TWENnETHCONGRESSOFTHE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
)
'(Oi’fir- Ci
25 JlJL 21 AlO 33
SENATE
S. No. 730
RKCLl vED tiV
Introduced by Senator FRANCIS N. PANGILINAN
AN ACT
CREATING THE DEPARTMENT OF DISASTER AND EMERGENCY 
MANAGEMENT, DEFINING ITS POWERS AND FUNCTIONS, 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
In 2023, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA)1 208 natural 
extreme events and disasters occurred affecting 3 million families (13 million 
individuals) with 157 lives lost. This would amount to P24.49 billion in total cost of 
damages. This reality is further highlighted by being the world's most at-risk country 
for 16 years straight according to the World Risk Index (WRI)2.
When the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act was passed 
in 2010, it transformed the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) into the 
National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) which 
oversees the Philippine disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM) system. 
The National Council is composed of several interacting agencies sharing the
1 PSA's Highlights of the Compendium of Philippine Environment Statistics Component 4: Extreme 
Events and Disasters.
2 World Risk Index 2024 by the Institute for International Law of Peace and Armed Conflict and 
Bundnis Entwicklung Hilft (Alliance Development Works).


responsibility of DRRM with no one overall in charge and no clear line of 
accountability.
This measure seeks the creation of a department that will focus on the 
integration of disaster risk reduction and management and climate change 
adaptation. In addition, the department shall also consolidate and assume the 
functions of the Office of Civil Defense and the National Disaster Risk Reduction and 
Management Office with the purpose of substantially reducing the country's 
vulnerabilities to disasters and other emergencies.
In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
FRANCIS N. n^GILINAN
Senators


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TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
)
25 JUL 21 AlO 33
SENATE
s. No. 730
RFCERtO 2-.
Introduced by Senator FRANCIS N. PANGILINAN
AN ACT
CREATING THE DEPARTMENT OF DISASTER AND EMERGENCY 
MANAGEMENT, DEFINING ITS POWERS AND FUNCTIONS, APPROPRIATING 
FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Disaster and 
Emergency Management Act of2025."
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State: 
a) To uphold the sacredness and dignity of human life by efficiently and 
effectively addressing humanitarian emergencies, including calamities and 
disasters, through the establishment of a focused, streamlined, 
independent, empowered, capacitated, full-time, and specialized agency 
on disaster risk reduction and management as well as emergency 
response, which is national in scope and civilian in character. The people 
are the most important assets of the nation, and all disaster risk reduction 
and management efforts shall be responsive to the humanitarian needs 
of the people, the dignity and value of the human person, and respect for 
property;
b) To promote a simplified, strategic, systematic, continuous,
comprehensive, inclusive, and integrated approach to disaster risk 
reduction and management, with the end in view of substantially reducing 
vulnerabilities and the risk of disasters and other humanitarian


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emergencies, towards the preservation of life and property, thereby 
ultimately preventing or deterring the loss of lives and the social, 
economic, cultural, and environmental assets of the country;
c) To establish a permanent, institutionalized, cohesive, and comprehensive 
framework for disaster preparedness, prevention and mitigation, and 
response, to be implemented by a full-time and focused specialized 
agency with its own mandate, powers, and funding, in coordination with 
other government agencies, foreign governments, financial institutions, 
international organizations, the private sector, and civil society. In disaster 
risk reduction and management, disaster prevention and mitigation shall, 
first of all, aim the outright avoidance of the adverse impacts of hazards 
and related disasters. However, with the knowledge and capacities to 
effectively anticipate, respond to, and recover from, the impacts of likely, 
imminent, or current hazard events or conditions, preparedness action 
shall be carried out in the most effective and efficient manner. In a 
disaster scenario, the response shall ensure the provision of emergency 
services and public assistance, before, during, or immediately after, a 
disaster; and
d) To create an integrated, systematic, comprehensive, and cohesive plan to 
simplify, streamline, integrate, and coordinate the various programs, 
projects, and activities of the Government and such other 
actors/stakeholders in disaster risk reduction and management to ensure 
accountability, responsibility, and transparency, as well as to achieve 
efficiency and effectiveness in the performance of their functions.
