1
Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. _________ 
Introduced by Representative Richard I. Gomez 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The urgency of our country’s need for a fortified, resolute, committed, focused 
and organized strategy and process in facing the crises brought about by 
natural disasters cannot be overemphasized.  
We are approaching the 13-year anniversary of Typhoon Ketsana (Tropical 
Storm Ondoy) and the nine-year anniversary of Typhoon Haiyan (Super 
Typhoon Yolanda). There have been many, many disasters in between and 
beyond, including the eruption of Taal Volcano, several earthquakes, the on-
going pandemic and the war in Marawi. As far as climate-related natural 
disasters are concerned, we are already certain that these will continue to 
pummel, damage and devastate our country and our people, unless we change 
the way we address disasters.  
I agree that we have gained ground in terms of improving our rate of immediate 
physical survival from storms, earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. We have 
certainly reduced the number of casualties in most recent disasters due to 
improved evacuation procedures, pre-disaster preparedness, and better rescue 
and disaster management.  
On the other hand, structural, economic and agricultural losses continue to be 
amplified. Reduction of casualties is definitely a win, but it is just not enough. 
During Super Typhoons Odette and Agaton, the casualties were not as 
pronounced as during Ondoy or Yolanda. However, the destruction of power, 
telecommunications and road  infrastructure across provinces choked and 
paralyzed local economies that were already struggling due to the COVID-19 
pandemic, for months after the actual natural disaster.  
July 5, 2022
3:51 pm
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To dramatize our circumstances in relation to natural disasters—it is not 
enough to protect and save lives in a storm. We cannot stop there. We have to  
also protect and save our people’s houses and normal community operations; 
i.e., the resumption of power, telecoms and basic supplies. We have to protect 
and save jobs, agricultural production, and local economies.  
 
We have to pivot our attention and focus on Disaster Resilience. We have to go 
above and beyond disaster preparedness, disaster response and even disaster 
management. We have to begin thinking about solutions that will equip the 
entire nation, not just to survive natural disasters but create a line of defense 
that would shield us, as much as possible, from the powerful, destructive force 
that defines extreme weather, geological, war events and viral pandemics. 
These solutions require a holistic, expansive, and  infrastructure-driven 
approach. 
 
We have to accept that an effort as huge and overarching as Disaster Resilience 
cannot happen in our current national and local government set up, This is 
simply because the solutions needed are not piece-meal in nature but all-
encompassing instead. In pursuing the successes achieved in our current 
fragmented approach to disaster management, we have already exhausted the 
extent of its reach and capability. 
 
It is time to create a department that is solely tasked to address the main 
sources of most of our socio-economic problems. It is time to create a seat in 
the Cabinet, one that is responsible for protecting our entire nation against 
disasters. It is time to organize our national and local governments better to 
think beyond evacuation, search and rescue and disaster aid.  
 
I call on my fellow lawmakers to expedite the passing of this consolidated 
Disaster Resilience Act, which was passed in the 18th Congress. I acknowledge 
the authors of more than 30 bills that now compose this consolidated bill: 
REPS. JOEY SALCEDA , 
JOSE 
CHRISTOPHER 
BELMONTE, 
ESTRELLITA 
SUANSING, HORACIO SUANSING JR., XAVIER JESUS ROMUALDO, LRAY 
VILLAFUERTE, RODRIGO ABELLANOSA, FERDINAND MARTIN ROMUALDEZ, 
YEDDA MARIE ROMUALDEZ, LAWRENCE FORTUN, WILTER "SHARKY" II 
WEE PALMA, ERIC L. OLIVAREZ, BERNADETTE "BH" HERRERA-DY, CHERYL 
P. DELOSO-MONTALLA, LORD ALLAN JAY Q. VELASCO, JOHN MARVIN "YUL 
SERVO" C. NIETO,"KUYA" JOSE ANTONIO R. SY-ALVARADO, TYRONE D. 
AGABAS, DAVID "JAY-JAY" C. SUAREZ, ANNA MARIE VILLARAZA-SUAREZ, 
FERDINAND L. HERNANDEZ, SOL ARAGONES, JOY MYRA SALVADOR-
TAMBUNTING, ALOY LIM, ERIC G. YAP, and MANUEL F. YAP ZUBIRI, under 
the leadership of former REP. LUCY TORRES-GOMEZ.  
 
More than a decade has passed since RA 10121 or the "Philippine Disaster 
Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010." A new approach to fighting 


 
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disasters is way overdue.  Every few months or so, a disaster promptly reminds 
of the urgency  of the creation of the Department of Disaster Resilience. We 
cannot afford even another year without taking actions in this direction. I 
enjoin this Congress for a swift proceeding on this bill. 
 
 
 
 
 
RICHARD I. GOMEZ 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. _________________ 
______________________________________________________________________________ 
Introduced by Representative Richard I. Gomez 
______________________________________________________________________________ 
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 the 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;
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(c) Promote a simple, strategic, systematic, continuous, comprehensive, 
inclusive, and integrated approach to disaster risk reduction and 
management aimed at substantially reducing vulnerabilities and the 
risk of disasters and other humanitarian emergencies, towards the 
preservation of life and property, thereby ultimately preventing or 
deterring the loss of lives and protecting the social, economic, historical 
and cultural heritage, and environmental assets of the country; 
(d)Establish a permanent, institutionalized, cohesive, and comprehensive 
framework for disaster preparedness, prevention and mitigation, and 
response, to be implemented by a focused specialized agency with its 
own mandate, powers, and funding, coordinating with, and the 
Philippine government, other foreign governments and financial 
institutions, international organizations, the private sector, and civil 
society. Disaster risk reduction and management shall, first aim for the 
outright avoidance of the adverse impacts of hazards and related 
disasters. With the knowledge and capacities to effectively anticipate, 
respond to, and recover from, the impacts of likely, imminent or current 
hazard events or conditions, preparedness action shall be carried out in 
the most effective and efficient manner. In a disaster scenario, the 
response shall ensure the provision of emergency services and public 
assistance, during or immediately after a disaster; 
(e) Create an integrated, systematic, comprehensive, and cohesive plan to 
simplify, streamline, integrate, and coordinate the various programs, 
projects, and activities of the Government and such other actors or 
stakeholders in disaster risk reduction and management to ensure 
accountability, responsibility, and transparency as well as to ensure the 
efficient and effective performance of their functions;  
(f) Inculcate a culture of resilience and preparedness against natural 
disasters at the national, regional and local levels; 
(g) Establish a strong and empowered institution capable of responding to 
the greater onslaught of normal or natural disasters brought by climate 
change, and spearhead efforts to ensure disaster resilience by delivering 
the highly critical and intertwined functions of disaster risk reduction 
and response, a with recovery and a strategy at building forward better; 
(h) Address the different concerns and needs of sectors with special needs 
or higher vulnerabilities such as women, children, elderly, persons with 
disabilities, and indigenous peoples with respect to disaster resilience 
and disaster management; 
(i) Foster an enabling environment for substantial and sustainable 
participation of                    non-government stakeholders such as civil 
society organizations, private groups, volunteers, and communities in 
disaster resilience programs and projects; 


 
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(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, which 
moderates harm or exploits beneficial opportunities; 
(b) Assisting actor refers to any Assisting international or domestic actor 
following a disaster in the country; 
(c) Assisting domestic actor refers to any not-for-profit entity established 
under domestic laws, which is extending help following a disaster in the 
country; 
(d) Assisting international actor refers to any foreign State, organization, 
entity or individual extending help following a disaster within the 
country or transiting through the country to extend help following a 
disaster in another country; 
(e) Biological hazards refer to hazards that are of organic origin or conveyed 
by biological vectors, including pathogenic microorganisms, toxins, and 
bioactive substances. Examples are bacteria, viruses or parasites as 
well as venomous wildlife and insects, poisonous plants and mosquitoes 
carrying disease-causing agents; 
(f) Building forward better refers to an approach to building or 
reconstructing                     an area or community, which entails a shift 
from achieving simple recovery and restoration to creating safer, more 
adaptive, resilient, and inclusive communities; 
(g) Business continuity refers to the capability of an organization to continue 
the delivery of products or services at acceptable predefined levels 
following a disruptive incident; 
(h) Capacity refers to the combination of attributes and resources available 
within a community or area that can reduce the level of risk(s) from, or 
impact(s) of,                             a disaster; 
(i) Civil society organizations (CSOs) refer to non-State actors whose aims 
are neither to generate profits nor to seek governing power, but to unite 


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


 
8
(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. 
Unless otherwise specifically indicated in this Act, the term “disaster” 
shall refer to “natural disaster”; 
(s) Disaster assistance refers to financial, material, or other forms of 
assistance to address the immediate and long-term needs of people, 
communities or areas affected by a disaster. This term includes 
humanitarian assistance and development assistance; 
(t) Disaster management refers to the planning, organization, and 
application of measures preparing for, responding to, and recovering 
from disasters; 
(u) Disaster mitigation refers to the reduction or limitation of the adverse 
impacts of disasters and its related hazards; 
(v) Disaster preparedness refers to the knowledge and capacities developed 
by governments, professional response and recovery organizations, 
communities and individuals to effectively anticipate, respond to, and 
recover from, the impacts of likely, imminent or current disasters and 
related hazards; 
(w) Disaster prevention refers to the intention to avoid, or the outright 
avoidance,                        of potential adverse impacts of disasters and 
related hazards through action(s) taken in advance; 
(x) Disaster recovery refers to restoration or improvement of livelihoods and 
health, 
as 
well 
as 
economic, 
physical, 
social, 
cultural 
and 
environmental assets, systems and activities, of a disaster-affected 
community or society, aligning with the principles of sustainable 
development and “build forward better” to avoid or reduce future 
disaster risk; 
(y) Disaster response or disaster relief refers to the provision of emergency 
services and public assistance during or immediately after a disaster in 
order to secure and save lives, reduce health impacts, ensure public 
safety and meet the basic subsistence needs of the people affected. 
Disaster response is predominantly focused on immediate and short-
term needs and is sometimes called “disaster relief”; 
(z) Disaster rehabilitation refers to restoration of basic services and facilities 
for the function of a community or a society affected by a disaster; 
(aa) Disaster resilience refers to the ability of a system, community, or 
society exposed to hazards to resist, absorb, accommodate, adapt to, 
transform, and recover from the effects of a hazard, including the long-


