ti
t
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
S E N A T E  
S. No. 2 1  i
of ll)'. £-i'critfirp
*19 JUL-2 P6 ;12
RECt.'.. : ■ b'
Introduced by Senator Francis "Tot" N. Tolentino
AN ACT
CREATING THE DEPARTMENT OF DISASTER MANAGEMENT, DEFINING ITS 
POWERS AND FUNCTIONS, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND 
FOR OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The Philippines is located at the West Pacific Rim which is the most active 
tropical cyclone basin. At the same time, it sits in the Pacific Ring of Fire, characterized 
by active volcanoes and frequent earthquakes. Due to the country's location, 
approximately twenty tropical cyclones enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility 
annually, with about eight or nine crossing the archipelago. The Philippines also 
regularly experiences earthquakes, landslides, flash floods and other disasters.
Recently, the country experienced a number of largescale and devastating 
natural and man-made disasters, such as deadly earthquakes, catastrophic fires, far- 
reaching floods, damaging storms and armed conflicts such as the Marawi siege in 
2017.
The threats of natural and man-made disasters are expected to continue 
because climate change Is making weather patterns less predictable and more 
extreme. Given our disaster risk profile. Republic Act No. 10121, otherwise known as 
the "Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010" (PDDRM), was 
enacted on 27 May 2010.


The PDRRM Act of 2010 paved the way for the institutionalization of the 
proactive Disaster Risk Reduction and Management or "DRRM" approach, which is the 
systematic process of using administrative directives, organizations, and operational 
skills and capacities to implement strategies, policies and coping capacities in order to 
lessen the adverse impacts of hazards and the possibility of disaster. It strengthened 
the Philippines' implementation of actions and measures for direction and mitigation 
in times of catastrophes which is a very important step towards achieving an enhanced 
response program for disaster risk reduction.
This is in line with the APEC Disaster Risk Reduction Framework (DRRF) 
adopted by the members of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) in 2015 to 
facilitate collective work in building adaptive and disaster resilient economies 
supporting inclusive and sustainable development in the phase of the "new normal." 
This opens up institutional capacity to bolster good relationships among response 
operations key players that may result to institutional interoperability. Corollary to the 
DRRF, the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 and the Paris 
Agreement of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC) 
endorsed in 2015 and 2016, respectively, by the United Nations General Assembly also 
acknowledge the necessity to address climate change as one of the drivers of disaster 
risk by fostering collaborafion among national and local governments as well as other 
stakeholders 
including 
nongovernment 
organizations 
(NGOs), 
international 
organizations, the academe and the private sectors.
In view of the abovementioned international frameworks that recognize the 
need for the creation of a single entity that will oversee a comprehensive and 
coordinated approach in dealing with disasters, this bill aims to open the policy 
examination on revolutionizing the current DRRM institutions.
This bill proposes to create the Department of Disaster Management which shall 
be the lead agency for all disaster and rehabilitation management programs, policies 
and activities in the country. It shall be responsible for policy-making, planning, 
coordinating, integrating, supervising, implementing, monitoring and evaluating with 
regard to disaster awareness, resilience and emergency management.


Given the increasing regularity and severity of natural and man-made disasters, 
the Philippine Government has recognized that a national, coordinated and 
cooperative effort is required to enhance the country's capacity to withstand and 
recover from emergencies and disasters.
In view of the foregoing, the immediate enactment of this bill is respectfully 
requested.
TOL" N. TOLENTINO
Senator


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
S E N A T E  
S. No. 2 J J L
cF'ffitP of tl)f ©rrrptnrp
'19 
JUL-2 
P6:12
RECt'
Introduced by Senator Francis "To!" N. Tolentino
AN ACT
CREATING THE DEPARTMENT OF DISASTER MANAGEMENT, DEFINING ITS 
POWERS AND FUNCTIONS, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR# AND 
FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and House o f Representatives o f the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
1 
GENERAL PROVISIONS
2 
Section 1. Short Title. -  This Act shall be known as the "The Department of
3 
Disaster Management Act."
4 
Sec. 2. Declaration o f Policy. -  It is hereby declared the policy of the State to:
5 
(a) Uphold the people's constitutional rights to life and property by addressing the
6 
root causes of vulnerabilities to disasters, strengthening the country's
7 
institutional capacity for disaster and rehabilitation management and building
8 
the resilience of local communities to disasters including climate change
9 
impacts and human-man disasters;
10 
(b) Inculcate a culture of awareness, resilience and preparedness, and
11 
rehabilitation for natural and man-made disaster at the national, regional, and
12 
local levels;
13 
(c) Adopt a disaster risk reduction and rehabilitation management approach that
14 
is holistic, comprehensive, integrated, and proactive in lessening the
15 
socioeconomic and environmental impacts of disasters including climate


1 
change, and promote the involvement and participation of all sectors and all
2 
stakeholders concerned, at all levels, especially the local community;
3 
(d) Adhere to and adopt the universal norms, principles and standards of
4 
humanitarian assistance and the global effort on risk reduction as concrete
5 
expression of the country’s commitment to overcome human sufferings due to
6 
recurring disasters;
7 
(e) Incorporate internationally accepted principles of disaster risk and vulnerability
8 
reduction and management, and climate change adaptation, including universal
9 
principles and standards for humanitarian assistance, developing and
10 
implementing national, regional and local sustainable development and poverty
11 
reduction strategies, policies, plans and budgets, incorporating the ASEAN
12 
Agreement on Disaster Management and Emergency Response;
13 
(0  Develop, promote, and implement a comprehensive National Disaster
14 
Management Plan (NDMP) that aims to strengthen the capacity of the national
15 
government and the local government units (LGUs), together with partner
16 
stakeholders, to build disaster resilient communities, and to institutionalize
17 
arrangements and measures for reducing disaster risks, including projected
18 
climate risks, and enhancing disaster preparedness and response capabilities
19 
at all levels;
20 
(g) Adopt and implement a coherent, comprehensive, integrated, efficient and
21 
responsive disaster risk reduction program incorporated in the development
22 
plan at various levels of government adhering to the principles of good
23 
governance such as transparency and accountability within the context of
24 
poverty alleviation and environmental protection;
25 
(h) Adhere to the principle of "Build Forward Better" in recovery and rehabilitation
26 
efforts by applying standards, programs, technologies, and techniques which
27 
enhance resilience against future hazards;
28 
(i) Mainstream disaster risk reduction and climate change in development
29 
processes such as policy formulation, socioeconomic development planning,
30 
budgeting, and governance, particularly in the areas of environment,
31 
agriculture, water, energy, health, education, poverty reduction, land-use and
32 
urban planning, and public infrastructure and housing, among others;


1 
(j) Institutionalize the policies, structures, coordination mechanisms and programs
2 
witJi continuing budget appropriation on disaster risk reduction from national
3 
down to local levels towards building a disaster-resilient nation and
4 
communities;
5 
(k) Mainstream disaster risk reduction into the peace process and conflict
6 
resolution approaches in order to minimize loss of lives and damage to property,
7 
and ensure that communities in conflict zones can immediately go back to their
8 
normal lives during periods of intermittent conflicts;
9 
(I) Recognize the local risk patterns across the country and strengthen the capacity
10 
of LGUs for disaster risk reduction and management through decentralized
11 
powers, responsibilities, and resources at the regional and local levels;
12 
(m) 
Recognize and strengthen the capacities of LGUs and multiple
13 
stakeholders in the communities in mitigating and preparing for, responding to,
14 
and recovering from the impact of disasters through identification of local risk
15 
patterns and decentralized powers, responsibilities and resources at the
16 
regional and local levels;
17 
(n) Engage the participation of civil society organizations (CSOs), the private sector
18 
and volunteers in the government’s disaster risk reduction programs towards
19 
complementation of resources and effective delivery of services;
20 
(o) Involve children and youth in disaster risk and vulnerability reduction, in
21 
accordance with legislation, national practice, and educational curricula;
22 
(p) Develop and strengthen the capacities of vulnerable and marginalized groups
23 
to mitigate, prepare for, respond to, and recover from the effects of disasters;
24 
(q) Ensure that the best possible assistance and services are delivered to
25 
individuals and families affected by disaster and emergency rehabilitation
26 
projects to guarantee the resumption of normal social and business activities;
27 
and
28 
(r) Provide maximum care, assistance and services to individuals and families
29 
affected by disaster, implement emergency rehabilitation 
projects to lessen the
30 
impact of disaster, and 
facilitate resumption of normal social and 
economic
31 
activities.