Sec. 3. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act:
a) Contingency Planning - a management process that analyzes specific 
potential events or emerging situations that might threaten society or the 
environment and establishes arrangements in advance to enable timely, 
effective, and appropriate responses to such events and situations;
b) Disaster - a serious disruption of the functioning of a community or a 
society involving widespread human, material, economic, or


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environmental losses and impacts, which exceeds the ability of the
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affected community or society to cope using its own resources;
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c)
Disaster and Emergency Management - the organization and
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management of resources and responsibilities for addressing all aspects
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of disasters and emergencies, in particular preparedness, response, and
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initial recovery steps;
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d)
Emergency- any occasion or instance for which, in the determination of
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the President, national assistance is needed to supplement local
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government efforts and capabilities to save lives and to protect property
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and public health and safety, or to lessen or avert the threat of a
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catastrophe in any part of the country;
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e)
Evacuation Centers and Faciiities - permanent and typhoon-resilient
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structures equipped with facilities constructed exclusively for evacuation
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and humanitarian relief operations during disasters and emergencies;
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f)
Geographic Information System - a database which contains, among
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others, geohazard assessments, information on climate change, and
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climate risk reduction and management;
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g)
Government - includes the National Government, and any of its
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subdivisions, agencies, or instrumentalities, including government-owned
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and controlled corporations and their subsidiaries, and local government
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units;
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h)
Hazard - a dangerous phenomenon, substance, human activity, or
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condition that may cause loss of life, injury, or other health impacts.
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property damage, loss of livelihood and services, social and economic
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disruption, or environmental damage;
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i)
Humanitarian - one devoted to the promotion of human welfare an
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advancement of social reform;
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j)
Response - any and all projects, programs, plans, or activities aimed at
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preventing, mitigating, and/or preparing for disasters and other
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humanitarian emergencies. This includes, but is not limited to, the
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provision of emergency services and public assistance during or
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immediately after a disaster; and
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k) State of Calamity - a condition involving mass casualty and/or major 
damages to property, disruption of means of livelihood and the normal 
way of life of the people in the affected areas as a result of the occurrence 
of natural or human-induced hazard.
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The Department Proper
Sec. 4. Department of Disaster and Emergency Management. - To carry out the 
above-declared policy, there is hereby created the Department of Disaster and 
Emergency Management, hereinafter referred to as the Department, which shall 
prepare, integrate, coordinate, implement, supervise, control, monitor, and evaluate 
all plans, programs, projects, and activities of the Government on humanitarian 
emergency assistance and disaster risk reduction and management.
Sec. 5. Powers and Functions. - In addition to the powers and functions provided 
by this Act, the Department shall also assume the policy-making, coordination, 
integration, supervision, monitoring, and evaluation functions currently lodged with 
the existing National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), 
and shall take over all of the latter's responsibilities enumerated in Section 6 of 
Repubiic Act No. 10121. It shall also assume the powers and functions of the Office 
of the Civil Defense (OCD) as enumerated in Section 9 of Republic Act No. 10121.
To this end, all references to the powers and functions of the NDRRMC and the 
OCD in Republic Act No. 10121 shall be understood to refer to the Department created 
under this Act.
The Department shail also have administrative supervision and control over the 
existing Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Offices (RDRRMOs), and 
the Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Offices (LDRRMOs), organized in 
all provinces, cities, municipalities, and barangays in the country, which are hereby 
thereafter called Regional Disaster and Emergency Management Offices (RDEMOs) 
and Local Disaster and Emergency Management Offices (LDEMOs), respectively.
The Department shall also cause the identification, establishment, and 
maintenance of permanent evacuation centers and facilities in priority cities and 
municipalities.


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Sec. 6. Composition. - The Department Proper shall be composed of the Office 
of the Secretary, the Offices of the Undersecretaries and Assistant Secretaries, and 
the Department Bureaus, as well as Regional and Local Offices.
