TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
)
SENATE
S. No. 380
1 11.1, % 
of t.!f Si'tVFlil. !’
c;fci-vv.
25 JUL 10 P3 -07
RECEIVED BY
Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada
AN ACT
CREATING THE DEPARTMENT OF DISASTER RESILIENCE, DEFINING ITS 
MANDATE, POWERS AND FUNCTIONS, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS 
THEREFOR
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The Philippines, located in the Pacific Ocean, is frequented by typhoons, 
causing immense damage to infrastructure and devastation to many villages. 
Situated in the Pacific Ring of Fire, the country is also prone to earthquakes and 
volcanic activities. Possessing one of the longest coastlines in the world, the country 
is also vulnerable to storm surges and severe flooding. Overall, the Philippines is 
considered as the country most at risk from climate crisis, and one of the most 
affected by extreme weather events in the past two decades.
Considering the adverse impacts of natural disasters to the attainment of 
economic goals, it is imperative that the government institutes long-term strategies 
and effective mechanisms to mitigate and manage risks and reduce vulnerabilities of 
communities.
The proposed Department of Disaster Resilience is envisioned as the principal 
government body with "sufficiently high level of authority to lead the coordination, 
monitoring, oversight, and implementation of disaster risk reduction and


management efforts." It will also "be equipped with the necessary competency and 
resources to engage new actors, particularly in the field of risk transfer and 
insurance." Further, DDR will "provide a clear operational framework to address the 
fragmented institutional functions and actions among concerned agencies on climate 
change and disasters."1
This measure proposes the Department of Disaster Resilience to be the 
primary government agency responsible for leading, organizing, and managing the 
national effort to reduce disaster risk, prepare for and respond to disasters, recover 
and rehabilitate, and build forward better, after the occurrence of disasters. Its 
mandate shall cover all natural hazards, including biological hazards (epidemic and 
pandemic, insect infestation). Its functions shall include, among others:
a) Conduct risk and vulnerability assessment at the local level;
b) Undertake the construction of evacuation centers that conform to 
international standards;
c) Implement programs relating to the construction of new settlements and 
relocation of settlements in safe areas;
d) Lead and collaborate with various stakeholders in providing the minimum 
basic needs of people in affected areas before, during and/or after a 
disaster; and
e) Organize and manage post-disaster assessment and recovery and 
rehabilitation programs.
In view of upholding the sanctity of human life and proactively addressing 
humanitarian emergencies, the immediate passage of this legislation is earnestly 
sought.
INGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA
1 Updated Philippine Development Plan 2017-2022, pages 283, 330
2


TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
)
SENATE
S. No. 380
^ *•»
of l.)f ^Pt 'ff
25 JUL 10 P3 :07
Rl’CtlVEO B¥;
Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
AN ACT
CREATING THE DEPARTMENT OF DISASTER RESILIENCE, DEFINING ITS 
MANDATE, POWERS AND FUNCTIONS, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS 
THEREFOR
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
Article I
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Disaster Resilience
Act".
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It shall be the policy of the State to:
a) Protect the lives and properties of its citizens by addressing and 
preventing the causes of vulnerabilities to natural disasters;
b) Uphold the sacredness of human life by efficiently and effectively 
addressing humanitarian emergencies, including calamities and disasters, 
through the establishment of a focused, streamlined, independent, 
empowered, capacitated, specialized agency on disaster risk reduction and 
management as well as emergency response, which is national in scope 
and civilian in character. The people are the most important assets of the 
nation, and all disaster risk and management efforts shall be responsive to 
the humanitarian needs of the people, the dignity and value of the human 
person, and respect for property;


1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 
21 
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
c) Promote a simple, strategic, continuous, comprehensive, inclusive, and 
integrated approach to disaster risk reduction and management aimed at 
substantially reducing vulnerabilities and the risk of disasters and other 
humanitarian emergencies, towards the preservation of life and property, 
thereby ultimately preventing or deterring the loss of lives and protecting 
the social, economic, historical and cultural heritage, and environmental 
assets of the country;
d) Establish a permanent, institutionalized, cohesive, and comprehensive 
framework for disaster preparedness, prevention and mitigation, and 
response, to be implemented by a focused specialized agency with its own 
mandate, powers, and funding, and coordinating with the Philippine 
government, other foreign governments and financial institutions, 
international organizations, the private sector, and civil society. Disaster 
risk reduction and management shall first aim for the outright avoidance 
of the adverse impacts of hazards and related disasters. With the 
knowledge and capacities to effectively anticipate, respond to, and recover 
from the impacts of likely, imminent or current hazard events, 
preparedness action shall be carried out in the most effective and efficient 
manner. In a disaster scenario, the response shall ensure the provision of 
emergency services and public assistance, during or immediately after a 
disaster;
e) Create an integrated, systematic, comprehensive, and cohesive plan to 
simplify, streamline, integrate, and coordinate the various programs, 
projects, and activities of the Government and such other actors or 
stakeholders in disaster risk reduction and management to ensure 
accountability, responsibility, and transparency as well as to ensure the 
efficient and effective performance of their functions;
f) Inculcate a culture of resilience and preparedness against natural disasters 
at the national, regional and local levels;
g) Establish a strong and empowered institution capable of responding to the 
greater onslaught of normal or natural disasters brought by climate 
change, and spearhead efforts to ensure disaster resilience by delivering


1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 
21 
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
the highly critical and intertwined functions of disaster risk reduction and 
response, with a recovery strategy of "building forward better;"
h) Address the different concerns and needs of sectors with special needs or 
higher vulnerabilities such as women, children, elderly, persons with 
disabilities, and indigenous peoples with respect to disaster resilience and 
disaster management;
i) Foster an enabling environment for substantial and sustainable 
participation of nongovernment stakeholders such as civil society 
organizations, private groups, volunteers, and communities in disaster 
resilience programs and projects;
j) Adopt a whole-of-society, whole-of-government, and whole-of-nation 
approach in disaster preparedness to increase collaboration, planning and 
dialogue among all sectors of society in preparing for natural disasters and 
in improving their strategies and action plans for disaster risk reduction; 
and
k) Strengthen the chain of command and establish a unified command 
system for disaster management.
Sec. 3. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act:
a) Adaptation - refers to the adjustment in natural or human systems in 
response to actual or expected climactic stimuli or their effects with 
moderates harm or exploits beneficial opportunities;
b) Assisting actor - refers to any assisting international or domestic actor 
following a disaster in the country;
c) Assisting domestic actor - refers to any not-for-profit entity established 
under domestic laws, which is extending help following a disaster in the 
country;
d) Assisting international actor - refers to any foreign state, organization, 
entity or individual extending help following a disaster within the country 
or transiting through the country to extend help following a disaster in 
another country;
e) Biogicai hazards - refer to hazards that are of organic origin or conveyed 
by biological vectors, including pathogenic microorganisms, toxins, and


1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 
21 
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
the highly critical and intertwined functions of disaster risk reduction and 
response, with a recovery strategy of "building forward better;"
h) Address the different concerns and needs of sectors with special needs or 
higher vulnerabilities such as women, children, elderly, persons with 
disabilities, and indigenous peoples with respect to disaster resilience and 
disaster management;
i) Foster an enabling environment for substantial and sustainable 
participation of nongovernment stakeholders such as civil society 
organizations, private groups, volunteers, and communities in disaster 
resilience programs and projects;
j) Adopt a whole-of-society, whole-of-government, and whole-of-nation 
approach in disaster preparedness to increase collaboration, planning and 
dialogue among all sectors of society in preparing for natural disasters and 
in improving their strategies and action plans for disaster risk reduction; 
and
k) Strengthen the chain of command and establish a unified command 
system for disaster management.
Sec. 3. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act:
a) Adaptation - refers to the adjustment in natural or human systems in 
response to actual or expected climactic stimuli or their effects with 
moderates harm or exploits beneficial opportunities;
b) Assisting actor - refers to any assisting international or domestic actor 
following a disaster in the country;
c) Assisting domestic actor - refers to any not-for-profit entity established 
under domestic laws, which is extending help following a disaster in the 
country;
d) Assisting international actor - refers to any foreign state, organization, 
entity or individual extending help following a disaster within the country 
or transiting through the country to extend help following a disaster in 
another country;
e) Biogicai hazards - refer to hazards that are of organic origin or conveyed 
by biological vectors, including pathogenic microorganisms, toxins, and


1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 
21 
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
bioactive substances. Examples are bacteria, viruses, or parasites as well 
as venomous wildlife and insects, poisonous plants and mosquitoes 
carrying disease-causing agents;
f) Building forward better - refers to an approach to building or 
reconstructing an area or community, which entails a shift from achieving 
simple recovery and restoration to creating safer, more adaptive, resilient 
and inclusive communities;
g) Business continuity- refers to the capability of an organization to continue 
the delivery of products or services at acceptable predefined levels 
following a disruptive incident;
h) Capacity - refers to the combination of attributes and resources available 
within a community or area that can reduce the level of risk(s) from, or 
impact(s) of, a disaster;
i) 
Civil society organizations - refer to non-State actors whose aims are 
neither to generate profits nor to seek governing power, but to unite 
people to advance shared goals and interests. CSOs may include 
nongovernment organizations, community-based organizations, and social 
movements;
j) Climate change - refers to a change in the state of the climate that can be 
identified by changes in the means and/or variability of its properties, and 
that persists in an extended period, typically decades or longer, whether 
due to natural internal processes or external forces such as modulation of 
the solar cycles, volcanic eruptions, and persistent anthropogenic changes 
in the composition of the atmosphere or in land use;
k) Complex emergency - refers to a form of human-induced emergency in 
which the cause of the emergency as well as the assistance to the afflicted 
is complicated by an intense level of political considerations;
l) 
Consequence management - refers to the totality of interventions and 
measures taken to restore essential operations and services in a 
permissive environment, including measures to protect public health and 
safety, restore essential government services, and provide emergency


1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 
21 
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
relief to individuals, stakeholders, and communities affected by the 
consequences of emergencies, hazards, and disasters;
m) Contingency planning - refers to a management process that analyzes 
specific potential events or emerging situations that might threaten society 
or the environment and establishes arrangements in advance to enable 
timely, effective and appropriate responses to such events and situations;
n) Cultural heritage - refers to the totality of cultural property preserved and 
developed through time and passed on to posterity;
o) Deterministic risk assessment- refers to an assessment that considers the 
possible disaster impacts of a single scenario, in contrast to probabilistic 
risk assessment which considers all possible scenarios, their likelihood, and 
associated impacts;
p) Development assistance - refers to financial, material, or other forms of 
assistance to support the economic, social and environmental well-being 
of areas or people affected by a natural disaster;
q) Disability - refers to an evolving concept that results from the interaction 
between persons with impairments, as defined under Republic Act No. 
7277, otherwise known as the "Magna Carta for Disabled Persons" and 
attitudinal and environmental barriers that hinder their full and effective 
participation in society on an equal basis with others;
r) Disaster - refers to a serious disruption of the functioning of a community 
or a society involving widespread human, material, economic, or 
environmental losses and impacts, which exceeds the ability of the 
affected community to cope using its own resources. Disasters are often 
described as a result of the combination of: the exposure to a hazard; the 
conditions of vulnerability that are present; and insufficient capacity or 
measures to reduce or cope with the potential negative consequences. 
Disaster impacts may include loss of life, injury, disease and other 
negative effects on human, physical, mental and social well-being, 
together with damage to property, destruction of assets, loss of service, 
social and economic disruption, and environmental degradation. Unless


1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 
21 
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
Otherwise specifically indicated in this Act, the term "disaster" shall refer to 
"natural disaster";
s) Disaster assistance - refers to financial, material or other forms of 
assistance to address the immediate and long-term needs of people, 
communities, or areas affected by a disaster. This term includes 
humanitarian assistance and development assistance;
t) Disaster management- refers to planning, organization, and application of 
measures preparing for, responding to, and recovering from disasters;
u) Disaster mitigation - refers to the reduction or limitation of the adverse 
impacts of disaster and its related hazards;
v) Disaster preparedness - refers to the knowledge and capacities developed 
by governments, professional response and recovery organizations, 
communities and individuals to effectively anticipate, respond to, and 
recover from, the impacts of likely, imminent or current disaster and 
related hazards;
w) Disaster prevention - refers to the intention to avoid, or the outright 
avoidance, of potential adverse impacts of disasters and related hazards 
through action(s) taken in advance;
x) Disaster recovery - refers to restoration or improvement of livelihoods and 
health, as well as economic, physical, social, cultural and environmental 
assets, systems, and activities, of a disaster-affected community or 
society, aligning with the principles of sustainable development and "build 
forward better" to avoid or reduce future disaster risk;
y) Disaster response or disaster relief - refers to the provision of emergency 
services and public assistance during or immediately after a disaster in 
order to secure and save lives, reduce health impacts, ensure public safety 
and meet the basic subsistence needs of the people affected. Disaster 
response is predominantly focused on immediate and short-term needs 
and is sometimes called "disaster relief";
z) Disaster rehabilitation - refers to restoration of basic services and facilities 
for the function of a community or society affected by a disaster;


1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 
21 
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
did)Disaster resilience - refers to the ability of a system, community, or 
society exposed to hazards to resist, absorb, accommodate, adapt to, 
transform, and recover from the effects of a hazard, including the long­
term impact of climate change, in a timely and efficient manner, including 
through the preservation and restoration of its essential basic structures 
and functions through risk management; 
b]o)Disaster risk - refers to the potential losses in lives, health status, 
livelihoods, assets and services that may occur to a particular community 
or society due to a disaster in the future, and is determined by a 
combination of the vulnerability, capacity exposure of persons and assets, 
hazard characteristics and the environment; 
cc) Disaster risk governance - refers to the manner in which the public 
authorities, civil servant, media, private sector, and civil society coordinate 
at community, nationai and regional levels in order to manage disaster 
and climate reiated risks. This includes ensuring that sufficient levels of 
capacity and resources are made available to prevent, prepare for, 
manage and recover from disasters. It also entails mechanisms, 
institutions, and processes for citizens to articulate their interests, exercise 
their legal rights and obligations, and mediate their differences;
66)Disaster risk management - refers to the systematic approach or process 
of implementing strategies, policies and programs to lessen the possibility 
and/or adverse impacts of disasters and related hazards; 
ee) Disaster risk reduction - refers to the prevention of new or reduction of 
existing, disaster risks and the management of residual risk, to enhance 
resilience to disasters;
ff) Early warning system - refers to an integrated system of hazard 
monitoring, forecasting and prediction, disaster risk assessment, and 
communication and preparedness activities and processes that enable 
individuals, communities, national government agencies, local government 
units, the private sector, and others to take timely action to reduce 
disaster risks, and adequately prepare for disasters;