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Sec. 3. Definition o f Terms. - For purposes of this Act, the following terms shall
mean:
a) Adaptation-the adjustment in natural or human systems in response to actual 
or expected climatic stimuli or their effects, which moderates harm or exploits 
beneficial opportunities;
b) Build Forward Better - an approach to building and/or reconstructing an area 
or community, which entails a shift from simple recovery and restoration to safer, 
more adaptive, resilient, and inclusive communibes;
c) Business Continuity Plan - a plan describing the policy, systems and procedures 
by which enterprises can avoid suspension of their critical business or can recover 
the critical business quickly if it is interrupted, even when contingencies arise, 
including natural disasters such as major earthquakes, communicable disease 
pandemics, terrorist acts, serious accidents, disruption of supply chains and abrupt 
changes in business environment, or they can recover business quickly if their 
business is interrupted.
d) Capacity - a combination of all strengths and resources available within a 
community, society or organization that can reduce the level of risk, or effects of 
a disaster. Capacity may include infrastructure and physical means, institutions, 
societal coping abilities, as well as human knowledge, skills and collective attributes 
such as social relationships, leadership and management. Capacity may also be 
described as capability;
e) Civil Society Organizations Or CSOs- non-state actors whose aims are neither 
to generate profits nor to seek governing power. CSOs unite people to advance 
shared goals and interests. They have a presence in public life, expressing the 
interests and values of their members or others, and are based on ethical, cultural, 
scientific, religious or philanthropic considerations. CSOs include nongovernment 
organizations (NGOs), professional associations, foundations, 
independent 
research 
institutes, 
community-based 
organizations 
(CBOs), 
faith-based 
organizations, people's organizations, social movements, and labor unions;
f) Qimate Change- a change in climate that can' be identified by changes in the 
mean and/or variability of its properties and that persists for an extended period


1 
typically decades or longer, whether due to natural variability or as a result of
2 
human activity;
3 
g) Crisis- also known as emergency; a threatening condition that requires urgent
4 
action or response;
5 
h) Department -\h e  Department of Disaster Management;
6 
i) Department proper -  the offices, agencies, bureaus, and services under the
7 
authority of the Secretary of the Department of Disaster Management;
8 
j) Disaster -  a serious disruption of the functioning of a community or a society
9 
involving widespread human, material, economic or environmental losses and
10 
impacts, which exceeds the ability of the affected community or society to cope
11 
using its own resources. Disasters are often described as a result of the
12 
combination of; the exposure to a hazard; the conditions of vulnerability that are
13 
present; and insufficient capacity or measures to reduce or cope with the potential
14 
negative consequences. Disaster impacts may include loss of life, injury, disease
15 
and other negative effects on human, physical, mental and social well-being,
16 
together with damage to property, destruction of assets, loss of services, Social
17 
and economic disruption and environmental degradation;
18 
k) Disaster Management - the organization and management of resources and
19 
responsibilities for addressing all aspects of emergencies, 
in particular
20 
preparedness, response and initial recovery steps;
21 
I) Disaster Management Information System - a specialized database which
22 
contains, among others, information on disasters and their human material,
23 
economic and environmental impact, risk assessment and mapping and vulnerable
24 
groups;
25 
m) Disaster Mitigation - the lessening or limitation of the adverse impacts of
26 
hazards and related disasters. Mitigation measures encompass engineering
27 
techniques and hazard-resistant construction as well as improved environmental
28 
policies and public awareness;
29 
n) Disaster Preparedness - the knowledge and capacities developed by
30 
governments, professional response and recovery organizations, communities and
31 
individuals to effectively anticipate, respond to, and recover from, the Impacts of
32 
likely, imminent or current hazard events or conditions. Preparedness action is


1 
carried out within the context of disaster risk reduction and management and aims
2 
to build the capacities needed to efficiently manage all types of emergencies and
3 
achieve orderly transitions from response to sustained recovery. Preparedness is
4 
based on a sound analysis of disaster risk and good linkages with early warning
5 
systems, and includes such activities as contingency planning, stockpiling of
6 
equipment and supplies, the development of arrangements for coordination,
7 
evacuation and public information, and associated training and field exercises.
8 
These must be supported by formal institutional, legal and budgetary capacities;
9 
o) Disaster Prevention - the outright avoidance of adverse impacts of hazards and
10 
related disasters. It expresses the concept and intention to completely avoid
11 
potential adverse impacts through action taken in advance such as construction of
12 
dams or embankments that eliminate flood risks, land-use regulations that do not
13 
permit any settlement in high-risk zones, and seismic engineering designs that
14 
ensure the survival and function of a critical building in any likely earthquake/
15 
p) Disaster Response - the provision of emergency services and public assistance
16 
during or immediately after a disaster in order to save lives, reduce health impacts,
17 
ensure public safety and meet the basic subsistence needs of the people affected.
18 
Disaster response is predominantly focused on immediate and short-term needs
19 
and is sometimes called "disaster relief;
20 
q) Disaster Risk - the potential disaster losses in lives, health status, livelihood,
21 
assets and services, which could occur to a particular community or a Society over
22 
some specified future time period;
23 
r) Disaster Risk Reduction - the concept and practice of reducing disaster risks
24 
through systematic efforts to analyze and manage the causal factors of disasters,
25 
including through reduced exposures to hazards, lessened vulnerability of people
26 
and property, wise management of land and the environment, and improved
27 
preparedness for adverse events;
28 
s) Disaster Risk Reduction and Management - the systematic process of using
29 
administrative directives, organizations, and operational skills and capacities to
30 
implement strategies, policies and improved coping capacities in order to lessen
31 
the adverse impacts of hazards and the possibility of disaster. Prospective disaster
32 
risk reduction and management refers to risk reduction and management activities


1 
that address and seek to avoid the development of new or increased disaster risks,
2 
especially if risk reduction policies are not put in place;
3 
t) Early Warning System - the set of capacities needed to generate and
4 
disseminate timely and meaningful warning information to enable individuals,
5 
communities and organizations threatened by a hazard to prepare and to act
6 
appropriately and in sufficient time to reduce the possibility of harm or loss. A
7 
people-centered early warning system necessarily comprises four (4) key
8 
elements; knowledge of the risks; monitoring, analysis and forecasting of the
9 
hazards; communication or dissemination of alerts and warnings; and local
10 
capabilities to respond to the warnings received. The expression "end-to-end
11 
warning system" is also used to emphasize that warning systems need to span all
12 
steps from hazard detection to community response;
13 
u) Emergency - unforeseen or sudden occurrence, especially danger, demanding
14 
immediate action;
15 
v) Exposure - the degree to which the elements at risk are likely to exf)erience
16 
hazard events of different magnitudes;
17 
w) Geographic Information System - a database which contains, among others,
18 
geo-hazard assessments, information on climate change, and climate risk reduction
19 
and management;
20 
x) Hazard- a process, phenomenon or human activity that may cause loss of life,
21 
injury or other health impacts, property damage, social and economic disruption
22 
or environmental degradation. Hazards may be natural, anthropogenic or
23 
socionatural in origin;
24 
y) Human-Induced Hazard- human-induced significant incidents resulting in acts
25 
of terrorism, destabilization, criminal activities, and disruption of normal day-to-
26 
day economic activities that require prompt intervention to contain the incident,
27 
mitigate the effects, and normalize the situation;
28 
z) Land-Use Planning - the process undertaken by public authorities to identify,
29 
evaluate and decide on different options for the use of land, including consideration
30 
of long-term economic, social and environmental objectives and the implications
31 
for different communities and interest groups, and the subsequent formulation and
32 
promulgation of plans that describe the permitted or acceptable uses;


