Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
TWENTIETH (20th) CONGRESS 
FIRST REGULAR SESSION 
House Bill No. 2060 
Introduced by 
Rep. ROBERT NAZAL 
AN ACT  
CREATING THE DEPARTMENT OF DISASTER RESILIENCE, DEFINING ITS 
MANDATE, POWERS AND FUNCTIONS, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS 
THEREFOR 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Philippines, situated along the Pacific Ring of Fire and within the typhoon belt, is 
among the most disaster-prone countries in the world. Its geographical location makes it 
highly vulnerable to natural hazards such as typhoons, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, 
floods, and landslides - hazards that have only intensified due to the growing impacts of 
climate change. 
While Filipinos have long been admired for their resilience in the face of adversity, the 
reality remains that communities continue to suffer from the consequences of recurring 
disasters. Typhoons with wind speeds exceeding 300 km/h have devastated entire 
provinces, displacing families, destroying livelihoods, and exposing the persistent gaps 
in disaster response and preparedness systems. The toll on lives, property, and 
economic stability underscores the urgent need for a more robust institutional 
mechanism that ensures long-term, science-based, and coordinated disaster risk 
reduction and management. 
Despite a 5.7% improvement in the country's disaster preparedness over an eight-year 
period, this progress is neither sufficient nor sustainable given the magnitude and 
frequency of the threats we face. Preparedness must be institutionalized, not reactive or 
limited to isolated events. The current multi-agency framework, though well-intentioned, 
has often resulted in fragmented coordination and overlapping functions. 
This bill seeks to establish a Department of Disaster Resilience (DDR), a lead agency 
with a clear mandate to plan, manage, and coordinate disaster preparedness, risk 
reduction, response, and recovery efforts at the national and local levels. By centralizing 
July 17, 2025
10:08 am


responsibility under one permanent institution, the government will be able to strengthen 
anticipatory governance, improve accountability, and ensure efficient use of resources. 
The DDR shall serve as the primary government agency responsible for ensuring a 
proactive, integrated, and coherent approach to disaster risk reduction and resilience 
building. It shall work closely with local government units (LGUs), national agencies, 
civil society, and international partners to foster a whole-of-government and 
whole-of-society approach. 
This proposed measure aligns with the country’s commitments under the Sendai 
Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030 and complements the goals of the 
Climate Change Act, the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act, and 
the Universal Health Care Law. Ultimately, it affirms the State’s duty to protect its 
citizens and promote national resilience in the face of increasing natural and 
human-induced hazards. 
The enactment of this measure is not just timely - it is necessary. 
In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
Rep. ROBERT NAZAL 
Bagong Henerasyon Party-List 


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
TWENTIETH (20th) CONGRESS 
FIRST REGULAR SESSION 
House Bill No. 2060 
Introduced by 
Rep. ROBERT NAZAL 
AN ACT  
CREATING THE DEPARTMENT OF DISASTER RESILIENCE, DEFINING ITS 
MANDATE, POWERS AND FUNCTIONS, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS 
THEREFOR 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
ARTICLE I 
GENERAL PROVISIONS 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.  
This Act shall be known as the “Disaster Resilience Act of 2025.” 
SECTION 2. DECLARATION OF POLICY. 
It shall be the policy of the State to: 
A.
Protect the lives and properties of its citizens by addressing and preventing the
causes of vulnerabilities to natural disasters;
B.
Uphold the sacredness of human life by efficiently and effectively addressing
humanitarian emergencies, including calamities and disasters, through the
establishment of a focused, streamlined, independent, empowered, capacitated,
specialized agency on disaster risk reduction and management as well as
emergency response, which is national in scope and civilian in character. The
people are the most important assets of the nation, and all disaster risk and
management efforts shall be responsive to the humanitarian needs of the people,
the dignity and value of the human person, and respect for property;


C.​
Promote a simple, strategic, systematic, continuous, comprehensive, inclusive, 
and integrated approach to disaster risk reduction and management aimed at 
substantially reducing vulnerabilities and the risk of disasters and other 
humanitarian emergencies, towards the preservation of life and property, thereby 
ultimately preventing or deterring the loss of lives and protecting the social, 
economic, historical and cultural heritage, and environmental assets of the 
country; 
 
D.​
Establish a permanent, institutionalized, cohesive, and comprehensive framework 
for disaster preparedness, prevention and mitigation, and response, to be 
implemented by a focused specialized agency with its own mandate, powers, and 
funding, coordinating with, and the Philippine government, other foreign 
governments and financial institutions, international organizations, the private 
sector, and civil society. Disaster risk reduction and management shall, first aim for 
the outright avoidance of the adverse impacts of hazards and related disasters. 
With the knowledge and capacities to effectively anticipate, respond to, and 
recover from, the impacts of likely, imminent or current hazard events or 
conditions, preparedness action shall be carried out in the most effective and 
efficient manner. In a disaster scenario, the response shall ensure the provision of 
emergency services and public assistance, during or immediately after a disaster; 
 
E.​
Create an integrated, systematic, comprehensive, and cohesive plan to simplify, 
streamline, integrate, and coordinate the various programs, projects, and activities 
of the Government and such other actors or stakeholders in disaster risk reduction 
and management to ensure accountability, responsibility, and transparency as well 
as to ensure the efficient and effective performance of their functions; 
 
F.​
Inculcate a culture of resilience and preparedness against natural disasters at the 
national, regional and local levels; 
 
G.​
Establish a strong and empowered institution capable of responding to the greater 
onslaught of normal or natural disasters brought by climate change, and 
spearhead efforts to ensure disaster resilience by delivering the highly critical and 
intertwined functions of disaster risk reduction and response, a with recovery and 
a strategy at building forward better; 
 
H.​
Address the different concerns and needs of sectors with special needs or higher 
vulnerabilities such as women, children, elderly, persons with disabilities, and 
indigenous peoples with respect to disaster resilience and disaster management; 
 
I.​
Foster an enabling environment for substantial and sustainable participation of 
non-government stakeholders such as civil society organizations, private groups, 
volunteers, and communities in disaster resilience programs and projects; 
 
J.​
Adopt a whole-of-society, whole-of-government, and whole-of-nation approach in 
disaster preparedness to increase collaboration, planning, and dialogue among all 


sectors of society in preparing for natural disasters and in improving their 
strategies and action plans for disaster risk reduction; and 
 
K.​
Strengthen the chain of command and establish a unified command system for 
disaster management. 
 
 
SECTION 3. DEFINITION OF TERMS. 
 
As used in this Act, the following terms shall mean: 
 
A.​
Adaptation - refers to the adjustment in natural or human systems in response to 
actual or expected climactic stimuli or their effects, which moderates harm or 
exploits beneficial opportunities; 
 
B.​
Assisting actor - refers to any Assisting international or domestic actor following a 
disaster in the country; 
 
C.​
Assisting domestic actor - refers to any not-for-profit entity established under 
domestic laws, which is extending help following a disaster in the country; 
 
D.​
Assisting international actor - refers to any foreign State, organization, entity or 
individual extending help following a disaster within the country or transiting 
through the country to extend help following a disaster in another country; 
 
E.​
Biological hazards -  refer to hazards that are of organic origin or conveyed by 
biological vectors, including pathogenic microorganisms, toxins, and bioactive 
substances. Examples are bacteria, viruses or parasites as well as venomous 
wildlife and insects, poisonous plants and mosquitoes carrying disease-causing 
agents; 
 
F.​
Building forward better - refers to an approach to building or reconstructing an 
area or community, which entails a shift from achieving simple recovery and 
restoration to creating safer, more adaptive, resilient, and inclusive communities; 
 
G.​
Business continuity -  refers to the capability of an organization to continue the 
delivery of products or services at acceptable predefined levels following a 
disruptive incident; 
 
H.​
Capacity - refers to the combination of attributes and resources available within a 
community or area that can reduce the level of risk(s) from, or impact(s) of, a 
disaster; 
 
I.​
Civil society organizations (CSOs) - refer to non-State actors whose aims are 
neither to generate profits nor to seek governing power, but to unite people to 
advance shared goals and interests. CSOs may include nongovernment 


organizations (NGOs), professional associations, foundations, independent 
research institutions, community-based organizations, and social movements; 
 
J.​
Climate change - refers to a change in the state of the climate that can be 
identified by changes in the mean and/or the variability of its properties, and that 
persists in an extended period, typically decades or longer, whether due to natural 
internal processes or external forces such as modulation of the solar cycles, 
volcanic eruptions and persistent anthropogenic changes in the composition of the 
atmosphere or in land use; 
 
K.​
Complex emergency - refers to a form of human-induced emergency in which the 
cause of the emergency as well as the assistance to the afflicted is complicated by 
an intense level of political considerations 
 
L.​
Consequence management - refers to the totality of interventions and measures 
taken to restore essential operations and services in a permissive environment, 
including measures to protect public health and safety, restore essential 
government services, and provide emergency relief to individuals, stakeholders, 
and communities affected by the consequences of emergencies, hazards, and 
disasters; 
 
M.​
Contingency planning - refers to a management process that analyzes specific 
potential events or emerging situations that might threaten society or the 
environment and establishes arrangements in advance to enable timely, effective 
and appropriate responses to such events and situations; 
 
N.​
Cultural heritage - refers to the totality of cultural property preserved and 
developed through time and passed on to posterity; 
 
O.​
Deterministic risk assessment - refers to an assessment that considers the 
possible disaster impacts of a single scenario, in contrast to probabilistic risk 
assessment which considers all possible scenarios, their likelihood, and 
associated impacts; 
 
P.​
Development assistance - refers to financial, material or other forms of assistance 
to support the economic, social and environmental well-being of areas or people 
affected by a natural disaster; 
 
Q.​
Disability - refers to an evolving concept that results from the interaction between 
persons with impairments, as defined under Republic Act No. 7277 otherwise 
known as the Magna Carta for Disabled Persons and attitudinal and environmental 
barriers that hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis 
with others; 
 
R.​
Disaster - refers to a serious disruption of the functioning of a community ora 
society involving widespread human, material, economic or environmental losses 


and impacts, which exceeds the ability of the affected community to cope using its 
own resources. Unless otherwise specifically indicated in this Act, the term 
“disaster” shall refer to “natural disaster”; 
S.​
Disaster assistance - refers to financial, material, or other forms of assistance to 
address the immediate and long-term needs of people, communities or areas 
affected by a disaster. This term includes humanitarian assistance and 
development assistance; 
 
T.​
Disaster management - refers to the planning, organization, and application of 
measures preparing for, responding to, and recovering from disasters; 
 
U.​
Disaster mitigation - refers to the reduction or limitation of the adverse impacts of 
disasters and its related hazards; 
 
V.​
Disaster preparedness - refers to the knowledge and capacities developed by 
governments, professional response and recovery organizations, communities and 
individuals to effectively anticipate, respond to, and recover from, the impacts of 
likely, imminent or current disasters and related hazards; 
 
W.​
Disaster prevention - refers to the intention to avoid, or the outright avoidance of 
potential adverse impacts of disasters and related hazards through action(s) taken 
in advance; 
 
X.​
Disaster recovery - refers to restoration or improvement of livelihoods and health, 
as well as economic, physical, social, cultural and environmental assets, systems 
and activities, of a disaster-affected community or society, aligning with the 
principles of sustainable development and “build forward better” to avoid or reduce 
future disaster risk; 
 
Y.​
Disaster response or disaster relief - refers to the provision of emergency services 
and public assistance during or immediately after a disaster in order to secure and 
save lives, reduce health impacts, ensure public safety and meet the basic 
subsistence needs of the people affected. Disaster response is predominantly 
focused on immediate and short- term needs and is sometimes called “disaster 
relief”; 
 
Z.​
Disaster rehabilitation - refers to restoration of basic services and facilities for the 
function of a community or a society affected by a disaster; 
 
AA.​ Disaster resilience - refers to the ability of a system, community, or society 
exposed to hazards to resist, absorb, accommodate, adapt to, transform, and 
recover from the effects of a hazard in a timely and efficient manner, including 
through the preservation and restoration of essential structures and functions. This 
encompasses reducing vulnerabilities, managing disaster risks, and building the 
capacity of individuals, institutions, and communities to prepare for, respond to, 
and recover from disasters while adapting to future risks, including those driven by 


climate change; 
 
BB.​ Disaster risk - refers to the potential losses in lives, health status, livelihoods, 
assets and services that may occur to a particular community or society due to a 
disaster in the future, and is determined by a combination of the vulnerability, 
capacity, exposure of persons and assets, hazard characteristics and the 
environment; 
 
CC.​ Disaster risk governance – refers to the manner in which public authorities, civil 
servants, media, private sector, and civil society coordinate at community, national 
and regional levels in order to manage disaster and climate related risks. This 
includes ensuring that sufficient levels of capacity and resources are made 
available to prevent, prepare for, manage and recover from disasters. It also 
entails mechanisms, institutions, and processes for citizens to articulate their 
interests, exercise their legal rights and obligations, and mediate their differences; 
 
DD.​ Disaster risk management - refers to the systematic approach or process of 
implementing strategies, policies and programs to lessen the possibility and/or 
adverse impacts of disasters and related hazards; 
 
EE.​ Disaster risk reduction - refers to the prevention of new, or reduction of existing, 
disaster risks and the management of residual risk, to enhance resilience to 
disasters; 
 
FF.​ Early warning system - refers to an integrated system of hazard monitoring, 
forecasting and prediction, disaster risk assessment, and communication and 
preparedness activities and processes that enable individuals, communities, 
national government agencies, local government units, the private sector, and 
others to take timely action to reduce disaster risks and adequately prepare for 
disasters; 
 
GG.​ Emergency - refers to unforeseen or sudden occurrence, especially danger, 
demanding immediate action; 
 
HH.​ Emergency management - refers to the organization and management of 
resources and responsibilities for addressing all aspects of emergencies, in 
particular, preparedness, response and initial recovery steps; 
 
II.​
Environmental hazards - refer to hazards which may be chemical, natural and 
biological, and can be created by environmental degradation or physical or 
chemical pollution in the air water and soil. However, many of the processes and 
phenomena that fall into this category may be termed drivers of hazard and risk 
rather than hazards in themselves, such as soil degradation, deforestation, loss of 
biodiversity, salinization and sea-level rise; 
 