 
9
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; 
(bb) Disaster risk refers to the potential losses in lives, health status, 
livelihoods, assets and services that may occur to a particular 
community or society due to a disaster in the future, and is determined 
by a combination of the vulnerability, capacity, exposure of persons and 
assets, hazard characteristics and the environment; 
(cc) Disaster risk governance refers to the manner in which public 
authorities, civil servants, media, private sector, and civil society 
coordinate at community, national and regional levels in order to 
manage disaster and climate related risks. This includes ensuring that 
sufficient levels of capacity and resources are made available to prevent, 
prepare for, manage and recover from disasters. It also entails 
mechanisms, institutions, and processes for citizens to articulate their 
interests, exercise their legal rights and obligations, and mediate their 
differences; 
(dd) Disaster risk management refers to the systematic approach or process 
of implementing strategies, policies and programs to lessen the 
possibility and/or adverse impacts of disasters and related hazards; 
(ee) Disaster risk reduction refers to the prevention of new, or reduction of 
existing, disaster risks and the management of residual risk, to enhance 
resilience to disasters; 
(ff) Early warning system refers to an integrated system of hazard 
monitoring, forecasting and prediction, disaster risk assessment, and 
communication and preparedness activities and processes that enable 
individuals, 
communities, 
national 
government 
agencies, 
local 
government units, the private sector, and others to take timely action to 
reduce disaster risks and adequately prepare for disasters; 
(gg) Emergency refers to unforeseen or sudden occurrence, especially 
danger, demanding immediate action; 
(hh) Emergency management refers to the organization and management of 
resources and responsibilities for addressing all aspects of emergencies, 
in particular, preparedness, response and initial recovery steps; 
(ii) Environmental hazards refer to hazards which may be chemical, natural 
and biological, and can be created by environmental degradation or 
physical or chemical pollution in the air water and soil. However, many 
of the processes and phenomena that fall into this category may be 
termed drivers of hazard and risk rather than hazards in themselves, 
such as soil degradation, deforestation, loss of biodiversity, salinization 
and sea-level rise; 


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


 
11
conditions may also be a factor in other hazards such as landslides, 
wildland fires, locust plagues, epidemics, and in the transport and 
dispersal of toxic substances and volcanic eruption material; 
(ss) Impact and needs assessment refers to assessing the nature and 
magnitude of a disaster, its impact on affected populations, the type 
and extent of emergency, and the requirements for recovery and 
rehabilitation of the affected areas; 
(tt) Land-use planning refers to the process undertaken by public 
authorities to identify, evaluate, and decide on different options for the 
use of land, including consideration of long-term economic, social, and 
environmental objectives and the implications for different communities 
and interest groups, and the subsequent formulation and promulgation 
of plans that describe the permitted or acceptable uses; 
(uu) Legal facilities refer to entitlements and exemptions that are granted to 
assisting domestic or international actors which are declared to be 
eligible pursuant to this Act and its implementing rules and regulations; 
(vv) Local Disaster Resilience Plan (LDRP) refers to a document prepared by 
a local government unit (LGU) based on the National Disaster Resilience 
Framework (NDRF) and National Disaster Resilience Plan and 
Investment Program (NDRPIP) that sets out specific programs, 
objectives and goals to implement disaster risk management and 
climate change adaptation measures at the local level. The plan shall 
include among others, an evaluation and analysis of emerging disaster 
risks, hazards and vulnerabilities applicable to an LGU, and specific 
programs and activities to ensure responsive, effective, and the 
appropriate disaster preparedness and management at the local level; 
(ww) National continuity policy refers to a policy aimed at the development of 
an organizational culture that has the ability to provide a minimum 
level of service during interruptions, emergencies, and disasters, and 
return to full operations quickly; National continuity policy refers to a 
policy aimed at the development of an organizational culture that has 
the ability to provide a minimum level of service during interruptions, 
emergencies, and disasters, and return to full operations quickly; 
(xx) National cultural treasure refers to a unique cultural property found 
locally, possessing outstanding historical, cultural, artistic and/or 
scientific value which                         is highly significant and important 
to the country and nation, and officially declared as such by the 
pertinent cultural agency; 
(yy) National Disaster Resilience Framework (NDRF) refers to a framework 
that provides for a comprehensive, all-hazards, multi-sectoral, inter-
agency and community-based approach to enable communities to 
resist, prevent, mitigate against, absorb, accommodate, adapt to, 


 
12
recover, or build forward better from the effects of a hazard in a timely 
and efficient manner through, among others, disaster risk reduction 
and management and climate change adaptation and mitigation.  The 
NDRF shall be composed of a National Disaster Risk Reduction and 
Management Framework (NDRRMF), and National Framework Strategy 
on Climate Change (NFSCC); 
(zz) National Disaster Resilience Plan and Investment Program (NDRPIP) 
refers to a plan formulated and implemented by the Department of 
Disaster Resilience in accordance with the NDRF that sets out the 
outcomes, goals and objectives, priorities, programs and corresponding 
action 
plans 
for 
disaster 
risk 
reduction, 
preparedness, 
and 
management, and climate change mitigation. It shall also include, 
among others, the goals, objectives and action plans for a National 
Continuity Policy; 
(aaa) Natural disaster refers to a disaster predominantly associated with 
and/or caused by natural processes or phenomena, such as those 
related to geology                             such as earthquakes, ground 
rupture, liquefaction, landslides, tsunamis, sinkholes, volcanic activity; 
hydrology and meteorology such as floods, severe winds, typhoons, 
storm 
surges, 
and 
climatological 
variability 
such 
as 
extreme 
temperatures, El Niño, La Niña, and forest fires; 
(bbb) Open data refer to facts and statistics that can be freely used, shared 
and built-on by anyone, anywhere, for any purpose, which must be 
available in bulk, free of charge, or at least at no more than a 
reasonable cost and permit people to use,                     re-use, and 
redistribute, intermix with other data providers; 
(ccc) Post-Disaster recovery refers to the restoration improvement where 
appropriate, of facilities, livelihood and living conditions, of disaster-
affected communities, including efforts to reduce disaster risk factors, 
in accordance with the principle of “build forward better”; 
(ddd) Preparedness refers to pre-disaster actions and measures being 
undertaken within the context of disaster risk reduction and 
management and are based on sound risk analysis as well as pre-
disaster activities to avert or minimize loss of life and property such as 
community organizing, training, planning, equipping, stockpiling, 
hazard mapping, insuring of assets, and public information and 
education 
initiatives. 
This 
also 
includes 
the 
development 
or 
enhancement of an overall preparedness strategy, policy, institutional 
structure, warning and forecasting capabilities, and plans that define 
measures geared to help at-risk communities safeguard their lives and 
assets by being alert to hazards and taking appropriate action in the 
face of an imminent threat or an actual disaster; 


 
13
(eee) Prevention refers to activities and measures to avoid existing and new 
disaster risks, and the concept and intention to avoid potential adverse 
impacts of hazardous events;  
(fff) Probabilistic risk assessment refers to the simulation of those future 
disasters based on scientific evidence, and which are likely to occur in 
order to resolve the problem posed by the limits of historical data by 
reproducing the physics of the phenomena and recreating the intensity 
of a large number of synthetic events, including all possible scenarios, 
their likelihood, and associated impacts; 
(ggg) Rehabilitation refers to measures that ensure the ability of affected 
communities or areas to restore their normal level of functioning by 
rebuilding 
livelihood 
and 
infrastructures 
and 
increasing 
the 
communities’ organizational capacity; 
(hhh) Resilience refers to the ability of a system, community or society 
exposed to hazards to resist, absorb, accommodate, and recover from 
the effects thereof in a timely and efficient manner, including through 
the preservation and restoration of its essential basic structures and 
functions in a manner that will make them more resistant to future 
risks; 
(iii)Response refers to any concerted effort by two (2) or more agencies, 
public or private, to provide assistance or intervention during or 
immediately after a disaster to meet the life preservation and basic 
subsistence needs of those people affected and in the restoration of 
essential public activities and facilities; 
(jjj)Retrofitting refers to an act reinforcing or upgrading existing structures 
to make them more resistant and resilient to the damaging effects of 
hazards; 
(kkk) Risk refers to the combination of the probability of an event and its 
negative consequences; 
(lll)Risk assessment refers to a methodology to determine the nature and 
extent of risks by analyzing potential hazards and evaluating existing 
conditions of vulnerability that together could potentially harm exposed 
people, property, services, livelihood and the environment on which they 
depend. Risk assessment with associated risk mapping include: a 
review of the technical characteristics of hazards such as their location, 
intensity, frequency and probability; the analysis of exposure and 
vulnerability including the physical, social, health, economic, and 
environmental dimensions; and the evaluation of the effectiveness of 
prevailing and alternative coping capacities in respect to likely risk 
scenarios; 


 
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(mmm)Risk transfer refers to the process of formally or informally shifting 
the financial consequences of particular risks from one party to another 
whereby a household, community, enterprise or State authority will 
obtain resources from the other party after a disaster occurs, in 
exchange for ongoing or compensatory social or financial benefits 
provided to that other party; 
(nnn) Safety stock refers to items of raw materials, component parts, or 
finished goods maintained in inventory in order to reduce the risk that 
such item will be out of stock, in anticipation of unforeseen shortages or 
unusual demand for such items; 
(ooo) State of Calamity refers to a condition involving mass casualty, 
disruption of means of livelihoods, and/or major damages to property, 
roads and normal way of life of people in the affected areas as a result of 
the occurrence of natural or human-induced hazard; 
(ppp) Simplified or pre-arranged contract refers to a written agreement in the 
nature of an option contract between the procuring entity on one hand, 
and the most responsive and lowest calculated bidder on the other, 
granting the procuring entity the option to either place an order for any 
of the goods identified therein or not buy at all, within a given period of 
time; 
(qqq) Sustainable development refers to development that meets the needs 
of the present generation without compromising the ability of future 
generations to meet their own. It contains within it two (2) key concepts: 
first, the concept of “needs”, in particular, the essential needs of the 
world’s poor, to which overriding priority should be given; and second, 
the idea of limitations imposed by the state of technology and social 
cohesion and harmony, and  ecological integration of a sound and 
viable economy, responsible governance, and ecological integrity to 
ensure that human development now and through future generations is 
a life enhancing process; 
(rrr) Volunteers refer to individuals, groups or entities that offer and provide 
services or assistance, without compensation, to help people and areas 
affected by disasters; 
(sss) Vulnerability refers to the characteristics and circumstances of a 
community, system or asset that make it susceptible to the damaging 
effects of a hazard. Vulnerability may arise from various physical, 
social, economic, and environmental factors such as poor design and 
construction of buildings, inadequate protection of assets, lack of public 
information and awareness, limited official recognition of risks and 
preparedness measures, and disregard for wise environmental 
management; 