1 
did) Mitigation - structural and non-structural measures undertaken to limit the
2 
adverse impact of natural hazards, environmental degradation, and technological
3 
hazards and to ensure the ability of at-risk communities to address vulnerabilities
4 
aimed at minimizing the impact of disasters. Such measures include, but are not
5 
limited to, hazard-resistant construction and engineering works, the formulation
6 
and implementation of plans, programs, projects and activities, awareness raising,
7 
knowledge management, policies on land-use and resource management, as well
8 
as the enforcement of comprehensive land-use planning, building and safety
9 
standards, and legislation;
10 
hh')National Disaster Management Framework or NDMF - provides for
11 
comprehensive, all hazards, multi-sectoral, inter-agency and community-based
12 
approach to disaster risk redurtion and management;
13 
cc) National Disaster Management Plan or NDMP - the document to be formulated
14 
and implemented by the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) that sets out goals and
15 
specific objectives for reducing disaster risks together with related actions to
16 
accomplish these objectives. The NDMP shall provide for the identification of
17 
hazards, vulnerabilities and risks to be managed at the national level; disaster risk
18 
reduction and management approaches and strategies to be applied in managing
19 
said hazards and risks; agency roles, responsibilities and lines of authority at all
20 
government levels; and vertical and horizontal ccx)rdination of disaster risk
21 
reduction and management in the pre-disaster and post-disaster phases. It shall
22 
be in conformity with the NDMF;
23 
^<X)NERC- the National Emergency Response Corps created under this Act;
24 
ee) Preparedness - pre-disaster actions and measures being undertaken within the
25 
context of disaster risk reduction and management and are based on sound risk
26 
analysis as well as pre-disaster activities to avert or minimize loss of life and
27 
property such as, but not limited to, community organizing, training, planning,
28 
equipping, stockpiling, hazard mapping, insuring of assets, and public information
29 
and education initiatives. This also includes the development/enhancement of an
30 
overall preparedness strategy, policy, institutional structure, warning and
31 
forecasting capabilities, and plans that define measures geared to help at-risk
8


1 
communities safeguard their lives and assets by being alert to hazards and taking
2 
appropriate action in the face of an Imminent threat or an actual disaster;
3 
ff) Private Sector - the key actor in the realm of the economy where the central
4 
social concern and process are the mutually beneficial production and distribution
5 
of goods and services to meet the physical needs of human beings. The private
6 
sector comprises private corporations, households and nonprofit institutions
7 
serving households;
8 
gg)Rehabilitation - measures that ensure the ability of affected communities/areas
9 
to restore their normal level of functioning by rebuilding livelihood and damaged
10 
infrastructures and increasing the communities' organizational capacity;
11 
\\\<)Resilience - the ability of a system, community or society exposed to hazards
12 
to resist, absorb, accommodate and recover from the effects of a hazard in a timely
13 
and efficient manner, including through the preservation and restoration of its
14 
essential basic structures and functions;
15 
ii) Response - any concerted effort by two (2) or more agencies, public or private,
16 
to provide assistance or intervention during or immediately after a disaster to meet
17 
the life preservation and basic subsistence needs of those people affected and in
18 
the restoration of essential public activities and facilities;
19 
jj) f^sk - the combination of the probability of an event and its negative
20 
consequences;
21 
kk) Risk Assessment - a methodology to determine the nature and extent of risk
22 
by analyzing potential hazards and evaluating existing conditions of vulnerability
23 
that together could potentially harm exposed people, property, services, livelihood
24 
and the environment on which they depend. Risk assessments with associated risk
25 
mapping include: a review of the technical characteristics of hazards such as their
26 
location, intensity, frequency and probability; the analysis of exposure and
27 
vulnerability including the physical, social, health, economic and 
environmental
28 
dimensions; and the evaluation of the effectiveness of prevailing and alternative
29 
coping capacities in respect to likely risk scenarios;
30 
II) Risk Management - the systematic approach and practice of managing
31 
uncertainty to minimize potential harm and loss. It comprises risk assessment and
32 
analysis, and the implementation of strategies and specific actions to control.


1 
reduce and transfer risks. It is widely practiced by organizations to minimize risk
2 
in investment decisions and to address operational risks such as those of business
3 
disruption, production failure, environmental damage, social impacts and damage
4 
from fire and natural hazards/
5 
mm) 
Risk Transfer- the process of formally or informally shifting the financial
6 
consequences of particular risks from one party to another whereby a household,
7 
community, enterprise or state authority will obtain resources from the other party
8 
after a disaster occurs, in exchange for ongoing or compensatory social or financial
9 
benefits provided to that other party;
10 
nn)5ecre/3/>' -  to the Secretary of the Department of Disaster Management/
11 
oq) State o f Calamity- a condition involving mass casualty and/or major damages
12 
to property, disruption of means of livelihoods, roads and normal way of life of
13 
people in the affected areas as a result of the occurrence of natural or human-
14 
induced hazard;
15 
p\))Sustainable Development - development that meets the needs of the present
16 
without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. It
17 
contains within it two (2) key concepts: (1) the concept of "needs", in particular,
18 
the essential needs of the world's poor, to which overriding priority should be
19 
given; and (2) the idea of limitations imposed by the state of technology and social
20 
organizations on the environment's ability to meet present and future needs. It is
21 
the harmonious integration of a sound and viable economy, responsible
22 
governance, social cohesion and harmony, 
and ecological integrity 
to ensure that
23 
human development now and 
through future generations 
is a life-enhancing
24 
process;
25 
qq) Vulnerability - the characteristics and circumstances of a community, system or
26 
asset that make it susceptible to the damaging effects of a hazard. Vulnerability
27 
may arise from various physical, social, economic, and environmental factors such
28 
as poor design and construction of buildings, inadequate protection of assets, lack
29 
of public information and awareness, limited official recognition of risks and
30 
preparedness measures, and disregard for wise environmental management; and
10


1 
rr) Vulnerable and Marginalized Groups - those that face higher exposure to
2 
disaster risk and poverty including, but not limited to, women, children, elderly,
3 
differently-abled people, and ethnic minorities.
4 
THE DEPARTMENT OF DISASTER MANAGEMENT.
5 
Sec. 4. Creation o f the Department o f Disaster Management. -  There is hereby
6 
created a Department of Disaster Management, hereinafter referred to as the
7 
Department. The powers and functions of the National Risk Reduction and
8 
Management Council established under Republic Act No. 10121 are hereby transferred
9 
to, absorbed and assumed by the Department.
10 
Sec. 5. Mandate. -  The Department shall be the primary government agency
11 
responsible for policy-making, planning, coordinating, integrating, supervising,
12 
implementing, monitoring and evaluation with regard to disaster preparedness,
13 
resilience and emergency management in the country.
14 
The Department shall exercise the powers, in addition to those granted to it,
15 
essential to the promotion of the general welfare, such as the imposition of emergency
16 
measures including preemptive and forced evacuation, in anticipation of, during and
17 
after emergencies, hazards and disasters and only when there is imminent danger of
18 
loss of lives and/or damage to property.
19 
Sec. 6. Powers and Functions. -  The Department shall exercise and perform
20 
the following powers and functions:
21 
(a) 
Develop a National Disaster Management Framework which shall provide
22 
for a comprehensive, all-hazards, multi-sectoral, inter-agency and community-
23 
based approach to disaster risk reduction and management. The Framework
24 
shall serve as the principal guide to disaster and rehabilitation management
25 
efforts in the country and shall be reviewed on a five(5)-year interval, or as
26 
may be deemed necessary, in order to ensure its relevance to the times;
27 
(b) 
Oversee and direct the comprehensive implementation of disaster risk
28 
reduction and rehabilitation management policies, plans and programs as
29 
embodied in the National Disaster Management Plan;
30 
(c) 
Monitor the integration of disaster risk reduction and management
31 
policies into local and national development plans, including the integration into
32 
school curricula;
11


