 
59 
aims to strengthen the capacity of the national government and 
60 
the local government units (LGUs), together with development 
61 
partner stakeholders, build the disaster resilience of 
62 
communities, and institutionalize arrangements and measures 
63 
for reducing disaster risks, including projected climate risks, 
64 
and enhance disaster preparedness and response capabilities 
65 
at all levels; 
66 
 
(5)  
Recognize the role of, and work with international humanitarian 
67 
and development partners especially those with established 
68 
presence in the country; 
69 
 
(6)  
Develop, maintain, and ensure the accessibility of climate and 
70 
geospatial information and services to the public through Open 
71 


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Data, which means data that can be freely used, reused, and 
72 
redistributed by anyone, subject to limitations on account of 
73 
national security considerations. This may include the use of 
74 
impact-based forecast models, and probabilistic hazard maps; 
75 
 
(7)  
Ensure that disaster risk and vulnerability reduction and 
76 
climate change adaptation measures are gender, disability, 
77 
and vulnerability sensitive, and culturally sensitive, recognizing 
78 
indigenous knowledge systems and practices, and respecting 
79 
human rights; 
80 
 
(8)  
Recognize 
and 
strengthen 
the 
capacities 
of 
LGUs, 
81 
communities and multiple stakeholders in mitigating and 
82 
preparing for, responding to, and recovering from the impact of 
83 
disasters through identification of local risk patterns, and 
84 
decentralized powers, responsibilities, and resources at the 
85 
regional and local levels; 
86 
 
(9)  
Adopt and implement a comprehensive, integrated, efficient 
87 
and responsive disaster risk and vulnerability reduction 
88 
program that is incorporated in the development plan at various 
89 
levels of government adhering to transparency accountability 
90 
and other principles of good governance within the context of 
91 
poverty alleviation and environmental  protection; 
92 
 
(10)  Mainstream disaster risk and vulnerability reduction in 
93 
government by ensuring risk-informed planning, programming, 
94 
implementation, monitoring, and evaluation, and the use of 
95 
quality management, accountability, and performance systems 
96 
in measuring and improving the effectiveness and efficiency of 
97 
disaster risk and vulnerability reduction management process 
98 
across  all government levels, including those offices which 
99 
manage peace processes and conflict- resolution approaches, 
100 


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so as to minimize the loss of lives and damage to properties 
101 
and ensure that communities in conflict zones can immediately 
102 
resume their normal lives at the conclusion of episodes of 
103 
intermittent conflicts; 
104 
 
(11) 
Adopt a disaster risk and vulnerability reduction and 
105 
management approach that is holistic, comprehensive, 
106 
integrated, and proactive in lessening the socioeconomic and 
107 
environmental impacts of disasters including climate change, 
108 
and promote the involvement and participation of all sectors 
109 
and all stakeholders concerned, at all levels, especially the 
110 
local community; 
111 
 
(12)  Prioritize the development of disaster prevention and mitigation 
112 
measures involving all levels of society and government; 
113 
 
(13)  Adopt risk sharing and risk transfer mechanisms to ensure the 
114 
appropriate, efficient, and timely recovery of disaster-stricken 
115 
communities, especially the poorest and most vulnerable; 
116 
 
(14) 
Adhere to the principle of “Build Forward Better” in recovery 
117 
and rehabilitation efforts by applying sustainable standards, 
118 
programs, technologies, and techniques which enhance 
119 
resilience against future hazards; 
120 
(15)  Recognize and respond to the differentiated concerns and 
121 
needs of vulnerable groups such as women and girls, children 
122 
and youth, older persons, persons with disabilities, urban poor, 
123 
and indigenous people with respect  to disaster risk reduction 
124 
and management, at the same time, recognizing their inherent 
125 
capacities to contribute to resilience; 
126 
 
(16)  Create an enabling environment for substantial and 
127 
sustainable participation of civil society organizations (CSOs), 
128 


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private groups, volunteers and communities, and recognize 
129 
their contributions to the disaster risk reduction and 
130 
management efforts of the government; 
131 
 
(17)  Ensure the use of advanced science and the most up-to-date 
132 
technologies in climate change adaptation, disaster risk, and 
133 
vulnerability reduction and management through engagement, 
134 
consultation, and employment with a regular department 
135 
funding of academe or higher education institutions, such as 
136 
the University of the Philippines Resilience Institute, University 
137 
of the Philippines Nationwide Operational Assessment of 
138 
Hazards Center and other scientific research and academic 
139 
institutions that have track record and expertise recognized 
140 
both locally and internationally as well as the capacity to 
141 
implement the science and engineering requirements 
142 
necessary for effective climate change adaptation, and 
143 
disaster risk and vulnerability reduction; 
144 
 
(18)  Ensure workers’ rights are proactively respected during the 
145 
disaster preparedness and response, and actively engage 
146 
workers’ and employers’ organizations to share expertise and 
147 
capacities in disaster risk reduction and climate change 
148 
programs; 
149 
 
(19) 
Ensure transparency and accountability in climate-disaster risk 
150 
governance by facilitating access to financial records of public 
151 
funds and disaster risk and vulnerability reduction and 
152 
management 
data, 
and 
ensure 
the 
transparency 
of 
153 
humanitarian assistance from all sources; 
154 
 
(20) 
Adopt and manage a mechanism for the effective resolution of 
155 
climate change, disaster risk, and vulnerability reduction and 
156 
management related grievances; 
157 


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(21)  Recognize families as the most basic unit of disaster risk and 
158 
vulnerability reduction and management and climate change 
159 
adaption by developing the capacity of local institutions and 
160 
providing technical assistance and financial support to the 
161 
most vulnerable communities; 
162 
 
(22)  Ensure that the best possible assistance and services are 
163 
delivered to individuals and families affected by disaster and 
164 
emergency rehabilitation projects to guarantee the resumption 
165 
of normal social and economic activities; 
166 
 
 
(23)  Establish and maintain the National Loss and Damage 
167 
Registry; and 
168 
 
(24)  Mainstream gender and social inclusion in all aspects of the 
169 
Department of disaster Resilience work from planning, 
170 
monitoring, to evaluation. 
171 
 
(b)  
Roles and Responsibilities of Stakeholders. The commitment, 
172 
goodwill, knowledge, experience, and resources of relevant 
173 
stakeholders are critical to realize a safer, adaptive, resilient and 
174 
inclusive Filipino community. Citizens shall have the shared vision 
175 
and duty to provide support to the State in the implementation of 
176 
policies and programs, particularly the Disaster Resilience 
177 
Framework and Plan at the national, regional and local levels. 
178 
 
(1)  
Civil society organizations, nongovernmental organizations, 
179 
international nongovernmental organizations, private sector, 
180 
practitioners of climate and disaster mitigation, organized 
181 
voluntary 
work 
organizations 
and 
community-based 
182 
organizations shall participate, in collaboration with public 
183 
institutions, to,inter alia, provide specific knowledge and 
184 
pragmatic guidance in the context of the development and 
185 


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implementation of normative frameworks, standards and plans 
186 
for disaster risk and vulnerability reduction; engage in the 
187 
implementation of local, nation, regional, and global plans and 
188 
strategies; contribute to and support public awareness, a 
189 
culture of protection, prevention and conservation, and 
190 
education on disaster risk; and advocate for resilient 
191 
communities and an inclusive and whole of society risk 
192 
reduction and management which shall strengthen the 
193 
synergies across groups, as appropriate; 
194 
 
(2)  
Women and girls shall contribute to and participate in 
195 
effectively managing disaster risk and designing, resourcing, 
196 
and leading implementation of gender sensitive disaster risk 
197 
and vulnerability reduction and management policies, plans, 
198 
and programs; 
199 
 
(3)  
Children and the youth as agents of change shall endeavor to 
200 
actively contribute to disaster risk and vulnerability reduction, 
201 
in accordance with legislation, national practice, and 
202 
educational curricula; disaster risk reduction and management 
203 
at all levels and processes of disaster risk and vulnerability 
204 
reduction 
and 
anticipatory 
adaptation, 
including 
data 
205 
gathering, planning, programming, budgeting, implementation, 
206 
monitoring and evaluation; 
207 
 
(4)  
For citizens having years of knowledge, skills on climate 
208 
change adaption and disaster risk reduction and wisdom are 
209 
invaluable assets to reducing disaster risk, and shall therefore 
210 
participate in the design of policies, plans and mechanisms, 
211 
including those for early warning; 
212 
 
(5)  
Persons with disabilities, through their existing network or 
213 
organizations, shall participate in activities related to 
214 


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assessment, programming, and the designs of policies, plans, 
215 
and mechanisms; 
216 
 
(6)  
Migrants shall contribute to the resilience of communities and 
217 
societies using their knowledge, skills and capacities in the 
218 
design and implementation of disaster risk and vulnerability 
219 
reduction and climate change adaptation; 
220 
 
(7)  
Indigenous peoples and Muslim Filipinos, through their 
221 
practical experience and traditional knowledge, shall contribute 
222 
to the development and implementation of policies, plans and 
223 
mechanisms, including those for early warning; 
224 
 
(8)  
Urban and rural poor shall contribute to resilience building as 
225 
well as in the promotion of more inclusive and transformative 
226 
resettlement for informal settler families in reducing their 
227 
vulnerability to threats of disaster and climate risk through state 
228 
and non-state programs; 
229 
 
(9)  
Farmers and fisherfolk shall contribute to the promotion and 
230 
protection of the environmental resource management that will 
231 
secure food and nutrition resilience through the integration of 
232 
disaster risk and vulnerability reduction into sustainable 
233 
development policies and planning; 
234 
(10)  Emergency 
responders 
community 
practitioners, 
and 
235 
organized volunteer organizations shall contribute to resilience 
236 
by providing timely and efficient emergency response and 
237 
providing training on basic life support, first aid, and search and 
238 
rescue, in accordance with the standards provided by the 
239 
Research, Education, and Training Institute of the Department; 
240 
 
(11)  Academic and scientific and research entities and networks are 
241 
encouraged to focus their research efforts on disaster risk 
242 


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factors and scenarios, including emerging disaster risks, in the 
243 
medium- and long-term; partner with government and increase 
244 
research for regional, national and local application; support 
245 
action by local communities and authorities; and support the 
246 
interface between policy and science for decision-making; 
247 
 
(12)  Businesses, private sector financial institutions, professional 
248 
associations, as well as philanthropic foundations together with 
249 
financial regulators shall be encouraged to integrate disaster 
250 
risk management, including business continuity, into business 
251 
models and core business values and practices via disaster 
252 
risk-informed investments, especially in micro, small and 
253 
medium-sized enterprises; engage in awareness-raising and 
254 
training for their employees and customers; engage in the 
255 
support research and innovation as well as technological 
256 
development for disaster risk management; share and 
257 
disseminate knowledge, practices and data; and actively 
258 
participate, as appropriate and under the guidance of the public 
259 
sector, in the development of normative frameworks and 
260 
technical 
standards 
that 
incorporate 
disaster 
risk 
261 
management; and 
262 
 
(13)  The media shall take an active and inclusive role at the local, 
263 
regional, and national levels in contributing to the raising of 
264 
public awareness and understanding, and disseminate 
265 
accurate disaster risk, hazard and disaster information, 
266 
including on small-scale disasters, in a simple, transparent, 
267 
easy-to-understand 
and 
accessible 
manner, 
in 
close 
268 
cooperation with national and local authorities; adopt specific 
269 
disaster risk vulnerability reduction communication policies; 
270 
support, as appropriate, early warning systems and life-saving 
271 
protective measures; and stimulate a culture of prevention and 
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strong community involvement in sustained public education 
273 
campaigns and public consultations at all levels of society, in 
274 
accordance with national practices. 
275 
 
SEC. 3. Definitions of Terms. – As used in this Act: 
276 
(a)  
Adaptation refers to the adjustment in natural or human system in 
277 
response to actual or expected climatic stimuli or their effects, which 
278 
moderates harm or exploits beneficial opportunities. 
279 
(b)  
Assisting Actor refers to any Assisting International Actor and any 
280 
Assisting Domestic Actor responding to a disaster in the country. 
281 
(c)  
Assisting Domestic Actor refers to any not-for-profit entity established 
282 
under domestic laws, which is responding to a disaster in the country. 
283 
(d)  
Assisting International Actor refers to any foreign state, organization, 
284 
entity or individual responding to a disaster within transiting through 
285 
the country to respond to a disaster in another country. 
286 
(e)  
Build Forward Better refers to an approach to building and/or 
287 
reconstructing an area or community, which entails a shift from simple 
288 
recovery and restoration to safer, more adaptive, resilient, and 
289 
inclusive communities. 
290 
(f)  
Capacity refers to the combination of all strengths, attributes and 
291 
resources available within a community, society or organization that 
292 
can reduce the level of risk, or impacts of a disaster. Capacity may 
293 
include infrastructure and physical means, institutions, societal coping 
294 
abilities, as well as human knowledge, skills and collective attributes 
295 
such as social relationships, leadership and management. Capacity 
296 
may also be described as capability. 
297 
(g)  
Civil Society Organizations (CSOs)refer non-state actors whose aims 
298 
are neither to generate profits nor to seek governing power, but to 
299 


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unite people to advance shared goals and interests. They have 
300 
presence in public life, expressing the interests and values of their 
301 
member or others, based on ethical, cultural, scientific, religious or 
302 
philanthropic 
considerations. 
CSOs 
include 
nongovernment 
303 
organizations (NGOs), professional associations, foundations, 
304 
independent research institutes, community-based organizations 
305 
(CBOs), faith-based organizations, people’s organizations, social 
306 
movements, and labor unions. 
307 
(h)  
Climate Change refers to a change in the state of the climate that can 
308 
be identified by changes in the mean and/or the variability of its 
309 
properties, and that persist in an extended period, typically decades 
310 
or longer, whether due to natural variability or as a result of human 
311 
activity as defined under Republic Act No. 9729, otherwise known as 
312 
the “Climate Change Act of 2009”. These include internal processes 
313 
or external forces such as modulation of the solar cycles, volcanic 
314 
eruptions and persistent anthropogenic changes in the composition of 
315 
the atmosphere or in land use. 
316 
(i)  
Climate Change Adaption refers to the adjustment in natural or human 
317 
systems in response to actual or expected climatic stimuli or their 
318 
effects, which moderates harm or exploits beneficial opportunities. 
319 
(j)  
Climate Finance refers to finance that aims at reducing emissions, 
320 
and enhancing sinks of greenhouse gases and aims at reducing 
321 
vulnerability of, and maintaining, and increasing the resilience of, 
322 
human and ecological systems to negative climate change impacts. 
323 
(k)  
Community-Based Disaster Risk Reduction and Management 
324 
(CBDRRM) refers to a process of disaster risk reduction and 
325 
management in which at risk communities are actively engage in the 
326 
identification, analysis, treatment, monitoring and evaluation of 
327 
disaster risks in order to reduce their vulnerability and enhance their 
328 


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capacities, and where the people are at the heart of decision-making 
329 
and implementation of disaster risk reduction and management 
330 
activities. 
331 
(l)  
Complex Emergency refers to a form of human-induced emergency 
332 
in which the cause of the emergency as well as the assistance to the 
333 
afflicted is complicated by intense level of political considerations. 
334 
(m)  
Contingency Planning refers to a management process that analyzes 
335 
specific potential events or emerging situations that might threaten 
336 
society or the environment and establishes arrangements in advance 
337 
to enable timely, effective and appropriate response to such events 
338 
and situations. 
339 
(n)  
Dangerous Anthropogenic Interference refers to the effects in the 
340 
climate system as a result of the increase of greenhouse gas 
341 
concentrations in the atmosphere that leads to widespread climate 
342 
change impacts such as widespread demise of coral reefs. 
343 
(o)  
Disability refers to an evolving concept that results from the interaction 
344 
between persons with impairments, societal barriers, as defined 
345 
under Republic Act No. 7277, attitudinal and environmental barriers 
346 
that hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal 
347 
basis with others. 
348 
(p)  
Disaster refers to a serious disruption of the functioning of a 
349 
community or a society involving widespread human, material, 
350 
economic or environmental losses and impacts, which exceeds the 
351 
ability of the affected community or society to cope using its own 
352 
resources. 
353 
(q)  
Disaster Mitigation refers to the lessening or limitation of the adverse 
354 
impacts of hazards and related disasters. Mitigation measures 
355 
encompass 
engineering 
techniques 
and 
hazard-resistant 
356 