1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 
21 
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
qq)Emergency - refers to unforeseen or sudden occurrence, especially 
danger, demanding immediate action;
H\)Emergency management - refers to the organization and management of 
resources and responsibilities for addressing all aspects of emergencies, in 
particular, preparedness, response and initial recovery steps;
ii) Environmental hazards - refer to hazards which may be chemical, natural 
and biological, and can be created by environmental degradation or 
physical or chemical pollution in the air, water and soil. However, many of 
the processes and phenomena that fall into this category may be termed 
drivers of hazard and risk rather than hazards in themselves, such as soil 
degradation, deforestation, loss of biodiversity, salinization and sea-level 
rise;
jj) Exposure - refers to the situation of people, infrastructure, housing, 
production capacities, and other tangible human assets located in hazard- 
prone areas;
kk) Framework Agreement - shall refer to a written agreement between a 
procuring entity and a supplier or service provider that identifies the terms 
and conditions under which specific purchases are made for the duration 
of the agreement. The Framework Agreement is in the nature of an option 
contract between the procuring entity and the bidder(s) granting the 
procuring entity the option to either place an order for any of the goods or 
service identified in the Framework Agreement List or not buy at all, within 
the period of the Framework Agreement;
II) Geological or geophysical hazards - refer to hazards which originate from 
internal earth processes, such as earthquakes, volcanic activities and 
emissions, and related geophysical processes which include mass 
movements, landslides, rockslides, surface collapses and debris or mud 
flows. Hydrometeorological factors are important contributors to some of 
these processes. While tsunamis are triggered by undersea earthquakes 
and other geological events, they essentially become an oceanic process 
that is manifested as coastal water-related hazards;


1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 
21 
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
mm) Geographic information system - refers to a database which contains, 
among others, geo-hazard assessments, information on climate change, 
and climate risk reduction and management; 
r\v\)Geographicaiiy isolated and disadvantaged area (GIDA) - refers to an area 
with a marginalized population, which is physically and socio-economically 
separated from the mainstream society and characterized by physical 
factors such as isolated due to distance, weather conditions and 
transportation difficulties due to island, upland, lowland, landlocked, hard 
to reach and underserved communities; and/or socio-economic factors 
such as high poverty incidence, presence of vulnerable sector, 
communities in recovering from a situation of crisis or armed conflict; 
oo)Hazard- refers to a phenomenon, substance, human activity, or condition 
that may cause loss of life, injury or impacts to health; and social and 
economic disruption, environmental damage, or loss of or disruption to 
property, livelihood and/or services;
p’p)Historical landmarks - refer to sites or structures that are associated with 
events or achievements significant to Philippine history as declared by the 
National Historical Institute or the applicable agency; 
op\)Human-induced disasters - refer to disaster induced entirely or 
predominantly by human activities or choices, such as ideologically 
motivated conflict or criminality;
rr) Humanitarian assistance - refers to financial, material, or other similar 
forms of assistance to address the immediate needs of people affected by 
a natural disaster;
ss) Hydrometeorological hazards - refer to hazards that are of atmospheric, 
hydrological and oceanographic origin, such as tropical cyclones also 
known as typhoons and hurricanes, floods, including flash floods, drought, 
heatwaves and cold spells, coastal storm surges, and marine heatwaves, 
extreme sea events, and sea level rise. Hydrometeorological conditions 
may also be a factor in other hazards, such as landslides, wildland fires, 
locust plagues, epidemics, and in the transport and dispersal of toxic 
substances and volcanic eruption material;


1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 
21 
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
tt) Impact and needs assessment - refers to assessing the nature and 
magnitude of a disaster, its impact on affected populations, the type and 
extent of emergency, and the requirements for recovery and rehabilitation 
of the affected areas;
uu)Land-use planning - refers to the process undertaken by public authorities 
to identify, evaluate, and decide on different options for the use of land, 
including consideration of long-term economic, social and environmental 
objectives and the implications for different communities and interest 
groups, and the subsequent formulation and promulgation of plans that 
describe the permitted or acceptable uses; 
nm) Legal facilities - refer to entitlements and exemptions that are granted to 
assisting domestic or international actors which are declared to be eligible 
pursuant to this Act and its implementing rules and regulations; 
ww) Local Disaster Resilience Rian (LDRP) - refers to a document prepared 
by a local government unit (LGU) on the National Disaster Resilience 
Framework (NDRF) and National Disaster Resilience Plan and Investment 
Program (NDRPIP) that sets out specific programs, objectives and goals to 
implement disaster risk management and climate change adaptation 
measures at the local level. The plan shall include among others, an 
evaluation and analysis of emerging disaster risks, hazards and 
vulnerabilities applicable to an LGU, and specific programs and activities to 
ensure responsive, effective and the appropriate disaster preparedness 
and management at the local level;
xx) National continuity policy - refers to a policy aimed at the development of 
an organizational culture that has the ability to provide a minimum level of 
service during interruptions, emergencies, and disasters, and return to full 
operations quickly;
yy) National cultural treasure - refers to a unique cultural property found 
locally, possessing outstanding historical, cultural, artistic and/or scientific 
value which is highly significant and important to the country and nation, 
and officially declared as such by the pertinent cultural agency;
10


1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 
21 
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
zz) National Disaster Resilience Framework (NDRF) - refers to a framework 
that provides for a comprehensive, all-hazards, multi-sectoral, inter­
agency and community-based approach to enable communities to resist, 
prevent, mitigate against, absorb, accommodate, adapt to, recover, or 
build forward better from the effects of a hazard in a timely and efficient 
manner through, among others, disaster risk reduction and management 
and climate change adaptation and mitigation. The NDRF shall be 
composed of a National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management 
Framework (NDRRMF), and National Framework Strategy on Climate 
Change (NFSCC);
aaa) National Disaster Resilience Rian and Investment Program (NDRPIP) - 
refers to a plan formulated and implemented by the Department of 
Disaster Resilience in accordance with the NDRF that sets out the 
outcomes, goals and objectives, priorities, programs and corresponding 
action plans for disaster risk reduction, preparedness, and management, 
and climate change mitigation. It shall also include, among others, the 
goals, objectives, and action plans for a National Continuity Policy;
bbb) Natural Disaster - refers to a disaster predominantly associated with 
and/or caused by natural processes or phenomena, such as those related 
to geology such as earthquakes, ground rupture, liquefaction, landslides, 
tsunamis, sinkholes, volcanic activity; hydrology and meteorology such as 
floods, severe winds, typhoons, storm surges, climatological variability 
such as extreme temperatures, El Nino, La Nina, and forest fires; 
biological events such as epidemics or pandemics caused by outbreaks of 
viral, bacterial, parasitic, fungal or infectious diseases affecting human, 
animal or plant life, insect infestations or swarms; and extraterrestrial 
events such as a meteorite or asteroid strikes;
ccc) Open data - refer to facts and statistics that can be freely used, shared 
and built-on by anyone, anywhere, for any purpose, which must be 
available in bulk, free of charge, or at least no more than a reasonable 
cost and permit people to use, re-use and redistribute, intermix with other 
data providers;
11


1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 
21 
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
ddd) Post-Disaster recovery - refers to the restoration and improvement, 
where appropriate, of facilities, livelihood and living conditions, of disaster- 
affected communities, including efforts to reduce disaster risk factors, in 
accordance with the principle of "build forward better"; 
eee) Preparedness - refers to pre-disaster actions and measures being 
undertaken within the context of disaster risk reduction and management 
and are based on sound risk analysis as well as pre-disaster activities to 
avert or minimize loss of life and property such as community organizing, 
training, planning, equipping, stockpiling, hazard mapping, insuring of 
assets, and public information and education initiatives. This also includes 
the development or enhancement of an overall preparedness strategy, 
policy, institutional structure, warning and forecasting capabilities, and 
plans that define measures geared to help at-risk communities safeguard 
their lives and assets by being alert to hazards and taking appropriate 
action in the face of an imminent threat or an actual disaster; 
ffQ Prevention - refers to activities and measures to avoid existing and new 
disaster risks, and the concept and intention to avoid potential adverse 
impacts of hazardous events;
ggg) Probabilistic risk assessment- refers to the simulation of those future 
disasters based on scientific evidence, and which are likely to occur in 
order to resolve the problem posed by the limits of historical data by 
reproducing the physics of the phenomena and recreating the intensity of 
a large number of synthetic events, including all possible scenarios, their 
likelihood, and associated impacts;
hhh) Rehabilitation - refers to measures that ensure the ability of affected 
communities or areas to restore their normal level of functioning by 
rebuilding livelihood and infrastructures and increasing the communities' 
organizational capacity;
iii) Resilience - refers to the ability of a system, community or society 
exposed to hazards to resist, absorb, accommodate, and recover from the 
effects thereof in a timely and efficient manner, including through the
12


1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 
21 
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
preservation and restoration of its essential basic structures and functions 
in a manner that will make them more resistant to future risks;
jjj) Response - refers to any concerted effort by two (2) or more agencies, 
public or private, to provide assistance or intervention during or 
immediately after a disaster to meet the life preservation and basic 
subsistence needs of those people affected and in the restoration of 
essential public activities and facilities;
kkk) Retrofitting - refers to an act reinforcing or upgrading existing 
structures to make them more resistant and resilient to the damaging 
effects of hazards;
III) Risk - refers to the combination of the probability of an event and its 
negative consequences;
mmm)/?/s/r assessment - refers to a methodology to determine the nature 
and extent of risks by analyzing potential hazards and evaluating existing 
conditions of vulnerability that together could potentially harm exposed 
people, property, services, livelihood and the environment on which they 
depend. Risk assessment with associated risk mapping include: a review 
of the technical characteristics of hazards such as their location, intensity, 
frequency, and probability; the analysis of exposure and vulnerability 
including the physical, social, health, economic, and environmental 
dimensions; and the evaluation of the effectiveness of prevailing and 
alternative coping capacities in respect to likely risk scenarios;
nnn) Risk transfer - refers to the process of formally or informally shifting 
the financial consequences of particular risks from one party to another 
whereby a household, community, enterprise or State authority will obtain 
resources from the other party after a disaster occurs, in exchange for 
ongoing or compensatory social or financial benefits provided to that other 
party;
ooo) Safety stock - refers to items of raw materials, component parts, or 
finished goods maintained in inventory in order to reduce the risk that 
such item will be out of stock, in anticipation of shortages or unusual 
demand for such items;
13


1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 
21 
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
ppp) State of Calamity - refers to a condition involving mass casualty, 
disruption of means of livelihoods, and/or major damages to property, 
roads, and normal way of life of people in the affected areas as a result of 
the occurrence of natural or human induced hazard; 
qqq) Sustainable development - refers to development that meets the 
needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future 
generations to meet their own. It contains within it two (2) key concepts: 
first, the concept of "needs," in particular, the essential needs of the 
world's poor, to which overriding priority should be given; and second, the 
idea of limitations imposed by the state of technology and social cohesion 
and harmony, and ecological integration of a sound and viable economy, 
responsible governance, and ecological integrity to ensure that human 
development now and through future generations is a life enhancing 
process;
rrr) Volunteers - refer to individuals, groups or entities that offer and provide 
services or assistance, without compensation, to help people and areas 
affected by disasters;
sss) Vulnerability - refers to the characteristics and circumstances of a 
community, system or asset that make it susceptible to the damaging 
effects of a hazard. Vulnerability may arise from various physical, social, 
economic, and environmental factors such as poor design and construction 
of buildings, inadequate protection of assets, lack of public information 
and awareness, limited official recognition of risks and preparedness 
measures, and disregard for wise environmental management; 
ttt) Vulnerable and marginalized groups - refer to those that face higher 
exposure to disaster risk and poverty including women, children, the 
elderly, differently abled people and ethnic minorities; 
uuu) Whole-of-Society Approach - refers to an approach that encourages 
the meaningful and active participation and synergy of the different 
stakeholders of society toward climate change adaptation and mitigation, 
disaster risk reduction and management at the national and local levels;
14


1 
wv) Whole-of-Government Approach - refers to an approach that instills
2 
and fosters collaboration among all government instrumentalities 
both at
3 
the national and local levels toward shared sustainable development goals
4 
and outcomes; and
5 
WWW) Whole-of-Nation Approach - refers to an approach that seeks to bring
6 
about a concerted effort towards sustainable development, and national
7 
peace and security by creating consensus and understanding of
8 
development and security that is shared not just among core security
9 
forces and oversight government institutions, but also by the nation's
10 
stakeholders such as government, civil society, private sector, and the
11 
communities.
12 
Article II
13 
THE DEPARTMENT OF DISASTER RESILIENCE:
14 
MANDATE, POWERS AND FUNCTIONS
15 
Sec. 4. Creation and Mandate of the Department of Disaster Resilience. -
16 
There is hereby created a Department of Disaster Resilience, herein after referred to
17 
as the Department.
18 
The Department shall be the primary government agency responsible for
19 
leading, organizing, and managing the national effort to reduce disaster risk, prepare
20 
for and respond to disasters, recover and rehabilitate, and build forward better, after
21 
the occurrence of disasters.
22 
The Department shall oversee and coordinate the preparation,
23 
implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of disaster and climate resilience plans,
24 
programs, projects, and activities, provide leadership in the continuous development
25 
of strategic and systematic approaches to disaster prevention, mitigation,
26 
preparedness, response, recovery, and rehabilitation, to anticipatory adaptation
27 
strategies, measures, techniques, and options.
28 
The Department shall augment the capacity of local government units in
29 
collaboration with relevant national government agencies and other stakeholders to
30 
implement disaster risk reduction and management and climate change action plans,
31 
programs, projects and activities.
15


1 
The Department shall be the principal government Institution responsible for
2 
ensuring safe, adaptive, and disaster resilient communities. It is mandated to
3 
provide a clear and comprehensive direction in the implementation of plans,
4 
programs, and projects to reduce the risk of natural hazards and the effects of
5 
climate change and manage the impact of disasters.
6 
The mandate of the Department covers all natural hazards, which include,
7 
among others, the following:
8 
a) Geological Phenomena and Related Hazards:
9 
1) Earthquake - ground rupture, ground shaking, liquefaction, tsunami,
10 
fire, landslides, and seiche or lake water oscillation
11 
2) Volcanic activity - ash fall, pyroclastic flow, lava flow, lahar, fissuring,
12 
and volcanic gas
13 
3) Mass movement - landslides, debris flow, sinkholes
14 
b) Hydrological, Oceanographic and Meteorological Phenomena and Related
15 
Hazards
16 
1) Tropical cyclone - severe winds, storm surge, rogue waves, severe
17 
rainfall including hail
18 
2) Flood, rain-triggered landslides and storm surges
19 
3) Erosion
20 
4) Marine heatwaves, extreme sea events, and sea level rise
21 
c) Climate Variability/Change with Related Hazards of Compound Events and
22 
Cascading Impacts
23 
1) El Nlho or La Nina (ENSO) with associated rainfall and temperature (in
24 
particular, projected extreme ENSOs)
25 
2) Extreme temperature (heat wave or cold wave), extreme weather
26 
conditions (drought or excessive rainfall)
27 
3) Wildfire (forest or land fires)
28 
d) Biological and Related Hazards
29 
1) Epidemic/Pandemic - viral, bacterial, parasitic, fungal, prion infectious
30 
diseases
31 
2) Insect Infestation - grasshoppers/locusts
32 
e) Extra-Terrestrial - Meteorite/Asteroid Impact
16