JJ.​
Exposure - refers to the situation of people, infrastructure, housing, production 


capacities and other tangible human assets located in hazard-prone areas; 
 
KK.​ Geological or geophysical hazards - refer to hazards which originate from internal 
earth processes, such as earthquakes, volcanic activities and emissions, and 
related geophysical processes which include mass movements, landslides, 
rockslides, surface collapses and debris or mud flows. Hydrometeorological 
factors are important contributors to some of these processes. While tsunamis are 
triggered by undersea earthquakes and other geological events, they essentially 
become an oceanic process that is manifested as a coastal water-related hazards; 
 
LL.​ Geographic information system - refers to a database which contains, among 
others, geo-hazard assessments, information on climate change, and climate risk 
reduction and management; 
 
MM.​ Geographically isolated and disadvantaged area (GIDA) - refers to an area with a 
marginalized population, which is physically and socio- economically separated 
from the mainstream society and characterized by physical factor such as isolated 
due to distance, weather conditions and transportation difficulties due to island, 
upland lowland, landlocked, hard to reach and underserved communities; and/or 
socio- economic factors such as high poverty incidence, presence of vulnerable 
sector, communities in or recovering from a situation of crisis or armed conflict; 
 
NN.​ Hazard - refers to a phenomenon, substance, human activity, or condition that may 
cause loss of life, injury or impacts to health; and social and economic disruption, 
environmental damage, or loss of or disruption to property, livelihood and/or 
services; 
 
OO.​ Historical landmarks refer to sites or structures that are associated with events or 
achievements significant to Philippine history as declared by the National 
Historical Institute or the applicable agency; 
 
PP.​ Human-induced disasters - refer to disasters induced entirely or predominantly by 
human activities or choices, such as ideologically motivated conflict or criminality; 
 
QQ.​ Humanitarian assistance - refers to financial, material or other similar forms of 
assistance to address the immediate needs of people affected by a natural 
disaster; 
 
RR.​ Hydrometeorological hazards - refer to hazards that are of atmospheric, 
hydrological and oceanographic origin, such as tropical cyclones also known as 
typhoons and hurricanes; floods, including flash floods, drought; heatwaves and 
cold spells, coastal storm surges, and marine heatwaves, extreme sea events, and 
sea level rise. Hydrometeorological conditions may also be a factor in other 
hazards such as landslides, wildland fires, locust plagues, epidemics, and in the 
transport and dispersal of toxic substances and volcanic eruption material; 
 


SS.​ Impact and needs assessment - refers to assessing the nature and magnitude of a 
disaster, its impact on affected populations, the type and extent of emergency, and 
the requirements for recovery and rehabilitation of the affected areas; 
 
TT.​ Land-use planning - refers to the process undertaken by public authorities to 
identify, evaluate, and decide on different options for the use of land, including 
consideration of long-term economic, social, and environmental objectives and the 
implications for different communities and interest groups, and the subsequent 
formulation and promulgation of plans that describe the permitted or acceptable 
uses; 
 
UU.​ Legal facilities - refer to entitlements and exemptions that are granted to assisting 
domestic or international actors which are declared to be eligible pursuant to this 
Act and its implementing rules and regulations; 
 
VV.​ Local Disaster Resilience Plan (LDRP) - refers to a document prepared by a local 
government unit (LGU) based on the National Disaster Resilience Framework 
(NDRF) and National Disaster Resilience Plan and Investment Program (NDRPIP) 
that sets out specific programs, objectives and goals to implement disaster risk 
management and climate change adaptation measures at the local level. The plan 
shall include among others, an evaluation and analysis of emerging disaster risks, 
hazards and vulnerabilities applicable to an LGU, and specific programs and 
activities to ensure responsive, effective, and the appropriate disaster 
preparedness and management at the local level; 
 
WW.​National continuity policy - refers to a policy aimed at the development of an 
organizational culture that has the ability to provide a minimum level of service 
during interruptions, emergencies, and disasters, and return to full operations 
quickly; National continuity policy refers to a policy aimed at the development of an 
organizational culture that has the ability to provide a minimum level of service 
during interruptions, emergencies, and disasters, and return to full operations 
quickly; 
 
XX.​ National cultural treasure - refers to a unique cultural property found locally, 
possessing outstanding historical, cultural, artistic and/or scientific value which is 
highly significant and important to the country and nation, and officially declared as 
such by the pertinent cultural agency; and 
 
YY.​ National Disaster Resilience Framework (NDRF) - refers to a framework that 
provides for a comprehensive, all-hazards, multi-sectoral, inter- agency and 
community-based approach to enable communities to resist, prevent, mitigate 
against, absorb, accommodate, adapt  to  recover, or build forward better from the 
effects of a hazard in a timely and efficient manner through, among others, 
disaster risk reduction and management and climate change adaptation and 
mitigation. The NDRF shall be composed of a National Disaster Risk Reduction 
and Management Framework (NDRRMF), and National Framework Strategy on 


Climate Change (NFSCC); 
 
ZZ.​ National Disaster Resilience Plan and Investment Program (NDRPIP) - refers to a 
plan formulated and implemented by the Department of Disaster Resilience in 
accordance with the NDRF that sets out the outcomes, goals and objectives, 
priorities, programs and corresponding action plans for disaster risk reduction, 
preparedness, and management, and climate change mitigation. It shall also 
include, among others, the goals, objectives and action plans for a National 
Continuity Policy; 
 
AAA.​Natural disaster - refers to a disaster predominantly associated with and/or 
caused by natural processes or phenomena, such as those related to geology​
such as earthquakes, ground rupture, liquefaction, landslides, tsunamis, 
sinkholes, volcanic activity; hydrology and meteorology such as floods, severe 
winds, typhoons, storm surges, and climatological variability such as extreme 
temperatures, El Niño, La Niña, and forest fires; 
 
BBB.​Open data - refer to facts and statistics that can be freely used, shared and 
built-on by anyone, anywhere, for any purpose, which must be available in bulk, 
free of charge, or at least at no more than a reasonable cost and permit people to 
use, re-use, and redistribute, intermix with other data providers; 
 
CCC.​Post-Disaster recovery - refers to the restoration improvement where appropriate, 
of facilities, livelihood and living conditions, of disaster- affected communities, 
including efforts to reduce disaster risk factors, in accordance with the principle of 
“build forward better”; 
 
DDD.​Preparedness - refers to pre-disaster actions and measures being undertaken 
within the context of disaster risk reduction and management and are based on 
sound risk analysis as well as pre- disaster activities to avert or minimize loss of 
life and property such as community organizing, training, planning, equipping, 
stockpiling, hazard mapping, insuring of assets, and public information and 
education initiatives. This also includes the development or enhancement of an 
overall preparedness strategy, policy, institutional structure, warning and 
forecasting capabilities, and plans that define measures geared to help at-risk 
communities safeguard their lives and assets by being alert to hazards and taking 
appropriate action in the face of an imminent threat or an actual disaster; 
 
EEE.​Prevention - refers to activities and measures to avoid existing and new disaster 
risks, and the concept and intention to avoid potential adverse impacts of 
hazardous events; 
 
FFF.​ Probabilistic risk assessment - refers to the simulation of those future disasters 
based on scientific evidence, and which are likely to occur in order to resolve the 
problem posed by the limits of historical data by reproducing the physics of the 
phenomena and recreating the intensity of a large number of synthetic events, 


including all possible scenarios, their likelihood, and associated impacts; 
 
GGG.​Rehabilitation - refers to measures that ensure the ability of affected communities 
or areas to restore their normal level of functioning by rebuilding livelihood and 
infrastructures and increasing the communities’ organizational capacity; 
 
HHH.​Resilience - refers to the ability of a system, community or society exposed to 
hazards to resist, absorb, accommodate, and recover from the effects thereof in a 
timely and efficient manner, including through the preservation and restoration of 
its essential basic structures and functions in a manner that will make them more 
resistant to future risks; 
 
III.​
Response - refers to any concerted effort by two (2) or more agencies, public or 
private, to provide assistance or intervention during or immediately after a disaster 
to meet the life preservation and basic subsistence needs of those people 
affected and in the restoration of essential public activities and facilities; 
 
JJJ.​ Retrofitting - refers to an act reinforcing or upgrading existing structures to make 
them more resistant and resilient to the damaging effects of hazards; 
 
KKK.​Risk - refers to the combination of the probability of an event and its negative 
consequences; 
 
LLL.​ Risk assessment - refers to a methodology to determine the nature and extent of 
risks by analyzing potential hazards and evaluating existing conditions of 
vulnerability that together could potentially harm exposed people, property, 
services, livelihood and the environment on which they depend. Risk assessment 
with associated risk mapping include: a review of the technical characteristics of 
hazards such as their location, intensity, frequency and probability; the analysis of 
exposure and vulnerability including the physical, social, health, economic, and 
environmental dimensions; and the evaluation of the effectiveness of prevailing 
and alternative coping capacities in respect to likely risk scenarios; 
 
MMM.​Risk transfer - refers to the process of formally or informally shifting the financial 
consequences of particular risks from one party to another whereby a household, 
community, enterprise or State authority will obtain resources from the other party 
after a disaster occurs, in exchange for ongoing or compensatory social or 
financial benefits provided to that other party; 
 
NNN.​Safety stock - refers to items of raw materials, component parts, or finished goods 
maintained in inventory in order to reduce the risk that such item will be out of 
stock, in anticipation of unforeseen shortages or unusual demand for such items; 
 
OOO.​State of Calamity - refers to a condition involving mass casualty, disruption of 
means of livelihoods, and/or major damages to property, roads and normal way of 
life of people in the affected areas as a result of the occurrence of natural or 


human-induced hazard; 
 
PPP.​ Simplified or pre-arranged contract - refers to a written agreement in the nature of 
an option contract between the procuring entity on one hand, and the most 
responsive and lowest calculated bidder on the other, granting the procuring entity 
the option to either place an order for any of the goods identified therein or not 
buy at all, within a given period of time; 
 
QQQ.​Sustainable development - refers to development that meets the needs of the 
present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet 
their own. It contains within it two (2) key concepts: first, the concept of “needs”, in 
particular, the essential needs of the world’s poor, to which overriding priority 
should be given; and second, the idea of limitations imposed by the state of 
technology and social cohesion and harmony, and ecological integration of a 
sound and viable economy, responsible governance, and ecological integrity to 
ensure that human development now and through future generations is a life 
enhancing process; 
 
RRR.​Volunteers - refer to individuals, groups or entities that offer and provide services 
or assistance, without compensation, to help people and areas affected by 
disasters; 
 
SSS.​Vulnerability - refers to the characteristics and circumstances of a community, 
system or asset that make it susceptible to the damaging effects of a hazard. 
Vulnerability 
may 
arise 
from 
various 
physical, 
social, 
economic, and 
environmental factors such as poor design and construction of buildings, 
inadequate protection of assets, lack of public information and awareness, limited 
official recognition of risks and preparedness measures, and disregard for wise 
environmental management; 
 
TTT.​ Vulnerable and marginalized groups - refer to those that face higher exposure to 
disaster risk and poverty including women, children, the elderly, differently abled 
people, and ethnic minorities; 
 
UUU.​Whole of Society Approach - refers to an approach that encourages the 
meaningful and active participation and synergy of the different stakeholders of 
society toward climate change adaptation and mitigation, and disaster risk 
reduction and management at the national and local levels; 
 
VVV.​ Whole of Government Approach - refers to an approach that instills and fosters 
collaboration among all government instrumentalities both at the national and 
local levels toward shared sustainable development goals and outcomes; and 
 
WWW.​
Whole of Nation Approach - refers to an approach that seeks to bring 
about a concerted effort towards sustainable development, and national peace 
and security by creating consensus and understanding of development and 


security that is shared not just among core security forces and oversight 
government institutions, but also by the nation’s stakeholders such as 
government, civil society, private sector, and the communiti 


ARTICLE II 
THE DEPARTMENT OF DISASTER RESILIENCE: MANDATE,  
POWERS, AND FUNCTIONS 
 
SECTION 4. CREATION AND MANDATE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF DISASTER 
RESILIENCE.  
 
There is hereby created a Department of Disaster Resilience, herein after referred to as 
the Department. 
 
The Department shall be the primary government agency responsible for leading, 
organizing, and managing the national effort to reduce disaster risk, prepare for and 
respond to disasters, recover and rehabilitate, and build forward better after the 
occurrence of disasters. 
 
The Department shall oversee and coordinate the preparation, implementation, 
monitoring, and evaluation of disaster and climate resilience plans, programs, projects 
and activities, provide leadership in the continuous development of strategic and 
systematic approaches to disaster prevention, mitigation, preparedness, response, 
recovery and rehabilitation, to anticipatory adaptation strategies, measures, techniques, 
and options. 
 
The Department shall augment the capacity of local governments units in collaboration 
with relevant national government agencies and other stakeholders to implement 
disaster risk reduction and management and climate change action plans, programs, 
projects, and activities. 
  
The Department shall be the principal government institution responsible for ensuring 
safe, adaptive, and disaster resilient communities. It is mandated to provide a clear and 
comprehensive direction in the implementation of plans, programs, and projects to 
reduce the risk of natural hazards and the effects of climate change and manage the 
impact of disasters. 
 