Page  16 
construction as well as improved environmental policies and public 
357 
awareness, land use planning, and climate change. 
358 
(r)  
Disaster Preparedness refers to the knowledge and capacities 
359 
developed by governments, professional response and recovery 
360 
organizations, communities and individuals to effectively anticipate, 
361 
respond to, and recover from, the impacts of likely, imminent or 
362 
current hazard events or conditions. It includes preparedness for 
363 
response such as contingency planning, stockpiling of equipment and 
364 
supplies, the development of arrangements for coordination, 
365 
evacuation, and public information, and preparedness for recovery 
366 
such as procurement of land for resettlement sites. 
367 
(s)  
Disaster Prevention refers to the outright avoidance of adverse 
368 
impacts of hazards. It expresses the concept and intention to 
369 
completely avoid potential adverse impacts through action taken in 
370 
advance such as construction of dams or embankments that eliminate 
371 
flood risks, land-use regulations that do not permit any settlement in 
372 
high-risk zones, and seismic engineering designs that ensure the 
373 
survival and function of a critical building in any likely earthquake. 
374 
(t)  
Disaster Response refers to the provision of emergency services and 
375 
public assistance during or immediately after a disaster in order to 
376 
secure and save lives, reduce health impacts, ensure public safety 
377 
and meet the basic subsistence needs of the people affected. 
378 
Disaster response includes disaster relief focused on immediate and 
379 
short-term needs of the victims and the vulnerable. 
380 
 
(u)  
Disaster Risk refers to the potential disaster losses in lives, health 
381 
status, livelihoods, assets and services that could occur to a particular 
382 
community or society in the future, and is determined by a 
383 
combination of the vulnerability, capacity, exposure of persons and 
384 
assets, hazard characteristics and the environment. 
385 


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(v)  
Disaster Risk Governance refers to the way in which public 
386 
authorities, civil servants, media, private sector, and civil society 
387 
coordinate at community, national and regional levels in order to 
388 
manage disaster and climate related risks. This means ensuring that 
389 
sufficient levels of capacity and resources are made available to 
390 
prevent, prepare for, manage, and recover from disasters. It also 
391 
entails mechanisms, institutions, and processes for citizens to 
392 
articulate their interests, exercise their legal rights and obligations, 
393 
and mediate their differences. 
394 
(w)  
Disaster Risk Management refers to the systematic process of using 
395 
administrative directives, organizations, and operational skills and 
396 
capacities to implement strategies, policies and improved coping 
397 
capacities in order to lessen the adverse impacts of hazards and the 
398 
possibility of disaster. 
399 
(x)  
Disaster Risk Reduction refers to the concept and practice of reducing 
400 
disaster risks through systematic efforts to analyze and manage the 
401 
casual factors of disasters, including through reduced exposure 
402 
hazards, lessened vulnerability of people and property, wise 
403 
management of land and the environment, and improved 
404 
preparedness for adverse events. 
405 
(y)  
Disaster Risk and Vulnerability Reduction (DRVR) refers to the 
406 
concept and practice of reducing potential loss of life, injury, or 
407 
destroyed or damage assets or disruption which could occur to a 
408 
system, society or community in a specific period of time, determined 
409 
probabilistically and conditions determined by physical, social, 
410 
economic and environmental factors or processes which increase the 
411 
susceptibility of an individual, a community, assets or system to the 
412 
impacts of hazards through systematic efforts to analyze and reduce 
413 
casual factors of disasters all which contribute to strengthening 
414 


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resilience and therefore to the achievement of sustainable 
415 
development. 
416 
(z)  
Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Information System refers 
417 
to a specialized database contains, among others, information on 
418 
disasters and their human, material, economic, and environmental 
419 
impact, risk assessment and mapping, and vulnerable and 
420 
marginalized groups. 
421 
(aa)  Early Warning System refers to the set of capacities needed to 
422 
generate and disseminate timely and meaningful warning information 
423 
to enable individuals, communities and organizations threatened by a 
424 
hazard to prepare and to act appropriately and in insufficient time to 
425 
reduce the possibility of harm or loss. A people-centered early 
426 
warning system necessarily comprises four (4) key elements: 
427 
knowledge of the risks; monitoring, analysis and forecasting of the 
428 
hazards; communication or dissemination of alerts and warnings; and 
429 
local capabilities to respond to the warnings received. The concept of 
430 
“end-to-end warning system” emphasizes that warning systems need 
431 
to span all steps from hazard detection to community response. Early 
432 
warning systems include systems developed at the level of 
433 
communities or based on indigenous knowledge. 
434 
(bb)  Ecosystem Management and Restoration refers to an integrated 
435 
process to conserve, improved and restore the health of the 
436 
ecosystem that sustains ecosystem services for human well-being. 
437 
(cc)  Eligible Assisting Actor refers to any assisting actor that has been 
438 
determined to be eligible to receive legal facilities as provided in this 
439 
Act and its implementing rules and regulations. 
440 
(dd)  Emergency refers to a unforeseen or sudden occurrence, especially 
441 
danger, demanding immediate action. 
442 


Page  19 
(ee)  Emergency Management refers to the organization and management 
443 
of resources and responsibilities for addressing all aspects of 
444 
emergencies, in particular preparedness, response and, initial 
445 
recovery steps. 
446 
(ff)  
Exposure refers to the degree to which the elements at risk are likely 
447 
to experience hazard events of different magnitudes. 
448 
(gg)  Gender-Based Violence refers to violence that is directed against a 
449 
woman because of her gender, or that affects the women 
450 
disproportionately. It includes acts that inflict physical, mental or 
451 
sexual harm or suffering, threats of such acts, coercion and other 
452 
deprivations oh liberty. 
453 
(hh)  Geographic Information System (GIS) refers a system used to 
454 
capture, store, manipulate, manage and display all types of spatial or 
455 
geographical data. 
456 
(ii)  
Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Area (GIDA) refers to 
457 
areas with a marginalized population which is physically and 
458 
socioeconomically separated from the mainstream society and 
459 
characterized by physical factors, and isolated due to distance, 
460 
weather conditions and transportation difficulties in island, upland, 
461 
lowland, landlocked, hard to reach and underserved communities, 
462 
and/or socioeconomic factors such as high poverty incidence, 
463 
presence of vulnerable sectors, communities in or recovering from 
464 
situation of crisis or armed conflict. 
465 
(jj)  
Hazard refers to a dangerous phenomenon, either natural or human-
466 
induced, that may cause loss of life, injury or other health impacts, 
467 
property damage, loss of livelihood and services, social and economic 
468 
disruption, or environmental damage. 
469 


Page  20 
(kk)  Human-Induced Hazards refers to an event caused by humans and 
470 
occurs in or closed to human settlements or particular environmental 
471 
area. This can include environmental degradation, technological or 
472 
industrial conditions, pollution, accidents such as high density events, 
473 
industrial and transport accidents, complex emergencies, armed 
474 
conflict, situations of generalized or organized violence, and violation 
475 
of human rights. 
476 
(ll)  
Imminent Danger refers to a situation where, on the basis of official 
477 
forecast, a disaster will or is expected to occur in a particular 
478 
geographical area and within an estimated period of time, and where 
479 
necessary preparedness actions or financing are required. 
480 
(mm)  International Disaster Relief and Initial Recovery Period refers to the 
481 
period which commences upon the assurance of a request for 
482 
international disaster assistance or upon acceptance of an offer, and 
483 
shall continue until terminated pursuant to guidelines set in the 
484 
implementing rules and regulations. 
485 
(nn)  Internally Displaced Persons refers to a persons or groups of persons 
486 
who have been forced or obliged to flee or to leave their homes or 
487 
places of habitual residence within national borders, in particular as a 
488 
result of or in order to avoid the effects of armed conflict, situations of 
489 
generalized and/or organizes violence, violations of human rights, 
490 
implementation of development projects, or natural or human-induced 
491 
disasters. 
492 
(oo)  International Personnel refers to the staff and volunteers of any 
493 
assisting actor providing disaster relief or initial recovery assistance, 
494 
being persons who are neither citizens of, nor domiciled in the 
495 
Philippines prior to their requirement by the international assisting 
496 
actor. 
497 


Page  21 
(pp)  Land-Use Planning refers to the process undertaken by public 
498 
authorities to identify, evaluate and decide on different options the use 
499 
of land, including considerations of long-term economic, social and 
500 
environment objectives and the implications for different communities 
501 
and interest groups, and the subsequent formulation and 
502 
promulgation of plans that describe the permitted or acceptable uses. 
503 
(qq)  Legal Facilities refer to special entitlements and exemptions that are 
504 
made available to eligible assisting actors under this Act. 
505 
(rr)  
Mitigation refers to effort to reduce or limit greenhouse gas emissions 
506 
or enhance greenhouse gas sequestration. 
507 
(ss)  National Continuity Policy refers to policy aimed at the development 
508 
of an organizational culture that has the ability to provide a minimum 
509 
level of service during interruptions, emergencies, and disasters, and 
510 
return to full operations quickly. 
511 
(tt)  
National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Framework refers 
512 
to the comprehensive, all hazards, multi-sectoral, inter-agency and 
513 
community-based 
approach 
to 
disaster 
risk 
reduction 
and 
514 
management. 
515 
(uu)  National Disaster Resilience Plan (NDRP) refers to the document to 
516 
be formulated by the National Disaster Resilience Council (NDRC) 
517 
and implemented by the Authority that sets out goals and specific 
518 
objectives for reducing disaster risk together with related actions 
519 
accomplish these objectives. The NDRP shall provide for the 
520 
identification of hazards, vulnerabilities, and risks to be managed at 
521 
the national level; disaster risk reduction and management 
522 
approaches and strategies to be applied in managing said hazards 
523 
and risk; agency roles, responsibilities and lines of authority at all 
524 
government levels; and vertical and horizontal coordination of disaster 
525 


Page  22 
risk reduction and management in the pre-disaster and post-disaster 
526 
phase. It shall be conformity with the national disaster risk reduction 
527 
and management framework. 
528 
(vv)  Natural Hazard refers to naturally occurring physical phenomena 
529 
caused either by rapid or slow onset events which can be geological 
530 
such as earthquakes, ground rupture, liquefaction, landslides, 
531 
tsunamis, sinkholes, and volcanic activity: hydrological and 
532 
meteorological such as floods, severe winds, typhoons, storm surges, 
533 
climatological variability such as extreme temperatures, El Niño, La 
534 
Niña, forest fires, or biological such as disease, epidemics and 
535 
insect/animal plagues. 
536 
(ww)  Open Data refers to facts and statistics that can be freely used, shared 
537 
and built-on by anyone, anywhere, for any purpose. These must be 
538 
available in bulk, should be available free of charge, or at least at no 
539 
more than a reasonable reproduction cost. The information should be 
540 
digital, preferably available by downloading through the internet, and 
541 
easily processed by a computer. These must permit people to use, 
542 
reuse, and redistribute, intermix with other data providers. These do 
543 
not allow conditions to be placed on how people can use Open Data, 
544 
but permit a data provider to require that data users credit them in 
545 
some appropriate way, clarify if the data have been changed, or that 
546 
new datasets created using their data are also shared open data. 
547 
(xx)  Persons with Disabilities refers to individuals who have long-term 
548 
physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairments which in 
549 
interaction with various barriers may hinder their full and effective 
550 
participation in society on an equal basis with others. 
551 
(yy)  Pre-Disaster Risk Assessment refers to a process to evaluate a 
552 
hazard’s level of risk given the degree of exposure and vulnerability 
553 
in a specific area likely to be affected by an imminent hazard. It 
554 


Page  23 
presents the possible impacts on the population and provides a basis 
555 
to determine the appropriate level of response actions of government 
556 
agencies from the national to the local levels. It is hazard-specific, 
557 
area focused and time-bound. 
558 
(zz)  Post-Disaster Recovery refers to the restoration and improvement, 
559 
where appropriate, of facilities, livelihood, and living conditions of 
560 
disaster-affected communities, including efforts to reduce disaster risk 
561 
factors, in accordance with the principle of “Build Forward Better”. 
562 
(aaa)  Private Sector refers to private corporations, households, non-profit 
563 
institutions serving households, and other economic enterprises 
564 
outside of government. 
565 
 
 (bbb)  Public Sector Employee refers to all persons in the civil service. 
566 
(ccc)  Recovery refers to a rehabilitation measures that ensure the ability of 
567 
affected communities or areas to restore their normal level of 
568 
functioning by restoring livelihoods and services, reconstructing 
569 
damage 
infrastructures 
and 
increasing 
the 
communities 
570 
organizational capacity. 
571 
(ddd)  Resilience refers to the ability of a system, community or society 
572 
exposed to hazards to resist, absorb, adapt to, transform, 
573 
accommodate, and recover from the effects of a hazard in a timely 
574 
and efficient manner, including through the preservation and 
575 
restoration of its essential basic structures and functions through risk 
576 
management in such ways as to enhance their capacities to withstand 
577 
current and future risk. 
578 
(eee)  Response refers to any effort to provide assistance or intervention 
579 
during or immediately after a disaster to meet the life preservation and 
580 
basic subsistence needs of affected people and in the restoration of 
581 
essential public activities and facilities. 
582 


Page  24 
(fff)  
Risk Assessment refers to a methodology which includes risk 
583 
assessment with mapping to determine the nature and extent of risk 
584 
by analyzing potential hazards and evaluating existing conditions of 
585 
vulnerability that together could potentially harm exposed people, 
586 
property, services, livelihood and the environment on which they 
587 
depend. 
588 
(ggg)  Probabilistic Risk Assessment refers to the simulation of those future 
589 
disasters based on scientific evidence, which are likely to occur. As a 
590 
result, these risk assessments resolve the problem posed by the limits 
591 
of historical data. Probabilistic models “complete” historical records by 
592 
reproducing the physics of the phenomena and recreating the 
593 
intensity of a large number of synthetic events. Probabilistic Risk 
594 
Assessment considers all possible scenarios, their likelihood, and 
595 
associated impacts. It is characterized by inherent uncertainties partly 
596 
related to the natural randomness of hazards, and partly because of 
597 
incomplete understanding and measurement of the hazards, 
598 
exposure, and vulnerability. 
599 
(hhh)  Deterministic Risk Assessment refers to an assessment that 
600 
considers the possible disaster impacts of a single scenario. This is in 
601 
contrast to probabilistic risk assessment which considers all possible 
602 
scenarios, their likelihood, and associated impacts. 
603 
(iii)  
Risk Transfer refers to process of formally or informally shifting the 
604 
financial consequences of particular risks from one party to another 
605 
whereby a household, community, enterprise, or state authority will 
606 
obtain resources from the other party after a disaster occurs, in 
607 
exchange for ongoing or compensatory social or financial benefits 
608 
provided to that other party. 
609 
(jjj)  
State Calamity refers to a condition involving mass casualty and/or 
610 
major damage to property, disruption of means of livelihoods, roads, 
611 


Page  25 
and normal way of life of people in the affected areas as a result of 
612 
the accurrences of natural or human-induced hazard. 
613 
(kkk)  Sustainable Development refers to development that meets the needs 
614 
of the present without compromising the ability of future generations 
615 
to meet their own needs. 
616 
(lll)  
Vital Facility Items refer to government risk reduction and 
617 
preparedness equipment, accessories and other items such as 
618 
radars, weather forecasting equipment, flood monitoring instruments, 
619 
seismographs, tsunami warning system, and automated weather 
620 
systems. 
621 
 