1 
The Department shall manage and direct the implementation of national, local
2 
and community-based disaster resilience and disaster management programs,
3 
projects and activities, including disaster response, recovery and rehabilitation, when
4 
applicable, in collaboration with relevant national government agencies, LCDs, CSOs,
5 
academic institutions and other stakeholders: Provided, That for human-induced
6 
disasters, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department
7 
of National Defense (DND), Department of Social Welfare and Development
8 
(DSWD), and other relevant government instrumentalities, including the Armed
9 
Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), Philippine National
10 
Police (PNP), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), and Office of Civil Defense (OCD), shall
11 
continue to perform their functions: Provided, further. That the Department shall
12 
remain as the lead agency in recovery and rehabilitation efforts in collaboration with
13 
all stakeholders when applicable.
14 
Notwithstanding, the mandates and powers stated herein shall be without
15 
prejudice to the President's directive to address natural, human-induced, or other
16 
disasters such as an epidemic.
17 
Sec. 5. Powers and Functions of the Department - The Department shall
18 
exercise the following powers and functions, in collaboration with the relevant
19 
departments, agencies, and nongovernment stakeholders:
20 
a) General Functions
21 
1) Conduct risk and vulnerability assessment at the local level based on
22 
the national criteria, and establish a database that includes, among
23 
others, an inventory of hazards to better prepare for and respond to
24 
natural disasters;
25 
2) Undertake the establishment or construction of evacuation centers that
26 
conform to the standards under the United Nations (UN) Flumanitarian
27 
Charter and Minimum Standards in Humanitarian Response or The
28 
Sphere Minimum Standards for Shelter and Settlement, and Republic
29 
Act No. 10821, otherwise known as the "Children's Emergency Relief
30 
and Protection Act", among others. The upkeep and maintenance of
31 
the evacuation centers shall be the responsibility of the concerned
32 
LGUs;
17


1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 
21 
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
3) Develop, maintain and update an integrated disaster management and 
disaster resilience information system that includes, among others 
multi-hazard mapping, vulnerability and probabilistic risk assessments, 
early warning, exposure database, communication and emergency 
management systems at the national, regional, and provincial levels;
4) Undertake the formulation and implementation of the government's 
policies, plans, programs, projects and budget for disaster resilience 
including those related to disaster risk reduction, response, recovery, 
rehabilitation, and building forward better;
5) Review and build upon, to the extent necessary, the existing disaster 
resilience framework, plans and strategies in the crafting of an NDRF 
and the corresponding NDRPIP;
6) Oversee, review and approve the translation, integration, and 
implementation of the NDRPIP into LDRPs;
7) Facilitate the availability of highly competent DRR professionals at all 
levels and prescribe benefits, allowances, and similar emoluments for 
DRR professionals, as it may deem fit;
8) Communicate and disseminate critical information to help the public 
prepare for, respond to, and recover from a disaster;
9) Receive, manage, administer and control all the funds, assets and 
properties received by the Department to accomplish the purposes of 
this Act;
10) Recommend to the President of the Philippines the declaration of a 
state of calamity due to a natural disaster, and the lifting thereof when 
conditions stabilize;
11) Advise the President on matters concerning disaster resilience and 
make recommendations, as appropriate;
12) Advance the country's interests relating to disaster resilience in the 
regional and global arena;
13) Collaborate with any government entity to help ensure the attainment 
of the goals and objectives of this Act; and
18


1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 
21 
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
14)Perform such other functions, as provided by law or assignment of the 
President, and undertake all other necessary actions to ensure the 
attainment of the overall goals and objectives of this Act. 
b) Disaster Risk Reduction
1) Develop coordinated regional and local strategies for the effective 
prevention and mitigation of disaster risk resulting from natural 
hazards, including the effects of climate change;
2) Develop and implement policies and programs relating to the 
construction of new settlements or relocation of settlements in safe 
areas which shall, to the extent such policies and programs relate to 
disaster reduction, mitigation, prevention or building forward better, 
prevail over policies or decisions of other government departments, 
government agencies, government owned and/or controlled 
corporations, LGUs, or other government institutions;
3) Develop, in coordination with relevant government agencies, policies 
and programs on land-use planning, urban planning and zoning which 
shall, to the extent such policies and programs relate to disaster risk 
reduction, mitigation, prevention or building forward better, prevail 
over policies or decisions of other government departments, 
government agencies, government owned and/or controlled 
corporations, LGUs, or other government institutions;
4) Establish or enhance standards for disaster preparedness and 
continuity planning, such as on infrastructure standards and designs;
5) Collaborate with the Department of Public Works and Highways 
(DPWH) and other relevant government agencies in the conduct of 
regular structural, safety audit of buildings and other types of 
infrastructure, and require the submission of necessary data, 
information or reports related thereto;
6) Formulate a National Continuity Policy including plans and programs to 
implement government governance and business continuity;
7) Ensure the use of advanced science and technology in the anticipatory 
planning of communities against the impact of natural hazards and
19


1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 
21 
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
climate change through consultation, and employment with a regular 
department funding for relevant academic or higher educational 
institutions with proven risk reduction record;
8) Establish a system to ensure that all disaster-related data are 
accessible to all stakeholders to generate the best scientific information 
and technological products for use in disaster resilience;
9) Ensure that all climate change-related hazards are included in the 
development of climate risk profiles of targeted LGUs as provided for in 
the Climate Risk and Management Framework (CRMF) policy document 
of the Climate Change Commission (CCC) and that the appropriate 
institutions such as the academe and other science experts or 
organizations who have the capability to develop or have developed 
methodologies to establish climate change risk profile are officially 
engaged;
10) Undertake programs and projects to reduce the vulnerability of 
physical infrastructure, assets, and facilities including retrofitting, and 
structural and non-structural upgrading, in coordination with the 
relevant government agencies;
lljCall on relevant government agencies to develop alternative livelihood 
programs to reduce the vulnerability to disasters of certain areas or 
certain sectors of society;
12) Formulate, facilitate and monitor efforts relating to certain resources or 
sectors toward addressing the long-term effects of climate change on 
sustainable development, such as water resources, agriculture, 
forestry, coastal and marine resources, health, and infrastructure, in 
coordination with relevant government agencies;
13) Design and implement an incentive system for greater private and 
public investment, both at the local and national levels, on disaster risk 
reduction;
14) Oversee and ensure the mainstreaming of climate change adaptation 
and disaster reduction in development and land use planning, and the 
preparation of contingency plans;
20


1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 
21 
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
15) Create an enabling environment that shall promote broader multi­
stakeholder participation for disaster risk reduction and climate change 
adaptation and mitigation;
16) Establish, develop, and monitor programs and projects, in coordination 
with relevant government agencies, that consider climate projections, 
including temperature increase and rainfall change in the Philippines to 
ensure climate-resilient communities;
17) Establish and monitor national and local capacity for disaster risk 
financing and insurance and other risk transfer strategies in 
coordination with the Department of Finance (DOF), Government 
Service Insurance System (GSIS), Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP), 
and Insurance Commission;
18) Review and evaluate local disaster resilience plans and other local 
plans to ensure their consistency with the National Disaster Resilience 
Framework; and
19) Undertake all other programs and projects necessary to attain the 
necessary outcomes for disaster risk reduction.
c) Disaster Preparedness and Response
1) Lead, manage, and collaborate with the relevant government 
instrumentalities, nongovernment stakeholders, and international 
partners in providing the minimum basic needs of people in affected 
areas before, during and/or immediately after a disaster to save lives 
and minimize casualties;
2) Establish a corps of first responders in partnership with national and 
local stakeholders, both public and private;
3) Implement projects and programs that will enhance the capacity of 
LGUs to prepare for and respond to disasters, giving priority to LGUs 
with low income or those situated in high-risk areas;
4) Ensure the efficient prepositioning of goods, maintenance and disposal 
of safety stocks;
5) Accredit, monitor, and evaluate training institutions on disaster 
resilience;
21


1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 
21 
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
6) Regulate the accreditation of donors, volunteers, and assisting 
nongovernment stakeholders, both domestic and international;
7) Formulate standards for contingency planning that shall be adopted by 
the LG Us;
8) Develop a database of exposure or elements at risk per area to 
facilitate and ensure quick impact and needs assessment in the event 
of a disaster;
9) Facilitate and regulate the acceptance, inventory, and accounting of 
humanitarian assistance including relief goods;
10) Maintain a database of volunteers and, when necessary, mobilize 
volunteers to augment the personnel complement and logistical 
requirements for disaster response and/or for the delivery of DRRM 
programs, projects and activities;
lljOversee and maintain a national early-warning and emergency alert 
system that must provide a specific, area-focused and time-bound 
warning that are accurate, timely, understandable and readily 
accessible to national and local emergency response organizations and 
the general public;
12) Coordinate information-sharing and other disaster risk reduction 
protocols following the principle of inter-operability among national 
government agencies and local government units;
13) Call upon other instrumentalities or entities of the government and 
nongovernment and civic organizations for assistance in terms of the 
use of their facilities and resources for the protection and preservation 
of life and properties in the whole range of disaster risk reduction and 
management. This function includes the power to call on the reserve 
force as defined in Republic Act No. 7077, otherwise known as the 
"Citizen Armed Forces of the Philippines Reservist Act" to assist in 
relief, rescue, retrieval, and management of dead and missing persons 
during disasters or calamities;
22


1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 
21 
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
14) Organize, train, equip, and maintain a system of response capacity for 
search, rescue and retrieval and the delivery and distribution of relief 
goods;
15) Recommend to the President to call upon the AFP and PNP to render 
the necessary assistance in a disaster-affected area by the authority of 
the President;
16) Call upon, by authority of the President, the Armed Forces of the 
Philippines (AFP), the Philippine National Police, the Bureau of Fire 
Protection (BFP), the Philippine Coast Guard, and other uniformed 
services to the extent necessary for the Department to achieve the 
purposes of this Act;
17) Establish a National Corps of Volunteers to be composed of, among 
others: Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC), National Service 
Training Program (NSTP), reservists, and other socio-civic 
organizations;
18) Assist in mobilizing necessary resources to increase the overall capacity 
of local government units, specifically those with low income and 
situated in high-risk areas; and
19) Undertake all other programs and projects necessary to attain the 
necessary outcomes for disaster preparedness and response.
d) Recovery and Building Forward Better
1) Prepare, organize, lead, implement, and manage post-disaster 
assessment and recovery and rehabilitation programs and plans, in 
coordination with the affected local government units, national 
government agencies, and other stakeholders;
2) Establish a system to promptly perform impact and needs assessment, 
including strengthening the in-house capacity of the Department to 
conduct accurate and timely impact and needs assessment;
3) Establish a system that utilizes templates, exposure database, and 
other tools, and develop the Department's in-house capacity for the 
prompt and expedient preparation of rehabilitation plans, when 
needed, for disaster affected areas;
23


1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 
21 
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
4) Formulate or direct relevant government agencies and LCDs to issue 
guidelines for fast-tracking the issuance of permits, certifications, 
clearances and licenses to implement disaster recovery and 
rehabilitation measures, including housing and public utility projects, in 
affected areas;
5) Prepare and implement rehabilitation plans for disaster affected areas;
6) Manage and oversee the implementation of disaster recovery and 
rehabilitation measures;
7) Collaborate with relevant government agencies to establish programs 
to restore or generate livelihood in disaster affected areas;
8) Formulate policies and standards for post-disaster shelter recovery 
which may include, among others, implementation arrangements, 
coordination arrangements with relevant agencies and LGUs, and 
modalities for emergency transitional and permanent shelter recovery;
9) Ensure that the principle of building forward better is applied to 
rehabilitation or reconstruction efforts; and
10) Undertake all other programs and projects necessary to attain the 
necessary outcomes for recovery and safer, adaptive, resilient and 
inclusive communities.
e) Other Functions
1) Constitute, call, convene or deputize agencies of government, and 
invite nongovernment and private organizations, to assist, advise, or 
coordinate with the Department to achieve the purposes of this Act;
2) Inspect and examine the status of projects, programs, and activities 
undertaken by national government agencies and local government 
units in furtherance of disaster resilience efforts;
3) Save lives and/or minimize damages to livelihood and property, 
complement and collaborate with relevant government agencies and 
nongovernment stakeholders in providing humanitarian response and 
the consequence management of human-induced disasters whenever it 
becomes necessary;
24


1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 
21 
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
4) Negotiate, enter into, institutionalize, and coordinate arrangements 
with any private person or entity for the purpose of ensuring the 
adequate and prompt availability of goods and services necessary in 
anticipation of, during, and in the aftermath of disasters;
5) Promulgate rules and regulations for the receipt, management, and 
accounting of donations that are consistent with the rules of the 
Commission on Audit (COA) on the use of foreign and local aid during 
calamities and disasters;
6) Create or reorganize offices and/or task forces, as may be necessary to 
carry out the objectives of this Act; and
7) Perform such other functions, as may be necessary, for the attainment 
of the objectives of this Act.
Article III
EMERGENCY MEASURES
Sec. 6. Emergenc/ Measures. -
a) To protect and preserve life and property and ensure and promote public
safety and welfare, the Department may undertake and implement the
following emergency measures in anticipation of, during, and in the
aftermath of disasters;
1) Carrying out of preemptive evacuation;
2) Imposition of curfew;
3) Rationing of the distribution of basic goods in critical shortage, and 
when necessary, preventing or restricting the transfer of such goods 
outside of the area affected by the disaster, including access to rice 
inventory of the National Food Authority (NFA) office or storage located 
in the affected area;
4) When there is imminent danger of loss of lives or damage to property, 
temporarily take over or direct the operation of any private utility or 
business, subject to payment of just compensation; and
5) With the concurrence of the DOF, recommend to the Monetary Board 
the deferment of the payment of monetary obligations of local
25