The Provincial, City, Municipal, and Barangay Disaster and Emergency 
Management Offices and Rescue Teams shall be under the control and supervision of 
their respective local government units. The Department shall exercise supervisory 
power over such offices.
Sec. 7. Office of the Secretary. - The Office of the Secretary shall consist of the 
Secretary and his or her immediate staff.
Sec. 8. The Secretary. - The Secretary shall be appointed by the President, 
subject to confirmation by the Commission on Appointments.
The Secretary shall have the following powers and functions:
a) Advise the President in issuing executive orders, regulations, 
proclamations, and other issuances, the promulgation of which is 
expressly vested by law in the President relative to matters under the 
jurisdiction of the Department;
b) Establish the policies and standards for the effective, efficient, and 
economical operation of the Department pursuant to a national disaster 
risk reduction and management framework which shall provide for a 
comprehensive, all-hazards, multi-sectoral, inter-agency, and community- 
based approach to humanitarian emergency assistance and disaster risk 
reduction and management, in line with Section 6 (a) of the Philippine 
Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010;
c) Promulgate rules and regulations necessary to carry out department 
objectives, policies, functions, plans, programs, and projects;
d) Promulgate administrative issuances necessary for the efficient 
administration of the offices under his/her jurisdiction and for the proper 
execution of the laws relative thereto;
e) Exercise direct supervision and control over all functions and activities of 
the Department, as well as supervision over its officers and personnel;
f) 
Create regional offices and such other service units and divisions, as may 
be necessary; and
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g) Perform such other functions as may be necessary and/or proper to attain
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the objectives of this Act.
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Sec. 9. The Undersecretaries. - The Secretary shall be assisted by three (3)
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Undersecretaries in the performance of the Department's functions and duties related
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to the pillars of disaster risk reduction and management, namely, (a) disaster
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preparedness, (b) disaster response, and (c) disaster prevention and mitigation.
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Another undersecretary shall be in charge of administrative and finance services.
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The 
Undersecretaries shall be appointed by the President upon the
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recommendation of the Secretary. They shall have the powers and functions, as
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provided for in Section 10, Chapter 2, Book IV of the Administrative Code of 1987,
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relative to the scope of their responsibilities as provided above.
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The Office of the Undersecretaries shall consist of the Undersecretaries and their
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respective immediate staff.
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Sec. 10. The Assistant Secretaries.- The Secretary shall be assisted by three (3)
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Assistant Secretaries, one (1) for training, one (1) for operations, and one (1) for legal
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affairs. The Assistant Secretaries shall be appointed by the President upon the
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recommendation of the Secretary.
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Sec. 
11. Qualifications. - No person shall be appointed Secretary,
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Undersecretary, or Assistant Secretary of the Department, unless he or she is a citizen
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and resident of the Philippines, of good moral character, and of proven experience or
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competence/expertise in humanitarian emergency assistance and disaster
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management over the course of his or her career. The Secretary, Undersecretary, or
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Assistant Secretary shall not hold any other position, public or private, during his/her
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tenure.
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Sec. 12. Bureaus. - Subject to the power of the Secretary, with the approval of
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the President, to reorganize, restructure, and redefine the functions of the bureaus
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for the effective discharge of the duties and functions of the Department under this
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Act, the Department shall have the following bureaus:
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a) Bureau of Hazard Education and Risk Mitigation;
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b) Bureau of Disaster Preparedness;
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c) 
Bureau of Humanitarian Emergency Relief Operations; and
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d) Bureau of Administration and Finance.
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Sec. 13. Powers and Functions of the Bureaus. - The bureaus shall have the
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following powers and functions:
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a) The Bureau of Hazard Education and Risk Mitigation shall assist the
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Secretary in the formulation of policies, programs, and plans related to
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disaster prevention and mitigation, as defined in Sections 3 (k) and 3 (i),
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respectively, of the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management
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Act of 2010. In particular, it shall take the lead in:
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i. Making an inventory and checklist of all personnel, equipment, and
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supplies critical during disasters in all local government units, in
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accordance with protocols and contingency plans, and endeavoring
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that the same be provided to the local government units within a
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period of twelve (12) months upon the passage into law of this Act;
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ii. 