 
15
(ttt) Vulnerable and marginalized groups refer to those that face higher 
exposure to disaster risk and poverty including women, children, the 
elderly, differently abled people, and ethnic minorities; 
(uuu) Whole of Society Approach refers to an approach that encourages the 
meaningful and active participation and synergy of the different 
stakeholders of society toward climate change adaptation and 
mitigation, and disaster risk reduction and management at the national 
and local levels; 
(vvv) Whole of Government Approach refers to an approach that instills and 
fosters collaboration among all government instrumentalities both at 
the national and local levels toward shared sustainable development 
goals and outcomes; and 
(www) Whole of Nation Approach refers to an approach that seeks to bring 
about a concerted effort towards sustainable development, and national 
peace and security by creating consensus and understanding of 
development and security that is shared not just among core security 
forces and oversight government institutions, but also by the nation’s 
stakeholders such as government, civil society, private sector, and the 
communities.  
Article II 
THE DEPARTMENT OF DISASTER RESILIENCE: 
MANDATE, POWERS, AND FUNCTIONS 
SEC. 4. Creation and Mandate of the Department of Disaster 
Resilience. – There is hereby created a Department of Disaster Resilience, 
herein after referred to as the Department. 
The Department shall be the primary government agency responsible for 
leading, organizing, and managing the national effort to reduce disaster risk, 
prepare for and respond to disasters, recover and rehabilitate, and build 
forward better after the occurrence of disasters.  
The 
Department shall 
oversee 
and 
coordinate 
the preparation, 
implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of disaster and climate resilience 
plans, programs, projects and activities, provide leadership in the continuous 
development of strategic and systematic approaches to disaster prevention, 
mitigation, preparedness, response, recovery and rehabilitation, to anticipatory 
adaptation strategies, measures, techniques, and options.                        
The Department shall augment the capacity of local governments units in 
collaboration 
with 
relevant 
national 
government 
agencies 
and 
other 
stakeholders to implement disaster risk reduction and management and 
climate change action plans, programs, projects, and activities.  


 
16
The Department shall be the principal government institution responsible 
for ensuring safe, adaptive, and disaster resilient communities. It is mandated 
to provide a clear and comprehensive direction in the implementation of plans, 
programs, and projects to reduce the risk of natural hazards and the effects of 
climate change and manage the impact of disasters. 
The mandate of the Department covers all natural hazards, which 
include, among others, the following: 
(a) Geological Phenomena and Related Hazards  
1) Earthquake – ground rupture, ground shaking, liquefaction, tsunami, 
fire, landslides, and seiche or lake water oscillation  
2) Volcanic activity – ash fall, pyroclastic flow, lava flow, lahar, fissuring, 
and volcanic gas 
3) Mass movement – landslides, debris flow, sinkholes 
(b) Hydrological, Oceanographic and Meteorological Phenomena and 
Related Hazards  
1) Tropical cyclone – severe winds, storm surge, rouge waves, severe 
rainfall including hail  
2) Flood, rain-triggered landslides and storm surges 
3) Erosion 
4) Marine heatwaves, extreme sea events, and sea level rise 
(c)  Climate Variability/ Change with Related Hazards of Compound 
Events and Cascading Impacts 
1) El Niño or La Niña (ENSO) with associated rainfall and temperature 
(in particular, projected extreme ENSOs) 
2) Extreme rainfall and extreme temperature 
The Department shall manage and direct the implementation of national, 
local, and community-based disaster resilience and disaster management 
programs in collaboration with relevant national government agencies, LGUs, 
CSOs, academic institutions and other stakeholders, as applicable: Provided, 
That for human-induced disasters, the Department of the Interior and Local 
Government (DILG), Department of National Defense (DND), Department of 
Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), and other relevant government 
instrumentalities, including the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Bureau 
of Fire Protection (BFP), Philippine National Police (PNP), Philippine Coast 


 
17
Guard (PCG), and Office of Civil Defense (OCD), shall continue to perform their 
functions. 
SEC. 5. Powers and Functions of the Department. - The Department 
shall exercise the following powers and functions, in collaboration with the 
relevant departments, agencies, and non-government stakeholders: 
(a) General Functions  
1) Conduct risk and vulnerability assessment at the local level based on 
the national criteria, and establish a database that includes, among 
others, an inventory of hazards to better prepare for and respond to 
natural disasters; 
1) Undertake the establishment or construction of evacuation centers 
that conform to the standards under the United Nations (UN) 
Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Humanitarian 
Response or The Sphere Minimum Standards for Shelter and 
Settlement, and Republic Act No. 10821 otherwise known as the 
Children’s Emergency Relief and Protection Act, among others. The 
upkeep and maintenance of the evacuation centers shall be the 
responsibility of the concerned LGUs; 
2) 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;   
3) 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;  
4) 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; 
5) Oversee, review, and approve the translation, integration, and 
implementation of the NDRPIP into LDRPs;  
6) 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;  
7) Communicate and disseminate critical information to help the public 
prepare for, respond to, and recover from a disaster;  


 
18
8) Receive, manage, and administer the funds, assets and properties 
received by the Department to accomplish the purposes of this Act; 
9) 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;  
10) Advise the President on matters concerning disaster resilience and 
make recommendations, as appropriate; 
11) Advance the country’s interests relating to disaster resilience in the 
regional and global arena; 
12) Collaborate with any government entity to help ensure the 
attainment of the goals and objectives of this Act; and 
13) 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 risk reduction, mitigation, prevention or building forward 
better, prevail over policies or decisions of other government 
departments, government agencies, government owned and/or 
controlled corporations, LGUs, or other government institutions;  
3) Develop, in coordination with relevant government agencies, policies 
and programs on land-use planning, urban planning and zoning 
which shall,                          to the extent such policies and 
programs relate to disaster risk reduction, mitigation, prevention or 
building forward better, prevail over policies or decisions of other 
government departments, government agencies, government owned 
and/or controlled corporations, LGUs, or other government 
institutions;  
4) Establish or enhance standards for disaster preparedness and 
continuity planning, such as on infrastructure standards and 
designs; 


 
19
5) Collaborate with the Department of Public Works and Highways 
(DPWH) and other relevant government agencies in the conduct of 
regular structural, safety audit of buildings and other types of 
infrastructure, and require the submission of necessary data, 
information or reports related thereto;  
6) Formulate a National Continuity Policy including plans and programs 
to implement government governance and business continuity;  
7) Ensure the use of advanced science and technology in the 
anticipatory planning of communities against the impact of natural 
hazards and climate change through consultation, and employment 
with a regular department funding for relevant academic or higher 
educational institutions with proven risk reduction record; 
8) Establish a system to ensure that all disaster-related data are 
accessible to all stakeholders to generate the best scientific 
information and technological products for use in disaster resilience; 
9) Ensure that all climate change-related hazards are included in the 
development of climate risk profiles of targeted LGUs as provided for 
in the Climate Risk and Management Framework (CRMF) policy 
document of the Climate Change Commission (CCC) and that the 
appropriate institutions such as the academe and other science 
experts or organizations who have the capability to develop or have 
developed methodologies to establish climate change risk profile are 
officially engaged; 
10) Undertake programs and projects to reduce the vulnerability of 
physical infrastructure, assets, and facilities including retrofitting, 
and structural and non-structural upgrading, in coordination with 
the relevant government agencies;  
11) Call on relevant government agencies to develop alternative livelihood 
programs to reduce the vulnerability to disasters of certain areas or 
certain sectors of society;  
12) Formulate, facilitate and monitor efforts relating to certain resources 
or sectors toward addressing the long-term effects of climate change 
on sustainable development, such as water resources, agriculture, 
forestry, coastal and marine resources, health, and infrastructure, in 
coordination with relevant government agencies; 
13) Design and implement an incentive system for greater private and 
public investment, both at the local and national levels, on disaster 
risk reduction; 


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


 
21
7) Formulate standards for contingency planning that shall be adopted 
by the LGUs;  
8) Develop a database of exposure or elements at risk per area to 
facilitate and ensure quick impact and needs assessment in the 
event of a disaster;  
9) Facilitate and regulate the acceptance, inventory, and accounting of 
humanitarian assistance, including relief goods;  
10) Maintain a database of volunteers and, when necessary, mobilize 
volunteers to augment the personnel complement and logistical 
requirements for disaster response and/or for the delivery of DRRM 
programs, projects and activities;  
11) Oversee and maintain a national early-warning and emergency alert 
system that must provide a specific, areas-focused and time-bound 
warning that are accurate, timely, understandable and readily 
accessible to national and local emergency response organizations 
and the general public; 
12) Coordinate information-sharing and other disaster risk reduction 
protocols following the principle of inter-operability among national 
government agencies and local government units; 
13) Call upon other instrumentalities or entities of the government and                      
non-government and civic organizations for assistance in terms of 
the use of their facilities and resources for the protection and 
preservation of life and properties in the whole range of disaster risk 
reduction and management. This function includes the power to call 
on the reserve force as defined in Republic Act                        No. 
7077, otherwise known as Citizen Armed Forces of the Philippines                      
Reservist Act to assist in relief, rescue, retrieval and management of 
dead and missing persons during disasters or calamities;  
14) Organize, train, equip, and maintain a system of response capacity 
for search, rescue and retrieval and the delivery and distribution of 
relief goods; 
15) Recommend to the President to call upon the AFP and PNP to 
render the necessary assistance in a disaster-affected area by the 
authority of the President; 
16) Call upon, by authority of the President, the Armed Forces of the 
Philippines, the Philippine National Police, the Bureau of Fire 
Protection (BFP), the Philippine Coast Guard, and other uniformed 
services to the extent necessary for the Department to achieve the 
purposes of this Act; 