1 
government units and private entities that have been severely affected
2 
by disaster.
3 
b) Local government units shall enact ordinances on and implement
4 
necessary and appropriate emergency measures to ensure the protection
5 
and preservation of life and property and the promotion of public safety
6 
and welfare in anticipation of, during, and in the aftermath of disasters.
7 
c) Emergency measures shall be carried out in a manner that is humane,
8 
respectful of the dignity and culture of persons, without the use of
9 
discrimination and disproportionate force, and with conscious attention to
10 
the needs of vulnerable and marginalized groups.
11 
d) Appropriate steps shall be taken to inform the public of the need to
12 
implement emergency measures for their safety.
13 
Sec. 7. Preemptive and Forced Evacuations. - Preemptive evacuation shall be
14 
the preferred and primary mode of moving and relocating people that will be
15 
affected by impending disasters.
16 
A forced evacuation shall be considered as an emergency measure of last
17 
resort that may be undertaken in anticipation of or during a disaster and carried out
18 
by the concerned local government unit: Provided, That in case of the failure or
19 
inability of the local government units to implement the same, the forced evacuation
20 
shall be implemented by the Department, which may direct and compel the
21 
assistance of law enforcement and other government agencies to implement such
22 
measure.
23 
Any person who wilfully disregards or disobeys a preemptive or forced
24 
evacuation carried out by the local government unit or the Department releases such
25 
local government unit or the Department, as the case may be, from any liability for
26 
injury, death, damage to, or loss of property due to such disobedience.
27 
Article IV
28 
ORGANIZATION AND MANAGEMENT
29 
Sec. 8. The Secretary. -The Department shall be headed by the Secretary of
30 
Disaster Resilience, hereinafter referred to as the Secretary, who shall be appointed
31 
by the President, subject to confirmation by the Commission on Appointments. The
32 
Secretary shall preferably have a good background in any of the scientific.
26


1 
engineering, and public management fields relevant to the attainment and
2 
promotion of resiliency to natural hazards and climate change, and demonstrated
3 
managerial acumen.
4 
Sec. 9. Powers and Functions of the Secretary. - The Secretary shall have the
5 
following powers and functions:
6 
a) Provide executive direction and supervision over the entire operations of
7 
the Department;
8 
b) Establish and promulgate policies, rules and regulations for the effective
9 
and efficient operation of the Department and implement these to carry
10 
out its mandate, functions, programs, and activities;
11 
c) Exercise control and supervision over all functions and activities of the
12 
Department and its officers and personnel;
13 
d) Manage the financial, human and other resources of the Department;
14 
e) Appoint and designate officers and employees of the Department,
15 
excluding those requiring presidential appointment as provided for by law;
16 
f) Exercise disciplinary powers over officers and employees of the
17 
Department, excluding those requiring presidential appointment as
18 
provided for by law;
19 
g) Collaborate with other government agencies, the private sector, and civil
20 
society organizations on the policies, programs, projects, and activities of
21 
the Department, as may be necessary;
22 
h) Advise the President on the promulgation of executive and administrative
23 
orders, and the formulation of regulatory and legislative proposals on
24 
matters pertaining to disaster resilience;
25 
i) Represent the Philippines and articulate the national contribution to global,
26 
regional, and other inter-governmental disaster risk reduction and
27 
humanitarian platforms, in coordination with the Department of Foreign
28 
Affairs;
29 
j) Formulate such rules and regulations, and exercise such other powers as
30 
may be required to implement the objectives of this Act;
31 
k) Serve as a member of the Government Procurement Policy Board (GPPB);
32 
and
27


1 
I) Perform such other tasks as may be provided by law or assigned by the
2 
President.
3 
Sec. 10. The Undersecretaries. - The Secretary shall be assisted by four (4)
4 
Undersecretaries, which shall be responsible for the following key result areas:
5 
a) Disaster Preparedness and Response - to implement projects and
6 
programs that will enhance the capacity of LGUs to prepare against, and
7 
respond to, disasters. This also includes development of a database of
8 
exposure or elements at risk per area and database of volunteers, among
9 
others. It involves the establishment of evacuation centers and the
10 
implementation of responsive and efficient prepositioning of goods,
11 
maintenance and disposal of stocks, among others;
12 
b) Disaster Risk Reduction - to formulate, adopt, and/or implement, among
13 
others, a whole-of-society approach in policies and programs to prevent
14 
new, if not reduce existing disaster risks, to address the effects of climate
15 
change, and to minimize loss and damage to lives and properties. This
16 
includes the formulation of the required policies and/or programs for
17 
disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation, in among others,
18 
the NDRF and NDRPIP;
19 
c) Recovery and Buiiding Forward and Better - to formulate and implement
20 
rehabilitation plans for disaster-affected areas, and to ensure the
21 
implementation of disaster recovery and rehabilitation measures, such as,
22 
but not limited to, post-disaster shelters and livelihood projects, in
23 
collaboration with relevant agencies, LGUs, and other stakeholders; and
24 
d) Support to Operations - to formulate and implement, among others,
25 
policies, programs, and/or projects to ensure the efficient, effective and
26 
responsive delivery of the Department's key result areas. Support to
27 
Operations covers knowledge management, institutional development and
28 
planning, finance, office administration, human resources management
29 
and development of the Department's in-house capacities, among others.
30 
Sec. 11. The Assistant Secretaries and Directors. - The Department shall have
31 
four (4) Assistant Secretaries and appropriate number of Directors to ensure the
28


1 
effective, efficient, and responsive implementation of the mandate and functions of
2 
the Department.
3 
Sec. 12. Qualifications. - No person shall be appointed Secretary,
4 
Undersecretary, or Assistant Secretary of the Department unless a citizen and
5 
resident of the Philippines, of good moral character, and of proven experience,
6 
competence, or expertise in humanitarian relief assistance and 
disaster
7 
management. The Secretary, Undersecretary, or Assistant Secretary shall not hold
8 
any other position, public or private, during their terms of office.
9 
Sec. 13. Structure and Staffing Pattern. - The Department shall determine its
10 
organizational structure and staffing pattern and create such services, divisions, and
11 
units, as it may require or deem necessary, subject to the approval of the
12 
Department of Budget and Management.
13 
Sec. 14. National Disaster Operations Center, Alternative Command Center,
14 
and Research and Training Institute. - The Department shall establish, within one
15 
(1) year from the approval of this Act, and act as the primary operator, the National
16 
Disaster Operations Center (NDOC), Alternative Command and Control Center
17 
(ACCCs) as may be necessary in each of the country's major island groups, and the
18 
Disaster Resilience Research and Training Institute (DRRTI).
19 
The Department is authorized to collect fees derived from the DRRTI.
20 
The NDOC is a physical center equipped with the necessary tools and systems
21 
to monitor, manage, and respond to disasters in all areas of the country. The NDOC
22 
shall also provide the necessary support for 
the overall coordination and
23 
implementation of emergency and disaster response measures throughout the
24 
country.
25 
The ACCCs are command centers established in other locations to provide
26 
supplemental support to the NDOC. The number and location of ACCCs shall be
27 
determined by the Department. Temporary ACCCs may likewise be established by
28 
the Department, if necessary.
29 
Sec. 15. DRRTI Functions and Inter-Agency Knowledge Sharing. - The DRRTI
30 
shall be a platform for providing training preferably on site, and for collecting,
31 
consolidating, managing, analyzing, and sharing 
knowledge and information to
32 
improve or enhance disaster resilience.
29


1 
The DRRTI shall:
2 
a) Establish reliable and up-to-date disaster-related information and
3 
communication systems and technologies through close collaboration with
4 
the DOST and with academic institutions;
5 
b) Institutionalize, maintain, and update an integrated disaster resilience
6 
information system (IDRIS), which includes, among others, multi-hazard
7 
mapping, probabilistic risk assessment, risk analysis, early warning,
8 
exposure database, communication and emergency management systems;
9 
c) Establish a database that includes relevant information from other
10 
government agencies and third parties for the Department to better
11 
prepare and respond to natural hazards including, but not limited to, an
12 
inventory of hazardous materials per area;
13 
d) Consult and coordinate with, and consolidate information/data from,
14 
relevant government agencies, such as but not limited to, DOST, LGUs,
15 
academic institutions, and relevant CSOs to enhance the IDRIS and to
16 
promote knowledge sharing among all stakeholders;
17 
e) Conduct disaster-related research programs, seminars, and training for all
18 
types of stakeholders;
19 
f) Consolidate, organize and/or prepare training materials and publications;
20 
and
21 
g) Conduct other activities consistent with promoting the formation and
22 
dissemination of knowledge and information relating to disaster resilience
23 
and disaster management.
24 
Sec. 16. Compliance and Accreditation of DRRTI with International Standards.
25 
- The Department shall strive to obtain certification from, and accreditation by,
26 
international accreditation bodies of the DRRTI to ensure collaboration with key
27 
countries and international organizations to incorporate best practices on disaster
28 
resilience in the Department's policies and programs.
29 
Sec. 17. Disaster Assistance Action Center. - The Department shall
30 
institutionalize a one-stop mechanism through a Disaster Assistance Action Center
31 
(DAAC) which shall, among other process necessary documents for both domestic
32 
and international assisting actors.
30


1 
Sec. 18. Incentives. - The Department has the authority to prescribe benefits,
2 
allowances, and similar emoluments for disaster management professionals and
3 
disaster resilience officers at the national and local levels.
4 
Article V
5 
NATIONAL AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT RELATIONS
6 
Sec. 19. Retention of Locai DRRM Offices and Creation of Locai Disaster
7 
Resilience Offices. - The Local DRRM Offices (LDRRMOs) in provinces, cities, and
8 
municipalities shall be retained and renamed as Provincial, City, and Municipality
9 
Disaster Resilience Offices, respectively. They shall collectively be called Local
10 
Disaster Resilience Offices (LDROS). All LGUs shall establish an LDRO at the
11 
provincial, city and municipal levels. All Local DRRM Councils (LDRRMCs) shall be
12 
abolished.
13 
The budgetary requirements for personal services, maintenance, and other
14 
operating expenses, and capital outlay of the LDROs shall be sourced from the
15 
General Fund of the LGU, subject to Section 76 of Republic Act No. 7160, otherwise
16 
known as the "Local Government Code of 1991," as amended.
17 
Other maintenance and operating expenses and other capital outlay
18 
requirements of the LDRO in the implementation of disaster risk and vulnerability
19 
reduction management and climate change adaptation programs shall be charged to
20 
the Local Disaster Resilience Fund of the LGUs.
21 
Provinces, cities or municipalities shall be exempted from the Personnel
22 
Services (PS) limitation on local government budgets in relation to the creation of
23 
the LDROs and the appointment of its officers and personnel.
24 
Sec. 20. Composition and Organization of LDROs. - The LDRO shall be under
25 
the supervision and control of the provincial governor, and city or municipal mayor,
26 
as applicable. The LDRO shall be composed of an officer and five (5) permanent
27 
personnel responsible for, among others, administration, research and planning,
28 
training, and operations. The organization, composition, functions, and
29 
responsibilities of retained LDRRMOs shall be modified to the extent provided in, and
30 
shall comply with the requirements and standards of, this Act and the IRR for the
31 
establishment, maintenance and operations of LDROs.
31


1 
Sec. 21. Local Disaster Resilience Officer. - The LDRO shall be headed and
2 
managed by a well-qualified and full-time Local Disaster Resilience Officer with
3 
regular plantilla position. The Local Disaster Resilience Officer and Staff shall be
4 
appointed by the Local Chief Executive subject to the requirements and endowed
5 
with the emoluments and benefits in accordance with existing laws, rules and
6 
regulations.
7 
Sec. 22. Powers and Functions of City and Municipal DROs. - The City and
8 
Municipal (CDRO and MDRO) shall have the following powers and functions:
9 
a) Formulate and implement, in close coordination with the Department, a
10 
comprehensive and integrated LDRP in accordance with the NDRF and the
11 
NDRPIP;
12 
b) Design, program, coordinate, and implement disaster resilience activities
13 
including preparedness, risk reduction, response, 
recovery and
14 
rehabilitation measures consistent with the standards and guidelines
15 
provided by the Department, and implement the NDRF and the NDRPIP at
16 
the city or municipal level;
17 
c) Prepare and submit to the local Sanggunian, the LDRP, the proposed
18 
programming of the LDR Fund, other dedicated disaster resilience
19 
resources, and other regular funding source of the LDRO;
20 
d) Recommend to the local Sanggunian the enactment of local ordinances to
21 
implement the LDRP, NDRF and NDRPIP at the city or municipal level, and
22 
to comply with other requirements of this Act;
23 
e) Prepare and submit to the Department, the local Commission on Audit,
24 
and the applicable Regional Disaster Resilience Office a report on the
25 
utilization of its Local Disaster Resilience Fund and other disaster risk
26 
reduction and management resources;
27 
f) Establish and maintain, in coordination with the Department, an
28 
information management system within the LGU which, among others,
29 
consolidates and includes local risk information on natural hazards, profile
30 
of the LGU's vulnerable or marginalized groups, local risk maps, and a
31 
disaggregated database of human resource, equipment, services.
32


1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 
21 
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
resources, directories and location of critical infrastructures with their 
capacities as hospitals and evacuation centers;
g) Operate and maintain, in coordination with the Department, a multi­
hazard early waning and communications system to provide accurate and 
timely information to the public;
h) Organize and conduct training and knowledge management activities on 
disaster resilience at the local level, in coordination with the DRRTI;
i) Procure emergency works, goods, and services in compliance with the 
regulations, orders and policies of DBM and Government Procurement 
Policy Board (GPPB), to implement the DRP or support early recovery and 
post-disaster activities;
j) In coordination with the Department, the DOF and other relevant 
agencies, access foreign loans to finance its projects, programs, and 
policies for disaster preparedness, response, recovery, and rehabilitation, 
subject to terms and conditions agreed upon by the LDRO and the lender;
k) Monitor and mobilize instrumentalities and entities of the LGU and its 
partner LGUs, CSOs, private sector, organized volunteers, and sectoral 
organizations for disaster resilience activities, in accordance with policies 
and procedures of the Department and applicable laws;
l) Coordinate and provide the necessary support or assistance to the 
Department in the implementation of rehabilitation plan within the city or 
municipality covered by the LDRO;
m) Coordinate with the Department, other government agencies, members of 
the private sector and other stakeholders in the LGU to establish a 
Business Continuity Plan as part of their LDRP's disaster preparedness 
measures;
n) Establish linkage or network and coordination mechanisms with other 
LGUs and the Department for disaster resilience activities and to achieve 
the purposes of this Act; and
o) Conduct other activities and/or act on other matters, in accordance with 
policies and procedures of the Department and applicable laws, to achieve 
the purposes of this Act.
33


