Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
19TH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ___ 
Introduced by Representative Michael L. Romero  
    EXPLANATORY NOTE
During turmoil as experienced during World War II, the country's vulnerability 
to all types of disasters particularly typhoons and floods, and the nuclear arms 
race of the three superpowers in the 1950's, have prompted the government to 
promulgate a law - Republic Act 1190, otherwise known as the Civil Defense 
Act of 1954.  
Under this law, a National Civil Defense Administration (NCDA) was 
established which was tasked primarily to provide protection and welfare to the 
civilian population during war or other national emergencies of equally grave 
character. To support the NCDA in carrying out its mission, RA 1190 also 
provided for the establishment of civil defense councils at the national and local 
levels, namely: the National Civil Defense Council (NCDC) and the provincial, 
city and municipal civil defense councils, respectively. The Chairman of the 
NCDC was the NCDC Administrator.  
The Members of the Council were the chairman of the Committee on National 
Defense and Security of both Houses of Congress. Chief, Philippine 
Constabulary, Commissioner of Social Welfare, Managers of the Philippine 
National Red Cross, Philippine National Development Company and Price 
Stabilization Council. On the other hand, the organization of the local civil 
defense council was not specifically provided for in the locality but designated 
the Provincial Governor, City and Municipal Mayor as the Provincial, City and 
Municipal Civil Defense Director, respectively.  
September 5, 2022
10:44 am
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The municipalities and cities which were directly under the supervision of the 
Provincial Civil Defense Director relative to civil defense services were the main 
basic operating units for the purpose. The operating services of the national and 
civil defense organizations were as follows: Warden, Police, Fire, Health, Rescue 
and 
Engineering, 
Emergency 
Welfare, 
Transportation, 
Communication, 
Evacuation, Air-raid Warning, and Auxiliary. 
This House Bill seeks to Strengthen the Office of Civil defense (OCD), providing 
additional funds therefor, to foster the protection and welfare of the general 
population during emergencies and disasters. 
 
Thus, the early passage of this bill is earnestly requested.  
 
 
 
 
 
MICHAEL L. ROMERO  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
19TH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ___ 
Introduced by Representative Michael L. Romero  
    AN ACT 
STRENGTHENING THE OFFICE OF CIVIL DEFENCE (OCD) 
PROVIDING FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDING, DEFINING ITS POWERS 
AND FUNCTIONS AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 
1. 
TITLE – This act shall be known as the “Office of Civil 
Defense (OCD) Modernization Act of 2022” 
SECTION 
2. 
DECLARATION OF POLICY – It shall hereby be a declared 
policy of the state to  
(1) establish and administer a comprehensive national civil defense
program;
(2) formulate and prepare at all times plans and policies for the protection
and welfare of the civilian population in time of war directly involving the
Philippines or other national emergency of equally grave character;
(3) estimate the total material, manpower and fiscal requirements for
carrying out the national civil defense program, and allocate to the
provinces and cities such aid in facilities, materials, and funds as may be
made available from the National Government or as may be authorized by
Congress;
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(4) coordinate on the national level the activities and functions of the 
several executive departments, agencies and instrumentalities of the 
National Government, and of private institutions and civic organizations 
devoted to public or social welfare, so that the facilities and resources of 
the entire nation may be utilized to the maximum extent for civil defense 
purposes; 
(5) develop and coordinate a program for informing, educating and training 
the general public and volunteer workers on civil defense measures and 
activities; 
(6) furnishing guidance to the various provinces, cities and municipalities 
in the planning, organization and operation of their civil defense 
organizations; 
(7) advising the President on matters concerning civil defense, and make 
such recommendation from time to time as it deems appropriate or as the 
President may require. 
In the event of war directly involving the Philippines or other national 
emergency of equally grave character proclaimed by the President with the 
concurrence of two-thirds of the members of each House of Congress, the 
Administration shall, under the direction and control of the Administrator— 
(1) Execute plans and policies relating to civil defense as 
provided for in section four of this Act; 
(2) Coordinate and supervise the operations and activities of 
national, provincial, city and municipal civil defense 
organizations. 
In performing its functions, the Administration shall utilize to the maximum 
extent the existing personnel, facilities and resources of the several 
executive departments, agencies, and instrumentalities of the National 
Government, except those needed by the Armed Forces of the Philippines for 
the national defense, as determined by the President. 
The President, upon recommendation of the Administrator, shall be and is 
hereby authorized to prescribe the detailed organization, functions and 
duties and the different offices and agencies of the Administration. 
 
 
The State shall undertake the modernization of the Office of Civil Defense 
(OCD) to improve its technological, operational or organizational capacity, 


strengthen its role as the premier national emergency and disaster coordinating 
center of excellence and services. 
SECTION 
3. 
PERIOD OF IMPLEMENTATION – The modernization 
program under this Act shall be implemented for an initial period of two (2) 
years:  
Provided, that payments for multi-year contract obligations incurred 
under this Act may extend beyond this period:  
Provided, further, That OCD shall continue to modernize and constantly 
update its operational capabilities to keep pace with best global practices. 
SECTION 
4. 
OCD MODERNIZATION FUND – There is hereby 
created the OCD Modernization Fund to be used exclusively for the OCD 
Modernization Program.  
The PAGASA Modernization Fund shall be sourced from the following: 
The OCD Modernization Fund shall be administered by the 
Administrator of the OCD in accordance with existing 
government budgeting, accounting, and auditing rules and 
regulations. 
SECTION 
5. 
PROGRESS REPORT – The Administrator of the OCD 
shall prepare an annual report on the status of the implementation of the OCD 
Modernization Program which shall be submitted, through the Secretary of the 
DND, to the President and to the Chairpersons of the Committees on Defense of 
the Senate and the House of Representatives. 
SECTION 
6. 
APPROPRIATIONS – The amount necessary to carry 
out the implementation of this Act shall be initially charged against the current 
fiscal year appropriations of the Department of National Defense (DND). 


The sum of five hundred Million (P500,000,000.00) pesos is hereby 
appropriated, out of any funds in the National Treasury not otherwise 
appropriated, to carry out the purposes of this Act. Not more than twenty per 
cent of this appropriation shall be expended for overhead and salaries. 
Appropriations for the operation of the Administration shall hereafter be 
included in the annual general appropriation for the office of the President  
Thereafter, the amount needed for the continued implementation of the 
modernization program, shall be included in the annual General Appropriations 
Act (GAA). 
SECTION 
7. 
TRANSITORY 
PROVISION – 
Existing 
industries, 
businesses and offices affected by the implementation of this Act shall be given 
six (6) months transitory period from the effectivity of the IRR or such other 
period as may be determined, to comply with the requirements of this Act. 
SECTION 
8. 
IMPLEMENTING RULES AND REGULATIONS. – The 
departments and agencies charged with carrying out the provisions of this Act 
shall, within sixty (60) days after the effectivity of this Act, formulate the 
necessary rules and regulations for its effective implementation. 
SECTION 
9. 
REPEALING CLAUSE. – All laws, decrees, executive 
orders, rules and regulations, or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions 
of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
SECTION 
10. 
SEPARABILITY CLAUSE. – If, for any reason, any 
section or provision of this Act is held unconstitutional or invalid, the other 
sections or provisions hereof shall not be affected thereby. 
SECTION 
11. 
EFFECTIVITY CLAUSE. – This Act shall take effect 
after fifteen (15) days from its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two 
(2) national newspapers of general circulation whichever comes earlier. 


 
Approved,