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(d) 
Review and evaluate Local Disaster Management Plans to ensure their 
consistency with the National Disaster Management Plans through the regional 
offices;
(e) 
Ensure a multi-stakeholder participation in the development, updating, 
and sharing of a Disaster Management Information System and Geographic 
Information System-based national risk map as policy, planning and decision­
making tools;
(f) 
Lead the mainstreaming of disaster risk reduction management in all 
stages and levels of national and local planning and budgeting processes;
(g) 
Advise the President on the status of disaster preparedness, prevention, 
mitigation, response and rehabilitation operations being undertaken by the 
government, CSOs, private sector, and volunteers;
(h) 
Recommend to the President the declaration of a state of calamity in 
areas extensively damaged and submit proposals to restore normalcy in the 
affected areas, to include calamity fund allocation;
(i) 
Establish a national early warning and emergency alert system to provide 
accurate and timely advice to national or local emergency response 
organizations and to the general public through diverse mass media to include 
digital and analog broadcast, cable, satellite television and radio, wireless 
communications, and landline communications;
0) 
Exercise command and control over relevant government agencies, 
including governement-owned and controlled corporations, the Philippine 
National Police and other law enforcement agencies, during an imminent or 
actual disaster;
(k) 
Call upon the reserve force as defined in Republic Act No. 7077 to assist 
in relief and rescue during disasters or calamities;
(l) 
Develop appropriate risk transfer mechanisms that shall guarantee social 
and economic protection and increase resiliency in the face of disaster;
(m) 
Monitor 
the 
development and 
enforcement 
by 
agencies 
and 
organizations of the various laws, guidelines, codes or technical standards 
required by this Act;
12


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(n) 
Manage and mobilize resources for disaster risk reduction and 
management including the National Disaster Management Fund;
(o) 
Monitor and provide the necessary guidelines and procedures on the 
Local Disaster Management Fund (LDRMF) releases as well as utilization, 
accounting and auditing thereof;
(p) 
Develop vertical and horizontal coordination mechanisms for a more 
coherent implementation of disaster risk reduction and management policies 
and programs by sectoral agencies and LGUs;
(q) 
Formulate a national institutional capability building program for 
disaster risk reduction and management to address the specific weaknesses of 
various government agencies and LGUs;
(r) 
Formulate, harmonize, and translate into policies a national agenda for 
research and technology development on disaster risk reduction and 
management;
(s) 
Develop assessment tools on the existing and potential hazards and risks 
brought about by climate change to vulnerable areas and ecosystems in 
coordination with the Climate Change Office and formulate and implement a 
framework for climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction and 
management from which all policies, programs, and projects shall be based;
(t) 
Prepare, organize, 
lead, 
implement, 
and manage post-disaster 
assessment and recovery and rehabilitation programs, in coordination with 
affected LGUs, national government agencies, and other stakeholders, 
including the private sector;
(u) 
Task the OCD to conduct periodic assessment and performance 
monitoring of the member-agencies of the Department, and the Regional 
Offices, as defined in the National Disaster Management Plan;
(v) 
Coordinate or oversee the Implementation of the country's obligations 
with disaster management treaties to which it is a party and see to it that the 
country’s disaster management treaty obligations be incorporated in its disaster 
risk reduction and management frameworks, policies, plans, programs and 
projects;
13


1 
(w) 
Exercise visitorial, inspection and examining authority over government
2 
and non-government entities to ensure that all funds and assets allocated for
3 
disaster resilience are actually used for said purposes;
4 
(x) 
Utilize any private property for urgent public purpose in anticipation of,
5 
during and after emergencies, hazards and disasters and only when there is
6 
imminent danger of loss of lives and/or damage to property, subject to payment
7 
of just compensabon in appropriate cases;
8 
(y) 
Promulgate guidelines regarding international humanitarian assistance
9 
to and from foreign states; training and accreditation of personnel for
10 
international humanitarian assistance; entry, facilitation, transit and regulation
11 
of international relief goods and personnel; waiver of entry visa requirements;
12 
recognition of foreign professional qualifications for disaster response and early
13 
recovery; and entry of goods and equipment;
14 
(z) 
Exercise all powers and functions provided to department secretaries
15 
under Book IV, Chapter 2 of Executive Order No 292, otherwise known as the
16 
"Administrative Code of 1987"; and
17 
(aa) 
Perform such other functions as may be necessary or proper to attain
18 
the objectives of this Act.
19 
DEPARTMENT PROPER
20 
Sec. 7. The Office o f the Secretary. -  The Office of the Secretary shall consist
21 
of the Secretary, Undersecretaries, /Assistant Secretaries and the immediate staff as
22 
determined by the Secretary.
23 
Sec. 8. The Secretary. The department shall be headed by the Secretary of
24 
Disaster Management, hereinafter referred to as the Secretary, who shall be appointed
25 
by the President, subject to confirmation by the Commission on Appointments.
26 
No person shall be appointed as Secretary unless he is a citizen and resident of
27 
the Philippines, is of good moral character, and is of proven competence and expertise
28 
in disaster awareness, resilience, and emergency management over the course of his
29 
career. He shall not hold any other position whether public or private, during his
30 
tenure.
31 
Sec. 8. Powers and Functions o f the Secretary. -  All powers and functions of
32 
the Department are vested in the Secretary.
14


1 
Sec. 9. The Undersecretaries. -  The Secretary shall be assisted by four (4)
2 
undersecretaries who shall be appointed by the President upon the recommendation
3 
of the Secretary. The Secretary is hereby authorized to delineate and assign the
4 
respective functional areas of responsibility of the Undersecretaries. Such
5 
responsibility shall be with respect to the mandate and objectives of the Department.
6 
Each of the Undersecretary shall be responsible for the following:
7 
(1) 
Resilience and Preparedness Office;
8 
(2) 
Policy and Governance Office;
9 
(3) 
Operations, Response and Rehabilitation Office; and
10 
(4) 
Mission Support Office
11 
Within his functional area of responsibility, an Undersecretary shall have the
12 
following functions:
13 
(1) Advise and assist the Secretary in the formulation and implementation of
14 
Department policies, plans programs and projects;
15 
(2) Supervise all the operational activities of the units assigned to him, for which
16 
he is responsible to the Secretary; and
17 
(3) Perform such other duties and responsibilities as may be assigned or
18 
delegated by the Secretary to promote efficiency and effectiveness in the
19 
delivery of public services, or as may be required by law.
20 
Sec. 10. The Assistant Secretaries. -The Secretary shall be assisted by eleven
21 
(11) Assistant Secretaries, or such number as the Secretary may be deem necessary
22 
for the efficient operation of the Department, to be appointed by the President upon
23 
the recommendation of the Secretary, who shall be responsible for the following
24 
services:
25 
(1) 
National Coherence;
26 
(2) 
Grant Programs;
27 
(3) 
National Preparedness;
28 
(4) 
External Affairs;
29 
(5) 
Internal Audit;
30 
(6) 
Rnancial Management;
31 
(7) 
Operations, Response, and Rehabilitation;
32 
(8) 
Logistics Management;
15


1 
(9) 
Monitoring and Information;
2 
(10) Legal;
3 
(11) Administrative and Human Resource Management; and
4 
(12) Other services as may be deemed necessary.
5 
Sec. 11. Structure and Staffing Pattern. -  The Department shall determine its
6 
organizational structure and staffing pattern and create such services, divisions, units
7 
, as it may deem necessary, subject to the approval of the Department of Budget and
8 
Management.
9 
RESILIENCE AND PREPAREDNESS
10 
Sec. 12. National Coherence Services. -  The National Coherence Services is
11 
tasked to coordinate national programs and activities that preserve and ensure the
12 
continuity of the National Government's essential functions across a wide range of
13 
potential threats and emergencies. For this purpose, it shall have the following
14 
functions;
15 
(1) Advice the Secretary on all matters relating to the National Disaster
16 
Management Framework and National Disaster Management Plan;
17 
(2) Guide and assist in the planning and implementation of continuity programs
18 
that enables the national and local governments to deliver critical services to
19 
survivors throughout ail phases of a disaster;
20 
(3) Evaluate and appraise all local development management plans and programs
21 
as to their feasibility and consistency with approved strategies and long and
22 
medium-tenm plans;
23 
(4) Develop and maintain continuity capabilities to build and sustain a more
24 
resilient nation equipped to sustain essential functions, deliver critical services,
25 
and supply core capabilities under all conditions;
26 
(5) Coordinate the inter-agency plans and procedures that sustain the nation's
27 
ability to prepare, prevent, respond, recover, mitigate and rehabilitate from
28 
the effects of both natural and man-made threats;
29 
(6) Develop a modem early warning system that will integrate the nation's alert
30 
and warning infrastructure;
16