(mmm) Vulnerability refers to the characteristics and circumstances of a 
622 
community, system or asset that make it susceptible to the damaging 
623 
of hazard. Vulnerability may arise from various physical, social, 
624 
economic, and environmental factors. 
625 
 
(nnn)  Vulnerable and Marginalized Groups refers to those who are at risk 
626 
due to poverty and other underlying risk factors including women, 
627 
children, the elderly, differently-abled people, and ethnic minorities. 
628 
(ooo)  Whole-of-Society Approach refers to the meaningful participation and 
629 
synergy of stakeholders that present different interests in all aspects 
630 
of climate change adaptation, and disaster risk reduction and 
631 
management across all levels. 
632 
(ppp)  Whole-of-Government Approach refers to an approach that integrates 
633 
the collaborative efforts of the government departments and agencies 
634 
to achieve unity of effort toward a shared goal to broaden the 
635 
government’s options and increases efficiency to maximize all 
636 
available resources in a collaborative effort. 
637 


Page  26 
(qqq)  Whole-of–Nation Approach refers to an approach that seeks to bring 
638 
about a concerted effort towards national peace and security by 
639 
creating consensus and understanding of security that is shared not 
640 
among core security forces and oversight government institutions, but 
641 
also by civil society and all the nation’s communities. 
642 
(rrr)  Youth refers to those persons aged fifteen (15) to thirty (30) years old, 
643 
as provided for under Republic Act No. 8044, otherwise known as 
644 
“Youth in Nation-Building Act”. 
645 
CHAPTER II 
646 
DEPARTMENT OF DISASTER RESILIENCE 
647 
SEC. 4. Creation of the Department of Disaster Resilience. – There is hereby 
648 
created a Department of Disaster Resilience, hereinafter referred to as the 
649 
Department. 
650 
 
The Department shall be the primary government agency responsible 
651 
for leading, organizing, and managing the national effort to reduce disaster 
652 
risk, prepare for and respond to disasters, recover and rehabilitate, and 
653 
“Build Forward Better” after the occurrence of disasters. 
654 
 
The Department shall oversee and coordinate the preparation, 
655 
implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of disaster and climate change 
656 
resilience plans, programs, projects, and activities, provide leadership in the 
657 
continuous development of strategic and systematic approaches to disaster 
658 
prevention, mitigation, preparedness, response, recovery and rehabilitation, 
659 
to anticipatory adaptation strategies, measures, techniques and options. 
660 
 
The Department shall augment the capacity of LGUs in collaboration 
661 
with relevant national government agencies and other stakeholders to 
662 
implement disaster risk reduction and management and climate change 
663 
action plans, programs, projects, and activities. 
664 


Page  27 
SEC. 5. Powers and Functions of the Department. – The Department shall 
665 
exercise and perform the following powers and functions: 
666 
 
(a)  
Risk Reduction 
667 
 
(1)  
Oversee, direct, and undertake programs and projects to 
668 
identify, assess, prioritize and localize hazards and risk in the 
669 
country, in consultation with national government agencies, 
670 
LGUs, communities, and stakeholders that shall be involved in 
671 
disaster risk reduction efforts; 
672 
 
(2)  
Monitor and ensure the integration of the disaster risk and 
673 
vulnerability reduction and management and climate change 
674 
adaptation policies into national development plans; 
675 
 
(3)  
Design and implement an incentive system for greater private 
676 
and public investment, both local and national, in disaster risk 
677 
reduction; 
678 
 
(4)  
Oversee and ensure the mainstreaming of climate change 
679 
adaptation and disaster risk reduction in development 
680 
planning, including disaster-proofing and climate-proofing of 
681 
land-use plans and the preparation of contingency plans; 
682 
 
(5)  
Create an enabling environment for the design of relevant and 
683 
appropriate risk-sharing and risk-transfer instruments; 
684 
 
(6)  
Create an enabling environment that shall promote broader 
685 
multi-stakeholder participation and integrate climate change 
686 
mitigation, adaptation, and disaster risk and vulnerability 
687 
reduction; 
688 
 
(7)  
Coordinate directly with LGUs and private entities to address 
689 
climate vulnerabilities and disaster risk assessment (CVDRA) 
690 
of regions and provinces at the meso-scale, cities and 
691 


Page  28 
municipalities at the micro-scale, and barangays at the meta-
692 
scale; 
693 
 
(8)  
Establish and monitor local and national capacity for disaster 
694 
risk financing and insurance and other risk transfer strategies 
695 
in coordination with the Department of Finance (DOF), the 
696 
Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), and the Land 
697 
Bank of the Philippines (LBP); 
698 
 
(9)  
Formulate the National Disaster Resilience Framework, 
699 
National Disaster Resilience Plan, and the National Continuity 
700 
Policy; 
701 
 
(10)  Oversee and direct the comprehensive implementation of 
702 
disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation and 
703 
mitigation policies, plans, and programs, as embodied in the 
704 
National Disaster Resilience Framework and National Disaster 
705 
Resilience Plan; 
706 
 
(11)  Coordinate directly with LGUs and private entities to address 
707 
Disaster Risk Assessment (DRA) of regions and provinces at 
708 
the meso-scale, cities and municipalities at the micro-scale, 
709 
and barangays at the meta-scale; and  
710 
 
(12)  Review and evaluate local disaster resilience plans and other 
711 
local plans to ensure their consistency with the Climate-
712 
Disaster Resilience Framework and Plan. 
713 
 
(b)  
Disaster Preparedness and Response 
714 
 
(1)  
Oversee and maintain a national early-warning and emergency 
715 
alert system and shall provide accurate, timely, and accessible 
716 
information to national and local emergency response 
717 
organizations and the general public; 
718 


Page  29 
 
 
(2)  
Coordinate information-sharing and other risk reduction 
719 
protocols following the principle of interoperability among 
720 
national government agencies and LGUs; 
721 
 
(3)  
Establish and maintain a national humanitarian logistics 
722 
system with a network of warehouses, transport, and 
723 
resources, including response assets and disaster relief items, 
724 
such as food and non-food items; 
725 
 
(4)  
Exercise command and control over relevant government 
726 
agencies, 
including 
government-owned 
and 
controlled 
727 
corporations, the Philippines National Police and other law 
728 
enforcement agencies, during an imminent or actual disaster. 
729 
Such command and control shall include the authority to utilize 
730 
available services, assets, equipment, personnel, facilities, 
731 
and other resources; 
732 
 
(5)  
Call on the reserve force, as defined in Republic Act No. 7077, 
733 
otherwise known as the “Citizen Armed Forces or Armed 
734 
Forces of the Philippines Reservist Act”, to assist in relief and 
735 
rescue operations during disasters; 
736 
 
(6)  
Work with the private sector and CSOs for assistance with 
737 
regard to the use of facilities and resources for the protection 
738 
and preservation of life and property; 
739 
 
(7)  
Implement 
pre-disaster 
risk 
assessments, 
to 
include 
740 
deployment of rapid assessment teams to gather information 
741 
for precise actions as a basis for emergency preparedness and 
742 
humanitarian response; 
743 
 
(8)  
Organize, train, equip, and maintain a system of response 
744 
capacity for search, rescue, and retrieval, and the delivery and 
745 
distribution of relief goods; 
746 


Page  30 
 
(9)  
Monitor and support LGUs in the management of evacuation 
747 
centers and ensure the welfare and dignity of internally-
748 
displaced persons; 
749 
 
(10)  Procure goods and services during emergencies, in 
750 
accordance with existing emergency procurement rules and 
751 
regulations; 
752 
 
(11)  Issue special procurement rules and regulations 
for 
753 
preparedness, response, and recovery activities, including 
754 
those prompted by a declaration of a state of calamity or of an 
755 
imminent disaster; and 
756 
 
(12)  Assist in mobilizing the necessary resources to increase the 
757 
overall capacity of LGUs, specifically those with low income 
758 
and situated in high-risk areas. 
759 
 
(c)  
Rehabilitation and Recovery 
760 
 
(1)  
Prepare, organize, lead, implement, and manage post-disaster 
761 
assessment and recovery and rehabilitation programs, in 
762 
coordination with the affected LGUs, national government 
763 
agencies, and other stakeholders; 
764 
 
(2)  
Implement the cluster approach to expedite reconstruction 
765 
efforts and orchestrate and serve as the clearinghouse for the 
766 
participation of assisting actors in such efforts; and 
767 
 
(3)  
Ensure that the principle of “Build Forward Better” is applied to 
768 
rehabilitation and recovery efforts. 
769 
 
(d)  
Other Powers and Functions 
770 
 
 
(1)  
Provide or designate a secretariat to the Climate Change 
771 
Commission; 
772 


Page  31 
 
 
(2)  
Establish and monitor local and national capacity for climate-
773 
disaster risk financing and insurance and other risk transfer 
774 
strategies in coordination with the Department of Finance 
775 
(DOF), THE Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), 
776 
and the Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP); 
777 
 
(3)  
Coordinate information-sharing and other disaster risk and 
778 
vulnerability reduction and climate change adaptation 
779 
protocols following the principle of interoperability among 
780 
national government agencies and LGUs before, during, and 
781 
after a disaster. Administer, oversee, and monitor the utilization 
782 
of the National Disaster Resilience Fund (NDRF), the Disaster 
783 
Resilience Support Fund ( DRSF) for their (3rd) to sixth (6th) 
784 
class provinces and municipalities, and other grants and 
785 
donations for disaster risk reduction and management and 
786 
climate change adaptation, unless otherwise specified; 
787 
 
(4)  
Receive, administer, mobilize, and monitor and oversee the 
788 
utilization of the National Disaster Resilience Fund, the 
789 
Prevention, Mitigation, and Preparedness Fund for third (3rd) to 
790 
sixth (6th) Class Provinces and Municipalities, and donations 
791 
for disaster risk and vulnerability reduction and management 
792 
and climate change adaptation, unless otherwise specified; 
793 
 
(5)  
Use of advanced science and technologies in disaster risk 
794 
reduction and management by engaging, consulting with, 
795 
employing and regularly funding the academe or higher 
796 
education and research institutions such as the University of 
797 
the Philippines Resilience Institute and the University of the 
798 
Philippines Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards 
799 
Center or other institutions that have a recognized and credible 
800 
track record, as well as the capacity to conceptualize and 
801 


Page  32 
implement the science and engineering requirements 
802 
necessary for effective climate change adaptation and disaster 
803 
risk reduction; 
804 
 
(6)  
Establish a disaster resilience information system to facilitate 
805 
the creation of an integrated risk assessment platform that is 
806 
built from the inputs of government and private scientific and 
807 
academic institutions, national government agencies and 
808 
LGUs, local communities and other stakeholders, and is able 
809 
to provide readily accessible and actionable information for 
810 
purpose of risk governance and humanitarian action; 
811 
 
(7)  
Develop the criteria and procedure for the enlistment of 
812 
accredited community disaster resilience volunteers and 
813 
institutions; 
814 
 
(8)  
Create and continuously update, in consultation with 
815 
stakeholders, a manual of operations for accredited community 
816 
disaster resilience volunteers and institutions; and 
817 
 
(9)  
Perform such other functions as may be necessary for the 
818 
effective implementation of this Act. 
819 
CHAPTER III 
820 
GENERAL WELFARE AND EMERGENCY MEASURES 
821 
SEC. 6. General Welfare. – The Department shall exercise the powers 
822 
expressly granted, those necessarily implied therefrom, as well as the 
823 
powers necessary, appropriate or incidental for its efficient and effective 
824 
governance, and those which are essential to the promotion of the general 
825 
welfare, such as the implementation of emergency measures including 
826 
preemptive and forced evacuation, in anticipation of, during, and in the 
827 


Page  33 
aftermath of emergencies, hazards and disasters and only when there is 
828 
imminent danger of loss of lives and/or damage to property. 
829 
SEC. 7. Emergency Measures at the National Level. – The Department may 
830 
require the assistance of law enforcement agencies and the uniformed 
831 
services, such as the PNP and the AFP, as well as emergency responders, 
832 
to assist in the implementation of emergency measures. 
833 
 
SEC. 8. Emergency Measures at the Local Level. – 
834 
(a)  
LGUs shall enact an ordinance on and implement through the Local 
835 
Disaster Resilience Office (LDRO) the necessary and appropriate 
836 
emergency measures, including preemptive and forced evacuation, in 
837 
anticipation of, during, and in the aftermath of emergencies, hazards 
838 
and disasters, and only when there is imminent danger of loss of lives 
839 
and/or damage to property. 
840 
(b)  
Emergency measures, including preemptive and forced evacuation, 
841 
shall be carried out in a manner that is humane, respectful of the 
842 
dignity and culture of persons, without using disproportionate force, 
843 
without discrimination, and with conscious attention to the needs of 
844 
vulnerable and marginalized groups. 
845 
(c)  
All measures shall be taken to inform the population, in a manner and 
846 
language that they can understand, of the need for emergency 
847 
measures and evacuation for their safety, as well as the location 
848 
where they will be taken and for how long they are going to stay there. 
849 
Adequate evacuation centers and transportation to and from the 
850 
affected area shall be provided by the local government. 
851 
 
SEC. 9. Hierarchy of Evacuation Measures. – 
852 


Page  34 
(a)  
Preemptive evacuation shall be the preferred and primary mode of 
853 
evacuation of people that will be affected by emergencies, hazards 
854 
and disasters. 
855 
(b)  
Forced evacuation shall be considered as an emergency measure of 
856 
last resort that may be undertaken in anticipation of, during or after an 
857 
emergency, hazard or disaster and be carried out by the affected local 
858 
government in accordance with a duly issued order by the local chief 
859 
executive: Provided, That in case of the failure of the local government 
860 
to appropriate issue such order, the forced evacuation shall be 
861 
implemented by the Department, which may direct and compel the 
862 
assistance of law enforcement and other relevant national agencies 
863 
to implement said emergency measure. 
864 
 
 
During such forced evacuation, government officials 
865 
may direct and compel the population to be affected or is currently 
866 
affected by an emergency, hazard or disaster to relocate to safer 
867 
locations for their own safety. 
868 
 
SEC. 10. Release from Liability in Case of Refusal to Evacuate. – 
869 
(a)  
Any person who willfully and deliberately disregards or opposes the 
870 
order of forced evacuation issued by the local chief executive or the 
871 
Department, releases the local government or the Department from 
872 
any liability for injury, death, damage to or loss of property attribute to 
873 
said disobedience. 
874 
(b)  
During evacuation, priority assistance shall be given to the vulnerable 
875 
groups and persons who willfully comply with the order of forced 
876 
evacuation. 
877 
SEC. 11. Inspection and Implementation Powers. – The Department shall 
878 
have inspection, visitorial and examining authority over government and 
879 
nongovernmental entities to ensure that all funds and assets allocated for 
880 


Page  35 
disaster resilience are actually used for said purpose. The Department shall 
881 
likewise have the power to inspect and examine the status of projects and 
882 
programs being undertaken in furtherance of disaster resilience efforts. 
883 
 
Whenever it becomes necessary, the Department may assume 
884 
responsibility over the implementation of and directly implement any program 
885 
or project in anticipation of, during, and in the aftermath of emergencies, 
886 
hazards and disasters. 
887 
SEC. 12. Utilization of Private Property for Public Purpose. – The 
888 
Department shall have the power to utilize any private property for urgent 
889 
public purpose in anticipation of, during, and in the aftermath of emergencies, 
890 
hazards and disasters and only when there is imminent danger of loss of 
891 
lives and/or damage to property, subject to payment of just compensation in 
892 
appropriate cases. 
893 
SEC. 13. Emergency Powers. – Whenever it becomes necessary, the 
894 
Department, subject to the approval of the President, may call on the AFP or 
895 
the PNP, in coordination with the Secretary of National Defense and the 
896 
Secretary of the Interior and Local Government, to prevent or suppress 
897 
lawless violence and ensure the protection and preservation of life or 
898 
property in anticipation of, during, and in the aftermath of emergencies, 
899 
hazards and disasters. 
900 
 