 
22
17) Establish a National Corps of Volunteers to be composed of, among 
others: Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC), National Service 
Training Program (NSTP), reservists, and other socio- civic 
organizations;  
18) Assist in mobilizing necessary resources to increase the overall 
capacity of local government units, specifically those with low income 
and situated in high-risk areas; and  
19) Undertake all other programs and projects necessary to attain the 
necessary outcomes for disaster preparedness and response.  
(d) Recovery and Building Forward Better 
1) Prepare, organize, lead, implement, and manage post-disaster 
assessment and recovery and rehabilitation programs and plans, in 
coordination with the affected local governments units, national 
government agencies, and other stakeholders; 
2) Establish a system to promptly perform impact and needs 
assessment, including strengthening the in-house capacity of the 
Department to conduct accurate and timely impact and needs 
assessment;  
3) Establish a system that utilizes templates, exposure database, and 
other tools, and develop the Department’s in-house capacity for the 
prompt and expedient preparation of rehabilitation plans, when 
needed, for disaster affected areas;  
4) Formulate or direct relevant government agencies and LGUs to issue 
guidelines for fast-tracking the issuance of permits, certifications, 
clearances and licenses to implement disaster recovery and 
rehabilitation measures, including housing projects, in affected 
areas;  
5) Prepare and implement rehabilitation plans for disaster affected areas;  
6) Manage and oversee the implementation of disaster recovery and 
rehabilitation measures;  
7) Collaborate with relevant government agencies to establish programs 
to restore or generate livelihood in disaster affected areas;  
8) Formulate policies and standards for post-disaster shelter recovery 
which may include, among others, implementation arrangements, 
coordination arrangements with relevant agencies and LGUs, and 
modalities for emergency transitional and permanent shelter 
recovery;  


 
23
9) Ensure that the principle of building forward better is applied to 
rehabilitation or reconstruction efforts; and  
10) Undertake all other programs and projects necessary to attain the 
necessary outcomes for recovery and safer, adaptive, resilient, and 
inclusive communities. 
(e) Other Functions  
1) Constitute, call, convene or deputize agencies of government, and 
invite       non-government and private organizations, to assist, 
advise, or coordinate with the Department to achieve the purposes of 
this Act; 
2) Inspect and examine the status of projects, programs, and activities 
undertaken by national government agencies and local government 
units in furtherance of disaster resilience efforts; 
3) Save lives and/or minimize damages to livelihood and property, 
complement and collaborate with relevant government agencies and 
non-government stakeholders in providing humanitarian response 
and the consequence management of human-induced disasters 
whenever it becomes necessary; 
4) Negotiate, enter into, institutionalize, and coordinate arrangements 
with any private person or entity for the purpose of ensuring the 
adequate and prompt availability of goods and services necessary in 
anticipation of, during, and in the aftermath of disasters; 
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. Emergency 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: 


 
24
1) Carrying out of preemptive evacuation; 
2) Imposition of curfew; 
3) Rationing of the distribution of basic goods in critical shortage, and 
when necessary, preventing or restricting the transfer of such goods 
outside of the area affected by the disaster, including access to rice 
inventory of the National Food Authority (NFA)office or storage located 
in the affected area; 
4) When there is imminent danger of loss of lives or damage to property, 
temporarily take over or direct the operation of any private utility or 
business, subject to payment of just compensation; and 
5) With the concurrence of the DOF, recommend to the Monetary Board 
the deferment of the payment of monetary obligations of local 
government units and private entities that have been severely affected 
by disaster. 
(b) Local government units shall enact ordinances on and implement 
necessary and appropriate emergency measures to ensure the protection and 
preservation of life and property and the promotion of public safety and welfare 
in anticipation of, during, and in the aftermath of disasters;  
(c) Emergency measures shall be carried out in a manner that is humane, 
respectful of the dignity and culture of persons, without the use of 
discrimination and disproportionate force, and with conscious attention to the 
needs of vulnerable and marginalized groups. 
(d) Appropriate steps shall be taken to inform the public of the need to 
implement emergency measures for their safety. 
SEC. 7. Preemptive and Force Evacuations. – Preemptive evacuation 
shall be the preferred and primary mode of moving and relocating people that 
will be affected by impending disasters. 
A forced evacuation shall be considered as an emergency measure of last 
resort that may be undertaken in anticipation of or during a disaster and 
carried out by the concerned local government unit: Provided, That in case of 
the failure or inability of the local government units to implement the same, the 
forced 
evacuation 
shall 
be 
implemented 
by 
the 
Department,                      
which may direct and compel the assistance of law enforcement and other 
government agencies to implement such measure. 
Any person who willfully disregards or disobeys a preemptive or forced 
evacuation carried out by the local government unit or the Department releases 
such local government unit or the Department, as the case may be, from any 
liability for injury, death, damage to, or loss of property due to such 
disobedience.  


 
25
Article IV 
 ORGANIZATION AND MANAGEMENT 
SEC. 8. The Secretary. - The Department shall be headed by the 
Secretary of Disaster Resilience, hereinafter referred to as the Secretary, who 
shall be appointed by the President, subject to confirmation by the Committee 
on Appointments. The Secretary shall preferably have a good background in 
any of the scientific, engineering, and public management fields relevant to the 
attainment and promotion of resiliency to natural hazards and climate change, 
and demonstrated managerial acumen. 
SEC. 9. Powers and Functions of the Secretary. – The Secretary shall 
have the following powers and functions: 
a)Provide executive direction and supervision over the entire operations 
of the Department; 
b) Establish and promulgate policies, rules, and regulations for the 
effective and efficient operation of the Department and implement 
these to carry out its mandate, functions, programs, and activities;  
c) Exercise control and supervision over all functions and activities of 
the Department and its officers and personnel;    
d) Manage the financial, human and other resources of the Department; 
e) Appoint and designate officers and employees of the Department, 
excluding those requiring presidential appointment as provided for 
by law; 
f) Exercise disciplinary powers over officers and employees of the 
Department in accordance with law, and investigate such erring 
officers and employees, or designate a committee or officer to 
conduct an investigation; 
g) Collaborate with other government agencies, the private sector, and 
civil society organizations on the policies, programs, projects, and 
activities of the Department, as may be necessary;  
h) Advise the President on the promulgation of executive and 
administrative orders, and the formulation of regulatory and 
legislative proposals on matters pertaining to disaster resilience; 
i) Represent the Philippines and articulate the national contribution to 
global, regional, and other inter-governmental disaster risk reduction 
and humanitarian platforms, in coordination with the Department of 
Foreign Affairs;  


 
26
j) Formulate such rules and regulations, and exercise such other powers 
as may be required to implement the objectives of this Act; and 
k) Perform such other tasks as may be provided by law or assigned by 
the President. 
SEC. 10. The Undersecretaries. - The Secretary shall be assisted by 
four (4) Undersecretaries, which shall be responsible for the following key result 
areas: 
a) Disaster Preparedness and Response - to implement projects and 
programs that will enhance the capacity of LGUs to prepare against, 
and respond to, disasters. This also includes development of a 
database of exposure or elements at risk per area and database of 
volunteers, among others. It involves the establishment of evacuation 
centers 
and 
the 
implementation 
of 
responsive 
and 
efficient 
prepositioning of goods, maintenance and disposal of stocks, among 
others; 
b) Disaster Risk Reduction - to formulate, adopt, and/or implement, 
among others, a whole-of-society approach in policies and programs to 
prevent new, if not reduce existing disaster risks, to address the effects 
of climate change, and to minimize loss and damage to lives and 
properties. This includes the formulation of the required policies 
and/or programs for disaster risk reduction and climate change 
adaptation in, among others, the NDRF and the NDRPIP; 
c) Recovery and Building Forward and Better - to formulate and implement 
rehabilitation plans for disaster-affected areas, and to ensure the 
implementation of disaster recovery and rehabilitation measures, such 
as, but not limited to, post-disaster shelters and livelihood projects, in 
collaboration with relevant agencies, LGUs, and other stakeholders. 
d) Support to Operations - to formulate and implement, among others, 
policies, programs and/or projects to ensure the efficient, effective, 
and responsive delivery of the Department’s key result areas. Support 
to 
Operations 
covers 
knowledge 
management, 
institutional 
development and planning, finance, office administration, human 
resources management, and development of the Department’s in-
house capacities, among others. 
 SEC. 11. The Assistant Secretaries and Directors. - The Department 
shall have four (4) Assistant Secretaries and appropriate number of Directors to 
ensure for the effective, efficient, and responsive implementation of the 
mandate and functions of the Department. 
 SEC. 12. Qualifications. – No person shall be appointed Secretary, 
Undersecretary, or Assistant Secretary of the Department unless a citizen and 
resident of the Philippines, of good moral character, and of proven experience, 


 
27
competence or expertise in humanitarian relief assistance and disaster 
management. The Secretary, Undersecretary, or Assistant Secretary shall not 
hold any other position, public or private, during their terms of office. 
 SEC 13. Structure and Staffing Pattern. – The Department shall 
determine its organizational structure and staffing pattern and create such 
services, divisions, and units, as it may require or deem necessary, subject to 
the approval of the Department of Budget and Management. 
 SEC. 
14. 
National 
Disaster 
Operations 
Center, 
Alternative 
Command Center, and Research and Training Institute.- The Department 
shall establish, within one (1) year from the approval of this Act, and act as the 
primary operator, the National Disaster Operations Center (NDOC), Alternative 
Command and Control Center (ACCCs) as may be necessary in each of the 
country’s major island groups, and the Disaster Resilience Research and 
Training Institute (DRRTI). 
The Department is authorized to collect fees derived from the DRRTI. 
The NDOC is a physical center equipped with the necessary tools and 
systems to monitor, manage, and respond to disasters in all areas of the 
country. The NDOC shall also provide the necessary support for the overall 
coordination and implementation of emergency and disaster response 
measures throughout the country. 
The ACCCs are command centers established in other locations to 
provide supplemental support to the NDOC. The number and location of 
ACCCs shall be determined by the Department. Temporary ACCCs may 
likewise be established by the Department, if necessary.  
SEC. 15. DRRTI Functions and Inter-Agency Knowledge Sharing. - 
The DRRTI shall be a platform for providing training preferably on site, and for 
collecting, consolidating, managing, analyzing, and sharing knowledge and 
information to improve or enhance disaster resilience. 
The DRRTI shall: 
a) Establish reliable and up-to-date disaster-related information and 
communication systems and technologies through close collaboration with the 
DOST and with academic institutions; 
b) Institutionalize, maintain, and update an integrated disaster resilience 
information system (IDRIS), which includes, among others, multi-hazard 
mapping, probabilistic risk assessment, risk analysis, early warning, exposure 
database, communication and emergency management systems; 
c) Establish a database that includes relevant information from other 
government agencies and third parties for the Department to better prepare 