1 
(7) Provide technical assistance to everyone, including but not limited to the
2 
national agencies, instrumentalities, GOCCs, local government units, non-
3 
governmental organizations, and private entities;
4 
(8) Assess emergency plans and programs to identify insufficiency and inadequacy
5 
to guide in the enhancement of the plan;
6 
(9) Establish a Business Continuity Plan for all urban areas for post-disaster
7 
scenarios, in coordination with the Department of Trade and Industry and the
8 
Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas; and
9 
(10) 
Perform such other related duties and responsibilities as may be
10 
assigned or delegated by the Secretary or as may be required by law.
11 
Sec. 13. Grant Programs Services. -  The Grant Programs Services shall provide
12 
the Department assistance in developing, implementing and screening recipients of
13 
grants and assistance programs. For this purpose, it shall have the following functions:
14 
(1) Develop grants and assistance programs for agencies. Local Government Units,
15 
and foreign states;
16 
(2) Formulate criteria on how the agencies and/or Local Government Units can
17 
avail of financial assistance from the National Disaster Management Fund;
18 
(3) Strategically and effectively administer and manage grants to ensure critical
19 
and measurable results, including foreign grants received from international
20 
entities;
21 
(4) Improve capability and reduce the disaster risks by recommending grants to
22 
incapable local government units;
23 
(5) Ensure transparency in the grant process;
24 
(6) Enhance the nation's level of preparedness and the public's ability to prevent,
25 
protect and mitigate against, and respond to and recover from all hazards; and
26 
(7) Perform such other related duties and responsibilities as may be assigned or
27 
delegated by the Secretary or as may be required by law.
28 
Sec. 14. National Preparedness Services. -  The National Preparedness Services
29 
shall provide the Department the ability to prepare the nation for all types of disasters
30 
and emergencies. For this purpose, it shall have the following functions:
31 
(1) Formulate a national policy on risk assessment for environmental risk, national
32 
disaster risk, natural disaster risk and climate change risk, and shall take into
17


1 
consideration the interdependence of disaster risk reduction, environmental
2 
management, climate change adaptation and sustainable development;
3 
(2) Establish guidance and programs for disaster planning and promote a
4 
consistent disaster management structure for the nation;
5 
(3) Develop guidance and tools to assist communities in tackling their unique
6 
preparedness challenges and coordinate the adoption and implementation of a
7 
common incident management platform for emergency responders and
8 
officials;
9 
(4) Develop national preparedness activities including planning guidance, technical
10 
assistance, training and exercises for individual and community preparedness;
11 
(5) Assist people, schools, the business sector, and communities become more
12 
resilient by developing the capabilities needed to prevent, protect against,
13 
respond to, recover from, and mitigate against all threats and hazards;
14 
(6) Provide guidance, programs, and processes to empower the people and the
15 
communities and barangays they live in to be prepared for any hazard;
16 
(7) Provide training, education, and assistance for first responders, emergency
17 
management professionals, and community members to increase capabilities
18 
at the local level;
19 
(8) Help all levels of government conduct exercises to test their abilities to prevent,
20 
protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate disasters;
21 
(9) Provide individuals, communities, and organizations with research and toots to
22 
help people prepare for disasters;
23 
(10) 
Establish a National Disaster Risk Reduction Training Center which shall
24 
serve as the Department's centralized repository and for it technical materials and
25 
research and development on disaster risk reduction and management that
26 
develops and delivers training and education for first responders, emergency
27 
managers, and the public through a multi-disciplinary, data-driven learning
28 
approach and partnerships with higher education institutions;
29 
(11) 
Build 
emergency 
management 
and 
response 
capabilities 
for
30 
communities that live near high risk hazards; and
31 
(12) 
Perform such other related duties and responsibilities as may be
32 
assigned or delegated by the Secretary or as may be required by law.
18


1 
POUCY AND GOVERNANCE
2 
Sec. 15. External Affairs Services. -  The External Affairs Services shall furnish
3 
the Department's communications program. For this purpose, it shall have the
4 
following functions:
5 
(1) Engage, inform and educate all stakeholders in support of the Department's
6 
programs and initiatives to achieve its mandate;
7 
(2) Maintain visibility regarding public and internal communications;
8 
(3) Ensure accurate, useful, timely, synchronized, targeted communication;
9 
(4) Provide continuous communication to meet the needs of the situation;
10 
(5) Advise the Department on decision making, development, and maintenance of
11 
policies and programs to ensure that activities are responsive to stakeholder,
12 
media, congressional and other audiences;
13 
(6) Establish a division that maintains communications with Congress in both
14 
official and informal capacities to build strong working relationships that will
15 
advance the Department's legislative and emergency management priorities;
16 
(7) Establish a division that provides leadership, training, coordination and support
17 
during incidents of national significance or incidents requiring a coordinated
18 
response;
19 
(8) Establish a division that provides direct communication and outreach to Local
20 
Government Units and build relationships with key constituency groups that
21 
have been traditionally underserved by the government;
22 
(9) Establish a division that communicate, cultivate and advocate for collaboration
23 
between the private sector and the Department, to support its capabilities and
24 
to enhance national preparedness, protection, response, recovery, and
25 
mitigation of all hazards;
26 
(10) 
Establish a division that helps the public prepare for, prevent, respond
27 
to, and recover from disasters by establishing and maintaining effective,
28 
ongoing relationships with the media to promote the programs, goals and core
29 
values, and providing disaster survivors with timely and accurate information,
30 
and managing communications to demonstrate an effective federal response to
31 
disasters; and
19


1 
(11) 
Perform such other related duties and responsibilities as may be
2 
assigned or delegated by the Secretary or as may be required by law.
3 
Sec. 16. Internal Audit Services. -  The Internal Audit Services shall conduct
4 
comprehensive audit of various Department activities. Specifically, it shall have the
5 
following functions:
6 
(1) Advice the Secretary on all matters relating to management control and
7 
operations audit;
8 
(2) Conduct management and operations performance audit of Department
9 
activities and units and determine the degree of compliance with established
10 
objectives, policies, methods and procedures, government regulations, and
11 
contractual obligations of the Department;
12 
(3) Review and appraise systems and procedures, organizational structure,
13 
assets management practices, accounting and other records, reports 
and
14 
performance standards (such as budgets and standard 
costs) 
of the
15 
Department Proper, Bureaus and Regional Offices;
16 
(4) Analyze and evaluate management deficiencies and assist top management
17 
to solve the problems by recommending realistic courses of action; and
18 
(5) Perform such other related duties and responsibilities as may be assigned
19 
or delegated by the Secretary or as may be required by law.
20 
Sec. 17. Financial Management Services. -  The Financial Management Services
21 
shall provide the Department with coordinated services relating to financial systems
22 
and procedures, budget, cash, accounting, and all financial housekeeping matters. For
23 
such purposes, it shall have the following functions:
24 
(1) Advise the Secretary on all matters relating to the accounting of government
25 
expenditures and receipts, budgeting and cash management, project finances,
26 
and financial systems and procedures;
27 
(2) Prepare budget proposals and pursue formal budget authorizations;
28 
undertake budget execution, and prepare and submit all appropriate reports to
29 
the proper offices;
30 
(3) Develop and maintain accounting, financial and assets management
31 
systems, procedures, and practices in the Department proper. Bureaus, and
32 
Regional Offices;
20