Conducting a review of the National Building Code and Fire Code
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of the Philippines, together with the relevant government
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department, and submitting the results thereof to the Senate and
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the House of Representatives of the Philippines, with the end in
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view of developing legislation which seeks to strengthen
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infrastructure in line with disaster prevention and mitigation;
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iii. 
Developing, updating, and maintaining a national geographic
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information system which shall be the basis of national, regional,
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and local disaster protocols and contingency plans, which shall be
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under the control and custody of the Department. The same shall
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also be maintained at all local government units;
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iv. 
Mainstreaming and integrating disaster risk reduction and
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management (DRRM) and climate change adaptation (CCA) in all
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national, regional, local, and sectoral development policies, plans,
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and budgets relating to environmental protection;
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V. 
Developing and implementing community-based and scientific
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DRRM and CCA hazard assessment, mapping, analysis, and
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monitoring;
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Vi. 
Establishing disaster risk financing, insurance, and other risk
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transfer mechanisms at the community level;
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vii. 
Establishing, developing, and improving the end-to-end monitoring 
and forecasting of hazards, including early warning systems and 
practices; and
viii. 
Such other functions relevant to its mandate of disaster prevention 
and mitigation.
b) The Bureau of Disaster Preparedness shall assist the Secretary in the 
formulation of policies, programs, and plans related to disaster 
preparedness, as defined in Section 3 (j) of the Philippine Disaster Risk 
Reduction and Management Act of 2010. In particular, it shall take the 
lead in:
i. 
Developing DRRM and CCA information, education, 
communication, and advocacy plans;
ii. 
Developing standard DRRM training modules and the conduct of 
trainings, simulation exercises, and other capacity-building 
activities for communities and specific groups, including but not 
limited to, quick response teams, frontline government and private 
responders, and humanitarian aid workers;
iii. 
Developing and monitoring the implementation of locality-based 
DRRM contingency plans, and establishing and monitoring the 
operations of national and local Emergency Response Operations 
Centers;
iv. 
Developing and implementing comprehensive, scenario-based 
nationai and local preparedness policies, plans, and systems, in 
primary coordination with the local government unit/s concerned, 
in the wake of an imminent humanitarian emergency and/or 
disaster. Such policies, plans, and systems include, but are not 
limited to, the preventive evacuation, procurement of facilities, 
equipment, tools, systems, and other mechanisms to cope with the 
effects thereof; the deployment of essential personnel and 
manpower in critical areas of concern; and the formulation of such 
other courses of action to avert the loss of lives, livelihood and/or 
property;
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V. Strengthening the partnership and coordination between and 
among aii key piayers and stakehoiders in a humanitarian 
emergency and/or disaster;
Vi. 
Preparing the criteria and procedure for the eniistment of
accredited community disaster volunteers (ACDVs), and the
drafting of a manual of operations for ACDVs, in consultation with 
relevant stakeholders; and
vii. 
Such other functions relevant to its mandate of disaster
preparedness.
c) The Bureau of Humanitarian Emergency Relief Operations shall assist the 
Secretary in the formulation and implementation of policies, programs, 
and plans related to disaster response, as defined in Section 3 (I) of the 
Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010. In 
particular, it shall take the lead in:
i. 
Establishing and implementing a comprehensive, well-coordinated, 
effective, and efficient Disaster Response Action Plan (DRAP) for 
every humanitarian emergency or disaster, with the primary goal 
of preventing or deterring the loss of lives, property and livelihood;
ii. 
Developing and implementing an integrated and coordinated 
system of search, rescue, and retrieval (SRR), and evacuations 
procedure;
iii. 
Establishing a mechanism to ensure the prompt and accurate 
assessment of damage in disaster areas, including, but not limited 
to, the loss of lives, bodily injuries, damages to infrastructure and 
public facilities, and destruction of social, economic, cultural, and 
environmental assets;
iv. 