Whenever warranted by circumstances, the Department may call 
901 
upon other agencies and instrumentalities of the government, as well as 
902 
nongovernment organizations for the protection and preservation of life 
903 
and/or property in anticipation of, during, and in the aftermath of 
904 
emergencies, hazards and disasters including private organizations, for 
905 
assistance in the use of their facilities and resources. 
906 
SEC. 14. Emergency Arrangements. – The Department shall have the power 
907 
to negotiate, enter into, institutionalize and coordinate arrangements with 
908 


Page  36 
any private person or juridical entity for the purpose of ensuring the adequate 
909 
and prompt availability of all goods and services necessary in anticipation of, 
910 
during, and in the aftermath of emergencies, hazards and disasters and only 
911 
when there imminent danger of loss of lives and/or damage to property. 
912 
CHAPTER IV 
913 
ORGANIZATION AND MANAGEMENT 
914 
SEC. 15. The Secretary. – The Department shall be headed by a Secretary 
915 
who shall be appointed by the President. 
916 
SEC. 16. Powers and Functions of the Secretary. – The Secretary of the 
917 
Department shall exercise the following powers and functions: 
918 
(a)  
Establish and promulgate policies, rules, and regulations for the 
919 
effective and efficient operation of the Department; 
920 
(b)  
Exercise executive direction over the operations of the Department 
921 
and administrative supervision over its attached agencies; 
922 
 
(c)  
Manage the financial and human resources of the Department; 
923 
(d)  
Appoint officers and employees of the Department, except 
924 
presidential appointees, in accordance with civil service law, rules, 
925 
and regulations; 
926 
(e)  
Exercise disciplinary authority over officers and employees of the 
927 
Department in accordance with law; 
928 
(f)  
Coordinate with other government agencies, the private sector, and 
929 
CSOs on the policies, programs, projects, and activities of the 
930 
Department, as may be necessary; 
931 


Page  37 
(g)  
Advise the President on the promulgation of executive and 
932 
administrative issuances and the formulation of regulatory and 
933 
legislative proposals on matters pertaining to disaster resilience; 
934 
(h)  
Serve as the Vice-Chairperson of the Climate Change Commission 
935 
(CCC); 
936 
(i)  
In coordination with the Department of Foreign Affairs, represent the 
937 
Philippines in the climate change negotiations and articulate the 
938 
national contribution to global, regional, and other inter-governmental 
939 
disaster risk reduction and humanitarian platforms; 
940 
(j)  
Call upon the AFP and the PNP to render assistance in disaster-
941 
affected areas; and 
942 
(k)  
Promulgate such rules and regulations and perform such other 
943 
functions as may be necessary or proper to attain the objectives of 
944 
this Act. 
945 
 
SEC.17. Organizational Structure, Functions and Management. – The 
946 
Department shall be composed of the following officials and offices; 
947 
 
(a)  
The Secretary, as provided for under this Act; 
948 
 
(b)  
Five (5) Undersecretaries, to be appointed by the President, who shall 
949 
assist the Secretary in administering the affairs of the Department, 
950 
one to be responsible for Resilience, one to be responsible for Policy 
951 
and Governance, one to be responsible for Operations, one to be 
952 
responsible for Administration and Finance, and the Senior 
953 
Undersecretary. The Undersecretaries shall have functional and 
954 
operational supervision over the bureaus, divisions, offices and units 
955 
assigned to their respective functional areas; 
956 
 
(c)  
Ten (10) Assistant Secretaries, to be appointed by the President, who 
957 
shall assist the Secretary in administering the affairs of the 
958 


Page  38 
Department to be responsible for overall staff supervision, Internal 
959 
Audit, Administration, Disaster Resilience Fund Management, Fiscal 
960 
Management, Operations, Mobilization, Plans  and Programs, Legal, 
961 
Project Management and Sustainable Development; 
962 
 
(d)  
Eleven (11) Service Directors who shall head the following Services: 
963 
the Administrative and Financial Management Service, the Logistics 
964 
and Resource Management Service, the Operations Service, the 
965 
Responders Management Service, the Policy Development and 
966 
Planning Service, the Capacity-Building and Training Service, the 
967 
Legal Affairs and Compliance Service , the Disaster Risk Reduction 
968 
Service, 
the 
Climate 
Change 
Service, 
the 
Recovery 
and 
969 
Reconstruction Service, and the Strategic Communications Service: 
970 
 
(1)  
The Administrative and Financial Management Service shall 
971 
provide the Department with economical, efficient and effective 
972 
services relating to human resource management and 
973 
development, 
financial 
management 
and 
general 
974 
administration services to support civil defense and disaster 
975 
risk reduction and management operations and functions. 
976 
(2)  
The Logistics and Resource Management Service shall be 
977 
responsible for the efficient and effective management of all 
978 
the assets and resources of the Department; the efficient and 
979 
effective gathering, maintenance and updating of a database 
980 
of pertinent assets and resources belonging to any and all 
981 
agencies and instrumentalities of the Government, as well as 
982 
nongovernment and civic organizations in support of 
983 
operational readiness for utilization by the Department; and the 
984 
procurement of necessary assets and resources to be 
985 
maintained and utilized by the Department. 
986 


Page  39 
(3)  
The Operations Service shall be responsible for formulating, 
987 
implementing and monitoring the operational plans of the 
988 
Department and ensuring its operational readiness, as well as 
989 
the effective functional management of the Emergency 
990 
Management Operations Center. 
991 
 
(4)  
The Responders Management Service shall be responsible for 
992 
the efficient and effective gathering, management, and 
993 
updating of a national roster of individuals and groups from the 
994 
civilian sector, volunteer organizations, uniformed services and 
995 
the reserve force in support of operational readiness for 
996 
utilization by the Department. 
997 
(5)  
The Policy Development and Planning Service shall be 
998 
responsible for providing responsive, efficient and effective 
999 
services relating to research, planning, programming, 
1000 
budgeting, project development, and policy formulation of civil 
1001 
defense and disaster risk reduction and management projects 
1002 
and activities. 
1003 
(6)  
The Capacity-Building and Training Service shall be 
1004 
responsible for building and developing the capacity of the 
1005 
Department’s 
personnel, 
civil 
defense 
practitioners, 
1006 
communities and other stakeholders. 
1007 
(7)  
The Legal Affairs and Compliance Service shall provide legal 
1008 
advice to the Department; interpret laws and rules affecting the 
1009 
administration and operations of the Department; prepare and 
1010 
review contracts and instruments to which the Department is a 
1011 
party; interpret provisions of contracts covering work involving 
1012 
the Department; and monitor the compliance with regulatory 
1013 
and reportorial matters involving the Department. 
1014 


Page  40 
(8)  
The Disaster Risk Reduction Service shall be responsible for 
1015 
reducing disaster risks through systematic efforts and 
1016 
programs of the Department to analyze and reduce the causal 
1017 
factors of disasters such as exposure to hazards, lessening 
1018 
vulnerability of people and property, wise management of land 
1019 
and the environment, and improving preparedness and early 
1020 
warning for adverse events which are all examples of disaster 
1021 
risk reduction. 
1022 
(9)  
The Climate Change Service shall lead in the development and 
1023 
mainstreaming of evidence-based climate adaptation and 
1024 
mitigation policies of the Department through optimum 
1025 
coordination among key stakeholders towards achieving a 
1026 
climate-resilience and climate-smart Philippines with healthy, 
1027 
safe, prosperous, and self-reliant communities, 
1028 
 
(10)  The Recovery and Reconstruction Service shall provide 
1029 
responsive, efficient and effective services relating to the 
1030 
formulation of standards for rehabilitation and recovery 
1031 
programs, 
projects, 
activities, 
and 
their 
subsequent 
1032 
implementation. 
1033 
(11)  The Strategic Communications Service shall be responsible for 
1034 
the 
formulation 
and 
implementation 
of 
the 
strategic 
1035 
communications plans and programs of the Department; serve 
1036 
as the public affairs arm of the Department tasked with 
1037 
directing, supervising and controlling the Department’s public 
1038 
information programs and activities, as well as establishing and 
1039 
maintaining rapport with the media and the general public; 
1040 
(e)  
Divisions, units and offices as may be created by the Department and 
1041 
whose officers and employees shall be appointed in accordance with 
1042 
civil service law, rules, and regulations; 
1043 


Page  41 
(f)  
The National Climate and Disaster Resilience Research, Education, 
1044 
and Training Institute under the Capacity-Building and Training 
1045 
Service, to be headed by a Director with the rank of Director IV; 
1046 
(g)  
Regional and other field offices of the Department that shall be 
1047 
established in each administrative region, each to be headed by a 
1048 
Regional Director with the rank of Director IV; 
1049 
 (h) 
 Bureaus that are under the supervision and control of the 
1050 
Department; 
1051 
(i)  
Seconded personnel from relevant agencies and detailed service 
1052 
from the uniformed services, as appropriate; and 
1053 
(j)  
Grievance desks in every region, which shall serve as a referral 
1054 
mechanism and shall work jointly with relevant agencies, to receive 
1055 
complaints from the public regarding violations of this Act. It shall 
1056 
assist the complainant in the gathering of relevant documentation and 
1057 
other evidence to support said complaint. The grievance desk shall 
1058 
facilitate the forwarding of the complaint to the appropriate office 
1059 
within fifteen (15) days from receipt thereof, and shall provide timely 
1060 
feedback and updates regarding the status of the complaint. The 
1061 
grievance desk shall use the best available technology to ensure that 
1062 
complaints are endorsed to the proper office and are addressed in a 
1063 
timely manner. 
1064 
CHAPTER V 
1065 
FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION 
1066 
SEC. 18. Fiscal Management. – The Department shall manage all funds 
1067 
appropriated to it by Congress and from other sources. This shall include all 
1068 
donations, as contemplated under the succeeding paragraph, subject to the 
1069 


Page  42 
provisions of Section 3, paragraph (D) of Article IX, of the 1987 Constitution 
1070 
on the auditing powers of the Commission on Audit. 
1071 
SEC. 19. Donation. – (a) The Department shall have the power to receive 
1072 
donations and grants from any person, government institution, corporation, 
1073 
international organization and other similar entities, and the power to 
1074 
recommend the procurement of developmental assistance for the purpose 
1075 
of disaster risk and vulnerability reduction and management and climate 
1076 
change adaptation; 
1077 
 
(b)  
It shall be mandatory for the Department to acknowledge and certify 
1078 
the receipt of all the Department of Disaster Resilience (DDR) grants and 
1079 
donated funds and ensure their judicious management including their proper 
1080 
and accurate audit reporting to constituents; 
1081 
(c)  
The importation and donation of food, clothing, medicine and 
1082 
equipment for relief and recovery and other disaster management and 
1083 
recovery-related supplies is hereby authorized in accordance with, Section 
1084 
800, Chapter 1, Title 8, of Republic Act No. 10863, otherwise known as the 
1085 
“Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA)’, as amended, and the 
1086 
prevailing provisions of the General Appropriations Act covering national 
1087 
internal revenue taxes and import duties of national and local government 
1088 
agencies; 
1089 
 
All importations and donations under Section 11(c) of Republic Act 
1090 
No. 10863, otherwise known as the “Customs Modernization and Tariff Act 
1091 
(CMTA)” shall be considered as importation or donation to the Department, 
1092 
subject to the approval of the Office of the President. 
1093 
CHAPTER VI 
1094 
WHOLE-OF-GOVERNMENT AND WHOLE-OF-NATION APPROACH 
1095 
 
SEC. 20. National Disaster Resilience Council. 
1096 


Page  43 
(a)  
There is hereby created the National Disaster Resilience Council 
1097 
(NDRC), which shall serve as the policy advisory body to the 
1098 
Department on disaster risk reduction and management and climate 
1099 
change adaption, consistent with the policies and scope as defined in 
1100 
this Act. 
1101 
(b)  
The NDRC shall be chaired by the Secretary of Disaster Resilience 
1102 
and shall be composed of the following: 
1103 
 
 
 
(1)   
 Secretary of Science and Technology 
1104 
 
 
 
(2)   
 Secretary of the Interior and Local Government; 
1105 
 
 
 
(3)   
Secretary of Social Welfare and Development; 
1106 
 
 
 
(4)   
 Secretary of National Defense; 
1107 
(5)  
Director-General of the National Economic and 
1108 
Development Authority; 
1109 
 
 
 
(6)   
 Secretary of Health; 
1110 
 
 
 
(7)   
 Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources; 
1111 
 
 
 
(8)   
 Secretary of Agriculture; 
1112 
 
 
 
(9)    Secretary of Education; 
1113 
 
 
 
(10) 
 Secretary of Energy; 
1114 
 
 
 
(11)  Secretary of Finance; 
1115 
 
 
 
(12)  Secretary of Trade and Industry; 
1116 
 
 
 
(13)  Secretary of Transportation; 
1117 
 
 
 
(14) 
Secretary of Budget and Management; 
1118 


Page  44 
 
 
 
15)  
Secretary of Public Works and Highways; 
1119 
 
 
 
(16)  Secretary of Foreign Affairs; 
1120 
 
 
 
(17)  Secretary of Justice; 
1121 
 
 
 
(18)  Secretary of Labor and Employment; 
1122 
 
 
 
(19)  Secretary of Tourism; 
1123 
(20)  Secretary 
of 
Information 
and 
Communications 
1124 
Technology; 
1125 
 
 
 
(21)  Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process; 
1126 
 
 
 
(22)  Chairperson of the Commission on Higher Education; 
1127 
 
 
 
(23)  Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines; 
1128 
 
 
 
(24)  Chief of the Philippine National Police; 
1129 
(25)  Head of the Presidential Communications Operations 
1130 
Office; 
1131 
(26)  Secretary-General of the Philippine National Red Cross; 
1132 
 
 
 
(27)  Chairperson of the Commission on Human Rights; 
1133 
(28)  Executive Director of the Council for Welfare of 
1134 
Children; 
1135 
(29)  Lead 
Convenor 
of 
the 
National 
Anti-Poverty 
1136 
Commission; 
1137 
 
 
 
(30)  Chairperson of the Philippine Commission on Women; 
1138 
(31)  Chairperson of the Housing and Urban Development 
1139 
Coordinating Council; 
1140 


Page  45 
(32)  Chairperson of the National Council for Disability Affairs; 
1141 
(33)  Chairperson of the National Commission on Indigenous 
1142 
Peoples; 
1143 
(34)  Chairperson of the National Commission on Muslim 
1144 
Filipinos; 
1145 
 
 
 
(35)  Chairperson of the National Youth Commission; 
1146 
(36)  President of the Government Service Insurance 
1147 
System; 
1148 
 
 
 
(37)  President of the Social Security System; 
1149 
(38)  President 
of 
the 
Philippine 
Health 
Insurance 
1150 
Corporation; 
1151 
 
 
 
(39)  President of the Home Development Mutual Fund; 
1152 
(40)  President of the Union of Local Authorities of the 
1153 
Philippines; 
1154 
(41)  President of the League of Provinces of the Philippines; 
1155 
 
 
 
(42)  President of the League of Cities of the Philippines; 
1156 
(43)  President of the League of Municipalities of the 
1157 
Philippines; 
1158 
 
 
 
(44)  President of the Liga ng mga Barangays; 
1159 
(45)  Maximum of six (6) representatives from the academe 
1160 
and other relevant research institutions; 
1161 
(46)  Maximum of six (6) representatives from the civil society 
1162 
organizations; and 
1163 