1 
(4) Provide assistance in its area of specialization to any unit of the Department
2 
and, when requested, to government corporations and councils attached to the
3 
Department; and
4 
(5) Perform such other related duties and responsibilities as may be assigned
5 
or delegated by the Secretary or as may be required by law.
6 
OPERATIONS, RESPONSE AND REHABILITATION
7 
Sec. 18. Response and Recovery Services. -  The Response and Recovery
8 
Services provides guidance, leadership and oversight to build, sustain, and improve
9 
the coordination and delivery of services to citizens and local government units during
10 
emergencies. For such purposes, it shall have the following functions:
11 
(1) Develop a response program activity which encompasses the coordination of
12 
all emergency management response operations, response planning and
13 
integration of national and local disaster programs;
14 
(2) Provide the core, coordinated operational response capability needed to save
15 
and sustain lives, minimize suffering, and protect property in a timely and
16 
effective manner in communities hit by natural disasters, acts of terrorism, or
17 
other emergencies;
18 
(3) Ensure efficient and effective delivery of immediate emergency assistance to
19 
individuals and communities impacted and overwhelmed by these disasters,
20 
emergencies, or acts of terrorism;
21 
(4) Establish a National Emergency Response Corps (NERC) which shall be a
22 
dedicated, trained and reliable team who can be deployed on short notice in
23 
the event of a disaster, composed of full-time and part-time disaster managers,
24 
paramedics, debris clearing personnel, volunteer and aid and relief managers;
25 
(5) Provide the highest quality leadership for field operations;
26 
(6) Participate in key exercises, partner strategically with key organizations,
27 
implementation and sustain all-hazards capability;
28 
(7) Provide exemplary national leadership at disasters and emergencies by
29 
facilitating efficient, effective, compassionate, fair, and consistent response,
30 
while ensuring the prudent use of resources;
31 
(8) Ensure their availability for rapid deployment in response to any disaster;
21


1 
(9) Establish the Philippine Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Agency (PRRA) which
2 
will be an attached agency to the department, and which shall be the primary
3 
agency tasked for disaster reconstruction and rehabilitation operations;
4 
(10) 
Employ the principle of Build Forward Better in recovery and
5 
rehabilitation efforts; and
6 
(11) 
Perform such other related duties and responsibilities as may be
7 
assigned or delegated by the Secretary or as may be required by law.
8 
Sec. 19. Logistics Management Services. -  The Logistics Management Services
9 
shall provide the Department an efficient, transparent, and flexible logistics capability
10 
to procure and deliver goods and services to support disaster survivors and
11 
communities responding to and recovering from disasters. For such purposes, it shall
12 
have the following functions:
13 
(1) Establish teams and support equipment caches, that can respond within 24
14 
hours, in coordination with the Department of National Defense and other
15 
national agencies and CSOs, to begin receiving life-saving resources for delivery
16 
to disaster survivors;
17 
(2) Deliver the right resources to the right place at the right time In support of
18 
national and local government units;
19 
(3) Establish distribution centers around the country to store disaster commodities
20 
such as water, tarps, meals, blankets, cots, plastic sheeting and generators;
21 
(4) Maintain commercial contracts and agreements with multiple public and
22 
private sector partners to provide additional commodities when needed;
23 
(5) Purchase, store, maintain, haul and install portable housing units to provide
24 
temporary housing for disaster survivors; and
25 
(6) Perform such other related duties and responsibilities as may be assigned or
26 
delegated by the Secretary or as may be required by law.
27 
MISSION SUPPORT
28 
Sec. 20. Monitoring and Information Services. -  The Monitoring and
29 
Information Services is hereby created to provide the Secretary timely reports on the
30 
status 
of various 
Department projects 
and 
activities and 
other 
internal
31 
communications. The Monitoring and Information Service shall have the following
32 
functions:
22


1 
(1) Advice the Secretary on all matters relating to monitoring and public
2 
information;
3 
(2) Develop and maintain a system for retrieving and processing monitoring
4 
information on all projects and activities of concern to the Secretary;
5 
(3) Provide accurate and timely status and exception reports to the Secretary;
6 
(4) Generate monitoring reports for the President, the Cabinet, or for any other
7 
purpose as required by the Secretary;
8 
(5) Establish and maintain the National Loss and Damage Registry;
9 
(6) Establish the National Disaster Management Information System which shall be
10 
the repository of statistics and information on disasters, disaster risk-reduction
11 
and climate change data, and their human material, economic 
and
12 
environmental impact, risk assessment and mapping and vulnerable groups;
13 
(7) Provide computer service to the different offices and divisions of the
14 
Department;
15 
(8) Coordinate with the External Affairs Service and appropriate national
16 
government agencies tasked with public information affairs; and
17 
(9) Perform such other related duties and responsibilities as may be assigned or
18 
delegated by the Secretary or as may be required by law.
19 
Sec. 21. Legal Services. -  The Legal Services provides the Department with
20 
services on such legal affairs as contract letting and litigation, legal and legislative
21 
research, complaints and investigation, legal counseling and other matters of law. For
22 
such purposes, it shall have the following functions;
23 
(1) Advise the Secretary on all matters relating to legal affairs;
24 
(2) Prepare Department contracts and legal instruments, review and interpret all
25 
contracts and agreements entered into by the Department; evaluate all legal
26 
proposals;
27 
(3) Conduct administrative investigation as well as the review of administrative
28 
charges against officers and employees of the Department;
29 
(4) Exercise functional jurisdiction over the legal staffs of Regional Offices;
30 
(5) Provide legal assistance to the Department Proper, the Bureaus and Regional
31 
Offices and, when requested, the attached corporations; and
23


\ 
(6) Perform such other related duties and responsibilities as may be assigned or
2 
delegated by the Secretary or as may be required by law.
3 
Sec. 22. Administrative and Human Resource Management Services. -  The
4 
Administrative and Human Resource Management Services provides the Department
5 
with services relating to human resources development, personnel, records, facilities
6 
maintenance, medical and dental, security and property and procurement services.
7 
For such purposes, it shall have the following funrtions:
8 
(1) Advise the Secretary, on all matters relating to internal administration and
9 
human resources management;
10 
(2) Prepare and implement an integrated personnel plan that shall include
11 
provisions on merit promotions, performance evaluation, job rotation,
12 
suggestions and incentive awards systems and health and welfare services;
13 
(3) Provide services related to human resources training, education, and
14 
development, including manpower and career planning and forecasting and
15 
development of indigenous training materials;
16 
(4) Develop, establish and maintain an efficient and cost-effective property
17 
procurement system and facilities and coordinate or otherwise interface with
18 
relevant agencies, whether government or private, for the purpose of
19 
developing or upgrading the system;
20 
(5) Secure and maintain necessary Department facilities and develop, establish and
21 
maintain an efficient and effective security system covering among others,
22 
personnel, physical installations, equipment, documents and materials,
23 
including the conduct of security investigations;
24 
(6) Coordinate with the appropriate government agencies for a more efficient
25 
conduct of administrative processes;
26 
(7) Develop, establish and maintain an efficient records system;
27 
(8) Provide assistance in its area of specialization to the Department Proper,
28 
Bureaus and Regional Offices and, when requested, the government agencies
29 
and corporations attached to the Department; and
30 
(9) Perform such other related duties and responsibilities as may be assigned or
31 
delegated by the Secretary or as may be required by law.
24