 
28
and respond to natural hazards including, but not limited to, an inventory of 
hazardous materials per area; 
d) Consult and coordinate with, and consolidate information/data from, 
relevant government agencies, such as, but not limited to, DOST, LGUs, 
academic institutions, and relevant CSOs to enhance the IDRIS and to promote 
knowledge sharing among all stakeholders; 
e) Conduct disaster-related research programs, seminars, and trainings 
for all types of stakeholders; 
f) Consolidate, organize and/or prepare training materials and 
publications; and 
g) Conduct other activities consistent with promoting the formation and 
dissemination of knowledge and information relating to disaster resilience and 
disaster management.  
SEC. 16. Compliance and Accreditation of DRRTI with International 
Standards. -                            The Department shall strive to obtain 
certification from, and accreditation by, international accreditation bodies of 
the DRRTI to ensure DRRTI’s compliance with international standards. The 
Department shall likewise ensure collaboration with key countries and 
international organizations to incorporate best practices on disaster resilience 
in the Department’s policies and programs. 
SEC. 17. Disaster Assistance Action Center.- The Department shall 
institutionalize a one-stop shop mechanism through a Disaster Assistance 
Action Center (DAAC) which shall, among others, process necessary documents 
for both domestic and international assisting actors. 
SEC. 18. Incentives. - The Department has the authority to prescribe 
benefits, allowances, and similar emoluments for disaster management 
professionals and disaster resilience officers subject to existing laws, rules and 
regulations.  
Article V 
NATIONAL AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT RELATIONS 
SEC. 19. Retention of Local DRRM Offices and Creation of Local 
Disaster Resilience Offices. - The Local DRRM Offices (LDRRMOs) in 
provinces, cities, and municipalities shall be retained and renamed as 
Provincial, City, and Municipality Disaster Resilience Offices, respectively. They 
shall collectively be called Local Disaster Resilience Offices (LDROs). All LGUs 
shall establish an LDRO at the provincial, city, and municipal levels. All Local 
DRRM Councils (LDRRMCs) shall be abolished. 


 
29
The budgetary requirements for personal services, maintenance and other 
operating expenses, and capital outlay of the LDROs shall be sourced from the 
General Fund of the LGU, subject to Section 76 of Republic Act No. 7160, 
otherwise known as the Local Government Code of 1991, as amended. 
Other maintenance and operating expenses and other capital outlay 
requirements of the LDRO in the implementation of disaster risk and 
vulnerability reduction management and climate change adaptation programs 
shall be charged to the Local Disaster Resilience Fund of the LGUs. 
SEC. 20. Composition and Organization of LDROs. - The LDRO shall 
be under the supervision and control of the provincial governor, and city or 
municipal mayor, as applicable. The LDRO shall be composed of an officer and 
five (5) permanent personnel responsible for, among others, administration, 
research 
and 
planning, 
training, 
and 
operations. 
The 
organization, 
composition, functions, and responsibilities of retained LDRRMOs shall be 
modified to the extent provided in, and shall comply with the requirements and 
standards of, this Act and the IRR for the establishment, maintenance and 
operations of LDROs. 
SEC.  21. Local Disaster Resilience Officer.  - The LDRO shall be 
headed and managed by a well-qualified and full-time Local Disaster Resilience 
Officer with regular plantilla position. The Local Disaster Resilience Officer and 
Staff shall be appointed by the Local Chief Executive subject to the 
requirements and endowed with the emoluments and benefits in accordance 
with existing laws, rules and regulations. 
SEC.  22. Powers and Functions of City and Municipal DROs. - The 
City and Municipal (CDRO and MDRO) shall have the following powers and 
functions: 
(a) Formulate and implement, in close coordination with the Department, a 
comprehensive and integrated LDRP in accordance with the NDRF and 
the NDRPIP; 
(b) Design, program, coordinate, and implement disaster resilience activities 
including preparedness, risk reduction, response, recovery and 
rehabilitation measures consistent with the standards and guidelines 
provided by the Department, and implement the NDRF and the NDRPIP 
at the city or municipal level; 
(c) Prepare and submit to the local Sanggunian, the LDRP, the proposed 
programming of the LDR Fund, other dedicated disaster resilience 
resources, and other regular funding source of the LDRO; 
(d) Recommend to the local Sanggunian the enactment of local ordinances 
to implement the LDRP, NDRF and NDRPIP at the city or municipal 
level, and to comply with other requirements of this Act; 


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


 
31
(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. 
SEC.  23. Provincial Disaster Resilience Officer. - The Provincial 
Disaster Resilience Office (PDRO) shall be headed and managed by a Provincial 
Disaster Resilience Officer with regular plantilla position. 
SEC.  24. Powers and Functions of the PDRO. - The PDRO shall have 
the following powers and functions: 
(a) Formulate and implement, in close coordination with the Department and 
cities or municipalities within its jurisdiction, a comprehensive and 
integrated Provincial LDRP in accordance with the NDRF and the 
NDRPIP; 
(b) Review the LDRPs of cities and municipalities within its jurisdiction, and 
require the amendment of such LDRPs if necessary, to ensure compliance 
with the Provincial LDRP and/or the NDRF and NDRPIP; 
(c) Design, program, coordinate, and/or implement disaster resilience 
activities consistent with the standards and guidelines provided by the 
Department, and implement the NDRF and the NDRPIP at the provincial 
level; 
(d) Prepare and submit to the Sanggunian Panlalawigan, the Provincial 
LDRP, the proposed programming of the province’s Local Disaster 
Resilience Fund, other dedicated disaster resilience resources, and other 
funding sources of the PDRO; 
(e) Recommend to the Sanggunian Panlalawigan the enactment of local 
ordinances to implement the Provincial LDRP, NDRF and NDRPIP at the 
provincial level, and to comply with other requirements of this Act; 
(f) Prepare and submit to the Department, the local Commission on Audit, 
and the applicable Regional Disaster Resilience Office a report on the 
utilization of the province’s Local Disaster Resilience Fund and other 
disaster risk reduction and management resources; 
(g) Establish and maintain, in coordination with the Department, a Provincial 
Command and Control Center (PCC) which includes, among others, an 
information 
management 
system 
at 
the 
provincial 
level 
which 
consolidates and integrates information from the cities and/or 
municipalities within its jurisdiction, a multi-hazard early warning and 
communications system that is connected with the cities and/or 
municipalities within its jurisdiction, and a monitoring system that 
enables the PDRO to oversee, supervise, monitor and respond to the 
needs of cities and/or municipalities within its jurisdiction in relation to 
disaster resilience activities; 


 
32
(h) Procure emergency works, goods, and services in compliance with the 
regulations, orders, and policies of DBM and GPPB, to implement the 
provincial LDRP or support early recovery and post-disaster activities of 
the PDRO; 
(i) In coordination with the Department and the DOF, access foreign loans to 
finance its projects, programs, and policies for disaster preparedness, 
response, recovery, and rehabilitation, subject to terms and conditions 
agreed upon by the PDRO and the lender; 
(j) Formulate and establish mechanisms to mobilize and direct LDROs within 
its jurisdiction as necessary for disaster preparedness and response at 
the provincial level; 
(k) Coordinate and provide the necessary support or assistance to the 
Department in the implementation of rehabilitation plan(s) within the 
cities and/or municipalities covered by the PDRO; and 
(l) Conduct other activities and/or act on other matters, in accordance with 
policies and procedures of the Department and applicable laws, to achieve 
the purposes of this Act.  
SEC.  25. Regional Offices. - The Department shall establish and 
maintain Regional Offices (ROs) at each region, and a National Capital Region 
Office (NCR). The size, composition and organization of ROs and NCR shall be 
based on parameters provided in the IRR on the ability of LGUs within its 
jurisdiction to cope with previous disasters, or to implement their LDRPs or 
Provincial LDRPs; the level of income, population, hazard exposure of LGUs. 
The ROs and NCR shall be funded by the Department.  
SEC.  26. Regional  Director.  - Each RO and the NCR shall be headed 
and managed by a Regional Director with regular plantilla position. The 
Regional Director shall be appointed by the Department Secretary for a fixed 
term pursuant to requirements, terms of office and endowed with the 
emoluments and benefits subject to existing laws, rules and regulations. 
SEC.  27. Powers and Functions of ROs and NCR. - The ROs and NCR 
shall have the following powers and functions: 
(a) Review the LDRPs and Provincial LDRPs of LGUs within its jurisdiction, 
and require the amendment of such LDRPs and/or Provincial LDRPs if 
necessary, to ensure compliance with the NDRF and NDRPIP; 
(b) Monitor and direct LDROs and PDROs to implement their respective 
LDROs and PDROs; 
(c) Recommend to the appropriate Sanggunian at the city, municipal or 
provincial level, the enactment of local ordinances to implement the 