1 
Sec. 23. Provincial Disaster Resilience Officer. - The Provincial Disaster
2 
Resilience Office (PDRO) shall be headed and managed by a Provincial Disaster
3 
Resilience Officer with regular plantilla position.
4 
Sec. 24. Powers and Functions of the PDRO. - The PDRO shall have the
5 
following powers and functions:
6 
a) Formulate and implement, in close coordination with the Department and
7 
cities or municipalities within its jurisdiction, a comprehensive and
8 
integrated Provincial LDRP in accordance with the NDRF and the NDRPIP;
9 
b) Review the LDRPs of cities and municipalities within its jurisdiction, and
10 
require the amendment of such LDRPs if necessary, to ensure compliance
11 
with the Provincial LDRP and/or the NDRF and NDRPIP;
12 
c) Design, program, coordinate, and/or implement disaster resilience
13 
activities consistent with the standards and guidelines provided by the
14 
Department, and implement the NDRF and NDRPIP at the provincial level;
15 
d) Prepare and submit to the Sangguniang Paniaiawigan, the Provincial
16 
LDRP, the proposed programming of the province's Local Disaster
17 
Resilience Fund, other dedicated disaster resilience resources, and other
18 
funding sources of the PDRO;
19 
e) Recommend to the Sangguniang Paniaiawigan the enactment of local
20 
ordinances to implement the Provincial LDRP, NDRF and NDRPIP at the
21 
provincial level, and to comply with other requirements of this Act;
22 
f) Prepare and submit to the Department, the local Commission on Audit,
23 
and the applicable Regional Disaster Resilience Office a report on the
24 
utilization of the province's Local Disaster Resilience Fund and other
25 
disaster risk reduction and management resources;
26 
g) Establish and maintain, in coordination with the Department, a Provincial
27 
Command and Control Center (PCC) which includes, among others, an
28 
information management system at the provincial level which consolidates
29 
and integrates information from the cities and/or municipalities within its
30 
jurisdiction, a multi-hazard early warning and communications system that
31 
is connected with the cities and/or municipalities within its jurisdiction, and
32 
a monitoring system that enables the PDRO to oversee, supervise, monitor
34


1 
and respond to the needs of cities and/or municipalities within its
2 
jurisdiction in relation to disaster resilience activities;
3 
h) Procure emergency works, goods, and services in compliance with the
4 
regulations, order, and policies of DBM and GPPB, to implement the
5 
provincial LDRP or support early recovery and post-disaster activities of
6 
the PDRO;
7 
i) In coordination with the Department and the DOF, access foreign loans to
8 
finance its projects, programs, and policies for disaster preparedness,
9 
response, recovery, and rehabilitation, subject to terms and conditions
10 
agreed upon by the PDRO and the lender;
11 
j) Formulate and establish mechanisms to mobilize and direct LDROs within
12 
its jurisdiction as necessary for disaster preparedness and response at the
13 
provincial level;
14 
k) Coordinate and provide the necessary support or assistance to the
15 
Department in the implementation of rehabilitation plan(s) within the cities
16 
and/or municipalities covered by the PDRO; and
17 
I) Conduct other activities and/or act on other matters, in accordance with
18 
policies and procedures of the Department and applicable laws, to achieve
19 
the purposes of this Act.
20 
Sec. 25. Regional Offices. - The Department shall establish and maintain
21 
Regional Offices (ROs) at each region, and a National Capital Region Office (NCR).
22 
The size, composition and organization of ROs and NCR shall be based on
23 
parameters provided in the IRR on the ability of LCDs within its jurisdiction to cope
24 
with previous disasters, or to implement their LDRPs or Provincial LDRPs; the level of
25 
income, population, hazard exposure of LGUs. The ROs and NCR Office shall be
26 
funded by the Department.
27 
Sec. 26. Regional Director. - Each RO and the NCR shall be headed and
28 
managed by a Regional Director with regular plantllla position. The Regional Director
29 
shall be appointed by the Department Secretary for a fixed term pursuant to
30 
requirements, terms of office and endowed with the emoluments and benefits
31 
subject to existing laws, rules and regulations.
35


1 
Sec. 27. Powers and Functions of ROs and NCR. -The ROs and the NCR shall
2 
have the following powers and functions:
3 
a) Review the LDRPs and Provincial LDRPs of LCDs within its jurisdiction and
4 
acquire the amendment of such LDRPs and/or Provincial LDRPs If
5 
necessary, to ensure compliance with the NDRF and NDRPIP;
6 
b) Monitor and direct LDROs and PDROs to implement their respective LDROs
7 
and PDROs;
8 
c) Recommend to the appropriate Sanggunian at the city, municipal o
9 
provincial level, the enactment of local ordinances to implement the LDRP,
10 
NDRF and NDRPIP at the city, municipal or provincial level, and to comply
11 
with other requirements of this Act;
12 
d) Review reports on the utilization of the LDRF and other disaster risk
13 
reduction and management resource of LCDs within its jurisdiction, and
14 
give recommendations, as necessary;
15 
e) Disburse to, and monitor the use by, LGUs of Supplemental LDRF as
16 
granted by the Department pursuant to this Act and its IRR;
17 
f) Provide, upon the request of LGUs or unilaterally at its own discretion,
18 
assistance to LGU(s) within its jurisdiction as necessary to ensure the
19 
implementation of LDRPs or Provincial LDRPs, NDRF and NDRPIP, and to
20 
render efficient and timely disaster preparedness, response and recovery
21 
measures;
22 
g) Identify and report to the Department issues and problems relating to, or
23 
affecting, the disaster resilience of LGUs within its jurisdiction, and make
24 
recommendations to the Department and/or to the LGUs to address such
25 
issues or problems;
26 
h) Procure goods and services in compliance with the regulations, orders,
27 
and policies of DBM and GPPB, to implement the NDRPIP and NDRF at the
28 
regional level;
29 
i) Formulate and establish mechanisms to mobilize and direct LDROs and
30 
PDROs within its jurisdiction as necessary for disaster preparedness and
31 
response at the regional level;
36


1 
j) Establish and maintain, in coordination with the Department, a Regional
2 
Command and Control Center (RCC) which includes, among others, an
3 
information management system at the regional level which consolidates
4 
and integrates information from the provinces, cities and municipalities
5 
within its jurisdiction, a multi-hazard early warning and communications
6 
system, and a monitoring system that enables the RO to oversee,
7 
supervise, monitor and respond to the needs of LGUs within its jurisdiction
8 
in relation to disaster resilience activities; implement or assist in the
9 
implementation, as directed by the Department, of rehabilitation plans for
10 
LGUs within its coverage; and
11 
k) Conduct other activities and/or act on other matters, in accordance with
12 
policies and procedures of the Department and applicable laws, to achieve
13 
the purposes of this Act.
14 
Sec. 28. Inter-Regional Disaster Resilience Office Collaboration. - The
15 
Department shall create policies and programs to establish collaboration and
16 
coordination among the different ROs.
17 
Sec. 29. Levels of Responsibility for Disaster Preparedness and Response. -
18 
The primary responsibility for disaster preparedness and response shall be exercised
19 
at the local and national level in collaboration with the relevant departments and
20 
agencies, as follows:
LEVELS OF
RESPONSIBILITY
RESPONSIBLE
OFFICIALS
CONDITIONS
Level 1 - City or
Mayor of the
If a disaster affects a
Municipality
City/Municipality (Lead)
single municipality/city
Local Disaster Resilience
Office
(In the case of BARMM:
Municipal/City Mayor and
BARMM Local Disaster
Resilience Office)
37


Level 2 - Province
Governor(Lead) 
Provincial Disaster 
Resilience Office 
Applicable Local Disaster 
Resilience Offices 
(In the case of BARMM: 
Provincial Governor and 
BARMM Local Disaster 
Resilience Office/s)
If a disaster affects two or 
more municipalities/cities
Level 3 - Region
Regional Director of the 
Regional Office (RO) 
(Lead)
Applicable Governors 
Applicable Provincial 
Disaster Resilience Offices 
(In the case of BARMM: 
Regional Governor and 
ARMM Local Disaster 
Resilience Office/s)
(In the case of Metro 
Manila: MMDA Chair)
If a disaster affects two or 
more provinces and/or 
independent component or 
highly urbanized cities
Level 4 - National 
During a state of calamity 
in any area(s) or affecting 
several regions
Secretary of the 
Department of Disaster 
Resilience (Lead) 
Governors of the affected 
Provinces
a. When a state of 
calamity is declared 
by the President
b. If a disaster affects 
at least two (2) 
regions
c. When the affected 
LGU cannot 
dispense its 
functions, or
38


respond to the 
threat or effect of 
disaster;
When the local 
chief executive or, 
in his/her absence 
of incapacity, the 
next high-ranking 
official, directly 
requests the 
Department to take 
over;
When the President 
directs a Level 4 
response.
1 
Sec. 30. Inter-Local Government Assistance. - LGUs are hereby authorized to
2 
extend assistance to another LGU, whether through funding 
or donation of goods
3 
and/or services, to ensure effective disaster preparedness and response, such as the
4 
pre-positioning and provision of basic goods, and training of first responders, among
5 
others, subject to auditing and accounting.
6 
Sec. 31. Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Powers of the Department -The
7 
Department shall be primarily responsible for the identification, planning and funding
8 
of priority reconstruction and rehabilitation projects and programs in areas affected
9 
by disasters: Provided, That the Department of Public Works and Highways shall be
10 
the primary implementor of all infrastructure-related 
rehabilitation 
and
11 
reconstruction projects, including retrofitting of structures 
to make them more
12 
resistant and resilient to the effects of natural disasters.
13 
Sec. 32 Service Continuity of the Department -To ensure service continuity,
14 
the Department and its regional and attached offices shall be established in a
15 
reasonably resilient location; and undertake the necessary interventions to make its
16 
offices and systems disaster-resilient.
39


1 
Sec. 33. Assistance to Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Musiim Mindanao.
2 
- The National Government, through the Secretary of Disaster Resilience, and the
3 
Bangsamoro Autonomous Regional Government shall create an inter-governmental
4 
mechanism for humanitarian relief assistance in the BARMM during times of natural
5 
disasters.
6 
Article VI
7 
WHOLE OF GOVERNMENT, WHOLE OF NATION, AND WHOLE OF SOCIETY
8 
APPROACH AND INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS
9 
Sec. 34. Inter-operabiiity of Systems. - The Department shall establish
10 
mechanisms to ensure the inter-operability of systems among government agencies,
11 
and to allow access of agencies to the IDRIS as established pursuant to Section 15
12 
of this Act. It shall develop protocols to allow real-time access to information by
13 
government agencies in relation to natural disasters and implementation of disaster
14 
resilience measures.
15 
Sec. 35. Synergy with Stakehoiders. - The Department shall ensure close
16 
collaboration and coordination with stakeholders, including CSOs, the academe, and
17 
the private sector, in relation to disaster resilience programs and projects, and the
18 
development and promotion of education and training mechanisms with relevant
19 
stakeholders.
20 
The Department shall establish a platform and mechanisms for coordination
21 
with stakeholders, including the development of standard operating procedures for
22 
collaboration in the event of a disaster.
23 
Sec. 36. Estabiishment of Muiti-Stakehoiders Convergence Unit - The
24 
Department shall, with the assistance of other relevant government agencies and
25 
stakeholders, establish a Multi-Stakeholders Convergence Unit (MSCU) which shall
26 
align the disaster resilience efforts of the private sector, CSOs, academe and other
27 
stakeholders with that of the Department by assisting, coordinating or providing
28 
services that strengthen public-private coordination in disaster resilience, including
29 
the following:
30 
a) Establishment and implementation of business continuity practices to
31 
ensure the continued delivery of products and services in the event of a
32 
natural disaster;
40


1 
b) Crafting and implementation of a National Continuity Policy to ensure
2 
service continuity during interruptions, emergencies, and disasters and
3 
ensure the quick return to full operations;
4 
c) Establishment, incorporation, and application of business continuity plans
5 
as part of the LDRP of LGUs;
6 
d) Facilitation or assistance in obtaining or processing incentives for the
7 
private sector or other nongovernment stakeholders, such as tax credits;
8 
and
9 
e) Preparation and facilitating the issuance of special rules for Micro, Small,
10 
and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) such as mechanisms involving
11 
procurement and liquidity to create enabling environments 
for disaster
12 
preparedness and recovery.
13 
The MSCU shall establish a platform that includes, among others, a database
14 
for monitoring and coordinating efforts and resources of nongovernment
15 
stakeholders. It shall be headed by one (1) of the Undersecretaries of the
16 
Department.
17 
Sec. 37. Roles and Responsibilities of Stakeholders. - The commitment,
18 
goodwill, knowledge, experience and resources of relevant stakeholders are critical
19 
to realize a safer, adaptive, resilient and inclusive Filipino community. Citizens shall
20 
have the shared vision and duty to provide support to the State in the
21 
implementation of policies and programs, particularly the Disaster Resilience
22 
Framework and Disaster Resilience Plan at the national, regional, and local levels.
23 
a) Civil society, nongovernmental organizations, international
24 
nongovernmental organizations, private sector, DRRM practitioners, and
25 
volunteers shall participate, in collaboration with public institutions, in the
26 
exchange of information, learnings, and guidance on disaster resilience.
27 
The Department shall encourage and institutionalize their engagement in
28 
the implementation of local, regional, national, and global plans and
29 
strategies to enhance public awareness and promote a culture of disaster
30 
resilience;
41


1 
b) Women, children, and youth, as agents of change, shall endeavor to
2 
contribute actively and participate in disaster resilience trainings and
3 
information dissemination;
4 
c) Senior citizens and persons with disabilities shall contribute their
5 
knowledge and experience on disaster preparedness and resiliency;
6 
d) Migrants and the urban and rural poor shall participate in building resilient
7 
resettlement communities;
8 
e) Emergency responders and volunteer organizations shall contribute to
9 
resilience by promptly and efficiently responding to disasters and
10 
emergencies consistent with the policies of the Department;
11 
f) Academic, scientific and research entities, and networks are encouraged to
12 
undertake relevant research on disaster resiliency in partnership with the
13 
Department and other stakeholders for better decision-making;
14 
g) The private sector is encouraged to integrate disaster resiliency projects
15 
and programs in their corporate social responsibility initiatives; and
16 
h) The media shall provide prompt and accurate information to the public on
17 
early warning systems, natural hazards, and disaster resilience activities of
18 
the Department.
19 
The Department, with the assistance of the ROs, shall establish and convene
20 
a Disaster Resilience Assembly at the regional and national levels which shall be held
21 
on a quarterly basis to ensure the proactive engagement of different stakeholders,
22 
such as government agencies, the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines
23 
(ULAP), League of Cities of the Philippines (LCP), League of Municipalities of the
24 
Philippines (LMP), CSOs, NGOs, academe, DRRM practitioners, and the private
25 
sector, to ensure and foster coordination and collaboration towards achieving the
26 
goals of this Act.
27 
LGUs may convene local DRAs within their jurisdictions, as necessary for the
28 
attainment of disaster resilience at the local level.
29 
Sec. 38. Recognition and Incentives. - The Department, in partnership with
30 
the private sector, shall establish an incentives program that shall recognize the
31 
outstanding performance of LDRO, NGOs, CSOs, schools, hospitals, and other
32 
stakeholders in promoting and implementing significant disaster risk reduction
42