1 
Sec. 23. National Disaster and Rehabilitation Management Council. -  The
2 
National Disaster and Rehabilitation Management Council is hereby created and shall
3 
be headed by the Secretary of Disaster Management.
4 
Its members shall be the following:
5 
(1) Secretary of National Defense;
6 
(2) Secretary of Interior and Local Government;
7 
(3) Secretary of Public Works and Highways;
8 
(4) Secretary of Health;
9 
(5) Secretary of Trade and Industry;
10 
(6) Secretary of Energy; and
11 
(7) Secretary of Social Welfare and Development.
12 
The Council shall serve as the policy advisory body to the Department on
13 
disaster risk reduction and rehabilitation management and climate change adaptation.
14 
HELD OFHCES
15 
Sec. 24. The Regional Offices. -  Department of Disaster Management Regional
16 
Offices is hereby established in every administrative region.
17 
The organization and function of the regional offices shall be determined by the
18 
Department and shall be in accordance with Executive Order No. 297, otherwise
19 
known as the Administrative Code of 1987.
20 
Sec. 25. The Regional Directors -  The Regional Offices shall be headed by a
21 
Regional Director who shall be assisted by three (3) Assistant Regional Directors for
22 
Resilience and Preparedness, Policy and Governance, Operations, Response and
23 
Rehabilitation. No person shall be appointed as Regional Director unless he is a citizen
24 
and resident of the Philippines, is of good moral character, and is of proven
25 
competence and expertise in disaster risk reduction and management over the course
26 
of his career. He shall not hold any other position whether public or private, during his
27 
tenure.
28 
Sec. 26. Duties o f a Regional Director. -  The Regional Director shall coordinate,
29 
integrate, supervise, and evaluate the activities of the LDRMCs and shall be
30 
responsible in formulating the regional disaster and rehabilitation management plans,
31 
and in case of emergencies shall provide the core, coordinated operational response
32 
needed to save and sustain lives, minimize suffering, and protect property in a timely
25


1 
and effective manner, and perform such other duties and functions as provided by
2 
Administrative Code of 1987.
3 
Sec. 27. Regional Disaster and Rehabilitation Management Council. -The
4 
Regional Disaster and Rehabilitation Council shall be headed by the Assistant Regional
5 
Director for Resilience and Preparedness.
6 
Its members shall be the following:
7 
(1) Regional Director of National Defense;
8 
(2) Regional Director of Interior and Local Government;
9 
(3) Regional Director of Public Works and Highways;
10 
(4) Regional Director of Health;
11 
(5) Regional Director of Trade and Industry;
12 
(6) Regional Director of Energy; and
13 
(7) Regional Director of Social Welfare and Development
14 
The Regional Council shall serve as the policy advisory body to the Regional
15 
Office on disaster risk reduction and rehabilitation management and climate change
16 
adaptation.
17 
Sec. 28. Organization at the Local Government Level. -  The existing Provincial,
18 
City, and Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Councils shall henceforth
19 
be known as the Provincial, City, and Municipal Disaster and Rehabilitation
20 
Management Council. The existing Barangay Development Councils (BDCs) shall
21 
continue to exist and shall serve as the LDRMCs in every barangay.
22 
(a) The LDRMC shall be composed of, but not limited to, the following:
23 
(1) The Local Chief Executives, Chairperson;
24 
(2) The Local Planning and Development Officer, member;
25 
(3) The Head of the LDRMO, member;
26 
(4) The Head of the Local Social Welfare and Development Office,
27 
member;
28 
(5) The Head of the Local Health Office, member;
29 
(6) The Head of the Local Agriculture Office, member;
30 
(7) The Head of the Gender and Development Office, member;
31 
(8) The Head of the Local Engineering Office, member;
32 
(9) The Head of the Local Veterinary Office, member;
26


1 
(10) The Head of the Local Budget Office, member;
2 
(11) The Division Head/Superintendent of Schools of the DepED,
3 
member;
4 
(12) The highest-ranking officer of the Armed Forces of the Philippines
5 
(AFP) assigned in the area, member;
6 
(13) The Provincial Director/City/Municipal Chief of the Philippine
7 
Nabonal Police (PNP), member;
8 
(14) The Provincial Director/City/ Municipal Rre Marshall of the Bureau
9 
of Rre Protection (BFP), member;
10 
(15) The President of the Association of Barangay Captains (ABC),
11 
member;
12 
(16) The Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC), member;
13 
(17) Four (4) accredited CSOs, members; and
14 
(18) One (1) private sector representative, member.
15 
(b) The LDRMCs shall have the following functions:
16 
(1) Approve, monitor and evaluate the implementation of the LDRMPs
17 
and regularly review and test the plan consistent with other national and
18 
local planning programs;
19 
(2) Ensure the integration of disaster risk reduction and climate change
20 
adaptation into local development plans, programs and budgets as a
21 
strategy in sustainable development and poverty reduction;
22 
(3) Recommend the implementation of forced or preemptive evacuation
23 
of local residents, if necessary; and
24 
(4) Convene the local council once every three (3) months or as
25 
necessary.
26 
ATTACHED AGENQES
27 
Sec. 29. The Attached Agencies. -  The following agencies and offices and their
28 
respective appropriation, records, equipment and personnel are hereby transferred to
29 
the Department:
30 
(1) 
Office of Civil Defense (OCD);
31 
(2) 
Philippine 
Atmospheric, 
Geophysical 
and 
Astronomical 
Services
32 
Administration (PAG-ASA);
27


1 
(3) 
Philippine Institute of Volcanology (PHIVOLCS);
2 
(4) 
Bureau of Rre Protection (BFP);
3 
(5) 
Health Emergency Management Bureau (HEMB);
4 
(6) 
Philippine Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Agency (PRRA);
5 
(7) 
Philippine National Volunteer Service Coordinating Agency;
6 
(8) 
Climate Change Office (CCO);
7 
(9) 
Geo-Hazard Assessment and Engineering Geology Section of the Mines
8 
and Geoscience Bureau; and
9 
(10) 
Disaster Response Assistance and Management Bureau of the
10 
Department of Social Welfare and Development.
11 
The agencies transferred above shall continue to perform such functions as
12 
provided in existing laws; Provided, that the Department shall exercise administrative
13 
supervision over transferred agencies.
14 
The attached agencies shall operate in accordance with their respective
15 
organizational structures and perform the functions and duties assigned to them by
16 
law, subject to the requirements of economy, efficiency, and effectiveness.
17 
Sec. 30. Philippine Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Agency (PRRA). -  The
18 
Philippine Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Agency is hereby established and shall be
19 
attached to the Department. Its structure and organization shall be determined by the
20 
Resilience and Preparedness Office of the Department. It shall be the lead agency in
21 
rehabilitation and recovery of disaster affected communities, and shall have the
22 
following functions:
23 
1. Take charge in the re-establishment, reconstruction and resettlement of
24 
the communities in terms of housing, relocation and shelter needs,
25 
incorporating the principle of Build Forward Better; and
26 
2. Provide the primary and basic needs to communities during the
27 
rehabilitation phase and recovery process
28 
REMEDIAL MEASURES UNDER STATE OF CALAMITY
29 
Sec. 31. Remedial Measures Under State o f Calamity. -  Upon declaration of
30 
state of calamity, the Department may:
28


1 
(1) Order the imposition of price ceiling on basic necessities and prime
2 
commodities by the National Price Control Council, as provided under
3 
Republic Act No. 7581, as amended;
4 
(2) Monitor, prevent, and control overpricing/profiteering and hoarding of
5 
prime commodities, through the Local Price Coordinating Council;
6 
(3) Order government financing or lending institutions to grant no-interest
7 
loans; and
8 
(4) Grant local tax exemptions, incentives or reliefs under such terms and
9 
conditions as may be deemed necessary by the affected LGU.
10 
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
11 
Sec. 32. 
Transitory Provisions. -  The transfer of functions, assets, funds,
12 
equipment, properties, transactions and personnel of the affected and transferred
13 
agencies and the formulation of the internal organic structure, staffing pattern
14 
operating system and revised budget of the Department, shall be completed within
15 
one (1) year from the effectivity of this Act, during which time the existing personnel
16 
shall continue to assume their posts on holdover capacities until new appointments
17 
are issued.
18 
Sec. 33. Separation from Service. -National government employees displaced
19 
or separated from service as a result of this Act shall be entitled to either separation
20 
pay and other benefits in accordance with existing law, rules or regulations or be
21 
entitled to avail themselves of the privileges provided under a separation plan that
22 
shall be one and one-half month salary for every year for service.
23 
Sec. 34. Prohibited Acts. -  Any person, group or corporation who commits any
24 
of the following prohibited acts shall be held liable and be subjected to the penalties
25 
as prescribed in Section 34 of this Act:
26 
(1) Dereliction of duties which leads to destruction, loss of lives, critical damage of
27 
facilities and misuse of funds;
28 
(2) Preventing the entry and distribution of relief goods in disaster-stricken areas,
29 
including appropriate technology, tools, equipment, accessories, disaster
30 
teams/experts;
29