Establishing a mechanism to ensure the prompt and accurate 
assessment of humanitarian needs in disaster areas, including, but 
not limited to, food and nutrition, health, clothing, shelter, 
livelihood, water, sanitation, hygiene, protection, and preservation 
of peace and order;


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V. Identifying standard-based relief shelters and sites for internally 
displaced persons, as well as developing and implementing a set of 
minimum standards for such temporary shelters;
Vi. Identifying priority cities and municipalities where the permanent 
Evacuation Centers and Facilities shall be established and 
recommending the need to establish the same in other local 
government units;
vii. 
Consolidating the established evacuation centers in the local 
government units and formulating a standard operating procedure 
in maintaining these evacuation centers and ensuring their 
functionality and operationality in times of disasters and 
emergencies;
viii. 
Supplementing the efforts of the local government unit concerned 
in providing basic social services, livelihood-oriented activities and 
psychosocial interventions to the affected population, whether 
inside or outside temporary shelters; and
lx. Such other functions relevant to its mandate of disaster response. 
In case there is total or considerable breakdown of authority 
resulting from the humanitarian emergency or disaster, which 
requires response that goes beyond the mandate or capacity of the 
local government unit/s concerned, the Bureau shall, with prior 
authorization from the Department, directly formulate, implement, 
manage and coordinate ail disaster response activities. In such 
case, the Department shall be possessed with the power to call 
upon other agencies and instrumentalities of government, and 
neighboring local government units, to augment, supplement 
and/or implement disaster response efforts. Further, the authority 
of the Bureau shall be provided, described, and limited in the 
authorization.
d) The Bureau of Administration and Finance shall be composed of the Office 
of the Legal Counsel and the Financial and Management Office. The Office 
of the Legal Counsel shall be responsible for providing legal services and
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advice on all policies, programs, and operational matters of the 
Department. It shall provide legal counseling services in cases where the 
Department is a party and shall also handle administrative cases against 
any personnel of the Department and submit recommendations pertaining 
thereto.
The Financial and Management Office, which shall consist of the Human 
Resources Management Division, General Services Division, and the 
Finance Division, shall be responsible for providing the Department with 
services relative to personnel information, records, supplies, equipment, 
collection and disbursements, security, and custodial work. It shall also 
be responsible for providing the Department with staff advice and 
assistance on budgetary, financial, and management improvement 
matters.
II
Attached Agencies and Coordination with Other Government Offices
Sec. 14. The Disaster and Emergency Management Coordinating Council. - There 
shall be a National Coordinating Council, hereinafter referred to as the Council, which 
shall coordinate and integrate the efforts of the concerned government agencies and 
offices and nongovernmental and people's organizations, and assist the Department 
in the delivery of quick and efficient humanitarian relief operations, among others, in 
times of disasters and emergencies.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) 
referred to in Section 5 of the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act 
of 2010 shall compose the Council and shall be headed by the Secretary of the 
Department of Disaster and Emergency Management.
The Secretary is hereby empowered to constitute, call, convene, meet with, 
and/or deputize agencies of government, or an aggrupation or cluster thereof, to 
assist, advise or otherwise coordinate with the Secretary. Representatives from the 
civil society/nongovernmental organizations and the private sector may also be 
included, as necessary, as members of the coordination mechanism called for by the 
Secretary.
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Sec. 15. Relationship and Coordination with Other Government Offices. - In the
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discharge of their respective responsibilities, the Department's bureaus shall
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coordinate with Government departments, agencies, offices, and instrumentalities,
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whose powers and functions are relevant to each bureau's respective focus area.
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Sec. 16. Attached Agencies. - The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and
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Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) and the Philippine Institute of
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Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) are hereby placed under the supervision of
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the Department; Provided, That they shall continue to perform their respective
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functions as provided by law.
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III
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The Humanitarian Emergency Assistance
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and Disaster Fund, Donations, and Accountability
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Sec. 17. Humanitarian Emergency Assistance and Disaster Fund (Calamity Fund).