The mandate of the Department covers all natural hazards, which include, among 
others, the following: 
 
A.​
Geological Phenomena and Related Hazards 
 
1.​
Earthquake – ground rupture, ground shaking, liquefaction, tsunami, fire, 
landslides, and seiche or lake water oscillation 
2.​
Volcanic activity – ash fall, pyroclastic flow, lava flow, lahar, fissuring, and 
volcanic gas 
3.​
Mass movement – landslides, debris flow, sinkholes 
 
B.​
Hydrological,​ Oceanographic​
and​
Meteorological​
Phenomena​ and 
Related Hazards 
15 
 


 
1.​
Tropical cyclone – severe winds, storm surge, rouge waves, severe rainfall 
including hail 
2.​
Flood, rain-triggered landslides and storm surges 
3.​
Erosion 
4.​
Marine heatwaves, extreme sea events, and sea level rise 
 
C.​
Climate Variability/ Change with Related Hazards of Compound Events and 
Cascading Impacts 
 
1.​
El Niño or La Niña (ENSO) with associated rainfall and temperature (in 
particular, projected extreme ENSOs) 
2.​
Extreme rainfall and extreme temperature 
 
The Department shall manage and direct the implementation of national, local, and 
community-based 
disaster 
resilience and disaster management programs in 
collaboration with relevant national government agencies, LGUs, CSOs, academic 
institutions and other stakeholders, as applicable: Provided, That for human-induced 
disasters, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of 
National Defense (DND), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), and 
other relevant government instrumentalities, including the Armed Forces of the 
Philippines (AFP), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), Philippine National Police (PNP), 
Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), and Office of Civil Defense (OCD), shall continue to 
perform their functions. 
 
 
SECTION 5. POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE DEPARTMENT.  
 
The Department shall exercise the following powers and functions, in collaboration with 
the relevant departments, agencies, and non-government stakeholders: 
 
A.​
Overview of Functions 
1.​
Conduct risk and vulnerability assessment at the local level based on the 
national criteria, and establish a database that includes, among others, an 
inventory of hazards to better prepare for and respond to natural disasters; 
 
2.​
Undertake the establishment or construction of evacuation centers that 
conform to the standards under the United Nations (UN) Humanitarian 
Charter and Minimum Standards in Humanitarian Response or The Sphere 
Minimum Standards for Shelter and Settlement, and Republic Act No. 10821 
otherwise known as the Children’s Emergency Relief and Protection Act, 
among others. The upkeep and maintenance of the evacuation centers shall 
be the responsibility of the concerned LGUs; 
3.​
Develop, maintain and update an integrated disaster management and 
disaster resilience information system that includes, among others, 
multi-hazard mapping, vulnerability and probabilistic risk assessments, early 
16 
 


warning, exposure database, communication and emergency management 
systems at the national, regional, and provincial levels; 
 
4.​
Undertake the formulation and implementation of the government’s policies, 
plans, programs, projects, and budget for disaster resilience including those 
related to disaster risk reduction, response, recovery, rehabilitation, and 
building forward better; 
 
5.​
Review and build upon, to the extent necessary, the existing disaster 
resilience framework, plans and strategies in the crafting of an NDRF and the 
corresponding NDRPIP; 
 
6.​
Oversee, 
review, 
and 
approve 
the 
translation, 
integration, 
and 
implementation of the NDRPIP into LDRPs; 
 
7.​
Facilitate the availability of highly competent DRR professionals at all levels 
and prescribe benefits, allowances, and similar emoluments for DRR 
professionals, as it may deem fit; 
 
8.​
Communicate and disseminate critical information to help the public prepare 
for, respond to, and recover from a disaster; 
  
9.​
Receive, manage, and administer the funds, assets and properties received 
by the Department to accomplish the purposes of this Act; 
 
10.​ Recommend to the President of the Philippines the declaration of a state of 
calamity due to a natural disaster, and the lifting thereof when conditions 
stabilize; 
 
11.​ Advise the President on matters concerning disaster resilience and make 
recommendations, as appropriate; 
 
12.​ Advance the country’s interests relating to disaster resilience in the regional 
and global arena; 
 
13.​ Collaborate with any government entity to help ensure the attainment of the 
goals and objectives of this Act; and 
 
14.​ Perform such other functions, as provided by law or assignment of the 
President, and undertake all other necessary actions to ensure the 
attainment of the overall goals and objectives of this Act. 
 
B.​
Disaster Risk Reduction 
 
17 
 


1.​
Develop coordinated regional and local strategies for the effective prevention 
and mitigation of disaster risk resulting from natural hazards, including the 
effects of climate change; 
 
2.​
Develop and implement policies and programs relating to the construction of 
new settlements or relocation of settlements in safe areas which shall, to the 
extent such policies and programs relate to disaster risk reduction, mitigation, 
prevention or building forward better, prevail over policies or decisions of 
other government departments, government agencies, government owned 
and/or controlled corporations, LGUs, or other government institutions; 
 
3.​
Develop, in coordination with relevant government agencies, policies and 
programs on land-use planning, urban planning and zoning which shall,​
to the extent such policies and programs relate to disaster risk reduction, 
mitigation, prevention or building forward better, prevail over policies or 
decisions 
of other government departments, government agencies, 
government owned and/or controlled corporations, LGUs, or other 
government institutions; 
 
4.​
Establish or enhance standards for disaster preparedness and continuity 
planning, such as on infrastructure standards and designs; 
  
5.​
Collaborate with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and 
other relevant government agencies in the conduct of regular structural, 
safety audit of buildings and other types of infrastructure, and require the 
submission of necessary data, information or reports related thereto; 
 
6.​
Formulate a National Continuity Policy including plans and programs to 
implement government governance and business continuity; 
 
7.​
Ensure the use of advanced science and technology in the anticipatory 
planning of communities against the impact of natural hazards and climate 
change through consultation, and employment with a regular department 
funding for relevant academic or higher educational institutions with proven 
risk reduction record; 
 
8.​
Establish a system to ensure that all disaster-related data are accessible to 
all stakeholders to generate the best scientific information and technological 
products for use in disaster resilience; 
 
9.​
Ensure that all climate change-related hazards are included in the 
development of climate risk profiles of targeted LGUs as provided for in the 
Climate Risk and Management Framework (CRMF) policy document of the 
Climate Change Commission (CCC) and that the appropriate institutions 
such as the academe and other science experts or organizations who have 
18 
 


the capability to develop or have developed methodologies to establish 
climate change risk profile are officially engaged; 
 
10.​ Undertake programs and projects to reduce the vulnerability of physical 
infrastructure, assets, and facilities including retrofitting, and structural and 
non-structural upgrading, in coordination with the relevant government 
agencies; 
 
11.​ Call on relevant government agencies to develop alternative livelihood 
programs to reduce the vulnerability to disasters of certain areas or certain 
sectors of society; 
 
12.​ Formulate, facilitate and monitor efforts relating to certain resources or 
sectors toward addressing the long-term effects of climate change on 
sustainable development, such as water resources, agriculture, forestry, 
coastal and marine resources, health, and infrastructure, in coordination with 
relevant government agencies; 
 
13.​ Design and implement an incentive system for greater private and public 
investment, both at the local and national levels, on disaster risk reduction; 
  
14.​ Oversee and ensure the mainstreaming of climate change adaptation and 
disaster risk reduction in development and land use planning, and the 
preparation of contingency plans; 
 
15.​ Create an enabling environment that shall promote broader multi- 
stakeholder participation for disaster risk reduction and climate change 
adaptation and mitigation; 
 
16.​ Establish, develop, and monitor programs and projects, in coordination with 
relevant government agencies, that consider climate projections, including 
temperature increase and rainfall change in the Philippines to ensure 
climate-resilient communities; 
 
 
17.​ Establish and monitor national and local capacity for disaster risk financing 
and insurance and other risk transfer strategies in coordination with the 
Department of Finance (DOF), Government Service Insurance System 
(GSIS), Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP), and Insurance Commission; 
 
18.​ Review and evaluate local disaster resilience plans and other local plans to 
ensure their consistency with the National Disaster Resilience Framework; 
and 
 
19.​ Undertake all other programs and projects necessary to attain the necessary 
outcomes for disaster risk reduction. 
19 
 


 
C.​
Disaster Preparedness and Response 
 
1.​
Lead, 
manage, 
and 
collaborate 
with 
the 
relevant 
government 
instrumentalities, non-government stakeholders, and international partners in 
providing the minimum basic needs of people in affected areas before, during 
and/or immediately after a disaster to save lives and minimize casualties; 
 
2.​
Establish a corps of first responders in partnership with national and local 
stakeholders, both public and private; 
 
3.​
Implement projects and programs that will enhance the capacity of LGUs to 
prepare for and respond to disasters, giving priority to LGUs with low income 
or those situated in high-risk areas; 
 
4.​
Ensure the efficient prepositioning of goods, maintenance and disposal of 
safety stocks; 
 
5.​
Accredit, monitor, and evaluate training institutions on disaster resilience; 
 
6.​
Regulate the accreditation of donors, volunteers, and assisting non- 
government stakeholders, both domestic and international; 
  
7.​
Formulate standards for contingency planning that shall be adopted by the 
LGUs; 
 
8.​
Develop a database of exposure or elements at risk per area to facilitate and 
ensure quick impact and needs assessment in the event of a disaster; 
9.​
Facilitate and regulate the acceptance, inventory, and accounting of 
humanitarian assistance, including relief goods; 
 
10.​ Maintain a database of volunteers and, when necessary, mobilize volunteers 
to augment the personnel complement and logistical requirements for 
disaster response and/or for the delivery of DRRM programs, projects and 
activities; 
 
11.​ Oversee and maintain a national early-warning and emergency alert system 
that must provide a specific, areas-focused and time-bound warning that are 
accurate, timely, understandable and readily accessible to national and local 
emergency response organizations and the general public; 
 
12.​ Coordinate information-sharing and other disaster risk reduction protocols 
following the principle of inter-operability among national government 
agencies and local government units; 
 
20 
 


13.​ Call upon other instrumentalities or entities of the government and 
non-government and civic organizations for assistance in terms of the use of 
their facilities and resources for the protection and preservation of life and 
properties in the whole range of disaster risk reduction and management. 
This function includes the power to call on the reserve force as defined in 
Republic Act​
No. 7077, otherwise known as Citizen Armed Forces of the 
Philippines Reservist Act to assist in relief, rescue, retrieval and management 
of dead and missing persons during disasters or calamities; 
14.​ Organize, train, equip, and maintain a system of response capacity for 
search, rescue and retrieval and the delivery and distribution of relief goods; 
 
15.​ Recommend to the President to call upon the AFP and PNP to render the 
necessary assistance in a disaster-affected area by the authority of the 
President; 
 
16.​ Call upon, by authority of the President, the Armed Forces of the Philippines, 
the Philippine National Police, the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), the 
Philippine Coast Guard, and other uniformed services to the extent 
necessary for the Department to achieve the purposes of this Act; 
  
17.​ Establish a National Corps of Volunteers to be composed of, among others: 
Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC), National Service Training Program 
(NSTP), reservists, and other socio- civic organizations; 
 
18.​ Assist in mobilizing necessary resources to increase the overall capacity of 
local government units, specifically those with low income and situated in 
high-risk areas; and 
 
19.​ Undertake all other programs and projects necessary to attain the necessary 
outcomes for disaster preparedness and response. 
 
D.​
Recovery and Building Forward Better 
 
1.​
Prepare, organize, lead, implement, and manage post-disaster assessment 
and recovery and rehabilitation programs and plans, in coordination with the 
affected local governments units, national government agencies, and other 
stakeholders; 
 
2.​
Establish a system to promptly perform impact and needs assessment, 
including strengthening the in-house capacity of the Department to conduct 
accurate and timely impact and needs assessment; 
 
3.​
Establish a system that utilizes templates, exposure database, and other 
tools, and develop the Department’s in-house capacity for the prompt and 
expedient preparation of rehabilitation plans, when needed, for disaster 
affected areas; 
21 
 


 
4.​
Formulate or direct relevant government agencies and LGUs to issue 
guidelines for fast-tracking the issuance of permits, certifications, clearances 
and licenses to implement disaster recovery and rehabilitation measures, 
including housing projects, in affected areas; 
 
5.​
Prepare and implement rehabilitation plans for disaster affected areas; 
 
6.​
Manage and oversee the implementation of disaster recovery and 
rehabilitation measures; 
 
7.​
Collaborate with relevant government agencies to establish programs to 
restore or generate livelihood in disaster affected areas; 
 
8.​
Formulate policies and standards for post-disaster shelter recovery which 
may include, among others, implementation arrangements, coordination 
arrangements with relevant agencies and LGUs, and modalities for 
emergency transitional and permanent shelter recovery; 
  
9.​
Ensure that the principle of building forward better is applied to rehabilitation 
or reconstruction efforts; and 
 
10.​ Undertake all other programs and projects necessary to attain the necessary 
outcomes for recovery and safer, adaptive, resilient, and inclusive 
communities. 
 
E.​
Other Functions 
 
1.​
Constitute, call, convene or deputize agencies of government, and invite​
non-government and private organizations, to assist, advise, or coordinate 
with the Department to achieve the purposes of this Act; 
 
2.​
Inspect and examine the status of projects, programs, and activities 
undertaken by national government agencies and local government units in 
furtherance of disaster resilience efforts; 
 
3.​
Save lives and/or minimize damages to livelihood and property, complement 
and collaborate with relevant government agencies and non-government 
stakeholders in providing humanitarian response and the consequence 
management of human-induced disasters whenever it becomes necessary; 
 
4.​
Negotiate, enter into, institutionalize, and coordinate arrangements with any 
private person or entity for the purpose of ensuring the adequate and prompt 
availability of goods and services necessary in anticipation of, during, and in 
the aftermath of disasters; 
 
22 
 


5.​
Promulgate rules and regulations for the receipt, management, and 
accounting of donations that are consistent with the rules of the Commission 
on Audit (COA) on the use of foreign and local aid during calamities and 
disasters; 
6.​
Create or reorganize offices and/or task forces, as may be necessary to carry 
out the objectives of this Act; and 
 
7.​
Perform such other functions, as may be necessary, for the attainment of the 
objectives of this Act. 
 
 
ARTICLE III  
EMERGENCY MEASURES 
 
SECTION 6. EMERGENCIES MEASURES.  
 