1 
management-climate change adaptation programs and innovations, and meritorious
2 
acts of individuals, groups, or institutions during natural disasters subject to existing
3 
laws, rules and regulations.
4 
Article VII
5 
PREPAREDNESS AND INTEGRATED EARLY WARNING
6 
Sec. 39. Standards for Disaster Preparedness Activities. -
1 
a) The Department shall establish standards and protocols for disaster
8 
preparedness, contingency planning, localizing and operationalizing
9 
disaster risk reduction and management, preparedness for responding to
10 
disasters and undertaking early recovery, continuity of essential services,
11 
and other relevant preparedness activities.
12 
b) LGUs shall identify safe and strategic sites, and establish evacuation
13 
centers with appropriate and adequate facilities in accordance with
14 
government-approved standards as provided under Republic Act No.
15 
10821, otherwise known as the "Children's Emergency Relief Protection
16 
Act", to avoid disruption of school classes and lessen the use of school
17 
buildings and facilities as evacuation centers.
18 
c) The concerned LGUs shall immediately compensate schools used as
19 
evacuation centers. The schools used as evacuation centers may seek
20 
compensation for renovation, replacement, or repairs of damaged facilities
21 
for such use.
22 
Sec. 40. Muiti-Hazard Early Warning and Risk Communication Standards. -
23 
There shall be a streamlined policy governing early warning systems and risk
24 
communication protocols to ensure effective and efficient measures to prepare for,
25 
respond to and recover from potential risks and disasters.
26 
The Department shall formulate and implement multi-hazard early warning
27 
protocols integrating all disaster preparedness systems in collaboration with local
28 
executives, community-based organizations, civil society organizations, and other
29 
nongovernmental organizations for proper use and application.
30 
Sec. 41. Early Warning Mandate. -
43


1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 
21 
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
a) The Department shall issue an integrated early warning alert for the 
impending occurrence of hazards that will enable the public to prepare in 
time and act appropriately to minimize potential harm or loss.
b) The Department at the national and local level shall use an integrated 
early warning system to ensure it is consistent and locally contextualized 
with the communication protocol and safe evacuation procedure of the 
affected communities. It shall work with other agencies or organizations 
on pre-crisis information mapping of the humanitarian needs of at-risk 
communities that will enhance the overall prepositioning of resources at 
the national and local level.
c) The Department shall require mobile phone service providers to send out 
alerts at regular intervals in the event of an impending natural hazard, in 
accordance with Republic Act No. 10639, otherwise known as the "The 
Free Mobile Disaster Alerts Act."
d) The Department shall recognize and proactively support local or 
indigenous modes of early warning systems and allow open access to near 
real-time data from both local and international sources made available 
through various platforms such as websites, mobile apps, and social media 
to empower local communities and individuals. Any person who transmits 
early warning concerning the abovementioned phenomena by means of 
signs in designs, colors, lights, or sound shall do so in compliance with the 
methods recognized or approved by the Department.
Article VllI
HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE
Sec. 42. Management of Humanitarian Assistance. -
a) The Department shall have the power to receive and manage 
humanitarian assistance from any person or entity, whether from local or 
international sources.
b) The importation by, and acceptance of humanitarian assistance donated to 
the Department, consisting of, among others, foods, clothing, medical 
assistance, equipment, and materials for relief, recovery, and other 
disaster management activities, are hereby authorized in accordance with
44


1 
Sections 120 and 121 of Republic Act No. 10863, otherwise known as the
2 
"Customs Modernizations and Tariff Act (CMTA)", and the prevailing
3 
provisions of the General Appropriations Act covering national internal
4 
revenue taxes and import duties of national and local government
5 
agencies.
6 
Sec. 43. International Humanitarian Assistance. - The Department, in
7 
consultation with the Bureau of Immigration and the Bureau of Customs shall
8 
promulgate guidelines on international humanitarian assistance, including the
9 
initiation, entry, facilitation, transit, regulation and termination thereof, as well as
10 
those involving international disaster relief and personnel assisting international
11 
actors, visa waiver, recognition of foreign professional qualifications, entry of
12 
international disaster goods and equipment, and exemption from port duties, taxes
13 
and restrictions.
14 
Sec. 44. Assessment of the Need for International Humanitarian Assistance. -
15 
a) Immediately after the declaration of a state of calamity by the local
16 
Sanggunian of the relevant local government unit or by the Department,
17 
as the case may be, the Department shall determine whether domestic
18 
capacities are likely to be sufficient to attend to the needs of affected
19 
persons for international humanitarian assistance. This determination may
20 
also be made, at the discretion of the President, prior to the onset of an
21 
imminent disaster.
22 
b) In the event of a determination by the Department that domestic response
23 
capacities are not likely to be sufficient due to the impact of the disaster,
24 
the Department shall recommend to the President that a request be made
25 
for international humanitarian assistance.
26 
c) A determination that domestic capacities are likely to be sufficient and that
27 
international humanitarian assistance is therefore unnecessary may be
28 
reviewed and rescinded by the Department, with the approval of the
29 
President, at any time in light of prevailing circumstances and available
30 
information.
31 
Sec. 45. Humanitarian Assistance Action Center. - The Department shall
32 
create an inter-agency one-stop mechanism called the Humanitarian Assistance
45


1 
Action Center (HAAC) for the processing and release of entry and facilitation of
2 
goods, articles or equipment and services and international relief workers for the
3 
provision of international humanitarian assistance and the processing of necessary
4 
documents for assisting international actors.
5 
The Department shall lead and manage the HAAC, which shall be composed
6 
of the following:
7 
a) Bureau of Customs;
8 
b) Department of Foreign Affairs;
9 
c) Department of Social Welfare and Development;
10 
d) Department of Health;
11 
e) Food and Drug Administration;
12 
f) Department of Agriculture;
13 
g) Department of Energy;
14 
h) Department of National Defense;
15 
i) Philippine National Police;
16 
j) Philippine Coast Guard;
17 
k) Department of Transportation;
18 
I) Department of Environment and Natural Resources; and
19 
m) Bureau of Immigration.
20 
Sec. 46. Request for International Humanitarian Assistance. -
21 
a) In cognizance of the urgency, criticality and intensity of an imminent risk,
22 
the Department shall issue a flash appeal to the family of nations, under
23 
regional and multilateral conventions, for assistance in preparedness,
24 
including pre-emptive measures, search, rescue and retrieval, relief,
25 
recovery, and reconstruction.
26 
b) The President may request international humanitarian assistance, upon
27 
the advice of the Secretary. Such request may be specifically directed to
28 
particular assisting international actors or may be a general request
29 
directed to the international community.
30 
Sec. 47. Regulation of Humanitarian Assistance. -
31 
a) The Department shall ensure the efficient and effective monitoring of
32 
humanitarian assistance from domestic or international donors, establish
46


1 
and operate a platform, including an online platform, to facilitate, and
2 
provide public access to information on donations.
3 
b) The Department shall include in the Implementing Rules and Regulations
4 
of this Act guidelines and accountabilities on the receipt, management,
5 
distribution, accounting, and reporting of all humanitarian assistance,
6 
whether in cash or in kind, consistent with the rules on the use of foreign
7 
and local aid during calamities and disasters issued by the COA and other
8 
relevant government agencies.
9 
Sec. 48. Humanitarian Relief for Human-Induced Disasters. - The Secretary of
10 
the Department of Disaster Resilience shall have the authority to provide
11 
humanitarian relief in the consequence management of human-induced emergencies
12 
such as acts of terrorism, insurgency, fire, and other related human-induced
13 
disasters.
14 
Article IX
15 
OFFER AND FACILITATION OF HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE
16 
TO FOREIGN STATES
17 
Sec. 49. Offer and Facilitation of International Humanitarian Assistance to
18 
Foreign States. - In the event of a disaster occurring in a foreign State for which
19 
international assistance is required, the Department, in coordination with the DFA,
20 
may offer, facilitate, provide, and deploy international humanitarian assistance to
21 
said foreign State, which shall be subject to guidelines to be promulgated by the
22 
Department for the purpose.
23 
Sec. 50. Accreditation. - The Department, in coordination with relevant
24 
government agencies and organizations, shall provide and facilitate the necessary
25 
training and accreditation to the respective government personnel to be deployed for
26 
such offer, facilitation and provision of international humanitarian assistance to a
27 
foreign State.
28 
Article X
29 
DECLARATION OF STATE OF CALAMITY
30 
Sec. 51. Declaration of State of Calamity. - The Department shall recommend
31 
to the President the declaration of a state of calamity, whether in whole or part of an
47


1 
area, in case of an extraordinary disaster wherein the repercussions on public safety
2 
and welfare are serious and far-reaching.
3 
Sec. 52. Conditions for the Declaration of a State of Calamity. - The President
4 
shall declare a state of calamity when all of the following requisites are present:
5 
a) There is a grave, unforeseen or sudden occurrence which demands
6 
immediate action;
7 
b) The occurrence was caused by a natural disaster;
8 
c) The 
occurrence is likely to cause a threat to life and/or danger to
9 
property; and
10 
d) The declaration of a state of calamity shall cover a limited period only.
11 
Sec. 53. Mandatory and Remedial Measures. - The declaration of a state of
12 
calamity shall allow the immediate implementation of any or all of the following
13 
remedial measures:
14 
a) Imposition of price ceiling on basic necessities and prime commodities by
15 
the President upon the recommendation of the implementing agency as
16 
provided for under Republic Act No. 7581, otherwise known as the "Price
17 
Act", or the National Price Coordinating Council;
18 
b) Monitoring, prevention, and control by the Local Price Coordination Council
19 
of overpricing or profiteering and hoarding of prime commodities,
20 
medicines and petroleum products;
21 
c) Grant of tax credits or exemptions by the BIR, upon the recommendation
22 
of the President or the Department; and
23 
d) Use of alternative methods of procurement under Article XIV of Republic
24 
Act No. 9184, otherwise known as the "Government Procurement Reform
25 
Act", its implementing rules and regulations (IRR) and other issuances of
26 
the Government Procurement Policy Board by the Department, LGUs or
27 
the relevant government instrumentalities in relation to the urgent
28 
procurement of emergency works, goods and services to effectively
29 
respond to, quickly respond to disasters, and build forward better.
48


1 
Article XI
2 
RECOVERY
3 
Sec. 54. Standards for Recovery. - The Department shall observe
4 
internationally accepted standards for recovery, planning, programming and
5 
implementation of the recovery process. Towards this end, the Department shall:
6 
a) Improve the community's physical, social and economic resilience,
7 
consistent with the principle of "building forward better";
8 
b) Use locally driven centrally supported processes based on legal mandates
9 
with supplementary capacity support when requested;
10 
c) Redirect development outside danger zones to minimize loss of lives and
11 
structures resulting from typhoons, flooding, landslides, and other
12 
hazards;
13 
d) Employ outcome-driven planning and implementation;
14 
e) Maximize use of private-public sector partnership where possible;
15 
f) Consider local conditions such as culture, security situation and existing
16 
capacities of communities in identifying programs and projects;
17 
g) Ensure access to public transport, physical and mental health services,
18 
markets, schools, sustainable livelihoods, and other public services in
19 
planning for settlement areas; and
20 
h) Ensure restoration of peace and order and recovery of government
21 
functions.
22 
Article XII
23 
FUNDS AND RESOURCES
24 
Sec. 55. Fund Regulations. - The DBM and COA shall establish rules and
25 
regulations to ensure that funds required for disaster response, recovery, and
26 
rehabilitation are available and/or released efficiently and expeditiously through
27 
innovative budgeting and auditing mechanisms.
28 
Sec. 56. Local Disaster Resilience Fund and Local Disaster Contingency Fund.
29 
- LGUs shall annually set aside not less five percent (5%) of their local budget to
30 
constitute a Local Disaster Resilience Fund (LDRF). The LGU shall use its LDRF to
31 
maintain and operate its LDRO, to maintain the officers, employees and staff of the
32 
LDRO, and to implement plans, programs and activities under its LDRP. Thirty
49


1 
percent (30%) of the LDRF shall be set aside as Local Disaster Contingency Fund
2 
(LDCF) which shall be used for disaster response and quick recovery measures.
3 
Nothing contained in this Act shall prevent LGUs from providing additional
4 
funding or allocating additional resources for disaster resilience activities, plans, and
5 
programs within their jurisdiction.
6 
Sec. 57. Supplemental LDRF. - The Department may allocate and disburse
7 
funds to supplement an LGU's LDRF based on parameters and requirements
8 
indicated in the IRR. In determining such parameters and requirements, the IRR
9 
shall aim to provide supplemental funds to LGUs with low income and/or high
10 
exposure to natural hazards. Supplemental LDRFs shall, as much as possible, fill
11 
gaps or shortages in LGU resources to ensure that LGUs can implement disaster
12 
resilience measures, such as, among others, implementing their LDRP or Provincial
13 
LDRP, establishing their LDROs or PDROs, obtaining and/or maintaining the
14 
necessary equipment and staff in their LDROs or PDROs, and implementing the
15 
NDRF and the NDRPIP at the local levels.
16 
Sec. 58. National Disaster Resilience Fund. -
17 
a) The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund (NDRRM
18 
Fund) created under Section 22 of Republic Act No. 10121, otherwise
19 
known as the "Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of
20 
2010", appropriated under the annual General Appropriations Act is hereby
21 
renamed as the National Disaster Resilience Fund (NDRF) and shall be
22 
managed and controlled by the Department. The NDRF shall be used for
23 
disaster risk reduction or mitigation, prevention, and preparedness
24 
activities such as training of personnel, procurement of equipment, and
25 
capital expenditures. It can also be utilized for relief, recovery,
26 
reconstruction, and other work or services in connection with natural or
27 
human-induced calamities which may occur during the budget year or
28 
those that occurred in the past two (2) years from the budget year.
29 
b) Thirty percent (30%) of the amount appropriated for the NDRF shall be
30 
allocated as Quick Response Fund (QRF) of stand-by fund and shall also
31 
be under the management and control of the Department. The QRF shall
32 
be used for relief and recovery programs to quickly normalize the situation
50


1 
and living conditions of people in communities or areas stricken by
2 
disasters, calamities, epidemics, or complex emergencies, and other
3 
related programs, projects and activities formulated at the national level.
4 
Sec. 59. People's Survival Fund. - The Secretary of the Department shall be a
5 
member of the People's Survival Fund Board mandated to manage and administer
6 
the People's Survival Fund created under Republic Act No. 10174, otherwise known
7 
as the "Climate Change Act of 2009", and facilitate its utilization by LGUs, through
8 
ROs, to implement climate change adaptation projects of LGUs, and equip vulnerable
9 
LGU communities against the impacts of climate change.
10 
Sec. 60. Multi-Donor Trust Fund. - The Department shall create and manage,
11 
together with the Bureau of Treasury, a Multi-Donor Trust Fund for the processing,
12 
releasing, and accounting of money and other similar resources intended for disaster
13 
assistance. The Department shall establish a system to ensure transparency in the
14 
management and use of the Multi-Donor Trust Fund.
15 
Sec. 61. Donations Management. - The Department shall have the power to
16 
receive and manage donations from any person or entity, whether from local or
17 
international sources.
18 
The importation by, and donation to, the Department of, among others, food,
19 
clothing, medical assistance, equipment, and materials for relief, recovery, and other
20 
disaster management activities are hereby authorized in accordance with Sections
21 
120 and 121 of Republic Act No. 10863, otherwise known as the "Customs
22 
Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA)", and the prevailing provisions of the General
23 
Appropriations Act covering national internal revenue taxes and import duties of
24 
national and local government agencies.
25 
Sec. 62. Regulations of Donations. - The Department shall establish and
26 
operate a platform, including an online platform, to facilitate, monitor, and provide
27 
public access to information on donations. To ensure complete accounting and
28 
reporting of donations, the Department shall formulate and issue rules and
29 
guidelines for the receipt, management and accounting of donations, which are
30 
consistent with the rules on the use of foreign and local aid during calamities and
31 
disasters issued by COA and other relevant government agencies.
51