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- At least one percent (1%) of the estimated revenue from regular sources of
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government, or Twenty Billion Pesos (Php 20,000,000,000.00), whichever is higher,
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shall be set aside as an annual lump sum appropriation for unforeseen expenditures
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arising from the occurrence of calamities; Provided, That such appropriation shall be
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used only in the area, or a portion thereof, of the country declared as in a state of
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calamity.
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The present National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund (NDRRMF)
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and the Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund (LDRRMF) shall
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henceforth be known as the Humanitarian Emergency Assistance and Disaster Fund
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(HEAD Fund) and Local Humanitarian Emergency Assistance and Disaster Fund (Local
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HEAD Fund), respectively.
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The Department shall manage, mobilize, and with the approval of the President,
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release resources for disaster risk reduction and management, including the funds
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herein provided for. It shall also monitor and provide the necessary guidelines and
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procedures for the release, utilization, accounting, and auditing of the Local HEAD
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Fund.
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There shall also be created a regular fund for the personnel, resource
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requirements, and other administrative costs related to the operations of the
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Department.
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Sec. 18. Donations. - All monetary contributions and donations in kind, including, 
but not limited to, equipment, food, clothing, medicine, and related supplies, from 
international and local sources, shall be coordinated with the Department to ensure 
that they are equitably and properly allocated and utilized, directly and solely for 
disaster risk reduction and management efforts.
The Department shall maintain and make publicly available a complete, accurate, 
timely, and separate record of such donations, indicating the particular areas where 
such were allocated, and the exact purposes for which the same were utilized.
Sec. 19. Accountability, Responsibility, Transparency, and Access to Information. 
- The Department and all regional and local councils and offices under its supervision 
or control, shall make available to the public for scrutiny, copying, and reproduction, 
(i) any and all records of their financial transactions, including, but not limited to, 
donations received, funds allocated, and amounts disbursed; (ii) all information 
pertaining to their official acts, transactions or decisions; and (iii) relevant research 
data used as basis for policy development, regardless of the physical form or format 
in which such record, information, or data is contained.
The Department and local government units concerned shall also upload such 
records, information or data on their websites, which shall be regularly updated every 
fifteen (15) days. In case of voluminous records, information or data, the Department 
and/or local government units concerned may, in its/their discretion, upload only an 
executive summary thereof, with a note outlining the procedure/requirements to 
obtain full access to the complete record, information, or data.
The record, information, or data uploaded in the websites may be withdrawn 
after a period of three (3) years from the time of uploading; Provided, That an abstract 
thereof shall remain uploaded in the website, with an indication of the dates of posting 
and withdrawal, and a note outlining the procedure/requirements to obtain access to 
the withdrawn record, information, or data.
IV
Establishment of Permanent and Typhoon-Resilient 
Evacuation Centers and Facilities
Sec. 20. Establishment of Evacuation Centers and Facilities. - There shall be 
established permanent and typhoon-resilient Evacuation Centers and Facilities (ECF)
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in priority cities and municipalities identified by the Department in coordination with 
the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the Department of 
the Interior and Local Government (DILG), and local government units. This shall form 
part of the national disaster risk reduction and management framework.
The established evacuation centers prior to this Act shall be consolidated and 
shall form part of the directory of ECFs under the control of the Department.
Sec. 21. Administration. - The Regional Disaster and Emergency Management 
Offices (RDEMOs), under the supervision of the bureau concerned, shall lead the 
management, maintenance, and operation of the newly established and existing ECFs.
The local government units through their Local Disaster and Emergency 
Management Offices (LDEMOs) shall coordinate with the RDEMOs in the efficient 
utilization and operation of the ECFs in their respective jurisdiction.
V
Transitory Provisions
SEC. 22. Abolition of the Office of Civil Defense; Transfer of Powers and 
Functions. - The Office of Civil Defense is hereby abolished, and its powers and 
functions are hereby transferred to the Department. The foregoing transfer of powers 
and functions shall include all applicable funds and appropriations, records, 
equipment, property, and personnel, as may be necessary.