A.​
To protect and preserve life and property and ensure and promote public safety 
and welfare, the Department may undertake and implement the following 
emergency measures in anticipation of, during, and in the aftermath of disasters: 
  
1.​
Carrying out of preemptive evacuation;  
2.​
Imposition of curfew; 
3.​
Rationing of the distribution of basic goods in critical shortage, and when 
necessary, preventing or restricting the transfer of such goods outside of the 
area affected by the disaster, including access to rice inventory of the 
National Food Authority (NFA)office or storage located in the affected area; 
4.​
When there is imminent danger of loss of lives or damage to property, 
temporarily take over or direct the operation of any private utility or business, 
subject to payment of just compensation; and 
5.​
With the concurrence of the DOF, recommend to the Monetary Board the 
deferment of the payment of monetary obligations of local government units 
and private entities that have been severely affected by disaster. 
 
B.​
Local government units shall enact ordinances on and implement necessary and 
appropriate emergency measures to ensure the protection and preservation of life 
and property and the promotion of public safety and welfare in anticipation of, 
during, and in the aftermath of disasters; 
 
C.​
Emergency measures shall be carried out in a manner that is humane, respectful 
of the dignity and culture of persons, without the use of discrimination and 
disproportionate force, and with conscious attention to the needs of vulnerable and 
marginalized groups. 
 
D.​
Appropriate steps shall be taken to inform the public of the need to implement 
emergency measures for their safety. 
 
23 
 


 
 
 
 
SECTION 7. PREEMPTIVE AND FORCE EVACUATIONS.  
 
Preemptive evacuation shall be the preferred and primary mode of moving and 
relocating people that will be affected by impending disasters. 
 
A forced evacuation shall be considered as an emergency measure of last resort that 
may be undertaken in anticipation of or during a disaster and carried out by the 
concerned local government unit: Provided, That in case of the failure or inability of the 
local government units to implement the same, the forced  evacuation  shall  be  
implemented  by  the  Department, which may direct and compel the assistance of law 
enforcement and other government agencies to implement such measure. 
 
Any person who willfully disregards or disobeys a preemptive or forced evacuation 
carried out by the local government unit or the Department releases such local 
government unit or the Department, as the case may be, from any liability for injury, 
death, damage to, or loss of property due to such disobedience. 
 
 
ARTICLE IV  
ORGANIZATION AND MANAGEMENT 
 
SECTION 8. THE SECRETARY.  
 
The Department shall be headed by the Secretary of Disaster Resilience, hereinafter 
referred to as the Secretary, who shall be appointed by the President, subject to 
confirmation by the Committee on Appointments. The Secretary shall preferably have 
a good background in any of the scientific, engineering, and public management 
fields relevant to the attainment and promotion of resiliency to natural hazards and 
climate change, and demonstrated managerial acumen. 
 
 
SECTION 9. POWERS AND FUNCTIONS OF THE SECRETARY.  
 
The Secretary shall have the following powers and functions: 
 
A.​
Provide executive direction and supervision over the entire operations of the 
Department; 
 
B.​
Establish and promulgate policies, rules, and regulations for the effective and 
efficient operation of the Department and implement these to carry out its 
mandate, functions, programs, and activities; 
24 
 


 
C.​
Exercise control and supervision over all functions and activities of the Department 
and its officers and personnel; 
D.​
Manage the financial, human and other resources of the Department; 
 
E.​
Appoint and designate officers and employees of the Department, excluding those 
requiring presidential appointment as provided for by law; 
 
F.​
Exercise disciplinary powers over officers and employees of the Department in 
accordance with law, and investigate such erring officers and employees, or 
designate a committee or officer to conduct an investigation; 
 
G.​
Collaborate with other government agencies, the private sector, and civil society 
organizations on the policies, programs, projects, and activities of the Department, 
as may be necessary; 
 
H.​
Advise the President on the promulgation of executive and administrative orders, 
and the formulation of regulatory and legislative proposals on matters pertaining to 
disaster resilience; 
 
I.​
Represent the Philippines and articulate the national contribution to global, 
regional, and other inter-governmental disaster risk reduction and humanitarian 
platforms, in coordination with the Department of Foreign Affairs; 
 
J.​
Formulate such rules and regulations, and exercise such other powers as may be 
required to implement the objectives of this Act; and 
 
K.​
Perform such other tasks as may be provided by law or assigned by the President. 
 
 
SECTION 10. THE UNDERSECRETARIES.  
 
The Secretary shall be assisted by four (4) Undersecretaries, which shall be responsible 
for the following key result areas: 
 
A.​
Disaster Preparedness and Response - to implement projects and programs that 
will enhance the capacity of LGUs to prepare against, and respond to, disasters. 
This also includes development of a database of exposure or elements at risk per 
area and database of volunteers, among others. It involves the establishment of 
evacuation centers and the implementation of responsive and efficient 
prepositioning of goods, maintenance and disposal of stocks, among others; 
 
B.​
Disaster Risk Reduction - to formulate, adopt, and/or implement, among others, a 
whole-of-society approach in policies and programs to prevent new, if not reduce 
existing disaster risks, to address the effects of climate change, and to minimize 
loss and damage to lives and properties. This includes the formulation of the 
25 
 


required policies and/or programs for disaster risk reduction and climate change 
adaptation in, among others, the NDRF and the NDRPIP; 
 
C.​
Recovery and Building Forward and Better - to formulate and implement 
rehabilitation plans for disaster-affected areas, and to ensure the implementation 
of disaster recovery and rehabilitation measures, such as, but not limited to, 
post-disaster shelters and livelihood projects, in collaboration with relevant 
agencies, LGUs, and other stakeholders. 
 
D.​
Support to Operations - to formulate and implement, among others, policies, 
programs and/or projects to ensure the efficient, effective, and responsive delivery 
of the Department’s key result areas. Support to Operations covers knowledge 
management, 
institutional 
development 
and 
planning, 
finance, 
office 
administration, human resources management, and development of the 
Department’s in- house capacities, among others. 
 
 
SECTION 11. THE ASSISTANT SECRETARIES AND DIRECTORS.  
 
The Department shall have four (4) Assistant Secretaries and appropriate number of 
Directors to ensure for the effective, efficient, and responsive implementation of the 
mandate and functions of the Department. 
 
 
SECTION 12. QUALIFICATIONS.  
 
No person shall be appointed Secretary, Undersecretary, or Assistant Secretary of the 
Department unless a citizen and resident of the Philippines, of good moral character, 
and of proven experience, competence or expertise in humanitarian relief assistance 
and disaster management. The Secretary, Undersecretary, or Assistant Secretary shall 
not hold any other position, public or private, during their terms of office. 
 
 
SECTION 13. STRUCTURE AND STAFFING PATTERN. 
 
The Department shall determine its organizational structure and staffing pattern and 
create such services, divisions, and units, as it may require or deem necessary, subject 
to the approval of the Department of Budget and Management. 
 
 
SECTION 14. NATIONAL DISASTER OPERATIONS CENTER, ALTERNATIVE 
COMMAND CENTER, AND RESEARCH AND TRAINING INSTITUTE. 
 
A.​
The Department shall establish, within one (1) year from the approval of this Act, 
and act as the primary operator, the National Disaster Operations Center (NDOC), 
Alternative Command and Control Center (ACCCs) as may be necessary in each 
26 
 


of the country’s major island groups, and the Disaster Resilience Research and 
Training Institute (DRRTI). 
 
B.​
The Department is authorized to collect fees derived from the DRRTI. 
 
C.​
The NDOC is a physical center equipped with the necessary tools and systems to 
monitor, manage, and respond to disasters in all areas of the country. The NDOC 
shall also provide the necessary support for the overall coordination and 
implementation of emergency and disaster response measures throughout the 
country. 
 
D.​
The ACCCs are command centers established in other locations to provide 
supplemental support to the NDOC. The number and location of ACCCs shall be 
determined by the Department. Temporary ACCCs may likewise be established by 
the Department, if necessary. 
 
 
SECTION 15. DRRTI FUNCTIONS AND INTER-AGENCY KNOWLEDGE SHARING. 
 
The DRRTI shall be a platform for providing training preferably on site, and for 
collecting, consolidating, managing, analyzing, and sharing knowledge and information 
to improve or enhance disaster resilience. 
 
The DRRTI shall: 
 
A.​
Establish reliable and up-to-date disaster-related information and communication 
systems and technologies through close collaboration with the DOST and with 
academic institutions; 
 
B.​
Institutionalize, maintain, and update an integrated disaster resilience information 
system (IDRIS), which includes, among others, multi-hazard mapping, probabilistic 
risk assessment, risk analysis, early warning, exposure database, communication 
and emergency management systems; 
 
C.​
Establish a database that includes relevant information from other government 
agencies and third parties for the Department to better prepare and respond to 
natural hazards including, but not limited to, an inventory of hazardous materials 
per area; 
 
D.​
Consult and coordinate with, and consolidate information/data from, relevant 
government agencies, such as, but not limited to, DOST, LGUs, academic 
institutions, and relevant CSOs to enhance the IDRIS and to promote knowledge 
sharing among all stakeholders; 
 
E.​
Conduct disaster-related research programs, seminars, and trainings for all types 
of stakeholders; 
27 
 


 
F.​
Consolidate, organize and/or prepare training materials and publications; and 
 
G.​
Conduct other activities consistent with promoting the formation and dissemination 
of knowledge and information relating to disaster resilience and disaster 
management. 
 
 
SECTION 
16. 
COMPLIANCE 
AND 
ACCREDITATION 
OF 
DRRTI 
WITH 
INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS.  
 
The Department shall strive to obtain certification from, and accreditation by, 
international accreditation bodies of the DRRTI to ensure DRRTI’s compliance with 
international standards. The Department shall likewise ensure collaboration with key 
countries and international organizations to incorporate best practices on disaster 
resilience in the Department’s policies and programs. 
 
 
SECTION 17. DISASTER ASSISTANCE ACTION CENTER. 
 
The Department shall institutionalize a one-stop shop mechanism through a Disaster 
Assistance Action Center (DAAC) which shall, among others, process necessary 
documents for both domestic and international assisting actors. 
 
 
SECTION 18. INCENTIVES.  
 
The Department has the authority to prescribe benefits, allowances, and similar 
emoluments for disaster management professionals and disaster resilience officers 
subject to existing laws, rules and regulations. 
 
 
ARTICLE V 
NATIONAL AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT RELATIONS 
 
SECTION 19. RETENTION OF LOCAL DRRM OFFICES AND CREATION OF LOCAL 
DISASTER RESILIENCE OFFICES.  
 
The Local DRRM Offices (LDRRMOs) in provinces, cities, and municipalities shall be 
retained and renamed as Provincial, City, and Municipality Disaster Resilience Offices, 
respectively. They shall collectively be called Local Disaster Resilience Offices 
(LDROs). All LGUs shall establish an LDRO at the provincial, city, and municipal levels. 
All Local DRRM Councils (LDRRMCs) shall be abolished. The budgetary requirements 
for personal services, maintenance and other operating expenses, and capital outlay of 
the LDROs shall be sourced from the General Fund of the LGU, subject to Section 76 of 
28 
 


Republic Act No. 7160, otherwise known as the Local Government Code of 1991, as 
amended. 
 
Other maintenance and operating expenses and other capital outlay requirements of the 
LDRO in the implementation of disaster risk and vulnerability reduction management 
and climate change adaptation programs shall be charged to the Local Disaster 
Resilience Fund of the LGUs. 
 
 
SECTION 20. COMPOSITION AND ORGANIZATION OF LDROS.  
 
The LDRO shall be under the supervision and control of the provincial governor, and 
city or municipal mayor, as applicable. The LDRO shall be composed of an officer and 
five (5) permanent personnel responsible for, among others, administration, research 
and planning, training, and operations. The organization, composition, functions, and 
responsibilities of retained LDRRMOs shall be modified to the extent provided in, and 
shall comply with the requirements and standards of, this Act and the IRR for the 
establishment, maintenance and operations of LDROs. 
 
 
SECTION 21. LOCAL DISASTER RESILIENCE OFFICER.  
 
The LDRO shall be headed and managed by a well-qualified and full-time Local 
Disaster Resilience Officer with regular plantilla position. The Local Disaster Resilience 
Officer and Staff shall be appointed by the Local Chief Executive subject to the 
requirements and endowed with the emoluments and benefits in accordance with 
existing laws, rules and regulations. 
 
 
SECTION 22. POWERS AND FUNCTIONS OF CITY AND MUNICIPAL DROS.  
 
The City and Municipal (CDRO and MDRO) shall have the following powers and 
functions: 
 
A.​
Formulate and implement, in close coordination with the Department, a 
comprehensive and integrated LDRP in accordance with the NDRF and the 
NDRPIP; 
 
B.​
Design, program, coordinate, and implement disaster resilience activities including 
preparedness, risk reduction, response, recovery and rehabilitation measures 
consistent with the standards and guidelines provided by the Department, and 
implement the NDRF and the NDRPIP at the city or municipal level; 
 
C.​
Prepare and submit to the local Sanggunian, the LDRP, the proposed 
programming of the LDR Fund, other dedicated disaster resilience resources, and 
other regular funding source of the LDRO; 
29 
 


 
D.​
Recommend to the local Sanggunian the enactment of local ordinances to 
implement the LDRP, NDRF and NDRPIP at the city or municipal level, and to 
comply with other requirements of this Act; 
 
E.​
Prepare and submit to the Department, the local Commission on Audit, and the 
applicable Regional Disaster Resilience Office a report on the utilization of its 
Local Disaster Resilience Fund and other disaster risk reduction and management 
resources; 
 
F.​
Establish and maintain, in coordination with the Department, an information 
management system within the LGU which, among others, consolidates and 
includes local risk information on natural hazards, profile of the LGU’s vulnerable 
or marginalized groups, local risk maps, and a disaggregated database of human 
resource, equipment, services, resources, directories and location of critical 
infrastructures with their capacities as hospitals and evacuation centers; 
 
G.​
Operate and maintain, in coordination with the Department, a multi- hazard early 
warning and communications system to provide accurate and timely information to 
the public; 
 
H.​
Organize and conduct training and knowledge management activities on disaster 
resilience at the local level, in coordination with the DRRTI; 
 
I.​
Procure emergency works, goods, and services in compliance with the 
regulations, orders, and policies of DBM and Government Procurement Policy 
Board (GPPB), to implement the DRP or support early recovery and post-disaster 
activities; 
 
J.​
In coordination with the Department, the DOF and other relevant agencies, access 
foreign loans to finance its projects, programs, and policies for disaster 
preparedness, response, recovery, and rehabilitation, subject to terms and 
conditions agreed upon by the LDRO and the lender; 
 
K.​
Monitor and mobilize instrumentalities and entities of the LGU and its partner 
LGUs, CSOs, private sector, organized volunteers, and sectoral organizations for 
disaster resilience activities, in accordance with policies and procedures of the 
Department and applicable laws; 
 
L.​
Coordinate and provide the necessary support or assistance to the Department in 
the implementation of rehabilitation plan within the city or municipality covered by 
the LDRO; 
 
M.​
Coordinate with the Department, other government agencies, members of the 
private sector and other stakeholders in the LGU to establish a Business 
Continuity Plan as part of their LDRP’s disaster preparedness measures; 
30 
 


 
N.​
Establish linkage or network and coordination mechanisms with other LGUs and 
the Department for disaster resilience activities and to achieve the purposes of this 
Act; and, 
  
O.​
Conduct other activities and/or act on other matters, in accordance with policies 
and procedures of the Department and applicable laws, to achieve the purposes of 
this Act. 
 