 
33
LDRP, NDRF and NDRPIP at the city, municipal or provincial level, and 
to comply with other requirements of this Act; 
(d) Review reports on the utilization of the LDRF and other disaster risk 
reduction and management resources of LGUs within its jurisdiction, 
and give recommendations, as necessary; 
(e)Provide, upon the request of LGUs or unilaterally at its own discretion, 
assistance to LGU(s) within its jurisdiction as necessary to ensure the 
implementation of LDRPs or Provincial LDRPs, NDRF and NDRPIP, and 
to render efficient and timely disaster preparedness, response and 
recovery measures; 
(f) Identify and report to the Department issues and problems relating to, or 
affecting, the disaster resilience of LGUs within its jurisdiction, and 
make recommendations to the Department and/or to the LGUs to 
address such issues or problems; 
(g) Procure goods and services in compliance with the regulations, orders, 
and policies of DBM and GPPB, to implement the NDRPIP and NDRF at 
the regional level; 
(h) Formulate and establish mechanisms to mobilize and direct LDROs and 
PDROs within its jurisdiction as necessary for disaster preparedness 
and response at the regional level; 
(i) Establish and maintain, in coordination with the Department, a Regional 
Command and Control Center (RCC) which includes, among others, an 
information management system at the regional level which consolidates 
and integrates information from the provinces, cities and municipalities 
within 
its 
jurisdiction, 
a 
multi-hazard 
early 
warning 
and 
communications system, and a monitoring system that enables the RO 
to oversee, supervise, monitor and respond to the needs of LGUs within 
its jurisdiction in relation to disaster resilience activities; Implement or 
assist in the implementation, as directed by the Department, of 
rehabilitation plans for LGUs within its coverage; and 
(j) Conduct other activities and/or act on other matters, in accordance with 
policies and procedures of the Department and applicable laws, to 
achieve the purposes of this Act.  
SEC.  28. Inter-Regional Disaster Resilience Office Collaboration. - 
The Department shall create policies and programs to establish collaboration 
and coordination among the different ROs. 
          SEC.  29. Levels of Responsibility for Disaster Preparedness 
and Response. - The primary responsibility for disaster preparedness and 
response shall be exercised at the local and national level in collaboration with 
the relevant departments and agencies, as follows: 


 
34
 
LEVELS OF 
RESPONSIBILITY 
RESPONSIBLE 
OFFICIALS 
CONDITIONS 
Level 1 – Province 
 
 
Mayor of the City 
/ Municipality (Lead) 
Local Disaster 
Resilience Office 
(In the case of 
BARMM: Municipal / 
City Mayor and 
BARMM Local Disaster 
Resilience Office) 
If a disaster 
affects a single 
municipality / city 
Level 2 – Province 
 
Governor (Lead)  
Provincial 
Disaster Resilience 
Office 
Applicable 
Provincial Disaster 
Resilience Offices 
(In the case of 
BARMM: Regional 
Governor and BARMM 
Local Disaster 
Resilience Office/s) 
If a disaster 
affects two or more 
municipalities / cities 
Level 3 – Region 
Regional Director 
of the Regional Office  
(RO) (Lead)  
Applicable 
Governors  
Applicable 
Provincial Disaster 
Resilience Offices  
(In the case of 
BARMM: Regional 
Governor and ARMM 
Local Disaster 
Resilience Office/s)  
If a disaster 
affects two or more 
provinces and/or 
independent 
component or highly 
urbanized cities 


 
35
(In the case of 
Metro Manila: MMDA 
Chair) 
Level 4 – National  
 
During a state of 
calamity in any area(s) 
or affecting several 
regions 
Secretary of the 
Department of Disaster 
Resilience (Lead)  
 
Governors of the 
affected Provinces 
a. When a state of 
calamity is declared 
by the President  
 
b. If a disaster affects at 
least two (2) regions  
 
c. When the affected 
LGU cannot dispense 
its functions, or 
respond to the threat 
or effect of disaster;  
d. When the local chief 
executive or, in 
his/her absence or 
incapacity, the next 
high-ranking official, 
directly requests the 
Department to take 
over; 
When the 
President directs a 
Level 4 response. 
SEC.  30. Inter-Local Government Assistance. - LGUs are hereby 
authorized to extend assistance to another LGU, whether through funding or 
donation of goods and/or services, to ensure effective disaster preparedness 
and response, such as the pre-positioning and provision of basic goods, and 
training of first responders, among others, subject to auditing and accounting. 
SEC. 31. Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Powers of the 
Department. 
- 
The 
Department 
shall 
be 
primarily 
responsible 
for 
reconstruction and rehabilitation in the event of a natural disaster. In 
undertaking reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts, the Department shall, as 
much as possible, retrofit structures to make them more resistant and resilient 
to the effects of natural disasters. 
SEC. 32. Service Continuity of the Department. – To ensure service 
continuity, the Department and its regional and attached offices shall be 


 
36
established in a reasonably resilient location; and undertake the necessary 
interventions to make its offices and systems disaster- resilient. 
SEC. 33. Assistance to Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim 
Mindanao. – The National Government, thru the Secretary of Disaster 
Resilience, and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Regional Government shall create 
an inter-governmental mechanism for humanitarian relief assistance in the 
BARMM during times of natural disasters. 
Article VI 
WHOLE OF GOVERNMENT, WHOLE OF NATION, AND WHOLE OF 
SOCIETY APPROACH AND INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS 
SEC. 34. Inter-operability of Systems. -  The Department shall 
establish mechanisms to ensure the inter-operability of systems among 
government agencies, and to allow access of agencies to the IDRIS as 
established pursuant to Section 15 of this Act. It shall develop protocols to 
allow real-time access to information by government agencies in relation to 
natural disasters and the implementation of disaster resilience measures. 
SEC. 35. Synergy with Stakeholders. - The Department shall ensure 
close collaboration and coordination with stakeholders, including CSOs, the 
academe, and the private sector, in relation to disaster resilience programs and 
projects, and the development and promotion of education and training 
mechanisms with relevant stakeholders. 
The Department shall establish a platform and mechanisms for 
coordination with stakeholders, including the development of standard 
operating procedures for collaboration in the event of a disaster. 
SEC.  36. Establishment of Multi-Stakeholders Convergence Unit. - 
The Department shall, with the assistance of other relevant government 
agencies and stakeholders, establish a Multi-Stakeholders Convergence Unit 
(MSCU) which shall align the disaster resilience efforts of the private sector, 
CSOs, academe and other stakeholders with that of the Department by 
assisting, coordinating or providing services that strengthen public-private 
coordination in disaster resilience, including the following: 
(a) Establishment and implementation of business continuity practices to 
ensure the continued delivery of products and services in the event of a 
natural disaster; 
(b) Crafting and implementation of a National Continuity Policy to ensure 
service continuity during interruptions, emergencies, and disasters and 
ensure the quick return to full operations; 
(c) Establishment, incorporation, and application of business continuity 
plans as part of the LDRP of LGUs; 


 
37
(d) Facilitation or assistance in obtaining or processing incentives for the 
private sector or other non-government stakeholders, such as tax 
credits; and 
(e) Preparation and facilitating the issuance of special rules for Micro, 
Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) such as mechanisms 
involving procurement and liquidity to create enabling environments for 
disaster preparedness and recovery. 
The MSCU shall establish a platform that includes, among others, a 
database 
for 
monitoring 
and 
coordinating 
efforts 
and 
resources 
of 
nongovernment stakeholders. It shall be headed by one (1) of the 
Undersecretaries of the Department  
SEC.  37. Roles and Responsibilities of Stakeholders. – The 
commitment, goodwill, knowledge, experience and resources of relevant 
stakeholders are critical to realize a safer, adaptive, resilient and inclusive 
Filipino community. Citizens shall have the shared vision and duty to provide 
support to the State in the implementation of policies and programs, 
particularly the Disaster Resilience Framework and Disaster Resilience Plan at 
the national, regional, and local levels. 
(a) Civil society, non-governmental organizations, international non-
governmental organizations, private sector, DRRM practitioners, and 
volunteers shall participate, in collaboration with public institutions, in 
the exchange of information, learnings, and guidance on disaster 
resilience. The Department shall encourage and institutionalize their 
engagement in the implementation of local, regional, national, and 
global plans and strategies to enhance public awareness and promote a 
culture of disaster resilience; 
(b) Women, children, and youth, as agents of change, shall endeavor to 
contribute actively and participate in disaster resilience trainings and 
information dissemination; 
(c) Senior citizens and persons with disabilities shall contribute their 
knowledge and experience on disaster preparedness and resiliency; 
(d) Migrants and the urban and rural poor shall participate in building 
resilient resettlement communities; 
(e) Emergency responders and volunteer organizations shall contribute to 
resilience by promptly and efficiently responding to disasters and 
emergencies consistent with the policies of the Department; 
(f) Academia, scientific and research entities, and networks are encouraged 
to undertake relevant research on disaster resiliency in partnership 
with the Department and other stakeholders for better decision-making; 


 
38
(g) The private sector is encouraged to integrate disaster resiliency projects 
and programs in their corporate social responsibility initiatives; and 
(h) The media shall provide prompt and accurate information to the public 
on early warning systems, natural hazards, and disaster resilience 
activities of the Department. 
The Department, with the assistance of the ROs, shall establish and 
convene a Disaster Resilience Assembly at the regional and national levels 
which shall be held on a quarterly basis to ensure the proactive engagement of 
different stakeholders, such as government agencies, the Union of Local 
Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP), League of Cities of the Philippines (LCP), 
League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP), CSOs, NGOs, academe, 
DRRM practitioners, and the private sector, to ensure and foster  coordination 
and collaboration towards achieving the goals of this Act.  
LGUs may convene local DRAs within their jurisdictions, as necessary for 
the attainment of disaster resilience at the local level 
SEC.  38. Recognition and Incentives. - The Department, in 
partnership with the private sector, shall establish an incentives program that 
shall recognize the outstanding performance of LDRO, NGOs, CSOs, schools, 
hospitals, and other stakeholders in promoting and implementing significant 
disaster risk reduction management-climate change adaptation programs and 
innovations, and meritorious acts of individuals, groups or institutions during 
natural disasters subject to existing laws, rules and regulations. 
Article VII 
PREPAREDNESS AND INTEGRATED EARLY WARNING 
 SEC. 39. Standards for Disaster Preparedness Activities. – (a) The 
Department shall establish standards and protocols for disaster preparedness, 
contingency planning, localizing and operationalizing disaster risk reduction 
and management, preparedness for responding to disasters and undertaking 
early recovery, continuity of essential services, and other relevant preparedness 
activities.  
(b) LGUs shall identify safe and strategic sites, and establish evacuation 
centers with appropriate and adequate facilities in accordance with 
government-approved standards as provided under Republic Act No. 10821, 
otherwise known as The Children's Emergency Relief Protection Act, to avoid 
disruption of school classes and lessen the use of school buildings and facilities 
as evacuation centers.  
(c) The concerned LGUs shall immediately compensate schools used as 
evacuation centers. The schools used as evacuation centers may seek 
compensation for renovation, replacement, or repairs of damaged facilities for 
such use.  