1 
Article XIII
2 
SPECIAL RULES ON BORROWING, TAXES,
3 
ECOZONES AND PROCUREMENT
4 
Sec. 63. Rules on Borrowing. - The LGUs shall coordinate with the DOF,
5 
Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) and other relevant agencies to access foreign
6 
loans to implement disaster prevention, mitigation, early recovery, and rehabilitation
7 
measures at the provincial, city, or municipal level.
8 
Sec. 64. Special Rules on Tax and Duties. -To facilitate prompt and efficient
9 
response to, and/or recovery from disasters, the following shall be granted special
10 
exemptions from existing taxation laws, rules and regulations:
11 
a) Foreign disaster assistance or international donations coursed through the
12 
Department shall be exempted from taxes and import duties;
13 
b) Local disaster assistance shall be exempted from donor's tax and allowing
14 
the treatment of donations as a deductible expense for local disaster
15 
assistance coursed through the Department;
16 
c) Goods or services donated from abroad coursed through the Department
17 
shall be exempted from the value added tax (VAT); and
18 
d) Aid or assistance rendered by members of the private sector or their
19 
investments in disaster resilience and climate change adaptation measures
20 
for their residence, communities or businesses.
21 
LGUs may also implement local tax rules which would grant disaster victims
22 
reasonable reduction, exemption, or deferment of local taxes or other types of tax
23 
assessments; or take other necessary action at the local level to provide tax relief to
24 
disaster victims.
25 
Sec. 65. Customs Duties and Tariffs on Donations. - The BOC shall create
26 
rules which would, among others, hasten the processing and release of donated
27 
goods and equipment to disaster victims and/or affected areas pursuant to Sections
28 
120 and 121 of Republic Act No. 10863, otherwise known as the "Customs
29 
Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA)".
30 
Sec. 66. Economic Recovery and Development of Disaster-Prone Areas. -
31 
a) The Department, in coordination with the Department of Trade and
32 
Industry (DTI) and other relevant agencies, shall create and provide
52


1 
policies, programs, and projects, such as, business tax relief and subsidies,
2 
to encourage business investments, and to stimulate economic activities in
3 
affected or disaster-prone areas.
4 
b) The Department, in collaboration with the relevant LGUs and other
5 
stakeholders, shall likewise establish dual purpose structures in disaster
6 
affected areas, such as, among others, community agricultural centers,
7 
classrooms, and water harvesting tanks to develop and promote
8 
investments in affected or disaster-prone areas.
9 
Sec. 67. Procurement - The Department, ROs, or LGUs may resort to any of
10 
the Alternative Methods of Procurement provided in RA No. 9184, including
11 
Negotiated Procurement (Emergency Cases) under Section 53 (b) of RA No. 9184, in
12 
any of the following instances:
13 
a) In case of imminent danger to life or property during a state of calamity;
14 
b) When time is of the essence arising from natural or man-made calamities;
15 
and
16 
c) Other causes where immediate action is:
17 
(i) 
To prevent damage to or loss of life or property; or
18 
(ii) 
Restore vital public services, infrastructure facilities and other public
19 
utilities.
20 
Furthermore, the Department, ROs, or LGUs may use Shopping under Section
21 
52(a) of RA No. 9184, when there is an unforeseen contingency requiring immediate
22 
purchase.
23 
Sec. 68. Alternative Modes of Procurement - The Department, ROs, or LGUs
24 
may resort to any of the Alternative Methods of Procurement provided in RA No.
25 
9184, including but not limited to. Shopping and Negotiated Procurement
26 
(Emergency Cases) under Sections 52 (a) and 53 (b) of RA No. 9184.
27 
The Department, ROs, or LGUs may also use Framework Agreement in
28 
accordance with the rules and regulations of the GPPB.
29 
Sec. 69. Special Rules on Procurement for Reconstruction and Rehabilitation
30 
of Affected Areas. -
31 
a) The GPPB shall create special rules on procurement for services, goods,
32 
and materials to be used for reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts in
53


1 
case of a natural disaster including, but not limited to, the construction of
2 
post-disaster shelters and provision of service contracts, to ensure the
3 
procurement of quality-oriented goods, materials, and equipment and to
4 
guarantee effective, efficient and speedy procurement to achieve the goals
5 
of this Act.
6 
b) In case of procurement of services, goods or materials for reconstruction
7 
and rehabilitation efforts, whether from local or international sources, the
8 
Department and the relevant government agencies shall provide less
9 
bureaucratic restrictions, or exemption from, or reduction of, customs
10 
duties.
11 
Sec. 70. Procurement from Qualified Suppliers or Contractors. - The
12 
Department shall have the power to procure goods and services from either local or
13 
foreign suppliers or contractors for purposes of implementing programs, projects,
14 
and activities related to disaster resilience and disaster management in accordance
15 
with RA No. 9184, its IRR and other issuances of the GPPB.
16 
Sec. 71. Framework Agreements. -The Department shall have the authority
17 
to enter into Framework Agreements for the purpose of, among others, establishing
18 
a logistics system for the efficient and prompt distribution of goods, equipment or
19 
other materials required for disaster response and management; securing food,
20 
medicines, fuel or other supplies from groceries, pharmacies, gas stations or other
21 
sources in the event of a disaster in a specific area; ensuring an alternative source of
22 
power or water from private utilities in the event of a disaster in a specific area; or
23 
arranging the immediate supply of other goods, services or equipment necessary for
24 
disaster response and management. The conditions, limitations and parameters of
25 
contracts or arrangements authorized under this Section shall be provided in RA No.
26 
9184 and its 2016 IRR.
27 
Sec. 72. Other Procurement Rules and Policies. - In view of the urgency and
28 
to avoid unnecessary delays to procure goods, services, and implement projects for
29 
the purpose of providing responsive, effective and efficient rescue, recovery, relief,
30 
and rehabilitation efforts for, and to continue the provision of basic services to,
31 
disaster victims or disaster affected areas, the GPPB shall issue appropriate
32 
resolutions, orders, and policies to effectively implement the provisions of this Act.
54


1 
Article XIV
2 
DISASTER RISK TRANSFER AND INSURANCE
3 
Sec. 73. Mandated Insurance Coverage. - To attain disaster resilience and
4 
achieve the purposes of this Act, the Department shall have the discretion and
5 
authority to require government agencies, government-owned and controlled
6 
corporations (GOCCs), or LCDs to insure their assets and/or properties such as,
7 
among others, vessels, vehicles, equipment, machineries, permanent buildings,
8 
properties stored therein, or properties in transit against insurable risks and pay the
9 
premiums therefor, to compensate the Government, GOCC or LGU, as applicable, for
10 
any damage to, or loss of, properties due to a natural disaster.
11 
Article XV
12 
YOUTH ASSISTANCE AND PARTICIPATION
13 
Sec. 74. Youth Organizations. - The Department, with the assistance of the
14 
National Youth Commission (NYC), shall create policies, projects, and programs that
15 
address the special needs of the youth for disaster preparedness and management
16 
which shall include, among others:
17 
a) Supporting youth-oriented pre- and post-disaster activities;
18 
b) Conducting disaster risk training and management programs involving the
19 
youth; Coordinating with the Department of Education to create school
20 
curricula or programs that educate and train children on disaster risk
21 
awareness and disaster preparedness;
22 
c) Mobilizing youth organizations; and
23 
d) Encouraging the participation of the youth, through the barangay youth
24 
representative and the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) to participate in
25 
disaster resilience and disaster management activities.
26 
Sec. 75. Youth Oriented Disaster-Reiated Programs, Poiicies and Projects. -
27 
a) The Department, with the assistance of the National Youth Commission,
28 
shall provide training on, and implement response and rehabilitation
29 
programs for the youth, including mental health 
and psycho-social
30 
services.
31 
b) The Department, in collaboration with the Department of Education
32 
(DepEd), the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority
55


1 
(TESDA) and other relevant agencies, shall integrate disaster risk and
2 
disaster resilience education in the school curriculum.
3 
Sec. 76. Comprehensive Emergency Program for Children, Pregnant and
4 
Lactating Mothers. - The Department shall establish and implement a
5 
comprehensive emergency program to provide emergency relief and protection to
6 
children, and pregnant and lactating mothers in the event of a natural disaster.
7 
Article XVI
8 
PROHIBITED ACTS AND PENALTIES
9 
Sec. 77. Prohibited Acts. - Any public official, private person, group or
10 
corporation who commits any of the following prohibited acts shall be held liable and
11 
be subjected to the criminal and administrative penalties as provided for in Section
12 
78 of this Act, without prejudice to the imposition of other criminal, civil and
13 
administrative liabilities under existing laws.
14 
a) Prohibited Acts of Public Officials. - The following acts, if committed by
15 
public officials without justifiable cause, shall be considered as gross
16 
neglect of duty:
17 
1) Dereliction of duty which leads to destruction, loss of lives, critical
18 
damage of facilities and misuse of funds;
19 
2) Failure to enforce laws, standards, or regulations such as the National
20 
Building Code, Solid Waste Management Act, 
Water Code, and other
21 
relevant laws, thereby increasing the risk of disasters 
or adversely
22 
affecting of disaster resilience;
23 
3) Failure to expeditiously act on reported violations;
24 
4) Failure to create LDRO(s) or PDRO(s) and appoint a permanent Local
25 
or Provincial Disaster Resilience Officer within six (6) months from the
26 
approval of this Act; and
27 
5) Failure to prepare and implement an LDRP or PDRP, as applicable or a
28 
contingency plan for hazards frequently occurring within their
29 
jurisdiction.
30 
b) Prohibited Acts of Public Officials and Private Persons or Institutions. -
31 
1) Delaying without justifiable cause the delivery of aid commodities, their
32 
improper handling or storage resulting to damage or spoilage;
56


1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 
21 
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
2) Withholding the distribution of relief goods due to (a) political or 
partisan considerations; (b) discrimination based on race, ethnicity, 
religion, or gender; and (c) other similar circumstances;
3) Preventing the entry and distribution of relief goods in disaster-stricken 
areas, including appropriate technology, tools, equipment, accessories, 
disaster teams or experts;
4) Buying, for consumption or resale, from disaster relief agencies any 
relief goods, equipment or other commodities which are intended for 
distribution to disaster affected communities;
5) Buying, for consumption or resale, from the disaster affected persons 
any relief goods, equipment or other aid commodities received by 
them;
6) Selling of relief goods, equipment or other aid commodities which are 
intended for distribution to disaster victims;
7) Forcibly seizing relief goods, equipment or other aid commodities 
intended for or consigned to a specific group of victims or relief 
agency;
8) Diverting or misdelivering relief goods, equipment or other aid 
commodities to persons other than the rightful recipient or consignee;
9) Accepting, possessing, using or disposing relief goods, equipment or 
other aid commodities intended for or consigned to other rightful 
recipient or consignee;
10) Misrepresenting the source of relief goods, equipment or other aid 
commodities by:
(i) 
Either covering, replacing or defacing the labels of the 
containers to make it appear that the goods, equipment or other 
aid commodities came from another agency or person;
(ii) 
Repacking the goods, equipment, or other aid commodities into 
containers with different markings to make it appear that the 
goods came from another agency or person;
(iii) 
Making false verbal claim that the goods, equipment or other 
commodity in its untampered original containers actually came
57


1 
from another agency or person or was released upon the
2 
instance of a particular agency or person;
3 
ll)Substituting or replacing relief goods, equipment or other aid
4 
commodities with the same items or inferior or cheaper quality;
5 
12)Illegal soliciting of relief goods, equipment or other aid commodities by
6 
persons or organizations representing 
others as defined in the
7 
standards and guidelines set by this Act's IRR;
8 
13)Deliberately using false 
or inflated data in support of the request for
9 
funding, relief goods, 
equipment or other aid commodities for
10 
emergency assistance or other projects; and
11 
14)Tampering with or 
stealing hazard 
monitoring and disaster
12 
preparedness equipment and paraphernalia.
13 
Sec. 78. Penalties. - Any individual, corporation, partnership, association or
14 
other juridical entity that commits any of the prohibited acts in the preceding Section
15 
shall be made liable for the following:
16 
a) A fine of not less than One hundred thousand pesos (Php 100,000.00) or
17 
not to exceed Five hundred thousand pesos (Php 500,000.00), or
18 
imprisonment of not less than six (6) months and one (1) day nor more
19 
than twelve (12) years, or both, at the discretion of the court, including
20 
perpetual disqualification from public office if the offender is a public
21 
officer, and confiscation or forfeiture in favor of the government of the
22 
objects and the instrumentalities used in committing any of herein
23 
prohibited acts.
24 
b) If the offender is a corporation, partnership or association, or other
25 
juridical entity, the penalty shall be imposed upon the officer or officers of
26 
the corporation, partnership, association or entity responsible for the
27 
violation without prejudice to the cancellation or revocation of the license
28 
or accreditation issued to these entities by any licensing or accredited
29 
body of the government. If such offender is an aiien, he or she shall, in
30 
addition to the penalties prescribed in this Act, be deported without
31 
further proceedings after service of the sentence.
58


1 
c) If the offender is a public officer, the offense shall also be punishable by
2 
administrative suspension of six (6) months and one (1) day to one (1)
3 
year for the first offense, and dismissal from the service for the second
4 
offense. The penalty of dismissal shall carry with it the cancellation of
5 
eligibility to or forfeiture of retirement benefits, perpetual disqualification
6 
from holding public office and disqualification from taking civil service
7 
examinations.
8 
Acts committed in violation of this Section shall be without prejudice to the
9 
imposition of other criminal, civil and administrative liabilities under other existing
10 
laws.
11 
Sec. 79. Liability for Unlawful Performance of Duties and State Liability in
12 
Case of Defense Litigation. - In case a lawsuit is filed against an officer or employee
13 
of the Department as a result of the performance of official duties, and such
14 
performance was found to be lawful, the officer shall or employee shall be
15 
reimbursed by the Department for reasonable costs of litigation. For this purpose,
16 
the Department is authorized to procure the applicable liability insurance for its
17 
officers and employees.
18 
Sec. 80. Disciplinary Powers of the President - The President, upon the
19 
recommendation of the Department Secretary, shall impose administrative sanctions
20 
against local chief executives and barangay officials for wilful or negligent acts
21 
performed in the implementation of, or compliance with, this Act and its IRR or
22 
relating to their official functions which adversely affect disaster resilience projects
23 
such as delayed issuance of permits or failure to implement local ordinances.
24 
Article XVII
25 
SPECIAL COURTS AND INJUNCTIONS
26 
Sec. 81. Special Courts on Disaster Resilience Matters. - To ensure the
27 
prompt and expeditious resolution of disputes relating to disaster response, recovery
28 
or rehabilitation measures, the Supreme Court shall establish special courts to hear,
29 
try, and decide cases arising from the following, among others:
30 
a) Implementation of the government's policies, plans, programs, projects
31 
and budget related to the NDRPIP, LDRP, PDRP, other disaster resilience
32 
activities, or pursuant to the provisions of this Act;
59