 
SECTION 23. PROVINCIAL DISASTER RESILIENCE OFFICER.  
 
The Provincial Disaster Resilience Office (PDRO) shall be headed and managed by a 
Provincial Disaster Resilience Officer with regular plantilla position. 
 
 
SECTION 24. POWERS AND FUNCTIONS OF THE PDRO. 
 
The PDRO shall have the following powers and functions: 
 
A.​
Formulate and implement, in close coordination with the Department and cities or 
municipalities within its jurisdiction, a comprehensive and integrated Provincial 
LDRP in accordance with the NDRF and the NDRPIP; 
 
B.​
Review the LDRPs of cities and municipalities within its jurisdiction, and require 
the amendment of such LDRPs if necessary, to ensure compliance with the 
Provincial LDRP and/or the NDRF and NDRPIP; 
 
C.​
Design, program, coordinate, and/or implement disaster resilience activities 
consistent with the standards and guidelines provided by the Department, and 
implement the NDRF and the NDRPIP at the provincial level; 
 
D.​
Prepare and submit to the Sanggunian Panlalawigan, the Provincial LDRP, the 
proposed programming of the province’s Local Disaster Resilience Fund, other 
dedicated disaster resilience resources, and other funding sources of the PDRO; 
 
E.​
Recommend to the Sanggunian Panlalawigan the enactment of local ordinances 
to implement the Provincial LDRP, NDRF and NDRPIP at the provincial level, and 
to comply with other requirements of this Act; 
 
F.​
Prepare and submit to the Department, the local Commission on Audit, and the 
applicable Regional Disaster Resilience Office a report on the utilization of the 
province’s Local Disaster Resilience Fund and other disaster risk reduction and 
management resources; 
 
31 
 


G.​
Establish and maintain, in coordination with the Department, a Provincial 
Command and Control Center (PCC) which includes, among others, an 
information management system at the provincial level which consolidates and 
integrates information from the cities and/or municipalities within its jurisdiction, a 
multi-hazard early warning and communications system that is connected with the 
cities and/or municipalities within its jurisdiction, and a monitoring system that 
enables the PDRO to oversee, supervise, monitor and respond to the needs of 
cities and/or municipalities within its jurisdiction in relation to disaster resilience 
activities; 
 
H.​
Procure emergency works, goods, and services in compliance with the 
regulations, orders, and policies of DBM and GPPB, to implement the provincial 
LDRP or support early recovery and post-disaster activities of the PDRO; 
 
I.​
In coordination with the Department and the DOF, access foreign loans to finance 
its projects, programs, and policies for disaster preparedness, response, recovery, 
and rehabilitation, subject to terms and conditions agreed upon by the PDRO and 
the lender; 
 
J.​
Formulate and establish mechanisms to mobilize and direct LDROs within its 
jurisdiction as necessary for disaster preparedness and response at the provincial 
level; 
 
K.​
Coordinate and provide the necessary support or assistance to the Department in 
the implementation of rehabilitation plan(s) within the cities and/or municipalities 
covered by the PDRO; and 
 
L.​
Conduct other activities and/or act on other matters, in accordance with policies 
and procedures of the Department and applicable laws, to achieve the purposes of 
this Act. 
 
 
SECTION 25. REGIONAL OFFICES. 
 
The Department shall establish and maintain Regional Offices (ROs) at each region, 
and a National Capital Region Office (NCR). The size, composition and organization of 
ROs and NCR shall be based on parameters provided in the IRR on the ability of LGUs 
within its jurisdiction to cope with previous disasters, or to implement their LDRPs or 
Provincial LDRPs; the level of income, population, hazard exposure of LGUs. The ROs 
and NCR shall be funded by the Department. 
 
 
SECTION 26. REGIONAL DIRECTOR. 
 
Each RO and the NCR shall be headed and managed by a Regional Director with 
regular plantilla position. The Regional Director shall be appointed by the Department 
32 
 


Secretary for a fixed term pursuant to requirements, terms of office and endowed with 
the emoluments and benefits subject to existing laws, rules and regulations. 
 
SECTION 27. POWERS AND FUNCTIONS OF ROS AND NCR.  
 
The ROs and NCR shall have the following powers and functions: 
 
A.​
Review the LDRPs and Provincial LDRPs of LGUs within its jurisdiction, and 
require the amendment of such LDRPs and/or Provincial LDRPs if necessary, to 
ensure compliance with the NDRF and NDRPIP; 
 
B.​
Monitor and direct LDROs and PDROs to implement their respective LDROs and 
PDROs; 
 
C.​
Recommend to the appropriate Sanggunian at the city, municipal or provincial 
level, the enactment of local ordinances to implement the 
LDRP, NDRF and NDRPIP at the city, municipal or provincial level, and to comply with 
other requirements of this Act; 
 
D.​
Review reports on the utilization of the LDRF and other disaster risk reduction and 
management resources of LGUs within its jurisdiction, and give recommendations, 
as necessary; 
 
E.​
Provide, upon the request of LGUs or unilaterally at its own discretion, assistance 
to LGU(s) within its jurisdiction as necessary to ensure the implementation of 
LDRPs or Provincial LDRPs, NDRF and NDRPIP, and to render efficient and 
timely disaster preparedness, response and recovery measures; 
 
F.​
Identify and report to the Department issues and problems relating to, or affecting, 
the disaster resilience of LGUs within its jurisdiction, and make recommendations 
to the Department and/or to the LGUs to address such issues or problems; 
 
G.​
Procure goods and services in compliance with the regulations, orders, and 
policies of DBM and GPPB, to implement the NDRPIP and NDRF at the regional 
level; 
 
H.​
Formulate and establish mechanisms to mobilize and direct LDROs and PDROs 
within its jurisdiction as necessary for disaster preparedness and response at the 
regional level; 
 
I.​
Establish and maintain, in coordination with the Department, a Regional Command 
and Control Center (RCC) which includes, among others, an information 
management system at the regional level which consolidates and integrates 
information from the provinces, cities and municipalities within its jurisdiction, a 
multi-hazard early warning and communications system, and a monitoring system 
that enables the RO to oversee, supervise, monitor and respond to the needs of 
33 
 


LGUs within its jurisdiction in relation to disaster resilience activities; Implement or 
assist in the implementation, as directed by the Department, of rehabilitation plans 
for LGUs within its coverage; and 
 
J.​
Conduct other activities and/or act on other matters, in accordance with policies 
and procedures of the Department and applicable laws, to achieve the purposes of 
this Act. 
 
 
SECTION 
28. 
INTER-REGIONAL 
DISASTER 
RESILIENCE 
OFFICE 
COLLABORATION. 
 
The Department shall formulate and implement policies, programs, and mechanisms to 
strengthen collaboration, coordination, and information-sharing among its Regional 
Offices (ROs). This inter-regional cooperation shall ensure a harmonized, timely, and 
unified approach to disaster preparedness, response, recovery, and risk reduction 
across regions, especially in cases of large-scale or cascading hazards that affect 
multiple jurisdictions. 
 
 
SECTION 29. LEVELS OF RESPONSIBILITY FOR DISASTER PREPAREDNESS 
AND RESPONSE. 
 
The primary responsibility for disaster preparedness and response shall be exercised at 
the local and national level in collaboration with the relevant departments and agencies, 
as follows: 
 
LEVELS 
OF 
RESPONSIBILITY 
RESPONSIBLE 
OFFICIALS 
CONDITIONS 
Level 1 – Province 
Mayor of the City 
/ Municipality (Lead) 
Local 
Disaster 
Resilience Office 
(In the case of 
BARMM: 
Municipal 
/ 
City Mayor and BARMM 
Local 
Disaster 
Resilience Office) 
If a disaster affects a 
single municipality / city 
34 
 


Level 2 – Province 
Governor (Lead) 
Provincial 
Disaster 
Resilience 
Office 
Applicable 
Provincial 
Disaster 
Resilience Offices 
(In the case of 
BARMM: 
Regional 
Governor and BARMM 
Local 
Disaster 
Resilience Office/s) 
If a disaster affects two 
or more municipalities / 
cities 
Level 3 – Region 
Regional Director 
of the Regional Office 
(RO) (Lead) 
Applicable 
Governors 
Applicable 
Provincial 
Disaster 
Resilience Offices 
(In the case of 
BARMM: 
Regional 
Governor and ARMM 
Local 
Disaster 
Resilience Office/s) 
 
(In the case of 
Metro Manila: MMDA 
Chair) 
If a disaster affects two 
or 
more 
provinces 
and/or 
independent 
component 
or 
highly 
urbanized cities 
35 
 


Level 4 – National 
 
During a state of 
calamity in any 
area(s) 
or 
affecting several 
regions 
Secretary of the 
Department of Disaster 
Resilience (Lead) 
 
Governors of the 
affected Provinces 
a.​ When a state 
of calamity is 
declared by 
the President 
 
b.​ If a disaster 
affects at least 
two (2) 
regions 
 
c.​ When the 
affected LGU 
cannot 
dispense its 
functions, or 
respond to the 
threat or effect 
of disaster 
 
d.​ When the 
local chief 
executive or, 
in his/her 
absence or 
incapacity, the 
next 
high-ranking 
official, directly 
requests the 
Department to 
take over; 
 
e.​ When the 
President 
directs a Level 
4 response. 
 
 
SECTION 30. INTER-LOCAL GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE.  
 
LGUs are hereby authorized to extend assistance to another LGU, whether through 
funding or donation of goods and/or services, to ensure effective disaster preparedness 
and response, such as the pre-positioning and provision of basic goods, and training of 
first responders, among others, subject to auditing and accounting. 
 
 
36 
 


 
SECTION 31. RECONSTRUCTION AND REHABILITATION POWERS OF THE 
DEPARTMENT. 
 
The Department shall be primarily responsible for reconstruction and rehabilitation in 
the event of a natural disaster. In undertaking reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts, 
the Department shall, as much as possible, retrofit structures to make them more 
resistant and resilient to the effects of natural disasters. 
 
 
SECTION 32. SERVICE CONTINUITY OF THE DEPARTMENT.  
 
To ensure service continuity, the Department and its regional and attached offices shall 
be established in a reasonably resilient location; and undertake the necessary 
interventions to make its offices and systems disaster- resilient. 
 
 
SECTION 33. ASSISTANCE TO BANGSAMORO AUTONOMOUS REGION IN 
MUSLIM MINDANAO. 
 
The National Government, thru the Secretary of Disaster Resilience, and the 
Bangsamoro Autonomous Regional Government shall create an inter-governmental 
mechanism for humanitarian relief assistance in the BARMM during times of natural 
disasters. 
 
 
ARTICLE VI 
WHOLE OF GOVERNMENT, WHOLE OF NATION, AND WHOLE OF SOCIETY 
APPROACH AND INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS 
 
SECTION 34. INTER-OPERABILITY OF SYSTEMS. 
 
The Department shall establish mechanisms to ensure the inter-operability of systems 
among government agencies, and to allow access of agencies to the IDRIS as 
established pursuant to Section 15 of this Act. It shall develop protocols to allow 
real-time access to information by government agencies in relation to natural disasters 
and the implementation of disaster resilience measures. 
 
 
SECTION 35. SYNERGY WITH STAKEHOLDERS. 
 
The Department shall ensure close collaboration and coordination with stakeholders, 
including CSOs, the academe, and the private sector, in relation to disaster resilience 
programs and projects, and the development and promotion of education and training 
mechanisms with relevant stakeholders. 
 
37 
 


The Department shall establish a platform and mechanisms for coordination with 
stakeholders, including the development of standard operating procedures for 
collaboration in the event of a disaster. 
 
 
SECTION 36. ESTABLISHMENT OF MULTI-STAKEHOLDERS CONVERGENCE 
UNIT. 
 
The Department shall, with the assistance of other relevant government agencies and 
stakeholders, establish a Multi-Stakeholders Convergence Unit (MSCU) which shall 
align the disaster resilience efforts of the private sector, CSOs, academe and other 
stakeholders with that of the Department by assisting, coordinating or providing services 
that strengthen public-private coordination in disaster resilience, including the following: 
 
A.​
Establishment and implementation of business continuity practices to ensure the 
continued delivery of products and services in the event of a natural disaster; 
B.​
Crafting and implementation of a National Continuity Policy to ensure service 
continuity during interruptions, emergencies, and disasters and ensure the quick 
return to full operations; 
 
C.​
Establishment, incorporation, and application of business continuity plans as part 
of the LDRP of LGUs; 
 
D.​
Facilitation or assistance in obtaining or processing incentives for the private 
sector or other non-government stakeholders, such as tax credits; and 
 
E.​
Preparation and facilitating the issuance of special rules for Micro, Small, and 
Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) such as mechanisms involving procurement and 
liquidity to create enabling environments for disaster preparedness and recovery. 
 
The MSCU shall establish a platform that includes, among others, a database for 
monitoring and coordinating efforts and resources of nongovernment stakeholders. It 
shall be headed by one (1) of the Undersecretaries of the Department 
 
 
SECTION 37. ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF STAKEHOLDERS. 
 