The Department shall, by virtue of this Act, be subrogated to all the rights and 
assume all the liabilities of the Office of Civil Defense, and all other agencies, or 
government units whose powers and functions have been transferred to the 
Department, and all their funds, records, property, assets, equipment, and such 
personnel as necessary, including unexpended appropriations and/or allocations. All 
contracts and liabilities of the said offices, agencies, and government units are hereby 
transferred to and assumed by the Department and shall be acted upon in accordance 
with the Auditing Code and other pertinent laws, rules, and regulations; Provided, 
That the officers and employees of said offices, agencies, and government units shall 
continue in a holdover capacity until such time as the new officers and employees of 
the Department shall have been duly appointed pursuant to the provisions of this Act.
The same shall apply to agencies and government units which have not been 
abolished, but whose functions have been transferred to the Department.
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Sec. 23. Structure and Staffing Pattern. - The organizational framework and 
staffing pattern of the Department shall be prescribed and approved by the Secretary 
within sixty (60) days after the approval of this Act and the authorized positions 
created therein shall be filled by regular appointments by the President or the 
Secretary as the case may be; Provided, That in the filling of positions created, 
preference shall be given to the personnel of the Office of Civil Defense.
Sec. 24. Separation from Service. - Employees separated from the service as a 
result of the reorganization shall, within six (6) months from their separation from 
service, receive the retirement benefits to which they may be entitled under existing 
laws, rules, and regulations.
Sec. 25. Appropriations. - The amount needed for the initial implementation of 
this Act shall be taken from the current year's appropriations of the National Disaster 
Risk Reduction and Management Council, the Local Disaster Risk Reduction and 
Management Councils, and the Office of Civil Defense. Thereafter, the amount needed 
for the operation and maintenance of the Department and its Line Agencies shall be 
included in the annual General Appropriations Act.
VI
Miscellaneous Provisions
Sec. 26. Visitoriai Powers. - The Secretary of the Department and/or his or her 
authorized representative shall have visitoriai and examining authority over 
governmental and nongovernmental entities engaged in post-disaster relief in order 
to ensure that all donations, financial or otherwise, coursed through them, are actually 
utilized for disaster risk reduction and management efforts.
During such examination, the entity concerned shall produce all the reports, 
records, books of accounts, and other papers that may be required.
The refusal by any such entity to allow an examination of its books of accounts 
and pertinent records, or the concealment of any material information concerning its 
financial status, shall constitute a legal ground for the cancellation of its registration, 
and the revocation of all tax-exemption privileges and other benefits granted to it by 
law, in the case of a nongovernmental entity, or the institution of any proper legal 
action against the erring official concerned, in the case of a governmental entity.
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Sec. 27. Declaration of State of Calamity. - Whenever warranted by 
circumstances, the Department shall recommend to the President the declaration of a 
state of national calamity and the lifting thereof. It shall also have the power to, motu 
proprio, or upon the recommendation of the Council, declare a cluster of barangays, 
municipalities, cities, provinces, and regions under a state of calamity, and the lifting 
thereof, based on the criteria set by the Department. The President's declaration shall 
entail access to international humanitarian assistance, as deemed necessary.
The declaration and lifting of the state of calamity shall be based on the results 
of the damage assessment and needs analysis. The causes, effects and incidents of 
the calamity and the need for the declaration shall be specified.