1 
b) Construction of new settlements, or relocation of informal settlers or
2 
settlements, to promote disaster resilience;
3 
c) Expropriations, eminent domain or right-of-way issues relating to the
4 
implementation of disaster resilience projects;
5 
d) Failure to comply with standards for disaster preparedness and continuity
6 
planning, including, but to limited to infrastructure standards and designs;
7 
e) Declaration of state of calamity under Article X of this Act;
8 
f) Imposition of tax, customs duties, or the implementation of tax relief,
9 
exemptions, reductions and other tax or customs rules and regulations in
10 
relation to donations, disaster assistance or other tax policies implemented
11 
by the BIR or BOC pursuant to the provisions of this Act;
12 
g) Commission of prohibited acts under Article XVI of this Act;
13 
h) Disputes involving donations, relief goods, or contracts executed or
14 
implemented pursuant to the provisions of this Act; and
15 
i) Other matters relating to achieving the purposes of this Act which the
16 
Supreme Court may determine as falling under the jurisdiction of the
17 
special courts created pursuant to this Section.
18 
Sec. 82. Dispute Resolution Mechanisms. - The Department shall establish a
19 
Disaster Resolution Board which shall resolve disputes involving administrative
20 
matters related to:
21 
a) Accreditation or denial of accreditation of disaster resilience training
22 
institutions, trainers, instructors, donors, volunteers, and Assisting
23 
Domestic or International Actors;
24 
b) Decisions of the ROs;
25 
c) Contracts entered into by the Department or any of its agents pursuant to
26 
the provisions of this Act; and
27 
d) Other administrative matters or issues as may be determined by the
28 
Department.
29 
The composition, structure, and other organizational matters related to the
30 
DRB shall be defined and provided in the IRR of this Act.
60


1 
Sec. 83. Special Prosecutors. - The Ombudsman shall designate special
2 
prosecutors to handle and prosecute violations of this Act involving public officials
3 
and employees.
4 
Sec. 84. Imposition of Temporary Restraining Order. - No Court, except the
5 
Supreme Court, shall have the powers to issue an injunction or a temporary
6 
restraining order against any action taken or projects implemented by the
7 
Department or its agents pursuant to this Act.
8 
Article XVIII
g 
FINAL PROVISIONS
10 
Sec. 85. Transfer. -
11 
a) The disaster risk reduction and management powers, functions, assets,
12 
personnel, fund and appropriations of the Office of Civil Defense (OCD)
13 
currently under the DND, are hereby transferred to the Department, and
14 
the civil defense functions shall remain with the DND. The existing
15 
organizational and administrative systems and processes of the OCD, as
16 
transferred, shall serve as the core organization of the Department.
17 
b) The applicable powers, functions, funds, and appropriations of the
18 
Disaster Response Assistance and Management Bureau and the National
19 
Resource and Logistics Management Bureau under the DSWD, are hereby
20 
transferred to the Department.
21 
c) The NDRRMC is hereby abolished.
22 
The DILG, DND, DSWD, and other relevant government instrumentalities,
23 
including the AFP, BFP, PNP, PCG, and OCD shall continue to perform their functions
24 
related to the consequence management of human-induced disasters, as provided
25 
for by existing laws.
26 
The Department shall, by virtue of this Act, be subrogated to all the rights
27 
and assume all the liabilities of the agencies transferred under this Act, and all their
28 
funds, records, property, assets, equipment, and such personnel as necessary,
29 
including unexpended appropriations or allocations. All contracts and liabilities of the
30 
said agencies are hereby transferred to and assumed by the Department and shall
31 
be acted upon in accordance with the Auditing Code and other pertinent laws, rules
32 
and regulations.
61


1 
Sec. 86. Coordination and Convergence with the Ciimate Change Commission.
2 
- The Department, and the Climate Change Commission, pursuant to its mandate
3 
under Republic Act No. 9729, as amended, shall establish and implement a
4 
convergence mechanism to facilitate coordination on the following areas:
5 
a) Conduct of current and future climate and disaster risk assessment as
6 
basis for sustainable development and resilient investment planning and
7 
programming at the national, sectoral and local levels;
8 
b) Establishment of a National Integrated Climate and Disaster Risk
9 
Information System, a singular platform for integrating and sharing
10 
climate and disaster risk information;
11 
c) Development and implementation of capacity-building and technical
12 
assistance programs for local government units and stakeholders on
13 
climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction;
14 
d) Monitoring and evaluation of progress of implementation of national,
15 
sectoral and local plans and programs on climate change adaptation and
16 
disaster risk reduction;
17 
e) Development of knowledge exchange platforms and implementation of
18 
information, education and communication program, including good
19 
practices on Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction.
20 
Sec. 87. Transitory Provision. - The transfer of functions, assets, funds,
21 
equipment, properties, transactions, and personnel of the affected and transferred
22 
agencies, and the formulation of the internal organic structure, staffing pattern,
23 
operating system, and revised budget of the Department, shall be completed within
24 
two (2) years from the effectivity of this Act, during which time the existing
25 
personnel shall continue to assume their posts in holdover capacities until new
26 
appointments are issued: Provided, That, after the abolition of the agencies as
27 
specified in Section 85 of this Act, the Department, in coordination with the DBM,
28 
shall evaluate, abolish, old and/or create new positions.
29 
Sec. 88. Interdepartmentai Relations and Coordination. - The DDR shall
30 
continuously call upon the following departments: (a) DOST for the Philippine
31 
Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) and
32 
Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS); (b) DENR for the
62


1 
Geohazard Assessment and Engineering, Geology Section of the Mines and
2 
Geosciences Bureau (MGB); (c) DOH for the Health Emergency Management Bureau
3 
(HEMB); and (d) DILG for the Bureau of Fire and Protection (BFP); Provided, That
4 
DDR and these departments shall establish systems and protocols for fostering
5 
interdepartmental relations and close coordination, through sustained sharing of
6 
data, information technology, facilities, and other resources critical to the DDR,
7 
among others; Provided, further. That the said agencies will cooperate fully with the
8 
DDR, in anticipation of, during and as necessary in the determination of the DDR
9 
Secretary, and perform agency mandates in close coordination with DDR as
10 
circumstances warrant in the aftermath of emergencies and disasters: Provided,
11 
finally. That PAGASA, PHIVOLCS and the Geohazards Unit of the MGB shall provide
12 
staff augmentation to DDR Operations Center as the need arises.
13 
Sec. 89. Transfer of Resources. - The transfer of powers and functions of
14 
agencies listed in Section 85 shall include the corresponding funds and
15 
appropriations, plantilla positions, records, equipment, facilities, and properties of
16 
such agencies, subject to the power of the Department to reorganize or reallocate
17 
the resources and positions from such agencies, as may be necessary to attain the
18 
objective of this Act.
19 
Sec. 90. Program Management Office for the Earthquake Resiliency of the
20 
Greater Manila Area. - The Program Management Office for the Earthquake
21 
Resiliency of the Greater Metro Manila Area (PMOERG), as created pursuant to
22 
Executive Order No. 52, s. 2018, shall be transferred to the Department under the
23 
supervision and control of the Secretary and shall continue to exercise its mandated
24 
functions.
25 
Sec. 91. Post-Disaster Shelters. - The Department shall establish a post-
26 
disaster shelter recovery policy framework for low-income or informal settler
27 
families, with the assistance of the appropriate housing agencies and the concerned
28 
LGUs. It shall, among others, determine the appropriate shelter modalities
29 
depending on the following post-disaster phases: emergency, temporary or
30 
transitional, and permanent. The Department shall likewise identify, assess and
31 
designate safe zones where the appropriate shelters shall be built.
63


1 
Sec. 92. Cultural Heritage. - To protect, preserve, and promote the nation's
2 
historical and cultural heritage, the Department shall assist the appropriate cultural
3 
agencies and the appropriate LCDs to give priority protection and restoration to all
4 
national cultural treasures or national historical landmarks, sites or monuments in
5 
post-disaster recovery or rehabilitation measures.
6 
Sec. 93. Indigenous People. -
7 
a) The Department shall, with the assistance of the National Commission on
8 
Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) and 
the concerned LGUs, devise and
9 
implement mechanisms that foster social protection for indigenous
10 
communities that are vulnerable to the effects of natural disasters.
11 
b) The Department shall ensure respect for, and protection of, the traditional
12 
resource right of the 
Indigenous Cultural Communities or Indigenous
13 
Peoples (ICCs or IPs) to their ancestral domains 
and recognize the
14 
customary laws and 
traditional 
resource use and management,
15 
knowledge, and practices in ancestral domains.
16 
c) In ancestral domains which are disaster-prone, the Department, with the
17 
assistance of the NCIP and applicable LGUs, shall create an Ancestral
18 
Domain Disaster Management and Resiliency Plan. It shall 
likewise
19 
properly communicate and explain information on disaster 
risks in
20 
ancestral domains with the concerned ICCs or IPs and, as much as
21 
possible, engage such ICCs or IPs in jointly formulating a 
disaster
22 
resiliency plan for their ancestral domain.
23 
Sec. 94. Livelihood. - The Department shall, with the assistance of the
24 
relevant government agencies such as the DTI and the Department of Labor and
25 
Employment (DOLE), establish policies and programs to restore and/or generate
26 
livelihood in areas affected by natural disasters.
27 
Sec. 95. Structural Audit of Government Buildings. - The Department, with
28 
the assistance of the DPWH and other relevant government agencies and
29 
stakeholders, shall ensure and conduct structural audit as often as necessary, on
30 
government buildings, especially those located in congested and disaster-prone
31 
areas, to ensure structural integrity and reduce disaster risk of urban buildings and
64


1 
to prevent the loss of life and property in the event of an anticipated natural
2 
disaster.
3 
Sec. 96. Magna Carta Benefits. - Qualified employees of the Department
4 
including those of its attached agencies, shall be covered by and entitled to the
5 
benefits under Republic Act No. 8439, otherwise known as the "Magna Carta for
6 
Scientists, Engineers, Researchers and other Science and Technology Personnel in
7 
the Government"; and Republic Act No. 7305, otherwise known as the "Magna Carta
8 
of Public Health Workers"; and Republic Act No. 9433, otherwise known as the
9 
"Magna Carta for Public Social Workers."
10 
Sec. 97. Hazard Pay. - Qualified personnel of the Department and the local
11 
disaster resilience offices are entitled to receive hazard pay, subject to existing
12 
policies and guidelines.
13 
Sec. 98. Separation Benefits of Benefits of Officiais and Empioyees of Affected
14 
Agencies. - Public sector employees who have been displaced or separated from the
15 
service pursuant to reorganization under this Act shall be entitled to separation pay,
16 
retirement and other benefits in accordance with Republic Act No. 6656 or the
17 
Government Reorganization Law, and other laws, and rules and regulations issued
18 
by the Civil Service Commission on government reorganization.
19 
In no case shall there be any diminution of benefits under the separation plan
20 
until the full implementation of this Act.
21 
Employees who shall be displaced or separated as a result of the
22 
implementation of this Act shall be given preference for appointment in the
23 
Department and in other government agencies if they meet the qualification
24 
requirements of the positions.
25 
No new employees shall be considered for appointment until all incumbent
26 
employees have been placed. The placement of an incumbent employee to a higher
27 
position which constitutes a promotion shall not be allowed until all incumbent
28 
employees have been placed to comparable positions for which they are considered.
29 
Sec. 99. Appropriations. - The amount necessary for the initial
30 
implementation of this Act shall be taken from the current fiscal year's
31 
appropriations of all agencies herein absorbed, and transferred to the Department.
32 
Thereafter, the amounts necessary for the operation of the Department and the
65


1 
implementation of this Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriations
2 
Act.
3 
Sec, 100. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Department, DBM,
4 
GPPB, DND, DOF, DILG, DOST, NEDA, DSWD, CSC, and the Career Executive Service
5 
Board (CESB), the House and Senate Committees on Government Reorganization,
6 
and representatives from relevant government agencies, academe, business sector,
7 
nongovernment organizations, and civil society organizations shall prepare and issue
8 
the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) to implement this Act within ninety
9 
(90) days from its effectivity.
10 
Sec. 101. Joint Congressional Oversight Committee on Disaster Resilience. -
11 
There shall be created a Joint Congressional Oversight Committee on Disaster
12 
Resilience to monitor the implementation of this Act. The Committee shall be
13 
composed of six (6) members of the House of Representatives and six (6) members
14 
of the Senate to be designated by the Speaker of the House of Representatives and
15 
the President of the Senate, respectively: Provided, That two (2) members of the
16 
House of Representatives and two (2) Senators shall come from the Minority of their
17 
respective houses of Congress. The Committee shall be jointly chaired by a Member
18 
of the House of Representatives and a Senator designated by the Speaker of the
19 
House of Representatives and the President of the Senate, respectively.
20 
The Joint Congressional Oversight Committee on Disaster Resilience shall be
21 
assisted by a secretariat to be composed by personnel under secondment from the
22 
Senate and the House of Representatives and may retain consultants.
23 
Sec. 102. Mandatory Review. - Within five (5) years after the effectivity of
24 
this Act, or as the need arises, the Congressional Oversight Committee shall conduct
25 
a systematic evaluation of the accomplishments and impacts of this Act, as well as
26 
the performance, and organizational structure of the Department, for purposes of
27 
determining remedial legislation.
28 
Sec. 103. Interpretation. - Any doubt in the interpretation of any provision of
29 
this Act shall be resolved in favor of a liberal interpretation that will fulfil the
30 
objectives of this Act, especially in relation to the provision of effective, efficient and
31 
timely disaster response, rehabilitation and recovery.
66


1 
Sec. 104. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared invalid
2 
or unconstitutional, the remaining provision not affected thereby shall continue to be
3 
in full force and effect.
4 
Sec. 105. Repealing Clause. - The provisions of Republic Act No. 10121,
5 
otherwise known as the "Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of
6 
2010"; Republic Act No. 7160, otherwise known as the "Local Government Code of
7 
1991"; Republic Act No. 7916, otherwise known as the "The Special Economic Zone
8 
Act of 1995"; and all other laws, decrees, executive orders, proclamations, and other
9 
executive issuances, which are not consistent with or contrary to the provisions of
10 
this Act, are hereby repealed or amended.
11 
Sec. 106 . Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following
12 
the completion of its publication in the Official Gazette or in a national newspaper of
13 
general circulation.
Approved,
67