The commitment, goodwill, knowledge, experience and resources of relevant 
stakeholders are critical to realize a safer, adaptive, resilient and inclusive Filipino 
community. Citizens shall have the shared vision and duty to provide support to the 
State in the implementation of policies and programs, particularly the Disaster 
Resilience Framework and Disaster Resilience Plan at the national, regional, and local 
levels. 
 
A.​
Civil society, non-governmental organizations, international non- governmental 
organizations, private sector, DRRM practitioners, and volunteers shall participate, 
38 
 


in collaboration with public institutions, in the exchange of information, learnings, 
and guidance on disaster resilience. The Department shall encourage and 
institutionalize their engagement in the implementation of local, regional, national, 
and global plans and strategies to enhance public awareness and promote a 
culture of disaster resilience; 
 
B.​
Women, children, and youth, as agents of change, shall endeavor to contribute 
actively and participate in disaster resilience trainings and information 
dissemination; 
 
C.​
Senior citizens and persons with disabilities shall contribute their knowledge and 
experience on disaster preparedness and resiliency; 
 
D.​
Migrants and the urban and rural poor shall participate in building resilient 
resettlement communities; 
 
E.​
Emergency responders and volunteer organizations shall contribute to resilience 
by promptly and efficiently responding to disasters and emergencies consistent 
with the policies of the Department; 
 
F.​
Academia, scientific and research entities, and networks are encouraged to 
undertake relevant research on disaster resiliency in partnership with the 
Department and other stakeholders for better decision-making; 
 
G.​
The private sector is encouraged to integrate disaster resiliency projects and 
programs in their corporate social responsibility initiatives; and 
 
H.​
The media shall provide prompt and accurate information to the public on early 
warning systems, natural hazards, and disaster resilience activities of the 
Department. 
 
The Department, with the assistance of the ROs, shall establish and convene a Disaster 
Resilience Assembly at the regional and national levels which shall be held on a 
quarterly basis to ensure the proactive engagement of different stakeholders, such as 
government agencies, the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP), League 
of Cities of the Philippines (LCP), League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP), 
CSOs, NGOs, academe, DRRM practitioners, and the private sector, to ensure and 
foster coordination and collaboration towards achieving the goals of this Act. 
 
LGUs may convene local DRAs within their jurisdictions, as necessary for the 
attainment of disaster resilience at the local level 
 
 
SECTION 38. RECOGNITION AND INCENTIVES.  
 
39 
 


The Department, in partnership with the private sector, shall establish an incentives 
program that shall recognize the outstanding performance of LDRO, NGOs, CSOs, 
schools, hospitals, and other stakeholders in promoting and implementing significant 
disaster risk reduction management-climate change adaptation programs and 
innovations, and meritorious acts of individuals, groups or institutions during natural 
disasters subject to existing laws, rules and regulations. 
 
 
ARTICLE VII 
PREPAREDNESS AND INTEGRATED EARLY WARNING 
 
SECTION 39. STANDARDS FOR DISASTER PREPAREDNESS ACTIVITIES. 
 
A.​
The 
Department 
shall 
establish 
standards 
and 
protocols 
for 
disaster 
preparedness, contingency planning, localizing and operationalizing disaster risk 
reduction and management, preparedness for responding to disasters and 
undertaking early recovery, continuity of essential services, and other relevant 
preparedness activities. 
 
B.​
LGUs shall identify safe and strategic sites, and establish evacuation centers with 
appropriate and adequate facilities in accordance with government-approved 
standards as provided under Republic Act No. 10821, otherwise known as The 
Children's Emergency Relief Protection Act, to avoid disruption of school classes 
and lessen the use of school buildings and facilities as evacuation centers. 
 
C.​
The concerned LGUs shall immediately compensate schools used as evacuation 
centers. The schools used as evacuation centers may seek compensation for 
renovation, replacement, or repairs of damaged facilities for such use. 
 
 
SECTION 40. MULTI-HAZARD EARLY WARNING AND RISK COMMUNICATION 
STANDARDS.  
 
There shall be a streamlined policy governing early warning systems and risk 
communication protocols to ensure effective and efficient measures to prepare for, 
respond to and recover from potential risks and disasters. 
 
The Department shall formulate and implement multi-hazard early warning protocols 
integrating all disaster preparedness systems in collaboration with local executives, 
community-based 
organizations, 
civil 
society 
organizations, 
and 
other 
non-governmental organizations for proper use and application. 
 
 
SECTION 41. EARLY WARNING MANDATE. 
 
40 
 


A.​
The Department shall issue an integrated early warning alert for the impending 
occurrence of hazards that will enable the public to prepare in time and act 
appropriately to minimize potential harm or loss. 
 
B.​
The Department at the national and local level shall use an integrated early 
warning system to ensure it is consistent and locally contextualized with the 
communication protocol and safe evacuation procedure of the affected 
communities. It shall work with other agencies or organizations on pre-crisis 
information mapping of the humanitarian needs of at-risk communities that will 
enhance the overall prepositioning of resources at the national and local level. 
C.​
The Department shall require mobile phone service providers to send out alerts at 
regular intervals in the event of an impending natural hazard, in accordance with 
Republic Act No.10639, otherwise known as the Free Mobile Disaster Alerts Act. 
 
D.​
The Department shall recognize and proactively support local or indigenous 
modes of early warning systems and allow open access to near real- time data 
from both local and international sources made available through various platforms 
such as websites, mobile apps, and social media to empower local communities 
and individuals. Any person who transmits early warning concerning the 
abovementioned phenomena by means of signs in designs, colors, lights, or 
sound shall do so in compliance with the methods recognized or approved by the 
Department. 
 
 
ARTICLE VIII 
HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE 
 
SECTION 42. MANAGEMENT OF HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE. 
 
A.​
The Department shall have the power to receive and manage humanitarian 
assistance from any person or entity, whether from local or international sources. 
 
B.​
The importation by, and acceptance of humanitarian assistance donated to the 
Department, consisting of, among others, food, clothing, medical assistance, 
equipment, and materials for relief, recovery and other disaster management 
activities, are hereby authorized in accordance with Sections 120 and 121 of 
Republic Act No. 10863 otherwise known as Customs Modernization and Tariff Act 
(CMTA), and the prevailing provisions of the General Appropriations Act covering 
national internal revenue taxes and import duties of national and local government 
agencies. 
 
 
SECTION 43. INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE.  
 
The Department, in consultation with the Bureau of Immigration and the Bureau of 
Customs shall promulgate guidelines on international humanitarian assistance, 
41 
 


including the initiation, entry, facilitation, transit, regulation and termination thereof, as 
well as those involving international disaster relief and personnel assisting international 
actors, visa waiver, recognition of foreign professional qualifications, entry of 
international disaster goods and equipment, and exemption from port duties, taxes, and 
restrictions. 
SECTION 
44. 
ASSESSMENT 
OF 
THE 
NEED 
FOR 
INTERNATIONAL 
HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE.  
 
A.​
 Immediately after the declaration of a state of calamity by the local Sanggunian of 
the relevant local government unit or by the Department, as the case may be, the 
Department shall determine whether domestic capacities are likely to be sufficient 
to attend to the needs of affected persons for international humanitarian 
assistance. This determination may also be made, at the discretion of the 
President, prior to the onset of an imminent disaster. 
 
B.​
In the event of a determination by the Department that domestic response 
capacities are not likely to be sufficient due to the impact of the disaster, the 
Department shall recommend to the President that a request be made for 
international humanitarian assistance. 
 
C.​
A determination that domestic capacities are likely to be sufficient and that 
international humanitarian assistance is therefore unnecessary may be reviewed 
and rescinded by the Department, with the approval of the President, at any time, 
in light of prevailing circumstances and available information. 
 
 
SECTION 45. HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE ACTION CENTER. 
 
The Department shall create an inter-agency one-stop shop mechanism called the 
Humanitarian Assistance Action Center (HAAC) for the processing and release of entry 
and facilitation of goods, articles or equipment and services and international relief 
workers for the provision of international humanitarian assistance and the processing of 
necessary documents for assisting international actors. 
 
The Department shall lead and manage the HAAC, which shall be composed of the 
following: 
 
A.​
Bureau of Customs; 
B.​
Department of Foreign Affairs; 
C.​
Department of Social Welfare and Development;  
D.​
Department of Health; 
E.​
Food and Drug Administration; 
F.​
Department of Agriculture; 
G.​
Department of Energy;  
H.​
Department of National Defense; 
I.​
Philippine National Police;  
42 
 


J.​
Philippine Coast Guard;  
K.​
Department of Transportation; 
L.​
Department of Environment and Natural Resources; and  
M.​
Bureau of Immigration. 
 
SECTION 46. REQUEST FOR INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE. 
 
A.​
In cognizance of the urgency, criticality and intensity of an imminent risk, the 
Department shall issue a flash appeal to the family of nations, under regional and 
multilateral conventions, for assistance in preparedness, including preemptive 
measures, search, rescue, and retrieval, relief, recovery, and reconstruction. 
 
B.​
The President may request international humanitarian assistance, upon the advice 
of the Secretary. Such request may be specifically directed to particular assisting 
international actors or may be a general request directed to the international 
community. 
 
 
SECTION 47. REGULATION OF HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE. 
 
A.​
The Department shall ensure the efficient and effective monitoring of humanitarian 
assistance from domestic or international donors, establish and operate a 
platform, including an online platform, to facilitate, and provide public access to 
information on donations. 
 
B.​
The Department shall include in the Implementing Rules and Regulations of this 
Act guidelines and accountabilities on the receipt, management, distribution, 
accounting, and reporting of all humanitarian assistance, whether in cash or in 
kind, consistent with the rules on the use of foreign and local aid during calamities 
and disasters issued by the COA and other relevant government agencies. 
 
 
SECTION 48. HUMANITARIAN RELIEF FOR HUMAN-INDUCED DISASTERS. 
 
The Secretary of the Department of Disaster Resilience shall have the authority to 
provide humanitarian relief in the consequence management of human- induced 
emergencies such as acts of terrorism, insurgency, fire, and other related 
human-induced disasters. 
 
 
ARTICLE IX 
OFFER AND FACILITATION OF HUMANITARIAN  
ASSISTANCE TO FOREIGN STATES 
 
SECTION 49. OFFER AND FACILITATION OF INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN 
ASSISTANCE TO FOREIGN STATES. 
43 
 


 
In the event of a disaster occurring in a foreign State for which international 
humanitarian assistance is required, the Department, in coordination with the DFA, may 
offer, facilitate, provide, and deploy international humanitarian assistance to said foreign 
State, which shall be subject to guidelines to be promulgated by the Department for the 
purpose. 
 
SECTION 50. ACCREDITATION.  
 
The Department, in coordination with relevant government agencies and organizations, 
shall provide and facilitate the necessary training and accreditation to the respective 
government personnel to be deployed for such offer, facilitation and provision of 
international humanitarian assistance to a foreign State. 
 
 
ARTICLE X 
DECLARATION OF STATE OF CALAMITY 
 
SECTION 52. DECLARATION OF STATE OF CALAMITY. 
 
The Department shall recommend to the President the declaration of a state of calamity, 
whether in whole or part of an area, in case of an extraordinary disaster wherein the 
repercussions on public safety and welfare are serious and far-reaching. 
 
 
SECTION 52. CONDITIONS FOR THE DECLARATION OF A STATE OF CALAMITY. 
 
The President shall declare a state of calamity when all of the following requisites are 
present: 
 
A.​
There is a grave, unforeseen, or sudden occurrence which demands immediate 
action; 
B.​
The occurrence was caused by a natural disaster; 
C.​
The occurrence is likely to cause a threat to life and/or danger to property; and 
D.​
The declaration of a state of calamity shall cover a limited period only. 
 
 
SECTION 53. MANDATORY AND REMEDIAL MEASURES. 
 
The declaration of a state of calamity shall allow the immediate implementation of any 
or all of the following remedial measures: 
 
A.​
Imposition of price ceiling on basic necessities and prime commodities by the 
President upon the recommendation of the implementing agency as provided for 
under Republic Act No. 7581, otherwise known as the Price Act, or the National 
Price Coordinating Council; 
44 
 


 
B.​
Monitoring, prevention and control by the Local Price Coordination Council of 
overpricing or profiteering and hoarding of prime commodities, medicines and 
petroleum products; 
 
C.​
Grant of tax credits or exemptions by the BIR, upon the recommendation of the 
President or the Department. 
ARTICLE XI 
RECOVERY 
 
SECTION 54. STANDARDS FOR RECOVERY. 
 
The Department shall observe internationally accepted standards for recovery, planning, 
programming and implementation of the recovery process. Towards this end, the 
Department shall: 
 
A.​
Improve the community’s physical, social and economic resilience, consistent with 
the principle of “building forward better”; 
B.​
Use locally driven centrally supported processes based on legal mandates with 
supplementary capacity support when requested; 
 
C.​
Redirect development outside danger zones to minimize loss of lives and 
structures resulting from typhoons, flooding, landslides, and other hazards 
D.​
Employ outcome-driven planning and implementation;  
E.​
Maximize use of private-public sector partnership where possible; 
F.​
Consider local conditions such as culture, security situation and existing capacities 
of communities in identifying programs and projects; 
 
G.​
Ensure access to public transport, physical and mental health services, markets, 
schools, sustainable livelihoods, and other public services in planning for 
settlement areas; and 
 
H.​
Ensure restoration of peace and order and recovery of government functions. 
 
 
ARTICLE XII 
FUNDS AND RESOURCES 
 
SECTION 55. FUND REGULATIONS. 
 
The DBM and COA shall establish rules and regulations to ensure that funds required 
for disaster response, recovery, and rehabilitation are available and/or released 
efficiently and expeditiously through innovative budgeting and auditing mechanisms. 
 
 
45 
 


SECTION 56. LOCAL DISASTER RESILIENCE FUND AND LOCAL DISASTER 
CONTINGENCY FUND.  
 