Page  46 
(47) 
 Maximum of six (6) representatives from the private 
1164 
sector. 
1165 
(c)  
Composition – The Council is hereby organized into five (5) clusters, 
1166 
namely: Disaster Prevention and Mitigation to be led by DOST, 
1167 
Disaster Preparedness to be led by DILG, Disaster Response by 
1168 
DSWD, Logistic led by DND, and Recovery and Sustainable 
1169 
Development led by NEDA. 
1170 
(d)  
Technical Management Advisory Group – The Department may 
1171 
constitute, as the need arises, a technical management advisory 
1172 
group from the different stakeholders, that shall coordinate and meet 
1173 
with the Department as often as necessary to effectively manage and 
1174 
sustain national efforts on disaster risk and vulnerable reduction and 
1175 
emergency management, and climate change adaptation and 
1176 
mitigation. 
1177 
(e)  
Guidelines for the Department of Disaster Resilience Fund (DDRF) 
1178 
and Local Disaster Resilience Fund (LDRF)- The Department shall 
1179 
provide the necessary guidelines and procedures on the DDRF and 
1180 
LDRF releases as well as utilization, accounting and auditing thereof. 
1181 
SEC. 21. Monitoring, Reporting and Validation. 
1182 
(a)  
Monitoring and Reporting. On or before the last quarter of the 
1183 
preceding year, member-agencies of the National Disaster Resilience 
1184 
Council shall submit to the Department through the Council 
1185 
Secretariat their respective DDR annual work and financial plans 
1186 
(AWFPs) for the next year. The AWFPS shall be used on the DDR 
1187 
Plan. 
1188 
The member-agencies shall submit to the Secretariat quarterly 
1189 
progress reports of their implementation of the AWFPs within thirty 
1190 
(30) days from the end of each quarter. 
1191 


Page  47 
The Department is likewise accountable, liable and responsible 
1192 
for monitoring and requiring the appropriate implementation of 
1193 
remedial measures by member-agencies of the Council during a state 
1194 
of calamity. It shall have the authority and power to require reports 
1195 
from the appropriate member-agencies regarding implementation of 
1196 
such measures. 
1197 
(b)  
Validation. The Secretary shall require the submission of reports from 
1198 
LGUs to validate the progress reports of the Council members-
1199 
agencies. Submissions shall be through the local field offices of the 
1200 
DDR. 
1201 
Every two (2) years, the implementation of the Climate-
1202 
Disaster Resilience Plan (CDRP) and utilization of the Local Disaster 
1203 
Resilience Fund (LDRF) of each province, LGUs, independent city 
1204 
shall be evaluated by the Regional Disaster Resilience Council 
1205 
(RDRC) based on appropriate criteria, such as the award, recognition, 
1206 
citation criteria for provinces, cities and municipalities, barangay and 
1207 
stakeholders. 
1208 
 
 
(1)  
The Regional Disaster Resilience Councils (RDRC) –  
1209 
The Regional Disaster Resilience Councils (RDRC) shall 
1210 
coordinate, integrate, supervise, and evaluate the activities of the 
1211 
LDRCs. It shall be accountable, responsible and liable for ensuring 
1212 
climate- disaster risk sensitive and inclusive regional development 
1213 
plans, and in case of emergencies shall convene the different regional 
1214 
line agencies and authorities, concerned institutions, developmental 
1215 
partners and multiple stakeholders. 
1216 
The Regional Directors of the Department shall serve as 
1217 
chairpersons of the RDRCs and the Regional Directors of the DSWD 
1218 
and DILG and the NEDA shall serve as cluster heads. In the case of 
1219 


Page  48 
the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, the Chief 
1220 
Minister shall be the RDRC Chairperson. In the case of Metro Manila, 
1221 
the MDRC shall be headed by the Chairperson of the Metro Manila 
1222 
Development Authority (MMDA). 
1223 
The RDRCs shall establish the RDRC Secretariat and 
1224 
operating facility to be known as the Regional Disaster Resilience 
1225 
Council Secretariat and Operations Center. 
1226 
The RDRCs shall be composed of concerned regional 
1227 
agencies, offices, LGUs and other multiple stakeholders. 
1228 
(i)  
LDRC Budgetary Requirements of LDRO – The 
1229 
budgetary 
requirements 
for 
personal 
services, 
1230 
maintenance and other operating expenditures, and 
1231 
capital outlay of the LDRO shall be sourced from the 
1232 
General Fund of the LGU, subject to Section 76 of 
1233 
Republic Act No. 7160, otherwise known as the “Local 
1234 
Government Code of 1991, as amended. The 
1235 
enforcement of Sections 325(a) and 331(b) of Republic 
1236 
Act No. 7160, as amended, shall be waived to enable 
1237 
the LGUs to fund the initial year requirements for the 
1238 
creation of the minimum five (5) mandatory positions of 
1239 
the LDRO. 
1240 
Other maintenance and operating expenditures, 
1241 
and other capital outlay requirements of the LDRO in the 
1242 
implementation of disaster risk and vulnerability 
1243 
reduction management and climate change adaptation 
1244 
program shall be charged to the Local Climate-Disaster 
1245 
Resilience Fund of the LGUs; 
1246 


Page  49 
(ii)  
Establish linkage or network with other LGUs for 
1247 
disaster risk and vulnerability reductions, climate 
1248 
change adaptation and emergency response purposes; 
1249 
(iii)  
Recommend through the LDRC, the enactment of local 
1250 
ordinances consistent with the requirement of this Act; 
1251 
(iv)  
Establish a Provincial, City, Municipal, and Barangay 
1252 
Climate and Disaster Resilience Operations Center; 
1253 
and 
1254 
(v)  
Encourage 
Government-Owned 
and 
Controlled 
1255 
Corporations (GOCCs) to establish their own Climate 
1256 
and Disaster Resilience Operations Center within their 
1257 
territories. 
1258 
SEC. 22. Synergy with Stakeholders. – The Department shall ensure 
1259 
seamless synergy and coordination with stakeholders, including CSOs, the 
1260 
academe, and the private sector, in relation to disaster resilience and 
1261 
projects and the development and promotion of research, education and 
1262 
training mechanism with relevant stakeholders. 
1263 
The Department shall establish a platform, paradigm, and mechanism 
1264 
for convergence and coordination with stakeholders, including the 
1265 
development of standards, protocols and procedures for collaboration for 
1266 
disaster resilience. 
1267 
SEC. 23. Establishment of Multi-Stakeholders Convergence Unit. – The 
1268 
Department, with the assistance of other relevant government agencies and 
1269 
stakeholders, shall establish a Multi-Stakeholders Convergence Unit 
1270 
(MSCU), which shall align the disaster resilience efforts of the private sector, 
1271 
CSOs, academe, and other stakeholders with the Department by assisting, 
1272 
coordinating, or providing services that strengthen public-private cooperation 
1273 
and coordination in disaster resilience, including the following: 
1274 


Page  50 
(a)  
Establishment and implementation of business continuity practices to 
1275 
ensure the continued delivery of products and services, in the event 
1276 
of disasters; 
1277 
(b)  
Establishment and implementation of a National Continuity Policy to 
1278 
ensure service continuity during power and utilities interruptions, 
1279 
emergencies, and disasters and ensure the quick return to full 
1280 
operations; 
1281 
(c)  
Establishment, incorporation, and application of business continuity 
1282 
plans as part of the disaster resilience plans of local government units; 
1283 
(d)  
Facilitation or assistance in obtaining or processing incentives for the 
1284 
private sector or other nongovernment stakeholders; and 
1285 
(e)  
Preparation and facilitation of the issuance of appropriate guidelines 
1286 
for MSMEs relating to mechanisms on procurement and liquidity to 
1287 
create enabling environment for DDR. 
1288 
The MSCU shall establish a platform that includes, among 
1289 
others, a database for monitoring and coordinating efforts and 
1290 
resources of stakeholders. 
1291 
CHAPTER VII 
1292 
DISASTER RISK AND VULNERABILITY REDUCTION AND CLIMATE 
1293 
CHANGE 
ADAPTATION 
MAINSTREAMING, 
INTEGRATION 
AND 
1294 
CONVERGENCE 
1295 
SEC. 24. Integration of DRR and Climate Change Adaptation in the Climate 
1296 
and Disaster Resilience Framework and Plan. – The existing National 
1297 
Disaster Resilience Framework and plan and the National Climate Change 
1298 
Strategic Framework and Plan shall be enhanced by the Climate and 
1299 
Disaster Resilience Framework and plan which provides for the 
1300 
comprehensive probabilistic multi-hazards, multi-scenario, multi-sectoral, 
1301 


Page  51 
resilience-building, and community risk-based approach and management 
1302 
of disaster and climate risk, and provide for the integration of disaster risk 
1303 
and vulnerability reduction and climate change adaptation, as well as the 
1304 
mainstreaming in other sectoral policies. It shall be reviewed every three (3) 
1305 
years. 
1306 
The Climate and Disaster Resilience Plan shall provide for the 
1307 
following: (1) identification of the underlying factors of risk, or the nature and 
1308 
degree of hazards, vulnerabilities, exposures and capacities, which need to 
1309 
be managed at the national level; (2) disaster risk and vulnerabilities 
1310 
reduction and management approaches and strategies to be applied in 
1311 
managing said hazards and risks; (3) agency roles, responsibilities, and lines 
1312 
of authority at all government levels; and (4) vertical and horizontal 
1313 
coordination of climate change adaptation, disaster risk and vulnerability 
1314 
reduction and management before, during and after a disaster. The Climate 
1315 
and Disaster Resilience Plan shall be in conformity with the framework. 
1316 
The Climate and Disaster Resilience Framework and Plan for climate-
1317 
disaster risk governance, climate vulnerability assessment, risk assessment 
1318 
and risk management shall be formulated and jointly approved by the NDRC 
1319 
and the CCC. 
1320 
SEC. 25. Ecosystem-Based Approach to Prevention and Mitigation, 
1321 
Rehabilitation and Recovery from Disaster. – The Department shall ensure 
1322 
the application of ecosystems-based approaches in disaster risk and 
1323 
vulnerability reduction and climate change adaptation, particularly through 
1324 
ecosystem management and restoration as define in this Act, and ensuring 
1325 
that environmental and natural resource policies are risk-informed. 
1326 
CHAPTER VIII 
1327 
CLIMATE AND DISASTER RESILIENCE RESEARCH, EDUCATION, 
1328 
AND TRAINING INSTITUTE 
1329 


Page  52 
SEC. 26. Creation of the Climate and Disaster Research, Education, and 
1330 
Training Institute. – 
1331 
(a)  
Within one (1) year from approval of this Act, the Department shall 
1332 
establish the Climate and Disaster Resilience Research, Education, 
1333 
and Training Institute in collaboration with higher education 
1334 
institutions and private and state universities and colleges (SUCs) 
1335 
which shall be a world-class center of excellence for learning and 
1336 
research in the field of disaster risk and vulnerability reduction and 
1337 
management and climate change adaptation; 
1338 
(b)  
The Climate and Disaster Resilience Research, Education, and 
1339 
Training Institute shall be headed by a Director. The organizational 
1340 
structure and staffing pattern shall be determined by the Department 
1341 
in consultation with the DBM and in accordance with civil service laws, 
1342 
rules and regulations. 
1343 
(c)  
The Climate and Disaster Resilience Research, Education, and 
1344 
Training Institute shall have the following functions: 
1345 
(1)  
Establish regional branches as well as provincial, city or 
1346 
municipal branches, if deemed necessary, to train 
1347 
individuals from the public and private sectors in the 
1348 
fields of disaster risk and vulnerability reduction and 
1349 
management, 
climate 
change 
adaptation, 
and 
1350 
ecosystem management and restoration, among 
1351 
others; 
1352 
(2)  
Develop and implement an inclusive and ladderized 
1353 
curricula on climate change adaptation, and disaster 
1354 
risk and vulnerability reduction and management; 
1355 
(3)  
Develop 
research 
programs 
and 
a 
knowledge 
1356 
management system on climate change adaptation and 
1357 


Page  53 
disaster risk and vulnerability reduction management for 
1358 
the purpose of innovation and capacity-building and 
1359 
development; 
1360 
(4)  
Partner with public and private academic and research 
1361 
institutions, the private sector, civil society, community-
1362 
based 
disaster 
risk 
and 
vulnerability 
reduction 
1363 
management 
and 
climate 
change 
adaptation 
1364 
practitioners, and other relevant sectors in developing 
1365 
research opportunities and programs on climate 
1366 
vulnerability and disaster risk assessment; 
1367 
(5)  
Establish a resource center for information, education 
1368 
and communication materials, research, publications, 
1369 
best work practices, lessons identified and learned, and 
1370 
other knowledge products on disaster risk and 
1371 
vulnerability reduction and management, and climate 
1372 
change adaptation; 
1373 
(6)  
Consolidate and prepare information, education and 
1374 
communication and training materials or publications to 
1375 
assist disaster risk and vulnerability reduction an 
1376 
management, 
and 
climate 
change 
adaptation 
1377 
practitioners in the planning and implementation of their 
1378 
plans, programs, projects and activities; 
1379 
(7)  
Organize and recognize a community of climate change 
1380 
adaptation and disaster risk reduction and management 
1381 
practitioners; and 
1382 
(8)  
Accredit, recognize, monitor and evaluate climate 
1383 
change adaptation, disaster risk and vulnerability 
1384 
reduction and management training institutions. 
1385 


Page  54 
 
 
(d)  
Financial Support to the Center; 
1386 
(1)  
The budget for the Climate and Disaster Resilience 
1387 
Research and Training Center shall be sourced from the 
1388 
annual General Appropriations Act. 
1389 
(2)  
The Department shall assist in the establishment of 
1390 
Research and Training Centers at the provincial, city 
1391 
and municipal governments, as appropriate. The 
1392 
funding for such local Climate and Disaster Resilience 
1393 
Research and Training Centers may be sourced from 
1394 
the eighty (80%) percent portion of the LDRF and other 
1395 
financial sources of the local government unit 
1396 
concerned. 
1397 
CHAPTER IX 
1398 
INTEGRATION, MAINSTREAMING CLIMATE AND DISASTER 
1399 
RESILIENCE INFORMATION, EDUCATION, AND COMMUNICATION 
1400 
CONVERGENCE 
1401 
SEC. 27. Climate and Disaster Resilience Information Management System 
1402 
(CDRIMS). – The Department shall establish a National and Regional 
1403 
Information Management System for Climate and Disaster Resilience. It 
1404 
shall constitute a physical central database of all disaster risk reduction and 
1405 
climate change data, including a geographic information system on geo-
1406 
hazard assessments and climate risk. It shall be the repository of current and 
1407 
multi-temporal information for wide-scale disaster risk analysis and climate 
1408 
change vulnerability assessment. The CDRIMS shall at all times be made 
1409 
available to the Emergency Operations Center of the National and Regional 
1410 
Climate and Disaster Resilience Council (NDCDRC) development partners 
1411 
and multi-stakeholders to access critical information and ensure that the 
1412 
collection processing, analysis and dissemination of information is timely, 
1413 