1 
(3) Buying, for consumption or resale, from disaster relief agencies any relief
2 
goods, equipment or other and commodities which are intended for distribution
3 
to disaster affected communities;
4 
(4) Buying, for consumption or resale, from the recipient disaster affected persons
5 
any relief goods, equipment or other aid commodities received by them;
6 
(5) Selling of relief goods, equipment or other aid commodities which are intended
7 
for distribution to disaster victims;
8 
(6) Forcibly seizing relief goods, equipment or other aid commodities intended for
9 
or consigned to a specific group of victims or relief agency;
10 
(7) Diverting or misdelivery of relief goods, equipment or other aid commodities to
11 
persons other than the rightful recipient or consignee;
12 
(8) Accepting, possessing, using or disposing relief goods, equipment or other aid
13 
commodities not intended for nor consigned to him/her;
14 
(9) Misrepresenting the source of relief goods, equipment or other aid commodities
15 
by;
16 
(a) Either covering, replacing or defacing the labels of the containers to make
17 
it appear that the goods, equipment or other aid commodities came from
18 
another agency or persons;
19 
(b) Repacking the goods, equipment or other aid commodities into containers
20 
with different marldngs to make it appear that the goods came from another
21 
agency or persons or was released upon the instance of a particular agency
22 
or persons;
23 
(c) Making false verbal claim that the goods, equipment or other and
24 
commodity its untampered original containers actually came from another
25 
agency or persons or was released upon the instance of a particular agency
26 
or persons;
27 
(10) 
Substituting or replacing relief goods, equipment or 
other aid
28 
commodities with the same items or inferior/cheaper quality;
29 
(11) 
Illegal solicitations by persons or organizations;
30 
(12) 
Deliberate use of false and inflated data in support of the request for
31 
funding, relief goods, equipment or other aid commodities for emergency
32 
assistance or livelihood projects; and
30


1 
(13) 
Tampering with or stealing hazard monitoring and disaster preparedness
2 
equipment and paraphernalia.
3 
Sec. 35. Pena! Cause. -  Any individual, corporation, partnership, association,
4 
or other juridical entity that commits any of the prohibited acts provided for in Secbon
5 
29 of this Act shall be prosecuted and upon conviction shall suffer a fine of not less
6 
than Fifty Thousand Pesos (Php50,000.00) and not exceeding Five Hundred Thousand
7 
Pesos (php500,000.00) or imprisonment of not less than six (6) years and one (1) day
8 
or more than twelve (12) years, or both, at the discretion of the court, including
9 
perpetual disqualification from public office if the offender is a public officer, and
10 
confiscation or forfeiture in favor of the government of objects and instrumentalities
11 
used in committing any of the prohibited acts.
12 
If the offender is a corporation, partnership or association, or other juridical
13 
entity, the penalty shall be imposed upon the officer or officers of the corporation,
14 
partnership, association or entity responsible for the violation without prejudice to the
15 
cancellation or revocation of these entities license or accreditation issued to them by
16 
any licensing or accredited body of the government. If such offender is an alien, he
17 
or she shall, in addition to the penalties prescribed in this Act, be deported without
18 
further proceedings after service of the sentence.
19 
The prosecution for offenses set forth in Section 33 of this Act shall be without
20 
prejudice to any liability for violation of Republic Act No. 3185, as amended, otherwise
21 
known as the Revised Penal Code, and other civil and administrative liabilities.
22 
Sec. 36. Guidelines for the National and Local Disaster Management Fund. -
23 
The Department shall provide the necessary guidelines and procedures on the National
24 
Disaster Management Fund and the Local Disaster Management Fund releases,
25 
utilization, accounting and auditing thereof.
26 
Sec. 37. National Disaster Management Fund. -  (a) The present National
27 
Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund (NDRRM Fund) appropriated under
28 
the annual General Appropriations Act shall henceforth be known as the National
29 
Disaster Management Fund (NDM Fund) and it shall be used for disaster risk reduction
30 
or mitigation, prevention and preparedness activities such as but not limited to training
31 
of personnel, procurement of equipment, and capital expenditures.
31


1 
(b) The specific amount of the NDM Fund and the appropriate recipient
2 
agencies and/or LGUs shall be released upon approval of the President of the
3 
Philippines in accordance with the favorable recommendation of the Department upon
4 
request for grant or assistance by the agencies and/or LGUs through the Grant
5 
Program Services of the Department.
6 
Sec. 38. Local Disaster Management Fund. -  The present Local Risk Reduction
7 
and Management Fund (LDRRMF) shall henceforth be known as the Local Disaster
8 
Management Fund (LDMF). Not less than seven percent (7%) of the estimated
9 
revenue from regular sources shall be set aside as the LDMF to support disaster risk
10 
management activities such as, but not limited to, pre-disaster preparedness programs
11 
including training, purchasing life-saving rescue equipment, supplies and medicines,
12 
for post-disaster activities, and for the payment of premiums on calamity insurance.
13 
The Local Government Units may utilize 60% of the LDMF even without the
14 
declaration of sate of calamity, to be used for disaster prevention, preparedness and
15 
resilience projects.
16 
Provisions of Section 324 of the Republic Act No. 7160, or otherwise known as
17 
the Local Government Code of 1991, that are inconsistent with this section is hereby
18 
amended.
19 
Sec. 39. Appropriations. -The amount necessary for the initial implementation
20 
of this Act shall be taken from the current fiscal year's unexpended and unobligated
21 
appropriations of all agencies herein absorbed, transferred and attached to the
22 
Department. Thereafter, the amounts necessary for the operation of the Department
23 
and the implementation of this Act shall be included in the Annual General
24 
Appropriations Act.
25 
Sec. 40. Implementing Rules and Regulations. -  The Department, Department
26 
of Budget and Management, Department of National Defense, Department of Finance,
27 
Department of Internal and Local Government, Department of Science and
28 
Technology, National Economic and Development Authority and the Presidential
29 
Management Staff shall collectively craft, and issue, within ninety (90) days from the
30 
date of the effectivity of this Act, the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) for
31 
the effective implementation of this Act. They may call upon other instrumentalities
32 
and stakeholders to assist in the crafting of the IRR.
32


1 
Sec. 41. Congressional Oversight Committee. -There is hereby created ax
2 
Congressional Oversight Committee to monitor and oversee the implementation of the
3 
provisions of this Act The Committee shall be composed of six (6) members from the
4 
Senate and six (6) members from the House of Representatives with the Chairpersons
5 
of the Committees on National Defense and Security of both the Senate and the House
6 
of Representatives as joint Chairpersons of this Committee. The five (5) other
7 
members from each Chamber are to be designated by the Senate President and the
8 
Speaker of the House of Representatives, respectively. The minority shall be entitled
9 
to pro rata representation but shall have at least two (2) representatives from each
10 
Chamber.
11 
Sec. 42. Separability Cause. -  If any provision of this Act shall be held
12 
unconstitutional or invalid, the other provisions not otherwise affected shall remain in
13 
full force and effect.
14 
Sec. 43. Repealing Clause. -  Presidential Decree No. 1566, Republic Act No.
15 
10121 and all other laws, decrees, executive orders, proclamations and other
16 
executive issuance's which are inconsistent with or contrary to the provisions of this
17 
Act are hereby amended or repealed accordingly.
18 
Sec. 44. Effectivity Clause. -  This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following
19 
its complete publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) national newspapers of
20 
general circulation.
Approved,
33