Sec. 28. Prohibited Acts. - In addition to the prohibited acts provided for in 
Section 19 and penalized under Section 20 of the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction 
and Management Act of 2010:
a) Any person, group, or corporation who directly or indirectly requests or 
receives any part of the funds devoted to disaster risk reduction and 
management, as well as monetary contributions and donations in kind, 
where such person, group, or corporation has no right to receive such 
proceeds from the fund, in whole or in part, monetary contribution or 
donation, shall be guilty of the crime of corruption of calamity funds or 
donations, and shall be prosecuted and upon conviction, shall suffer a fine 
of not less than One Hundred Fifty Thousand Pesos (Php 150,000.00) or 
any amount not to exceed One Million Five Hundred Thousand Pesos (Php 
1,500,000.00) or imprisonment of not less than twelve (12) years and one 
(1) day, nor more than twenty (20) years, or both, at the discretion of the 
court, including perpetual disqualification from public office if the offender 
is a public officer, and confiscation or forfeiture in favor of the government 
of the objects and the instrumentalities used in committing the herein 
prohibited act;
b) Any person who, with intent to gain, but without violence against or 
intimidation of persons nor force upon things, shall take property devoted 
to any disaster risk reduction and management activity, without the 
consent of the Secretary, shall be guilty of the crime of qualified theft,
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and shall be prosecuted and upon conviction, shall be punished by the
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penalties next higher by three degrees than those respectively specified
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in Article 309 of the Revised Penal Code;
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c) Any public officer accountable for calamity funds or property devoted to
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disaster risk reduction and management efforts, who shall appropriate the
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same with abandonment or negligence, shall permit any other person to
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take such public funds or property, wholly or partially, or shall otherwise
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be guilty of misappropriation or malversation of such funds or property,
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shall be punished by the penalties next higher by three degrees than those
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respectively specified in Article 217 of the Revised Penal Code;
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In all the above, if the offender is a corporation, partnership, association, or
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other juridical entity, the penalty shall be imposed upon the officer or officers of the
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corporation, partnership, association, or entity responsible for the violation, without
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prejudice to the cancellation or revocation of the license or accreditation issued to
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them by any body of the government. If such offender is an alien, he or she shall, in
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addition to the penalties prescribed in this Act, be deported without further
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proceedings after service of the sentence.
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The prosecution for the offenses shall be without prejudice to any liability for
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violation of Republic Act No. 3185, as amended, otherwise known as the Revised Penal
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Code, and other civil liabilities.
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Sec. 29. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Department shall issue the
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necessary rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act within
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ninety (90) days after the approval of this Act. The Secretary, in consultation with
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relevant government agencies and other key stakeholders, shall take the lead in the
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preparation of the implementing rules and regulations.
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Sec. 30. Annual Report. - The Department shall submit to the Office of the
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President, the Senate, and the House of Representatives, within the first quarter of
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the succeeding year, an annual report relating to the progress of the implementation
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of all disaster risk reduction and management efforts, and a detailed inventory of
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available personnel, supplies and equipment. Such report shall be made available to
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the public for scrutiny, copying, and reproduction, and shall also be uploaded in the
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Sec. 31. Congressional Oversight Committee. - There is hereby created a
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Congressional Oversight Committee to monitor and oversee the implementation of the
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provisions of this Act. The Committee shall be composed of six (6) members from the
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Senate and six (6) members from the House of Representatives with the Chairpersons
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of the Committees on National Defense and Security of both the Senate and the House
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of Representatives as joint Chairpersons of the Committee.
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The five (5) other members from each Chamber are to be designated by the
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Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, respectively. The
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minority shall be entitled to pro rata representation but shall have at least two (2)
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representatives from each Chamber.
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Sec. 32. Sunset Review. - Within five (5) years after the effectivity of this Act,
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or as the need arises, the Congressional Oversight Committee shall conduct a
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systematic evaluation of the accomplishments and impact of this Act, as well as the
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performance and organizational structure of the Department, for purposes of
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determining remedial legislation.
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Sec. 33. Repealing Clause. - All references to the NDRMMC in existing laws,
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including, but not limited to, the Philippine National Disaster Risk Reduction and
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Management Act of 2010, shall be understood to refer to the Department created
19 
under this Act.
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All other laws, decrees, executive orders, proclamations, and other executive
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issuances which are inconsistent with or contrary to the provisions of this Act are
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hereby amended or repealed accordingly.
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Sec. 34. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared invalid or
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unconstitutional, the other provisions not affected by such declaration shall remain in
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full force and effect.
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Sec. 35. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
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complete publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general
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circulation.
Approved,
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