Page  55 
reliable and accurate to support overall decision making and effective 
1414 
coordination both at the national and subnational level. 
1415 
SEC. 28. Disaster Resilience and Climate Change and Training. – (a) The 
1416 
Department Of Education, CHED,  and Technical Educational and Skills 
1417 
Authority (TESDA), in coordination with the National Youth Commission 
1418 
(NYC), the Department of Science And Technology (DOST), Department Of 
1419 
Environment And Natural Resources (DENR), Department Of The Interior 
1420 
And Local Government (DILG), Department Of Health (DOH), Department 
1421 
Of Social Welfare And Development (DSWD),  and other relevant agencies, 
1422 
developmental institutions, and nongovernment organizations shall integrate 
1423 
disaster risk and vulnerability reduction and climate change adaptation 
1424 
education in the school curricula at all levels of education, from K to 12 to 
1425 
tertiary levels, including the early and adult learning programs, National 
1426 
Service Training Program (NSTP), and education for children and persons 
1427 
with special needs, whether private or public, including formal and non-
1428 
formal, technical-vocational, indigenous learning, out-of-school youth 
1429 
courses and programs, and other channels of educational integration, 
1430 
including media, church, entertainment centers (malls), international and 
1431 
domestic airports and transport terminals. 
1432 
(b)  
The Civil Service Commission (CSC), Professional Regulation 
1433 
Commission (PRC), and other licensure bodies shall integrate 
1434 
disaster risk and vulnerability reduction management and climate 
1435 
change adaptation questions in all professional and licensure 
1436 
examinations. 
1437 
(c)  
In coordination with the Department and the Climate and Disaster 
1438 
Resilience Research, Education, and Training Institute shall develop 
1439 
a curriculum for courses or subjects specific to disaster risk and 
1440 
vulnerability reduction management and climate change adaptation, 
1441 


Page  56 
and shall mandate all tertiary learning institutions to offer these 
1442 
subjects. 
1443 
(d)  
The Parents And Teachers Community Associations shall initiate, 
1444 
support, and participate in disaster risk and vulnerability reduction 
1445 
management and climate change adaptation related activities in 
1446 
schools and host communities. 
1447 
(e)  
The DepEd, the CHED and the Technical Education and Skills 
1448 
Development Authority (TESDA) and other developmental institution, 
1449 
community-based practitioners and organized nongovernmental 
1450 
organizations shall formulate and institutionalize flexible learning 
1451 
options such as online modules, supplemental learning materials, 
1452 
resources and platforms, as part of its climate change adaptation, 
1453 
disaster risk and vulnerability reduction and governance, analysis, 
1454 
and management strategy. 
1455 
(f)  
The DepEd, CHED, TESDA, developmental institutions and 
1456 
community-based organizations shall regularly review, monitor 
1457 
evaluate and report to the Council the status of integration, 
1458 
mainstreaming and implementation of climate change adaptation, 
1459 
disaster risk and vulnerability reduction and management in public-
1460 
private schools and other learning institutions. 
1461 
(g)  
The LDROs shall form formal partnerships with tertiary learning 
1462 
institutions within their respective jurisdictions to provide standard and 
1463 
ladderized training programs for LGU officials and other disaster risk 
1464 
and vulnerability reduction management and climate change 
1465 
adaptation. 
1466 
(h)  
The DRC, the RDRCs, the LDRCs, the LDROs, the BDRCs, and the 
1467 
Sangguniang Kabataan shall encourage community, specifically  the 
1468 
youth, participation in disaster risk and vulnerability reduction and 
1469 


Page  57 
climate change adaptation activities, such as Information, Education 
1470 
and Communication (IEC) campaigns organizing quick response 
1471 
groups, particularly in identified disaster-prone areas, as well as the 
1472 
inclusion of DRVR-climate change adaptation programs as part of 
1473 
programs and projects of the Sangguniang Kabataan, youth 
1474 
organizations and community-based disaster risk and vulnerability 
1475 
reduction management and anticipatory adaptation initiatives. 
1476 
(i)  
There shall be a mandatory training on climate change adaptation-
1477 
DRVR for public and private sector employees, including teachers 
1478 
and Climate-Disaster Resilience Coordinators from both the public 
1479 
and private learning institutions, who shall be trained in emergency 
1480 
preparedness and response in compliance with the provisions of this 
1481 
Act. 
1482 
SEC. 29 Standard Mechanism for Cascading Information, Education and 
1483 
Communication on Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk and 
1484 
Vulnerability Reduction. –(a) The DRC shall promote and advocate a culture 
1485 
of resilience and responsible-accountable, liable and responsible citizenship 
1486 
through information, education and communication that is appropriate, 
1487 
integrated, calibrated, inclusive, localized, science and risk-based, gender, 
1488 
culture and disability sensitive and accessible using multimedia. Information, 
1489 
education, and communication on climate change adaptation and disaster 
1490 
risk and vulnerability reduction management should be compelling but not 
1491 
alarming. 
1492 
(b)  
The NDRC shall formulate a Strategic Risk Communications Plan to 
1493 
encompass the entirely of disaster risk and vulnerability reduction and 
1494 
climate change adaptation to achieve the desired behavioral and 
1495 
attitudinal change towards responsible citizenship and culture 
1496 
resilience. It shall serve as a reference on continuous awareness 
1497 


Page  58 
raising and education at all levels of the government and multiple 
1498 
stakeholders. 
1499 
(c)  
A Climate and Disaster Resilience Information Officer shall be 
1500 
designated at all levels of the Department to ensure implementation 
1501 
of the disaster risk and vulnerability reduction and management and 
1502 
climate 
change 
adaptation 
information, 
education, 
and 
1503 
communication campaign and shall serve as the primary coordinator 
1504 
for the dissemination of information, education, and communication 
1505 
on climate change adaptation and disaster risk and vulnerability 
1506 
reduction management. 
1507 
SEC. 30. Declaration of Imminent Disaster. -  The DDR shall provide 
1508 
guidance and operating guidelines to LDRCs for the declaration of imminent 
1509 
disaster in their respective areas which shall allow them to implement 
1510 
preemptive measures and use their quick response funds in order to save 
1511 
lives and minimize damage to property, loss of livelihoods and other assets. 
1512 
SEC. 31. Flash Appeal or Appeal for International Assistance.- Upon 
1513 
consultation with the NDRC and in cognizance of the urgency, criticality and 
1514 
intensity of an imminent risk, the DDR shall issue a flash appeal to the family 
1515 
of nations, under regional and multilateral conventions, for assistance in 
1516 
preparedness including preemptive measures, search, rescue and retrieval, 
1517 
relief, recovery, and reconstruction. 
1518 
CHAPTER X 
1519 
CLIMATE AND DISASTER RISK INSURANCE AND INCENTIVES 
1520 
SEC 32. Climate and Disaster Risk Transfer, Insurance and Social Welfare 
1521 
–(a)  The Department shall oversee all climate and disaster risk-sharing and 
1522 
risk-transfer instruments and other related initiatives to ensure the protection 
1523 
of property and livelihood, both public and private. 
1524 


Page  59 
(b) 
The Department shall ensure the mandatory insurance of all assets 
1525 
and properties of national government agencies including government-
1526 
owned or controlled corporations, and those over which the government has 
1527 
insurable interest, as prescribed under Republic Act No. 656, otherwise 
1528 
known as the “Property Insurance Law”. The insurance shall be provided by 
1529 
any government insurance agency. 
1530 
(c)  
The Department shall oblige the LGUs the mandatory insurance 
1531 
coverage of assets, properties and livelihood of vulnerable and marginalized 
1532 
groups for unforeseen or contingent potential losses, damages and 
1533 
disruption from natural hazards and human-induced disasters chargeable 
1534 
the LDRF. 
1535 
SEC 33. Recognition and Incentives. – Unless otherwise provided, the 
1536 
Department shall establish an incentives program that recognizes 
1537 
outstanding of LDRC, NGOs, CSOs, private sectors, schools, hospitals and 
1538 
other stakeholders in promoting and implementing significant disaster risk 
1539 
and vulnerability reduction management-climate change adaptation 
1540 
programs and innovations, and meritorious acts of individuals, groups or 
1541 
institutions during natural or human-induced disasters. 
1542 
CHAPTER XI 
1543 
PREPAREDNESS AND INTEGRATED EARLY WARNING 
1544 
SEC 34. Standards for Disaster Preparedness Activities. – (a) The NDRC 
1545 
shall establish standards for disaster preparedness, contingency planning, 
1546 
localizing and operationalizing disaster risk and vulnerability reduction and 
1547 
management, preparedness for disaster response, preparedness for early 
1548 
recovery, continuity of essential services, and other relevant preparedness 
1549 
activities. 
1550 
(b)  
LGUs shall identify safe or strategic sites, and establish evacuation 
1551 
centers with appropriate and adequate facilities in accordance with 
1552 


Page  60 
government-approved standards as provided under Republic Act No. 10821, 
1553 
otherwise known as the “Children’s Emergency Relief and Protection Act”, in 
1554 
order to avoid disruption of school classes and lessen the use of school 
1555 
buildings and facilities as evacuation centers. 
1556 
The LGUs shall immediately compensate schools used as evacuation 
1557 
centers. The schools may seek compensation on renovation or repairs of 
1558 
damaged facilities for such use. 
1559 
SEC 35. Multi-Hazard Early Warning and Risk Communication Standards. –
1560 
(a) There shall be a streamlined policy governing early warning systems and 
1561 
risk communication protocols to ensure effective and efficient measures to 
1562 
prevent, prepare for, respond to, and recover from possible risk caused by 
1563 
natural and human-induced hazards and climate risk. The NDRC shall issue 
1564 
policy and the Department shall oversee and monitor the implementation of 
1565 
this policy. 
1566 
(b)  
The Department and all other concerned agencies with an integrated 
1567 
early warning and information mandate shall collaborate with the local 
1568 
executives and officers to disseminate climate-disaster risk information 
1569 
through the involvement of LGUs, community-based organizations, CSOs, 
1570 
and other nongovernmental organizations. 
1571 
SEC 36. Early Warning Mandate. – (a) The Department shall issue an 
1572 
integrated early warning for hydro-meteorological, geologic, or terrestrial 
1573 
phenomena to the appropriate government agencies or government-
1574 
accredited organizations for forecasting and early warning purposes. The 
1575 
Department shall recognize and proactively support local or indigenous 
1576 
modes of early warning systems and allow open access to real-time data 
1577 
from both local and international sources made available through various 
1578 
platforms such as websites, mobile applications, and social media to 
1579 
empower local communities and individuals. 
1580 


Page  61 
(b)  
The 
Department 
shall 
enhance 
and 
strengthen 
Philippine 
1581 
Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration 
1582 
(PAGASA) and the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology 
1583 
(PHILVOLCS) mandates under Republic Act No. 10692 and Executive Order 
1584 
No. 128, Series of 1987, respectively. 
1585 
(c)  
The Department shall recognize and proactively support local or 
1586 
indigenous modes of early warning system and allow open access to real-
1587 
time data from both local and international sources made available through 
1588 
various platforms such as websites, mobile applications, and social media to 
1589 
empower local communities and individuals. 
1590 
(d)  
Transmission of Early Warning. A person who transmits early warning 
1591 
concerning the abovementioned phenomena by means of signs in designs, 
1592 
colors, lights, or sound shall do so compliance with the methods recognized 
1593 
or approved by the NDRC. 
1594 
(e)  
The NDRC at the national and subnational level shall consider the use 
1595 
of integrated early warning system to ensure it is consistent and locally 
1596 
contextualized with the communication protocol and safe evacuation 
1597 
procedure of the affected communities to achieve zero casualty, to zero 
1598 
death. 
1599 
(f)  
The Department shall consider working with other agencies or 
1600 
organizations on pre-crisis information mapping of the humanitarian needs 
1601 
of the at-risk community that will enhance the overall prepositioning of 
1602 
resources at the national and local levels. 
1603 
CHAPTER XII 
1604 
DISASTER RESPONSE AND EARLY RECOVERY 
1605 
SEC 37. Declaration of State of Calamity. – The Department shall declare a 
1606 
cluster of barangays, municipalities, cities, provinces, and regions under a 
1607 


Page  62 
state of calamity, and the lifting thereof, based on the citeria set by the 
1608 
NDRC. 
1609 
The declaration and lifting of the state of calamity may also be issued 
1610 
by the local Sanggunian, upon the recommendation of the LDRO, based on 
1611 
the results of the damage assessment and needs analysis: Provided, That 
1612 
the Department, through the LDRC, may seek from the local legislative body 
1613 
or Sanggunian, the declaration of the state of imminent disaster to enable 
1614 
the local executives to implement preemptive evacuation and precautionary 
1615 
measures in order to save lives and minimize damage to property, loss of 
1616 
livelihood, and disruption of livelihood that require the use of funds and 
1617 
resources under the LDRF. 
1618 
SEC. 38. Emergency Management. – The respective Climate and Disaster 
1619 
Resilience Councils shall lead in preparing for, responding to, and recovering 
1620 
from the effects of any disaster, upon due consideration to the economics of 
1621 
classification, capacity and vulnerability of the local governments concerned; 
1622 
(a)  
The Barangay Disaster Resilience Council (BDRC), if one barangay 
1623 
is affected; 
1624 
(b)  
The city/municipal Disaster Resilience Councils (DRCs), if two (2) or 
1625 
more barangays are affected; 
1626 
(c)  
The provincial Disaster Resilience Council (DRC), if two (2) or more 
1627 
cities and municipalities are affected; 
1628 
(d)  
The regional Disaster Resilience Council (DRC), if two (2) or more 
1629 
provinces are affected; and 
1630 
(e)  
The NDRC, if two (2) or more regions are affected. 
1631 
SEC. 39. Humanitarian Assistance Action Center. – The DRC shall 
1632 
institutionalize a one-stop shop mechanism through the Humanitarian 
1633 
Assistance Action Center for the processing and release of goods, articles 
1634 


Page  63 
or equipment intended for humanitarian assistance and the processing of 
1635 
necessary documents for international assisting actors. The Humanitarian 
1636 
Assistance Action Center shall managed by the Department and shall be 
1637 
composed of the following NDRC agencies: 
1638 
(a)  
Department of Finance- Bureau of Customs; 
1639 
(b)  
Department of Foreign Affairs; 
1640 
(c)  
Department of Social Welfare and Development; 
1641 
(d)  
Department of Health; 
1642 
(e)  
Food and Drug Administration; 
1643 
(f)  
Department of Agriculture; 
1644 
(g)  
Department of Energy; 
1645 
(h)  
Philippine National Police; 
1646 
(i)  
Philippine Coast Guard; and 
1647 
(j)  
Department of Justice- Bureau of Immigration. 
1648 
SEC. 40. Accreditation, Mobilization, and Protection of Disaster Volunteers 
1649 
and National Service Reserve Corps, CSOs and the Private Sector. - The 
1650 
government agencies, CSOs, private sector and LGUs may mobilize 
1651 
individuals or organized volunteers to augment their respective personnel 
1652 
complement and logistical requirements in the delivery of disaster risk 
1653 
reduction programs and activities. The agencies, CSOs, private sector, and 
1654 
LGUs concerned shall take full responsibility for the enhancement, welfare 
1655 
and protection of volunteers, and shall submit the list of volunteers to the 
1656 
Department, through the LDROs, for accreditation and inclusion in the 
1657 
database of community disaster volunteers. 
1658 


Page  64 
A national roster of Accredited Community Disaster Resilience 
1659 
Volunteers (ACDRVs) and institutions, National Service Reserve Corps, 
1660 
CSOs and the private sector shall be maintained by the Department through 
1661 
the LDROs. Accreditation shall be done at the municipal or city level. 
1662 
The mobilization of volunteers shall be in accordance with this Act and 
1663 
implementing guidelines to be formulated by the NDRC. Any volunteer who 
1664 
died or was injured while engaging in any of the activities defined under this 
1665 
Act shall be entitled to compensatory benefits and individual personal 
1666 
accident insurance as may be defined under the guidelines. 
1667 
SEC. 41. Reporting of Humanitarian Assistance. – The concerned LGU shall 
1668 
submit a report to the Department, all domestic or international humanitarian 
1669 
assistance received and distributed within its area of responsibility. 
1670 
CHAPTER XIII 
1671 
INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE 
1672 
SEC. 42. International Humanitarian Assistance. – The Department shall 
1673 
promulgate guidelines on international humanitarian assistance, including 
1674 
the initiation, entry, facilitation, transit, regulation, and termination thereof, as 
1675 
well as those involving international disaster relief and personnel assisting 
1676 
international actors, visa waiver, and recognition of foreign professional 
1677 
qualifications, entry of international disaster goods and equipment, and 
1678 
exemption from port duties, taxes and restrictions. 
1679 
SEC. 43. Assessment of the Need for International Humanitarian Assistance.  
1680 
(a) 
Immediately after the declaration of a state of calamity by the 
1681 
sanggunian of an LGU or by the Department, as the case may 
1682 
be, the Department shall determine as to whether domestic 
1683 
capacities are likely to be sufficient to attend to the needs of 
1684 
affected persons for international humanitarian assistance. 
1685 