 
39
SEC. 40. Multi-Hazard Early Warning and Risk Communication 
Standards. – There shall be a streamlined policy governing early warning 
systems and risk communication protocols to ensure effective and efficient 
measures to prepare for, respond to and recover from potential risks and 
disasters.  
The Department shall formulate and implement multi-hazard early 
warning 
protocols 
integrating 
all 
disaster 
preparedness 
systems 
in 
collaboration with local executives, community-based organizations, civil 
society organizations, and other non-governmental organizations for proper use 
and application.  
SEC. 41. Early Warning Mandate. – (a) The Department shall issue an 
integrated early warning alert for the impending occurrence of hazards that will 
enable the public to prepare in time and act appropriately to minimize potential 
harm or loss.  
(b) The Department at the national and local level shall use an integrated 
early warning system to ensure it is consistent and locally contextualized with 
the communication protocol and safe evacuation procedure of the affected 
communities. It shall work with other agencies or organizations on pre-crisis 
information mapping of the humanitarian needs of at-risk communities that 
will enhance the overall prepositioning of resources at the national and local 
level. 
(c)  The Department shall require mobile phone service providers to send 
out alerts at regular intervals in the event of an impending natural hazard, in 
accordance with Republic Act No.10639, otherwise known as the Free Mobile 
Disaster Alerts Act.  
(d)  The Department shall recognize and proactively support local or 
indigenous modes of early warning systems and allow open access to near real-
time data from both local and international sources made available through 
various platforms such as websites, mobile apps, and social media to empower 
local communities and individuals. Any person who transmits early warning 
concerning the abovementioned phenomena by means of signs in designs, 
colors, lights, or sound shall do so in compliance with the methods recognized 
or approved by the Department.  
Article VIII 
HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE 
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.   


 
40
(b) The importation by, and acceptance of humanitarian assistance 
donated to the Department, consisting of, among others, food, clothing, medical 
assistance, equipment, and materials for relief, recovery and other disaster 
management activities, are hereby authorized in accordance with Sections 120 
and 121 of Republic Act No. 10863 otherwise known as Customs Modernization 
and Tariff Act (CMTA), and the prevailing provisions of the General 
Appropriations Act covering national internal revenue taxes and import duties 
of national and local government agencies. 
SEC. 43.  International Humanitarian Assistance. - The Department, 
in consultation with the Bureau of Immigration and the Bureau of Customs 
shall promulgate guidelines on international humanitarian assistance, 
including the initiation, entry, facilitation, transit, regulation and termination 
thereof, as well as those involving international disaster relief and personnel 
assisting international actors, visa waiver, recognition of foreign professional 
qualifications, entry of international disaster goods and equipment, and 
exemption from port duties, taxes, and restrictions. 
SEC. 
44. 
Assessment 
of 
the 
Need 
for 
International 
HumanitarianAssistance. – (a) Immediately after the declaration of a state of 
calamity by the local Sanggunian of the relevant local government unit or by 
the Department, as the case may be, the Department shall determine whether 
domestic capacities are likely to be sufficient to attend to the needs of affected 
persons for international humanitarian assistance. This determination may 
also be made, at the discretion of the President, prior to the onset of an 
imminent disaster. 
(b) In the event of a determination by the Department that domestic 
response capacities are not likely to be sufficient due to the impact of the 
disaster, the Department shall recommend to the President that a request be 
made for international humanitarian assistance. 
(c) A determination that domestic capacities are likely to be sufficient and 
that international humanitarian assistance is therefore unnecessary may be 
reviewed and rescinded by the Department, with the approval of the President, 
at any time, in light of prevailing circumstances and available information. 
SEC. 45. Humanitarian Assistance Action Center. – The Department 
shall create an inter-agency one-stop shop mechanism called the Humanitarian 
Assistance Action Center (HAAC) for the processing and release of entry and 
facilitation of goods, articles or equipment and services and international relief 
workers for the provision of international humanitarian assistance and the 
processing of necessary documents for assisting international actors. 
 The Department shall lead and manage the HAAC, which shall be 
composed of the following: 
(a) Bureau of Customs; 


 
41
(b) Department of Foreign Affairs; 
(c) Department of Social Welfare and Development; 
(d) Department of Health; 
(e) Food and Drug Administration; 
(f) Department of Agriculture; 
(g)Department of Energy; 
(h) Department of National Defense; 
(i) Philippine National Police; 
(j) Philippine Coast Guard;  
(k) Department of Transportation; 
(l) Department of Environment and Natural Resources; and 
(m) Bureau of Immigration. 
SEC. 46.  Request for International Humanitarian Assistance. – (a) 
In cognizance of the urgency, criticality and intensity of an imminent risk, the 
Department shall issue a flash appeal to the family of nations, under regional 
and multilateral conventions, for assistance in preparedness, including 
preemptive measures, search, rescue, and retrieval, relief, recovery, and 
reconstruction. 
 (b) The President may request international humanitarian assistance, 
upon the advice of the Secretary. Such request may be specifically directed to 
particular assisting international actors or may be a general request directed to 
the international community. 
SEC. 47. Regulation of Humanitarian Assistance. – (a) The 
Department shall ensure the efficient and effective monitoring of humanitarian 
assistance from domestic or international donors, establish and operate a 
platform, including an online platform, to facilitate, and provide public access 
to information on donations. 
(b) The Department shall include in the Implementing Rules and 
Regulations of this Act guidelines and accountabilities on the receipt, 
management, distribution, accounting, and reporting of all humanitarian 
assistance, whether in cash or in kind, consistent with the rules on the use of 
foreign and local aid during calamities and disasters issued by the COA and 
other relevant government agencies. 


 
42
SEC. 48. Humanitarian Relief for Human-Induced Disasters. – The 
Secretary of the Department of Disaster Resilience shall have the authority to 
provide humanitarian relief in the consequence management of human-
induced emergencies such as acts of terrorism, insurgency, fire, and other 
related human-induced disasters. 
Article IX 
OFFER AND FACILITATION OF HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE 
TO FOREIGN STATES 
SEC. 49. Offer and Facilitation of International Humanitarian 
Assistance to Foreign States. - In the event of a disaster occurring in a 
foreign State for which international humanitarian assistance is required, the 
Department, in coordination with the DFA, may offer, facilitate, provide, and 
deploy international humanitarian assistance to said foreign State, which shall 
be subject to guidelines to be promulgated by the Department for the purpose.  
SEC. 50. Accreditation. – The Department, in coordination with relevant 
government agencies and organizations, shall provide and facilitate the 
necessary training and accreditation to the respective government personnel to 
be deployed for such offer, facilitation and provision of international 
humanitarian assistance to a foreign State. 
Article X 
DECLARATION OF STATE OF CALAMITY  
SEC.  52. Declaration of State of Calamity. -The Department shall 
recommend to the President the declaration of a state of calamity, whether in 
whole or part of an area, in case of an extraordinary disaster wherein the 
repercussions on public safety and welfare are serious and far-reaching. 
SEC.  52. Conditions for the Declaration of a State of Calamity. -The 
President shall declare a state of calamity when all of the following requisites 
are present: 
(a) There is a grave, unforeseen, or sudden occurrence which demands 
immediate action; 
(b) The occurrence was caused by a natural disaster; 
(c) The occurrence is likely to cause a threat to life and/or danger to 
property; and  
(d) The declaration of a state of calamity shall cover a limited period only. 


 
43
SEC.  53. Mandatory and Remedial Measures. - The declaration of a 
state of calamity shall allow the immediate implementation of any or all of the 
following remedial measures: 
(a) Imposition of price ceiling on basic necessities and prime commodities 
by the President upon the recommendation of the implementing 
agency as provided for under Republic Act No. 7581, otherwise known 
as the Price Act, or the National Price Coordinating Council; 
(b) Monitoring, prevention and control by the Local Price Coordination 
Council of overpricing or profiteering and hoarding of prime 
commodities, medicines and petroleum products; 
(c) Grant of tax credits or exemptions by the BIR, upon the 
recommendation of the President or the Department. 
Article XI 
RECOVERY 
SEC. 54. Standards for Recovery. – The Department shall observe 
internationally accepted standards for recovery, planning, programming and 
implementation of the recovery process. Towards this end, the Department 
shall: 
(a) Improve the community’s physical, social and economic resilience, 
consistent with the principle of “building forward better”; 
(b) Use locally driven centrally supported processes based on legal 
mandates with supplementary capacity support when requested; 
(c) Redirect development outside danger zones to minimize loss of lives 
and structures resulting from typhoons, flooding, landslides, and other 
hazards 
(d) Employ outcome-driven planning and implementation; 
(e) Maximize use of private-public sector partnership where possible; 
(f) Consider local conditions such as culture, security situation and 
existing capacities of communities in identifying programs and 
projects; 
(g)Ensure access to public transport, physical and mental health services, 
markets, schools, sustainable livelihoods, and other public services in 
planning for settlement areas; and 


 
44
(h) Ensure restoration of peace and order and recovery of government 
functions. 
Article XII 
FUNDS AND RESOURCES 
SEC.  55. Fund Regulations. - The DBM and COA shall establish rules 
and regulations to ensure that funds required for disaster response, recovery, 
and rehabilitation are available and/or released efficiently and expeditiously 
through innovative budgeting and auditing mechanisms. 
SEC.  56. Local Disaster Resilience Fund and Local Disaster 
Contingency Fund. - LGUs shall annually set aside not less than five percent 
(5%) of their local budget, to constitute a Local Disaster Resilience Fund 
(LDRF). The LGU shall use its LDRF to maintain and operate its LDRO to 
maintain the officers, employees and staff of the LDRO, and to implement 
plans, programs and activities under its LDRP. Thirty percent (30%) of the 
LDRF shall be set aside as Local Disaster Contingency Fund (LDCF) which 
shall be used for disaster response and quick recovery measures.  
Nothing contained in this Act shall prevent LGUs from providing 
additional funding or allocating additional resources for disaster resilience 
activities, plans and programs within their jurisdiction.   
SEC. 57. People’s Survival Fund. - The Secretary of the Department 
shall be a member of the People’s Survival Fund Board mandated to manage 
and administer the People’s Survival Fund created under Republic Act No. 
10174 otherwise known as Climate Change Act of 2009, and facilitate its 
utilization by LGUs, through ROs, to implement climate change adaptation 
projects of LGUs, and equip vulnerable LGU communities against the impacts 
of climate change. 
SEC.  58. Multi-Donor Trust Fund. - The Department shall create and 
manage, together with the Bureau of Treasury, a Multi-Donor Trust Fund for 
the processing, releasing and accounting of money and other similar resources 
intended for disaster assistance.                      The Department shall establish a 
system to ensure transparency in the management and use of the Multi-Donor 
Trust Fund. 
SEC.  59. Donations Management. - The Department shall have the 
power to receive and manage donations from any person or entity, whether 
from local or international sources. 
The importation by, and donation to, the Department of, among others, 
food, clothing, medical assistance, equipment, and materials for relief, recovery 
and other disaster management activities are hereby authorized in accordance 
with Sections 120 and 121 of Republic Act No. 10863, otherwise known as the 
Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA), and the prevailing provisions of 