LGUs shall annually set aside not less than five percent (5%) of their local budget, to 
constitute a Local Disaster Resilience Fund (LDRF). The LGU shall use its LDRF to 
maintain and operate its LDRO to maintain the officers, employees and staff of the 
LDRO, and to implement plans, programs and activities under its LDRP. Thirty percent 
(30%) of the LDRF shall be set aside as Local Disaster Contingency Fund (LDCF) 
which shall be used for disaster response and quick recovery measures. 
 
Nothing contained in this Act shall prevent LGUs from providing additional funding or 
allocating additional resources for disaster resilience activities, plans and programs 
within their jurisdiction. 
 
 
SECTION 57. PEOPLE’S SURVIVAL FUND. 
 
The Secretary of the Department shall be a member of the People’s Survival Fund 
Board mandated to manage and administer the People’s Survival Fund created under 
Republic Act No. 10174 otherwise known as Climate Change Act of 2009, and facilitate 
its utilization by LGUs, through ROs, to implement climate change adaptation projects of 
LGUs, and equip vulnerable LGU communities against the impacts of climate change. 
SECTION 58. Multi-Donor Trust Fund.  
 
The Department shall create and manage, together with the Bureau of Treasury, a 
Multi-Donor Trust Fund for the processing, releasing and accounting of money and 
other similar resources intended for disaster assistance. The Department shall establish 
a system to ensure transparency in the management and use of the Multi-Donor Trust 
Fund. 
 
 
SECTION 59. DONATIONS MANAGEMENT. 
 
The Department shall have the power to receive and manage donations from any 
person or entity, whether from local or international sources. 
 
The importation by, and donation to, the Department of, among others, food, clothing, 
medical assistance, equipment, and materials for relief, recovery and other disaster 
management activities are hereby authorized in accordance with Sections 120 and 121 
of Republic Act No. 10863, otherwise known as the Customs Modernization and Tariff 
Act (CMTA), and the prevailing provisions of the General Appropriations Act covering 
national internal revenue taxes and import duties of national and local government 
agencies. 
 
 
SECTION 60. REGULATION OF DONATIONS. 
46 
 


 
The Department shall establish and operate a platform, including an online platform, to 
facilitate, monitor, and provide public access to information on donations. To ensure 
complete accounting and reporting of donations, the Department shall formulate and 
issue rules and guidelines for the receipt, management and accounting of donations, 
which are consistent with the rules on the use of foreign and local aid during calamities 
and disasters issued by COA and other relevant government agencies. 
 
 
ARTICLE XIII 
SPECIAL RULES ON BORROWING, TAXES,  
ECOZONES AND PROCUREMENT 
 
SECTION 61. RULES ON BORROWING. 
 
The LGUs shall coordinate with the DOF, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), and other 
relevant agencies to access foreign loans to implement disaster prevention, mitigation, 
early recovery, and rehabilitation measures at the provincial, city, or municipal level. 
 
 
SECTION 62. SPECIAL RULES ON TAX AND DUTIES. 
 
To facilitate prompt and efficient response to, and/or recovery from disasters, the 
following shall be granted special exemptions from existing taxation laws, rules, and 
regulations: 
 
A.​
Foreign disaster assistance or international donations coursed through the 
Department shall be exempted from taxes and import duties; 
B.​
Local disaster assistance shall be exempted from donor's tax and allowing the 
treatment of donations as a deductible expense for local disaster assistance 
coursed through the Department; 
C.​
Goods or services donated from abroad coursed through the Department shall be 
exempted from the value added tax (VAT); and 
D.​
Aid or assistance rendered by members of the private sector or their investments 
in disaster resilience and climate change adaptation measures for their residence, 
communities or businesses. 
 
LGUs may also implement local tax rules which would grant disaster victims reasonable 
reduction, exemption, or deferment of local taxes or other types of tax assessments; or 
take other necessary action at the local level to provide tax relief to disaster victims. 
 
 
SECTION 63. CUSTOM DUTIES AND TARIFFS ON DONATIONS. 
 
The BOC shall create rules which would, among others, hasten the processing and 
release of donated goods and equipment to disaster victims and/or affected areas 
47 
 


pursuant to Sections 120 and 121 of Republic Act No. 10863, otherwise known as the 
Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA). 
 
 
SECTION 64. ECONOMIC RECOVERY AND DEVELOPMENT OF DISASTER-PRONE 
AREAS. 
 
A.​
The Department, in coordination with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) 
and other relevant agencies, shall create and provide policies, programs, and 
projects, such as, business tax relief and subsidies, to encourage business 
investments, and to stimulate economic activities in affected or disaster-prone 
areas. 
 
B.​
The Department, in the collaboration with the relevant LGUs and other 
stakeholders, shall likewise establish dual purpose structures in disaster affected 
areas, such as, among others, community agricultural centers, classrooms, and 
water harvesting tanks to develop and promote investments in affected or 
disaster-prone areas. 
 
 
ARTICLE XIV 
DISASTER RISK TRANSFER AND INSURANCE 
 
SECTION 65. MANDATED INSURANCE COVERAGE. 
 
To attain disaster resilience and achieve the purposes of this Act, the Department shall 
have the discretion and authority to require government agencies, government-owned 
and controlled corporations (GOCCs), or LGUs to insure their assets and/or properties 
such as, among others, vessels, vehicles, equipment, machineries, permanent 
buildings, properties stored therein, or properties in transit against insurable risks and 
pay the premiums therefor, to compensate the Government, GOCC or LGU, as 
applicable, for any damage to, or loss of, properties due to a natural disaster. 
 
 
ARTICLE XV 
YOUTH ASSISTANCE AND PARTICIPATION 
 
SECTION 66. YOUTH ORGANIZATIONS. 
 
The Department, with the assistance of the National Youth Commission (NYC), shall 
create policies, projects, and programs that address the special needs of the youth for 
disaster preparedness and management which shall include, among others: 
 
A.​
Supporting youth-oriented pre- and post-disaster activities; 
B.​
Conducting disaster risk training and management programs involving the youth; 
Coordinating with the Department of Education to create school curricula or 
48 
 


programs that educate and train children on disaster risk awareness and disaster 
preparedness; 
C.​
Mobilizing youth organizations; and 
D.​
Encouraging the participation of the youth, through the barangay youth 
representative and the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) to participate in disaster 
resilience and disaster management activities. 
 
 
 
 
 
SECTION 67. YOUTH ORIENTED DISASTER-RELATED PROGRAMS, POLICIES, 
AND PROJECTS. 
 
A.​
The Department, with the assistance of the National Youth Commission, shall 
provide training on, and implement, response and rehabilitation programs for the 
youth, including mental health and psycho- social services. 
 
B.​
The Department, in collaboration with the Department of Education (DepEd), the 
Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and other relevant 
agencies, shall integrate disaster risk and disaster resilience education in the 
school curriculum. 
 
 
SECTION 68. COMPREHENSIVE EMERGENCY PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN, 
PREGNANT AND LACTATING MOTHERS. 
 
The Department shall establish and implement a comprehensive emergency program to 
provide emergency relief and protection to children, and pregnant and lactating mothers 
in the event of a natural disaster. 
 
 
ARTICLE XVI 
PROHIBITED ACTS AND PENALTIES 
 
SECTION 69. PROHIBITED ACTS.  
 
Any public official, private person, group or corporation who commits any of the 
following prohibited acts shall be held liable and be subjected to the criminal and 
administrative penalties as provided for in Section 70 of this Act, without prejudice to the 
imposition of other criminal, civil and administrative liabilities under existing laws. 
 
A. Prohibited Acts of Public Officials. The following acts, if committed by public officials 
without justifiable cause, shall be considered as gross neglect of duty: 
 
49 
 


1.​
Dereliction of duty which leads to destruction, loss of lives, critical damage of 
facilities and misuse of funds; 
 
2.​
Failure to enforce laws, standards, or regulations such as the National 
Building Code, Solid Waste Management Act, Water Code, and other 
relevant laws, thereby increasing the risk of disasters or adversely affecting 
of disaster resilience; 
3.​
Failure to expeditiously act on reported violations; 
4.​
Failure to create LDRO(s) or PDRO(s) and appoint a permanent Local or 
Provincial Disaster Resilience Officer within six (6) months from the approval 
of this Act; 
5.​
Failure to prepare and implement an LDRP or PDRP, as applicable or a 
contingency plan for hazards frequently occurring within their jurisdiction. 
 
B. Prohibited Acts of Public Officials and Private Persons or Institutions. 
 
1.​
Delaying without justifiable cause the delivery of aid commodities, their 
improper handling or storage, resulting to damage or spoilage; 
 
2.​
Withholding the distribution of relief goods due to (a) political or partisan 
considerations; (b) discrimination based on race, ethnicity, religion, or 
gender; and (c) other similar circumstances; 
 
3.​
Preventing the entry and distribution of relief goods in disaster-stricken areas, 
including appropriate technology, tools, equipment, accessories, disaster 
teams or experts; 
 
4.​
Buying, for consumption or resale, from disaster relief agencies any relief 
goods, equipment or other and commodities which are intended for 
distribution to disaster affected communities; 
 
5.​
Buying, for consumption or resale, from the disaster affected persons any 
relief goods, equipment or other aid commodities received by them; 
 
6.​
Selling of relief goods, equipment or other aid commodities which are 
intended for distribution to disaster victims; 
 
7.​
Forcibly seizing relief goods, equipment or other aid commodities intended 
for or consigned to a specific group of victims or relief agency; 
 
8.​
Diverting or misdelivering relief goods, equipment or other aid commodities to 
persons other than the rightful recipient or consignee; 
 
9.​
Accepting, possessing, using or disposing relief goods, equipment or other 
aid commodities intended for or consigned to other rightful recipient or 
consignee; 
50 
 


 
10.​ Misrepresenting the source of relief goods, equipment or other aid 
commodities by: 
 
a.​
Either covering, replacing or defacing the labels of the containers to 
make it appear that the goods, equipment or other aid commodities 
came from another agency or person; 
 
b.​
Repacking the goods, equipment or other aid commodities into 
containers with different markings to make it appear that the goods 
came from another agency or persons or was released upon the 
instance of a particular agency or person; 
c.​
Making false verbal claim that the goods, equipment or other and 
commodity in its untampered original containers actually came from 
another agency or person or was released upon the instance of a 
particular agency or person 
 
11.​ Substituting or replacing relief goods, equipment or other aid commodities 
with the same items or inferior or cheaper quality; 
 
12.​ Illegal solicitating of relief goods, equipment or other aid commodities by 
persons or organizations representing others as defined in the standards and 
guidelines set by this Act’s IRR; 
 
13.​ Deliberately using false or inflated data in support of the request for funding, 
relief goods, equipment or other aid commodities for emergency assistance 
or other projects; and 
 
14.​ Tampering with or stealing hazard monitoring and disaster preparedness 
equipment and paraphernalia. 
 
 
SECTION 70. PENALTIES. 
 
Any individual, corporation, partnership, association or other juridical entity that commits 
any of the prohibited acts in the preceding Section shall be made liable for the following: 
 
A.​
A fine of not less than One Hundred Thousand Pesos (PhP 100,000.00) or not to 
exceed Five Hundred Thousand Pesos (PhP 500,000.00), or imprisonment of not 
less than six (6) months and one (1) day nor more than twelve (12) years, or both, 
at the discretion of the court, including perpetual disqualification from public office 
if the offender is a public officer, and confiscation or forfeiture in favor of the 
government of the objects and the instrumentalities used in committing any of 
herein prohibited acts. 
 
51 
 


B.​
If the offender is a corporation, partnership or association, or other juridical entity, 
the penalty shall be imposed upon the officer or officers of the corporation, 
partnership, association or entity responsible for the violation without prejudice to 
the cancellation or revocation of the license or accreditation issued to these 
entities by any licensing or accredited body of the government. If such offender is 
an alien, he or she shall, in addition to the penalties prescribed in this Act, be 
deported without further proceedings after service of the sentence. 
 
C.​
If the offender is a public officer, the offense shall also be punishable by 
administrative suspension of six (6) months and one (1) day to one (1) year for the 
first offense, and dismissal from the service for the second offense. The penalty of 
dismissal shall carry with it the cancellation of eligibility to or forfeiture of retirement 
benefits, perpetual disqualification from holding public office and disqualification 
from taking civil service examinations. 
 
 
Acts committed in violation of this Section shall be without prejudice to the imposition of 
other criminal, civil and administrative liabilities under other existing laws. 
 
 
SECTION 71. LIABILITY FOR UNLAWFUL PERFORMANCE OF DUTIES AND 
STATE LIABILITY IN CASE OF DEFENSE LITIGATION. 
 
In case a lawsuit is filed against an officer or employee of the Department as a result of 
the performance of official duties, and such performance was found to be lawful, the 
officer shall or employee shall be reimbursed by the Department for reasonable costs of 
litigation. For this purpose, the Department is authorized to procure the applicable 
liability insurance for its officers and employees. 
 
 
SECTION 72. DISCIPLINARY POWERS OF THE PRESIDENT. 
 
The President, upon the recommendation of the Department Secretary, shall impose 
administrative sanctions against local chief executives and barangay officials for willful 
or negligent acts performed in the implementation of, or compliance with, this Act and its 
IRR or relating to their official functions which adversely affect disaster resilience 
projects such as delayed issuance of permits or failure to implement local ordinances. 
 
 
ARTICLE XVII 
SPECIAL COURTS AND INJUNCTIONS 
 
SECTION 73. SPECIAL COURTS ON DISASTER RESILIENCE MATTERS. 
 