Page  65 
This determination may also be made by the President, prior 
1686 
to the onset of an imminent disaster. 
1687 
(b)  
In the event the Department determines that domestic 
1688 
response capacities are not likely to be sufficient due to 
1689 
sufficient due to the impact of the disaster, the Department 
1690 
shall recommend to the President that a request be made for 
1691 
international humanitarian assistance. 
1692 
(c)  
 A determination that domestic capacities are likely to be 
1693 
sufficient and that international humanitarian assistance is 
1694 
therefore unnecessary may be reviewed and rescinded by the 
1695 
Department, with the approval of the President, at any time, in 
1696 
light of prevailing circumstances and available information. 
1697 
SEC. 44. Request for International Humanitarian Assistance. – The 
1698 
President may request for international humanitarian assistance upon the 
1699 
advice of the Department. Such request may be specifically directed to 
1700 
particular assisting international actors, or it may be a general request 
1701 
directed to the international community. 
1702 
SEC. 45. Humanitarian Assistance Action Center. – The Department shall 
1703 
institutionalize an interagency one-stop shop mechanism called trough the 
1704 
Philippine International Humanitarian Assistance Action Center (PIHARAC) 
1705 
for the processing and release of entry and facilitation of goods, articles or 
1706 
equipment, and services of international relief workers for the provision of 
1707 
international humanitarian assistance, and the processing of necessary 
1708 
documents for assisting international actors. 
1709 
CHAPTER XIV 
1710 
OFFER AND FACILITATION OF HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE TO 
1711 
FOREIGN STATES 
1712 


Page  66 
SEC. 46. Offer and Facilitation of International Humanitarian Assistance to 
1713 
Foreign States. – In the event of a disaster occurring in a foreign state for 
1714 
which international humanitarian assistance is required, the Department may 
1715 
offer, facilitate and provide international humanitarian assistance to such 
1716 
foreign state, which shall be subject to guidelines to be promulgated by the 
1717 
Department for the purpose. 
1718 
SEC. 47. Accreditation. – The Department, in coordination with relevant 
1719 
government agencies and organizations, shall provide and facilitate the 
1720 
necessary training and accreditation to the respective government personnel 
1721 
to be deployed for such offer, facilitation and provision of international 
1722 
humanitarian assistance to a foreign state. 
1723 
CHAPTER XV 
1724 
        LEGAL FACILITIES FOR ELIGIBLE ASSISTING INTERNATIONAL 
1725 
ACTORS 
1726 
SEC. 48. Guidelines for Coordination of International Humanitarian 
1727 
Assistance. The DRC shall issue comprehensive guidelines on the initiation, 
1728 
entry, facilitation, transit and regulation of international relief goods and 
1729 
personnel, as well as eligibility guidelines to utilize the legal facilities for 
1730 
assisting international actors provided hereunder. 
1731 
SEC. 49. Visa Waiver. – Eligible assisting international actors shall be 
1732 
entitled to waiver of entry visa requirements, including any associated fees 
1733 
or charges, to perform Disaster Relief and Initial Recovery Assistance work 
1734 
for their sponsoring entities without the requirement to seek a separate 
1735 
residence or work permit. 
1736 
SEC. 50. Recognition of Foreign Professional Qualifications.  
1737 
(a)  
Eligible assisting international actors wishing to deploy international 
1738 
personnel for tasks requiring legal recognition of their foreign 
1739 


Page  67 
professional qualifications shall certify the validity of those 
1740 
qualifications under the law of the country where they were obtained 
1741 
and the competence of their personnel for the tasks envisaged. 
1742 
(b)  
The Department shall establish the guidelines and scope for 
1743 
recognition of foreign professional qualifications for disaster response 
1744 
and early recovery. 
1745 
(c)  
Recognition of qualifications shall remain valid until the end of the 
1746 
International Initial Recovery Period, absent individual criminal 
1747 
conduct or other professional misconduct sufficient to bar the 
1748 
individual from professional practice in the country. 
1749 
SEC. 51. Recognition of Foreign Driving Licenses. – Foreign driving licenses 
1750 
of eligible assisting international actors shall be accorded temporary 
1751 
recognition during the International Disaster Relief and Initial Recovery 
1752 
Periods. 
1753 
SEC. 52. Facilitation of Access. – The international personnel of eligible 
1754 
assisting international actors shall be allowed access to disaster-affected 
1755 
areas and persons requiring Disaster Relief or Initial Recovery Assistance, 
1756 
subject to coordination requirements as mandated by the Department and 
1757 
limitations based on national security, public order or public health, weighed 
1758 
in the context of the urgency of the disaster needs. They shall be permitted 
1759 
to provide their goods and services directly to affected persons. 
1760 
A. ENTRY OF INTERNATIONAL DISASTER GOODS AND EQUIPMENT 
1761 
SEC. 53. Customs Facilitation and Priority Treatment. – The Department 
1762 
shall facilitate the rapid importation or consignment of goods and equipment 
1763 
by eligible assisting actors and shall accord them priority treatment in 
1764 
handling. 
1765 


Page  68 
SEC. 54. Duty of Compliance by Eligible Assisting Actors. – In order to 
1766 
benefit from the aforementioned legal facilities, eligible assisting international 
1767 
actors shall: 
1768 
(a)  
Declare that all the goods and equipment they seek to import under 
1769 
this Act are exclusively for Disaster Relief or Initial Recovery 
1770 
Assistance and that they comply with any relevant standards under 
1771 
Philippine laws; and 
1772 
(b)  
Pack, classify and mark their consignments in accordance with the 
1773 
requirements described in this Act and its implementing rules and 
1774 
regulations. 
1775 
SEC. 55. Exemption from Import Duties, Taxes and Restrictions. – 
1776 
Consignment of goods and equipment by or on behalf of eligible assisting 
1777 
international actors shall benefit from:  
1778 
(a) 
Exemption from all duties and taxes;                                             
1779 
(b) 
Waiver of economic prohibitions and restrictions except for categories 
1780 
of special goods and equipment that may be indicated by the 
1781 
Department; and                                                                                                             
1782 
(c) 
Clearance without regard to the country of origin or the country from 
1783 
which the goods have arrived, subject to monitoring for reasons of 
1784 
public health and security.                                                                                              
1785 
B. EXPEDITED ENTRY AND USE RESTRICTIONS FOR SPECIFIC 
1786 
INTERNATIONAL DISASTER GOODS AND EQUIPMENT                                       
1787 
SEC. 56. Simplification of Documentation Requirements. – (a) Consignment 
1788 
of goods and equipment sent by or on behalf of eligible assisting international 
1789 
actors shall be cleared or released on the basis of a simplified goods 
1790 
declarations providing the minimum information necessary for the Bureau of 
1791 
Customs to identify the goods and equipment and subject, when deemed 
1792 


Page  69 
necessary, to completion of a more complete declaration within a specified 
1793 
period.   
1794 
(b) 
The requirements for the declaration for all imports of goods or 
1795 
equipment by or on behalf of eligible assisting international actors and any 
1796 
supporting documents relating to said consignment, release and clearance 
1797 
of goods or equipment shall be simplified and lodged without fee.                                 
1798 
SEC. 57.  Telecommunications Equipment. – Eligible assisting international 
1799 
actors shall be permitted to import telecommunications equipment for the 
1800 
purpose of Disaster Relief or Initial Recovery Assistance without restrictions, 
1801 
except as required by NDRC guidelines and other laws for purposes of 
1802 
national security or public order. The NDRC shall provide guidelines for the 
1803 
manner of use telecommunications equipment as well as a waiver of 
1804 
licensing requirements of fees.                                                                                                  
1805 
SEC. 58. Medications. – Eligible assisting international actors shall be 
1806 
permitted to import and transport medications and medical equipment for the 
1807 
purpose of Disaster Relief or Initial Recovery Assistance so long as they 
1808 
conform to the implementing rules and regulations to be provided by the 
1809 
NDRC.                                     
1810 
SEC. 59. Food. – Food imported by eligible assisting international actors for 
1811 
disaster relief and recovery shall be admitted pursuant to expedited 
1812 
procedures set out by the DRC.                                                                                                
1813 
SEC. 60. Imported Vehicles. – The granting of local registration and plates 
1814 
for vehicles imported by eligible assisting international actors shall be 
1815 
expedited.           
1816 
C. PERMITTED DISPOSITION OF EQUIPMENT AND UNUSED GOODS       
1817 
SEC. 61. Disposition of Equipment and Unused Goods. – The DRC shall 
1818 
provide for the guidelines for retention, reexportation, donation and disposal 
1819 


Page  70 
of unused goods and equipment after the termination of Disaster Relief and 
1820 
Initial Recovery Assistance operations.                  
1821 
CHAPTER XVI 
1822 
RECOVERY 
1823 
SEC. 62. Standards for Recovery. – The Department shall observe 
1824 
internationally accepted standards for recovery, planning, programming and 
1825 
implementation of the recovery process and shall:                                                    
1826 
(a) 
Improve the community’s physical, social and economic resilience, 
1827 
consistent with the principle of “Build Forward Better”;                                               
1828 
(b) 
Use locally-driven and centrally-supported processes based on legal 
1829 
mandates with supplementary capacity support when requested;                          
1830 
(c) 
Redirect development outside danger zones to minimize loss of lives 
1831 
and structures resulting from typhoons, flooding, landslides, and other 
1832 
hazards;    
1833 
(d) 
Employ outcome-driven planning and implementation;             
1834 
(d) 
Maximize use of private-public sector partnership where possible;             
1835 
(f) 
Consider local conditions such as culture, security situation, and 
1836 
existing capacities of communities in identifying programs and 
1837 
projects;                    
1838 
(g) 
Ensure access to public transport, physical and mental health 
1839 
services, markets, school, sustainable livelihoods, and other public 
1840 
services in planning for settlement areas; and                                                               
1841 
(h) 
Ensure restoration of peace and order and recovery of government 
1842 
functions.                                                                                                                      
1843 


Page  71 
CHAPTER XVII 
1844 
REMEDIAL, MEASURES UNDER STATE OF CALAMITY 
1845 
 SEC. 63. Remedial Measures Under State of Calamity. – Upon the 
1846 
declaration of a state of calamity, the following remedial measures shall be 
1847 
immediately undertaken by concerned government agencies both of national 
1848 
and local levels:                                                                                                             
1849 
(a)  
Imposition of price ceiling on basic necessities and prime 
1850 
commodities by the National Price Control Council, as provided for 
1851 
under Republic Act No. 7581, otherwise as the “Price Act”, as 
1852 
amended by Republic Act. No. 10623;                     
1853 
(b) 
Monitoring, prevention and control by the Local Price Coordinating 
1854 
Council 
of 
overpricing/profiteering 
and 
hoarding 
of 
prime 
1855 
commodities, medicines and petroleum products;                                                         
1856 
(c) 
Programming/reprogramming of funds for the repair of critical facilities 
1857 
or public infrastructures that are vital for the quick delivery of 
1858 
humanitarian assistance, to reduce further threat to lives and arrest 
1859 
further deterioration of properties and loss of livelihoods in the 
1860 
affected communities, following the “Build Forward Better” principle:                            
1861 
(1) 
Grant od no-interest loans by government financing or lending 
1862 
institutions to the most vulnerable and marginalized groups or 
1863 
individuals; and          
1864 
(2) 
Local tax exemptions, incentives or reliefs under such terms 
1865 
and conditions as may be deemed necessary by the affected 
1866 
LGU.                                                                               
1867 
CHAPTER XVIII                                                       
1868 
PROCUREMENT                                                                 
1869 


Page  72 
SEC. 64. General Rule on Procurement. – Any procurement of goods, 
1870 
services consultancy of infrastructure for disaster risk and vulnerability 
1871 
reduction and climate risk, whether at the national or local level shall conform 
1872 
to the provisions and implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of Republic 
1873 
Act No. 9184, otherwise known as “Government Procurement Reform Act”, 
1874 
as amended. 
1875 
SEC. 65. Emergency Procurement. – In order to expedite disaster response 
1876 
and early recovery, the procurement or lease of equipment and delivery of 
1877 
goods and services through emergency procurement or purchase at site shall 
1878 
be allowed. Periods of action on procurement activities may also be waived 
1879 
for the same purpose and conditions.                                                                                         
1880 
CHAPTER XIX 
1881 
PROHIBITED ACTS AND PENALTIES 
1882 
SEC. 66. Prohibited Acts. – Any public official, private person, group or 
1883 
corporation who commits any of the following prohibited acts shall be liable 
1884 
and be subjected to the criminal and administrative penalties as provided for 
1885 
in Section 67 of this Act, without prejudice to the imposition of other criminal, 
1886 
civil and administrative liabilities under existing laws.                                                          
1887 
(a) 
Prohibited Acts of Public Officials – The following acts, if committed 
1888 
by public officials without justifiable cause, shall be considered as 
1889 
gross neglect of duty:                                                                                                     
1890 
(1) 
Dereliction of duties which leads to destruction, loss of lives, 
1891 
critical damage of facilities and misuse of funds;                                                 
1892 
(2) 
Failure to create a functional LDR office within six (6) months 
1893 
from the approval of this Act;                                                           
1894 
(3) 
Failure to appoint a permanent local disaster resilience officer 
1895 
with in six (6) months from the approval of this Act;                                            
1896 


Page  73 
(4) 
Failure to prepare and implement a Contingency and Adaption 
1897 
Plan for hazards frequently occurring within their jurisdictions; 
1898 
and                                    
1899 
(5) 
Failure to formulate and implement the LDRP with the 
1900 
corresponding budget allocation.                                                                         
1901 
 
Sexual exploitation and abuse, and other forms of 
1902 
sexual misconduct to the affected population or at-risk 
1903 
communities shall be punishable under existing criminal and 
1904 
administrative laws.                                                                                
1905 
(b)  
Prohibited Acts of Public Officials and Private Persons or Institutions–                          
1906 
(1) 
Delaying, without justifiable cause the delivery or improper 
1907 
handling or storage of aid commodities, resulting to damage or 
1908 
spoilage;                             
1909 
            (2) 
Withholding the distribution of relief goods due to: (a) political 
1910 
or partisan considerations; (b) discrimination based on race, 
1911 
ethnicity, 
religion, 
or 
gender; 
and 
(c) 
other 
similar 
1912 
circumstances;                                                          
1913 
(3) 
Preventing the entry and distribution of relief goods in disaster-
1914 
stricken areas, including appropriate technology, tools, 
1915 
equipment accessories, disaster teams or experts;                                             
1916 
(4) 
Buying, for consumption or resale, from disaster relief agencies 
1917 
any relief goods, equipment or other aid commodities which 
1918 
are intended for distribution to disaster affected communities;                            
1919 
(5) 
Buying, for consumption or resale, from disaster affected 
1920 
persons, relief goods, equipment or other aid commodities 
1921 
received by them; 
1922 