52 
 


To ensure the prompt and expeditious resolution of disputes relating to disaster 
response, recovery or rehabilitation measures, the Supreme Court shall establish 
special courts to hear, try, and decide cases arising from the following, among others: 
 
A.​
Implementation of the government’s policies, plans, programs, projects and budge 
related to the NDRPIP, LDRP, PDRP, other disaster resilience activities, or 
pursuant to the provisions of this Act; 
 
B.​
Construction of new settlements, or relocation of informal settlers or settlements, 
to promote disaster resilience; 
 
C.​
Expropriation, 
eminent 
domain 
or 
right-of-way 
issues 
relating 
to 
the 
implementation of disaster resilience projects; 
 
D.​
Failure to comply with standards for disaster preparedness and continuity 
planning, including, but not limited to infrastructure standards and designs; 
E.​
Declaration of state of calamity under Article X of this Act; 
 
F.​
Imposition of tax, customs duties, or the implementation of tax relief, exemptions, 
reductions and other tax or customs rules and regulations in relation to donations, 
disaster assistance, or other tax policies implemented by the BIR or BOC pursuant 
to the provision of this Act; 
 
G.​
Commission of prohibited acts under Article XVI of this Act; 
 
H.​
Disputes involving donations, relief goods, or contracts executed or implemented 
pursuant to the provisions of this Act; 
 
I.​
Other matters relating to achieving the purposes of this Act which the Supreme 
Court may determine as falling under the jurisdiction of the special courts created 
pursuant to this Section  
 
 
SECTION 74. DISPUTE RESOLUTION MECHANISMS. 
 
The Department shall establish a Disaster Resolution Board which shall resolve 
disputes involving administrative matters related to: 
 
A.​
Accreditation or denial of accreditation of disaster resilience training institutions, 
trainers, instructors, donors, volunteers, and Assisting Domestic or International 
Actors; 
B.​
Decisions of the ROs; 
C.​
Contracts entered into by the Department or any of its agents pursuant to the 
provisions of this Act; 
 
D.​
Other administrative matters or issues as may be determined by the Department. 
53 
 


 
The composition, structure, and other organizational matters related to the DRB shall be 
defined and provided in the IRR of this Act. 
 
 
SECTION 75. SPECIAL PROSECUTORS. 
 
The Ombudsman shall designate special prosecutors to handle and prosecute 
violations of this Act involving public officials and employees. 
 
 
 
 
 
SECTION 76. IMPOSITION OF TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER. 
 
No Court, except the Supreme Court, shall have the powers to issue an injunction or a 
temporary restraining order against any action taken or projects implemented by the 
Department or its agents pursuant to this Act. 
 
 
ARTICLE XVIII 
FINAL PROVISIONS 
 
SECTION 77. TRANSFER AND ATTACHMENT.  
 
A.​
The disaster risk reduction and management powers, functions, assets, personnel, 
fund and appropriations of the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) currently under the 
DND, are hereby transferred to the Department, and the civil defense functions 
shall remain with the DND. 
 
​
The existing organizational and administrative systems and processes of the OCD, 
as transferred, shall serve as the core organization of the Department. 
 
B.​
The applicable powers, functions, funds and appropriations of thE Disaster 
Response Assistance and Management Bureau and the National Resource and 
Logistics Management Bureau under the DSWD, are hereby transferred to the 
Department. 
 
C.​
The NDRRMC is hereby abolished. 
 
The DILG, DND, DSWD, and other relevant government instrumentalities, including the 
AFP, BFP, PNP, PCG, and OCD, shall continue to perform their functions related to the 
consequence management of human-induced disasters, as provided for by existing 
laws. 
 
54 
 


The Department shall, by virtue of this Act, be subrogated to all the rights and assume 
all the liabilities of the agencies transferred under this Act, and all their funds, records, 
property, assets, equipment, and such personnel as necessary, including unexpended 
appropriations or allocations. All contracts and liabilities of the said agencies are hereby 
transferred to and assumed by the Department and shall be acted upon in accordance 
with the Auditing Code and other pertinent laws, rules, and regulations. 
 
 
SECTION 78. COORDINATION AND CONVERGENCE WITH THE CLIMATE 
CHANGE COMMISSION. 
 
The Department, and the Climate Change Commission, pursuant to its mandate under 
Republic Act No. 9729, as amended, shall establish and implement a convergence 
mechanism to facilitate coordination on the following areas: 
 
A.​
Conduct of current and future climate and disaster risk assessment as basis for 
sustainable development and resilient investment planning and programming at 
the national, sectorial, and local levels; 
 
B.​
Establishment of a National Integrated Climate and Disaster Risk Information 
System, a singular platform for integrating and sharing climate and disaster risk 
information; 
 
C.​
Development and implementation of capacity-building and technical assistance 
programs for local government units and stakeholders on climate change 
adaptation and disaster risk reduction; 
 
D.​
Monitoring and evaluation of progress of implementation of national, sectorial, and 
local plans and programs on climate change adaptation and disaster risk 
reduction; and, 
 
E.​
Development 
of 
knowledge 
exchange platforms and implementation of 
information, education, and communication program, including good practices on 
Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction. 
 
 
SECTION 79. TRANSITORY PROVISION. 
 
The transfer of functions, assets, funds, equipment, properties, transactions, and 
personnel of the affected and transferred agencies, and the formulation of the internal 
organic structure, staffing pattern, operating system, and revised budget of the 
Department, shall be completed within two (2) years from the effectivity of this Act, 
during which time the existing personnel shall continue to assume their posts in 
holdover capacities until new appointments are issued: Provided, That, after the 
abolition of the agencies as specified in Section 77 of this Act, the Department, in 
coordination with the DBM, shall evaluate, abolish old and/or create new positions. 
55 
 


 
 
SECTION 80. INTER-DEPARTMENTAL RELATIONS AND JOINT SUPERVISION. 
 
The Department shall exercise joint operational supervision with the following 
Departments and agencies:  
 
A.​
DOST over the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services 
Administration (PAGASA) and Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology 
(PHIVOLCS);  
B.​
DENR over the Geo-Hazard Assessment and Engineering Geology Section of the 
Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB); 
C.​
DOH over the Health Emergency Management Bureau (HEMB); and  
D.​
DILG over the Bureau of Fire and Protection; 
 
Provided, that the Department, the DOST, PAG-ASA, PHIVOLCS, DENR, DOH and 
DILG, shall establish systems and protocols for sustained sharing of data, information 
technology, facilities and other resources critical to the DRR at all times; 
 
Provided further, that the Department shall provide DRR training to the personnel of 
these departments, and shall upgrade the equipment and other logistical requirement of 
these Department; 
 
Provided likewise, that the said agencies will be under the operational supervision and 
direct control of the Department in anticipation of, during, and as necessary in the 
determination of the Secretary of the Disaster Resilience, in the aftermath of 
emergencies and disasters; 
 
Provided finally, That PAGASA, PHILVOCS and the Geohazards Unit of the MGB shall 
second dedicated staff to the Department based on its personnel and other operational 
requirements. 
 
 
SECTION 81. TRANSFER OF RESOURCES. 
 
The transfer of powers and functions of agencies listed in Section 77 shall include the 
corresponding funds and appropriations, plantilla positions, records, equipment, 
facilities, and properties of such agencies, subject to the power of the Department to 
reorganize or reallocate the resources and positions from such agencies, as may be 
necessary to attain the objectives of this Act. 
 
 
SECTION 82. PROGRAM MANAGEMENT OFFICE FOR THE EARTHQUAKE 
RESILIENCY OF THE GREATER METRO MANILA AREA.  
 
56 
 


The Program Management Office for the Earthquake Resiliency of the Greater Metro 
Manila Area (PMOERG), as created pursuant to Executive Order No. 52 s. 2018, shall 
be transferred to the Department under the supervision and control of the Secretary and 
shall continue to exercise its mandated functions. 
 
 
SECTION 83. POST-DISASTER SHELTERS. 
 
The Department shall establish a post-disaster shelter recovery policy framework for 
low-income or informal settler families, with the assistance of the appropriate housing 
agencies and the concerned LGUs. It shall, among others, determine the appropriate 
shelter modalities depending on the following post-disaster phases: emergency, 
temporary or transitional, and permanent. The Department shall likewise identify, 
assess, and designate safe zones where the appropriate shelters shall be built. 
 
 
SECTION 84. CULTURAL HERITAGE. 
 
To protect, preserve, and promote the nation’s historical and cultural heritage, the 
Department shall assist the appropriate cultural agencies and the appropriate LGUs to 
give priority protection and restoration to all national cultural treasures or national 
historical landmarks, sites, or monuments in post-disaster recovery or rehabilitation 
measures. 
 
 
SECTION 85. INDIGENOUS PEOPLE. 
 
A.​
The Department shall, with the assistance of the National Commission on 
Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) and the concerned LGUs, devise and implement 
mechanisms that foster social protection for indigenous communities that are 
vulnerable to the effects of natural disasters. 
 
B.​
The Department shall ensure respect for, and protection of, the traditional resource 
right of the Indigenous Cultural Communities or Indigenous Peoples (ICCs or IPs) 
to their ancestral domains and recognize the customary laws and traditional 
resource use and management, knowledge, and practices in ancestral domains. 
 
C.​
In ancestral domains which are disaster-prone, the Department, with the 
assistance of the NCIP and applicable LGUs, shall create an Ancestral Domain 
Disaster Management and Resiliency Plan. It shall likewise properly communicate 
and explain information on disaster risks in ancestral domains with the concerned 
ICCs or IPs and, as much as possible, engage such ICCs or IPs in jointly 
formulating a disaster resiliency plan for their ancestral domain. 
 
 
SECTION 86. LIVELIHOOD. 
57 
 


 
The Department shall, with the assistance of the relevant government agencies, such 
as the DTI and Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), establish policies and 
programs to restore and/or generate livelihood in areas affected by natural disasters. 
 
 
SECTION 87. STRUCTURAL AUDIT OF GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS.  
 
The Department, with the assistance of the DPWH and other relevant government 
agencies and stakeholders, shall ensure and conduct structural audit, as often as 
necessary, on government buildings, especially those located in congested and 
disaster-prone areas, to ensure structural integrity and disaster risk of urban buildings 
and to prevent the loss of life and property in the event of an anticipated natural 
disaster. 
 
 
 
SECTION 88. MAGNA CARTA BENEFITS. 
 
Qualified employees of the Department including those of its attached agencies, shall 
be covered by and entitled to the benefits under Republic Act No. 8439, otherwise 
known as the Magna Carta for Scientists, Engineers, Researchers and other Science 
and Technology Personnel in the Government, and Republic Act No. 7305, otherwise 
known as the Magna Carta of Public Health Workers and Republic Act No. 9433 
otherwise known as the Magna Carta for Social Workers. 
 
 
SECTION 89. HAZARD PAY. 
 
Qualified personnel of the Department and the local disaster resilience offices are 
entitled to receive hazard pay, subject to existing policies and guidelines. 
 
 
SECTION 90. SEPARATION OF BENEFITS OF OFFICIALS AND EMPLOYEES OF 
AFFECTED AGENCIES. 
 
Public Sector employees who have been displaced or separated from the service 
pursuant to reorganization under this Act shall be entitled to separation pay, retirement 
and other benefits in accordance with Republic Act No. 6656 or the Government 
Reorganization Law, and other laws, and rules and regulations issued by the Civil 
Service Commission on government reorganization. 
 
In no case shall there be any diminution of benefits under the separation plan until the 
full implementation of this Act. 
 
58 
 


Employees who shall be displaced or separated as a result of the implementation of this 
Act shall be given preference for appointment in the Department and in other 
government agencies if they meet the qualification requirements of the positions. 
 
No new employees shall be considered for appointment until all incumbent employees 
have been placed. The placement of an incumbent employee to a higher position which 
constitutes a promotion shall not be allowed until all incumbent employees have been 
placed to comparable positions for which they are considered. 
 
 
SECTION 91. APPROPRIATIONS. 
 
The amount necessary for the initial implementation of this Act shall be taken from the 
current fiscal year’s appropriations of all agencies herein absorbed, transferred, and 
attached to the Department. Thereafter, the amounts necessary for the operation of the 
Department and the implementation of this Act shall be included in the annual General 
Appropriations Act. 
 
SECTION 92. IMPLEMENTING RULES AND REGULATIONS. 
 
The Department, DBM, DND, DOF, DILG, DOST, NEDA, DSWD, CSC, and the Career 
Executive Service Board (CESB), the House and Senate Committees on Government 
Reorganization, and representatives from relevant government agencies, academe, 
business sector, non-government organizations, and civil society organizations shall 
prepare and issue the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) to implement this Act 
within ninety (90) days from its effectivity. 
 
 
SECTION 93. JOINT CONGRESSIONAL OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE ON DISASTER 
RESILIENCE.  
 
There shall be created a Joint Congressional Oversight Committee on Disaster 
Resilience to monitor the implementation of this Act. The Committee shall be composed 
of six (6) members of the House of Representatives and six (6) members of the Senate 
to be designated by the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President of 
the Senate, respectively: Provided, that two (2) members of the House of 
Representatives and two (2) Senators shall come from the Minority of their respective 
houses of Congress. The Committee shall be jointly chaired by a Members of the House 
of Representatives and a Senator designated by the Speaker of the House of 
Representatives and the President of the Senate, respectively. 
 
The Joint Congressional Oversight Committee on Disaster Resilience shall be assisted 
by a secretariat to be composed by personnel under secondment from the Senate and 
the House of Representatives and may retain consultants. 
 
 
59 
 


SECTION 94. MANDATORY REVIEW.  
 
Within five (5) years after the effectivity of this Act, or as the need arises, the 
Congressional Oversight Committee shall conduct a systematic evaluation of the 
accomplishments and impacts of this Act, as well as the performance, and 
organizational structure of the Department, for purposes of determining remedial 
legislation. 
 
 
SECTION 95. INTERPRETATION.  
 
Any doubt in the interpretation of any provision of this Act shall be resolved in favor of a 
liberal interpretation that will fulfill the objectives of this Act, especially in relation to the 
provision of effective, efficient and timely disaster response, rehabilitation and recovery. 
 
 
 
 
 
SECTION 96. SEPARABILITY CLAUSE. 
 
 If any provision of this Act is declared invalid or unconstitutional, the provisions not 
affected thereby shall remain in full force and effect. 
 
 
SECTION 97. REPEALING CLAUSE.  
 
All laws, executive orders, proclamations, rules, regulations, and other issuances or 
parts inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or amended 
accordingly. 
 
 
SECTION 98. EFFECTIVITY.  
 
This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following its complete publication in the 
Official Gazette or a newspaper of general circulation. 
 
 
 
Approved, 
60