Page  74 
(6)  
Selling of relief goods, equipment, or other aid commodities 
1923 
which are intended for distribution to disaster victims; 
1924 
(7)  
Forcibly seizing relief goods, equipment, or other aid 
1925 
commodities intended for or consigned to a specific group of 
1926 
victims or relief agency; 
1927 
(8)  
Diverting or misdelivery of relief goods, equipment, or other aid 
1928 
commodities to persons other than the rightful recipient or 
1929 
consignee; 
1930 
(9)  
Accepting, possessing, using or disposing relief goods, 
1931 
equipment or other aid commodities not intended for nor 
1932 
consigned to them; 
1933 
(10)  Misrepresenting the source of relief goods, equipment, or other 
1934 
aid commodities by; 
1935 
(i) 
Either covering, replacing or defacing the labels of the 
1936 
containers to make it appear that the goods, equipment, 
1937 
or other aid commodities came from another agency or 
1938 
persons; 
1939 
(ii) 
Repacking the goods, equipment or other aid 
1940 
commodities into containers with different markings to 
1941 
make it appear that the goods came from another 
1942 
agency or person or was released upon the instance of 
1943 
a particular agency or persons; and 
1944 
(iii) 
Making a false verbal claim that the goods, equipment 
1945 
or other aid commodities in their untampered original 
1946 
containers actually came from another agency or 
1947 
persons or was released upon the instance of particular 
1948 
agency or persons: 
1949 


Page  75 
(11)  Substituting or replacing relief goods, equipment, or other aid 
1950 
commodities with the same items or of inferior/cheaper quality: 
1951 
(12) 
 Illegal solicitations by persons or organizations representing 
1952 
others as defined in the standards and guidelines set by the 
1953 
NDRC; 
1954 
(13)  Deliberate use of false or inflated data in support of the request 
1955 
for funding, relief goods, equipment, or other aid commodities 
1956 
for emergency assistance or livelihood projects; 
1957 
(14)  Stealing, taking, or possessing of any of the equipment, 
1958 
accessories and other vital facility or item or any part thereof; 
1959 
(15)  Selling or buying stolen equipment, accessories, and other vital 
1960 
facility or items or any part thereof; 
1961 
(16)  Tampering with or stealing hazard monitoring and disaster 
1962 
preparedness equipment and paraphernalia; 
1963 
(17)  Attempting to commit any of the abovementioned prohibited 
1964 
acts; and 
1965 
(18)  Benefitting from the proceeds or fruits of any the 
1966 
abovementioned prohibited acts knowing that the proceeds of 
1967 
fruits are derived from the commission of the prohibited acts. 
1968 
SEC. 67. Penalties. – The following penalties shall be imposed on any 
1969 
individual, corporation, partnership, association or other juridical entity that 
1970 
commits any of the prohibited acts in the preceding section: 
1971 
(a)  
Imprisonment of not less than twelve (12) years but not more than 
1972 
fifteen (15) years or a fine of not less than One million pesos 
1973 
(P1,000,000.00) 
but 
not 
more 
than 
Three 
million 
pesos 
1974 
(P3,000,000.00), or both imprisonment and fine at the discretion of 
1975 


Page  76 
the court, shall be imposed upon any person found guilty of violating 
1976 
subsections (b)(1) to (b)(16), as well as the confiscation or forfeiture 
1977 
in favor of the government of the objects and the instrumentalities 
1978 
used in the commission of the prohibited acts; 
1979 
(b)  
Imprisonment of not less than six (6) years but not more than eight (8) 
1980 
years or a fine of not less than Five hundred thousand pesos 
1981 
(P500,000.00) but not more than One million pesos (P1,000,000.00), 
1982 
or both imprisonment and fine at the discretion of the court, shall be 
1983 
imposed upon any person who attempts to commit any of the 
1984 
prohibited acts in the preceding section, violation of subsection (b)(17) 
1985 
thereof; 
1986 
(c)  
Imprisonment of not less that two (2) years but now more that six (6) 
1987 
years or a fine of not less than Two hundred thousand pesos 
1988 
(P200,000.00) but not more that Five hundred thousand pesos 
1989 
(P500,000.00), or both imprisonment and fine at the discretion of the 
1990 
court, shall be imposed upon any person found guilty of unlawfully 
1991 
benefiting from the proceeds or fruits of any of the prohibited acts in 
1992 
the preceding section, in violation of subsection (b)(18) thereof; 
1993 
(d)  
Perpetual disqualification from office aside from the penalty of fine or 
1994 
imprisonment or both, shall be imposed if the offender is a public 
1995 
officer, and confiscation or forfeiture in favor of the government of the 
1996 
objects and instrumentalities used in the commission of any of the 
1997 
prohibited acts in the preceding section; 
1998 
(e)  
If the offender is a corporation, partnership or association, or other 
1999 
juridical entity, the penalty shall be imposed upon the officer or officers 
2000 
of the corporation, partnership, association or entity responsible for 
2001 
the violation without prejudice to the cancellation or revocation of 
2002 
these entities’ registration, license or accreditation issued to them by 
2003 
any licensing or accredited body of the government. If such offender 
2004 


Page  77 
is an alien, the person shall, in addition to the penalties prescribed in 
2005 
this Act, be deported without further proceedings after service of the 
2006 
sentence; 
2007 
(f)  
Payment of the full cost of repair or replacement of the government 
2008 
risk reduction and preparedness equipment, accessories and other 
2009 
vital facility or items, or any part thereof, which is the object of the 
2010 
crime shall likewise be imposed upon any person who shall commit 
2011 
any of the prohibited acts in the preceding section; and 
2012 
(g)  
The prosecution for offenses set forth under the preceding section 
2013 
shall be without prejudice to any criminal liability for violation of Act 
2014 
No. 3815, as amended, otherwise known as the “The Revised Penal 
2015 
Code”, and other existing laws, as well as the imposition of applicable 
2016 
administrative or civil liabilities. 
2017 
CHAPTER XX 
2018 
APPROPRIATIONS 
2019 
SEC. 68. Appropriation. – (a) The amount needed for the initial 
2020 
implementation of this Act shall be taken from the current fiscal year’s 
2021 
unexpected appropriation of all agencies herein absorbed , transferred, and 
2022 
attached to the Department. Thereafter, the amount needed for the operation 
2023 
and maintenance of the Department shall be included in the General 
2024 
Appropriations Act. 
2025 
(b)  
National Disaster Resilience Fund (NDRF). The utilization and 
2026 
allocation of the entire NDRF (Calamity Fund) and its quick response fund 
2027 
component shall be managed by the Department except as provided for by 
2028 
specific laws. 
2029 
(c)  
Local Disaster Resilience Fund (LDRF). Not less than seven percent 
2030 
(7%) of the estimated revenue from regular sources shall be set aside as the 
2031 


Page  78 
LDRF to support disaster risk and vulnerability reduction and climate change 
2032 
adaption and mitigation programs, projects and activities. The LDRC shall 
2033 
monitor and evaluate the use and disbursement of the LDRF based on the 
2034 
LDRP as incorporated in the local development plans and annual work and 
2035 
financial plan. Upon the recommendation of the LDRO and approval of the 
2036 
sangunian concerned, the LDRC may transfer the said fund to support the 
2037 
disaster risk and vulnerability reduction and climate change adaptation work 
2038 
and initiatives of other LDRCs that are declared under a state of calamity. 
2039 
(1)  
Of the amount appropriated the LDRF, twenty percent (20%) shall be 
2040 
allocated as Quick Response Fund (QRF) or standby fund for 
2041 
prepositioning of goods and relief and early recovery programs in 
2042 
order that the situation and living conditions of people in communities 
2043 
or areas stricken by disasters, epidemics, or complex emergencies, 
2044 
may be normalized as quickly as possible. 
2045 
(2)  
Of the annual appropriation for the LDRF, eighty percent (80%) shall 
2046 
be appropriated for climate change adaptation, disaster risk and 
2047 
vulnerability reduction, prevention, adaptation and mitigation 
2048 
programs, projects and activities focusing on both institutional 
2049 
capacity building of vulnerable communities and risk-reducing 
2050 
infrastructure. The NDRC shall pass a resolution to set the priority 
2051 
allocations 
and 
govern 
and 
trigger 
the 
acceleration 
and 
2052 
implementation of this section. 
2053 
(3)  
Of the amount appropriated for the Disaster Resilience Fund, twenty 
2054 
percent (20%) shall be allotted as Quick Response Fund (QRF) or 
2055 
standby fund for prepositioning of goods and equipment and relief and 
2056 
early recovery programs in order that the situation and living 
2057 
conditions of people in communities or areas stricken by disasters, 
2058 
epidemics, or complex emergencies, may be normalized as quickly 
2059 
as possible. 
2060 


Page  79 
(4)  
All departments/agencies and LGUs that are allocated with LDRF 
2061 
shall submit to the Department their monthly statements on the 
2062 
utilization of LDRF and make an accounting thereof in accordance 
2063 
with existing accounting and auditing rules. 
2064 
(5)  
All departments, bureaus, offices and agencies of the government are 
2065 
hereby authorized to use a portion of their appropriations to 
2066 
implement projects designed to address disaster risk and vulnerable 
2067 
reduction-climate change adaptation activities in accordance with the 
2068 
DRP and the guidelines to be issued by the DRC in coordination with 
2069 
the Department Budget and Management (DBM) and Commission on 
2070 
Audit (COA). 
2071 
Unexpended LDRF shall accrue to a trust fund solely for the 
2072 
purpose of supporting disaster risk reduction and management and 
2073 
climate change adaptation activities of the LDRCs within the next two 
2074 
(2) years. Any such amount still not fully utilized after two (2) years 
2075 
shall revert back to the general fund and will be available for other 
2076 
social services to be identified by the local sanggunian. 
2077 
The NDRC shall issue guidelines on the utilization and release 
2078 
of LDRF in coordination with other concerned government agencies. 
2079 
(d) 
 Prevention, Mitigation and Preparedness Fund for third (3rd) to sixth 
2080 
(6th) class provinces and municipalities. There shall be in the annual General 
2081 
Appropriations Act an amount allotted solely for the use of the third (3rd) to 
2082 
sixth (6th) class provinces and municipalities for the purpose of augmenting 
2083 
their LDRF with respect to plans, programs, projects, and procurement for 
2084 
climate change adaptation, disaster risk prevention, mitigation, and 
2085 
preparedness. The requirements to avail of this fund shall be laid down in 
2086 
the rules and regulations to be promulgated by the Secretary. 
2087 
CHAPTER XXI 
2088 


Page  80 
FINAL PROVISIONS 
2089 
 
Sec. 69. Transfer and Attachment. 
2090 
(a)  
The applicable powers, functions, funds, and appropriations of the 
2091 
Office of Civil Defense (OCD) and the Climate Change Office (CCO), 
2092 
Geo-Hazard Assessment and Engineering Geology Section of the 
2093 
Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB), Health and Emergency 
2094 
Management Bureau of the Department of Health (DOH), the Disaster 
2095 
Response Assistance and Management Bureau (DREAMB) of the 
2096 
DSWD, and the Bureau of Fire Protection are hereby transferred to 
2097 
the Department. 
2098 
(b) 
The disaster risk reduction and management functions, assets and 
2099 
personnel of the Office of Civil Defense [OCD] currently under the 
2100 
DND, are hereby transferred to the Department, and the civil defense 
2101 
functions shall remain with the DND; 
2102 
(c) 
The existing organizational and administrative systems and 
2103 
processes of the transferred OCD shall serve as the core organization 
2104 
of the Department. 
2105 
(d) 
The Climate Change Office of the Climate Change Commission shall 
2106 
continue its functions under Republic Act No. 10174 under the 
2107 
Department. 
2108 
 
(e) 
The following agencies are hereby attached to the Department: 
2109 
(1) 
Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical 
2110 
Services Administration [PAGASA]; and 
2111 
(2) 
Philippine 
Institute 
of 
Volcanology 
and 
Seismology 
2112 
(PHIVOLCS). 
2113 


Page  81 
(f) 
The employees of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) shall remain 
2114 
as a distinct entity within the Department including their uniformed 
2115 
personnel status and benefits. 
2116 
The Department shall, by virtue of this Act, be subrogated to 
2117 
all the rights and all the liabilities of the agencies absorbed under this 
2118 
Act, and all their funds, records, property, assets, equipment, and 
2119 
such personnel as necessary, including unexpended appropriations 
2120 
or allocations. All contracts and liabilities of the said agencies are 
2121 
hereby transferred to and assumed by the Department and shall be 
2122 
acted upon in accordance with the Auditing Code and other pertinent 
2123 
laws, rules, and regulations. 
2124 
SEC. 70. Separation Benefits of Officials and Employees of Affected 
2125 
Agencies. – National government employees displaced or separated from 
2126 
the service as a result of this Act shall be entitled to separation pay and other 
2127 
benefits in accordance with Republic Act No. 6656, and other existing laws, 
2128 
rules or regulations: Provided, That those who are qualified to retire under 
2129 
existing retirement laws shall be allowed to retire and receive retirement 
2130 
benefits to which they may be entitled under applicable laws and issuances. 
2131 
SEC. 71. Magna Carta for DDR Personnel. – Qualified employees of the 
2132 
DDR, LGU’s and its attached units shall be covered by Republic Act No. 
2133 
8439, known as the “Magna Carta for Scientists, Engineers, Researchers 
2134 
and Other S & T Personnel in the Government”, and Republic Act No. 7305, 
2135 
otherwise known as the “Magna Carta of Public Health Workers”. 
2136 
CHAPTER XXII 
2137 
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS 
2138 
SEC. 72. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – The Department, in 
2139 
consultation with concerned stakeholders, shall issue the necessary rules 
2140 


Page  82 
and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act within ninety [90] 
2141 
days from the effectivity of this Act. 
2142 
SEC. 73. Congressional Oversight Committee. – There shall be created a 
2143 
Congressional Oversight Committee on Climate Change and Disaster 
2144 
Resilience to monitor and oversee the implementation of the provisions of 
2145 
this Act. The Committee shall be composed of six [6] members from the 
2146 
Senate and six [6] members from the House of Representatives with the 
2147 
Chairpersons of the Committees on National Defense and Security of both 
2148 
the Senate and the House of Representatives as joint Chairpersons of this 
2149 
Committee. The five (5) other members from each Chamber are to be 
2150 
designated by the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of 
2151 
Representatives, respectively. The minority shall be entitled to pro rata 
2152 
representation but shall have at least two (2) representatives from each 
2153 
Chamber. 
2154 
SEC. 74. Review. – Five (5) years after the effectivity of this Act, or as the 
2155 
need arises, the Congressional Oversight Committee shall conduct a 
2156 
systematic evaluation of the accomplishments and impact of  this Act, as well 
2157 
the performance and organizational structure of its implementing agencies, 
2158 
for purposes of determining remedial legislation. 
2159 
SEC. 75. Separability Clause. – If any provision of this Act shall be declared 
2160 
unconstitutional or invalid, the other provisions not otherwise affected shall 
2161 
remain in full force and effect. 
2162 
SEC. 76. Repealing Clause. – (a) Republic Act No. 10121, otherwise known 
2163 
as the “Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010,” is 
2164 
hereby repealed. 
2165 
(b) 
The following provisions are hereby amended or modified, 
2166 
accordingly: 
2167 


Page  83 
(1) 
Section 30 of Executive Order No. 128, Series of 1987, 
2168 
Reorganizing the National Science and Technology Authority; 
2169 
(2) 
Section 6 of Republic Act 6975, otherwise known as the 
2170 
“Department of the Interior and Local Government Act of 
2171 
1990”; 
2172 
(3) 
Section 3(d) and 5 of Republic Act No. 9729, otherwise known 
2173 
as the “Climate Change Act of 2009”, as amended by Republic 
2174 
Act No. 10174; 
2175 
(4) 
Section 4 of Republic Act No. 10639, otherwise known as “The 
2176 
Free Mobile Disaster Alerts Act”; and 
2177 
(5) 
Section 5 of Republic Act No. 10692, otherwise known as “The 
2178 
PAGASA Modernization Act of 2015”. 
2179 
(c) 
All other laws, decrees, executive orders and issuances, 
2180 
proclamations, rules and regulations, and other issuances or parts thereof 
2181 
that are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or 
2182 
amended accordingly. 
2183 
SEC. 77. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
2184 
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
2185 
 
 
Approved, 
2186