 
45
the General Appropriations Act covering national internal revenue taxes and 
import duties of national and local government agencies. 
SEC. 60. Regulation of Donations. - The Department shall establish 
and operate a platform, including an online platform, to facilitate, monitor, and 
provide public access to information on donations. To ensure complete 
accounting and reporting of donations,                           the Department shall 
formulate and issue rules and guidelines for the receipt, management and 
accounting of donations, which are consistent with the rules on the use of 
foreign and local aid during calamities and disasters issued by COA and other 
relevant government agencies. 
Article XIII 
SPECIAL RULES ON BORROWING, TAXES, 
ECOZONES AND PROCUREMENT 
SEC.  61. Rules on Borrowing. - The LGUs shall coordinate with the 
DOF, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), and other relevant agencies to access 
foreign loans to implement disaster prevention, mitigation, early recovery, and 
rehabilitation measures at the provincial, city, or municipal level. 
SEC.  62. Special Rules on Tax and Duties. - To facilitate prompt and 
efficient response to, and/or recovery from disasters, the following shall be 
granted special exemptions from existing taxation laws, rules, and regulations: 
(a)Foreign disaster assistance or international donations coursed through 
the Department shall be exempted from taxes and import duties; 
(b) Local disaster assistance shall be exempted from donor's tax and 
allowing the treatment of donations as a deductible expense for local 
disaster assistance coursed through the Department; 
(c) Goods or services donated from abroad coursed through the Department 
shall be exempted from the value added tax (VAT); and 
(d) Aid or assistance rendered by members of the private sector or their 
investments in disaster resilience and climate change adaptation 
measures for their residence, communities or businesses. 
LGUs may also implement local tax rules which would grant disaster 
victims reasonable reduction, exemption, or deferment of local taxes or other 
types of tax assessments; or take other necessary action at the local level to 
provide tax relief to disaster victims.  
SEC.  63. Custom Duties and Tariffs on Donations. - The BOC shall 
create rules which would, among others, hasten the processing and release of 


 
46
donated goods and equipment to disaster victims and/or affected areas 
pursuant to Sections 120 and 121 of Republic Act No. 10863, otherwise known 
as the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA). 
SEC. 64. Economic Recovery and Development of Disaster-Prone 
Areas. - (a) The Department, in coordination with the Department of Trade and 
Industry (DTI) and other relevant agencies, shall create and provide policies, 
programs, and projects, such as, business tax relief and subsidies, to 
encourage business investments, and to stimulate economic activities in 
affected or disaster-prone areas.  
(b) The Department, in the collaboration with the relevant LGUs and other 
stakeholders, shall likewise establish dual purpose structures in disaster 
affected areas, such as, among others, community agricultural centers, 
classrooms, and water harvesting tanks to develop and promote investments in 
affected or disaster-prone areas. 
Article XIV 
DISASTER RISK TRANSFER AND INSURANCE 
SEC.  65. Mandated Insurance Coverage. - To attain disaster resilience 
and achieve the purposes of this Act, the Department shall have the discretion 
and authority to require government agencies, government-owned and 
controlled corporations (GOCCs), or LGUs to insure their assets and/or 
properties such as, among others, vessels, vehicles, equipment, machineries, 
permanent buildings, properties stored therein, or properties in transit against 
insurable risks and pay the premiums therefor, to compensate the 
Government, GOCC or LGU, as applicable, for any damage to, or loss of, 
properties due to a natural disaster. 
Article XV 
YOUTH ASSISTANCE AND PARTICIPATION 
 SEC.  66. Youth Organizations. - The Department, with the assistance 
of the National Youth Commission (NYC), shall create policies, projects, and 
programs that address the special needs of the youth for disaster preparedness 
and management which shall include, among others: 
(a) Supporting youth-oriented pre- and post-disaster activities; 
(b) Conducting disaster risk training and management programs involving 
the youth; Coordinating with the Department of Education to create 
school curricula or programs that educate and train children on 
disaster risk awareness and disaster preparedness; 
(c) Mobilizing youth organizations; and 


 
47
(d) Encouraging the participation of the youth, through the barangay 
youth representative and the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) to 
participate in disaster resilience and disaster management activities. 
SEC. 67. Youth Oriented Disaster-Related Programs, Policies, and 
Projects.-  (a) The Department, with the assistance of the National Youth 
Commission, shall provide training on, and implement, response and 
rehabilitation programs for the youth, including mental  health and psycho-
social services. 
(b) The Department, in collaboration with the Department of Education 
(DepEd), the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) 
and other relevant agencies, shall integrate disaster risk and disaster resilience 
education in the school curriculum. 
SEC.  68. Comprehensive Emergency Program for Children, 
Pregnant and Lactating Mothers.  - The Department shall establish and 
implement a comprehensive emergency program to provide emergency relief 
and protection to children, and pregnant and lactating mothers in the event of 
a natural disaster.  
Article XVI 
PROHIBITED ACTS AND PENALTIES 
SEC.  69. Prohibited Acts -  Any public official, private person, group or 
corporation who commits any of the following prohibited acts shall be held 
liable and be subjected to the criminal and administrative penalties as provided 
for in Section 70 of this Act, without prejudice to the imposition of other 
criminal, civil and administrative liabilities under existing laws. 
(a)Prohibited Acts of Public Officials. The following acts, if committed by 
public officials without justifiable cause, shall be considered as gross 
neglect of duty: 
1) Dereliction of duty which leads to destruction, loss of lives, critical 
damage of facilities and misuse of funds; 
2) Failure to enforce laws, standards, or regulations such as the National 
Building Code, Solid Waste Management Act, Water Code, and other 
relevant laws, thereby increasing the risk of disasters or adversely 
affecting of disaster resilience; 
3) Failure to expeditiously act on reported violations; 
4) Failure to create LDRO(s) or PDRO(s) and appoint a permanent Local or 
Provincial Disaster Resilience Officer within six (6) months from the 
approval of this Act;  


 
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5) Failure to prepare and implement an LDRP or PDRP, as applicable or a 
contingency plan for hazards frequently occurring within their 
jurisdiction. 
(b) Prohibited Acts of Public Officials and Private Persons or Institutions. 
1) Delaying without justifiable cause the delivery of aid commodities, their 
improper handling or storage, resulting to damage or spoilage; 
2) Withholding the distribution of relief goods due to (a) political or partisan 
considerations; (b) discrimination based on race, ethnicity, religion, or 
gender; and (c) other similar circumstances; 
3) Preventing the entry and distribution of relief goods in disaster-stricken 
areas, including appropriate technology, tools, equipment, accessories, 
disaster teams or experts; 
4) Buying, for consumption or resale, from disaster relief agencies any relief 
goods, equipment or other and commodities which are intended for 
distribution to disaster affected communities; 
5) Buying, for consumption or resale, from the disaster affected persons any 
relief goods, equipment or other aid commodities received by them; 
6) Selling of relief goods, equipment or other aid commodities which are 
intended for distribution to disaster victims; 
7) Forcibly seizing relief goods, equipment or other aid commodities 
intended for or consigned to a specific group of victims or relief agency; 
8) Diverting or misdelivering relief goods, equipment or other aid 
commodities to persons other than the rightful recipient or consignee; 
9) Accepting, possessing, using or disposing relief goods, equipment or 
other aid commodities intended for or consigned to other rightful 
recipient or consignee; 
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 persons or was released upon the 
instance of a particular agency or person; 


 
49
iii. Making false verbal claim that the goods, equipment or other and 
commodity in its untampered original containers actually came from 
another agency or person or was released upon the instance of a 
particular agency or person; 
11) Substituting or replacing relief goods, equipment or other aid 
commodities with the same items or inferior or cheaper quality; 
12) Illegal solicitating of relief goods, equipment or other aid commodities  
by persons or organizations representing others as defined in the 
standards and guidelines set by this Act’s IRR; 
13) Deliberately using false or inflated data in support of the request for 
funding, relief goods, equipment or other aid commodities for 
emergency assistance or other projects; and 
14) Tampering 
with 
or 
stealing 
hazard 
monitoring 
and 
disaster 
preparedness equipment and paraphernalia. 
SEC.  70. Penalties - Any individual, corporation, partnership, 
association or other juridical entity that commits any of the prohibited acts in 
the preceding Section shall be made liable for the following: 
(a) A fine of not less than One hundred thousand pesos (PhP 100,000.00) or 
not to exceed Five hundred thousand pesos (PhP 500,000.00), or 
imprisonment of not less than six (6) months and one (1) day nor more 
than twelve (12) years, or both, at the discretion of the court, including 
perpetual disqualification from public office if the offender is a public 
officer, and confiscation or forfeiture in favor of the government of the 
objects and the instrumentalities used in committing any of herein 
prohibited acts. 
(b) If the offender is a corporation, partnership or association, or other 
juridical entity, the penalty shall be imposed upon the officer or officers of 
the corporation, partnership, association or entity responsible for the 
violation without prejudice to the cancellation or revocation of the license 
or accreditation issued to these entities by any licensing or accredited 
body of the government. If such offender is an alien, he or she shall, in 
addition to the penalties prescribed in this Act, be deported without 
further proceedings after service of the sentence. 
(c) If the offender is a public officer, the offense shall also be punishable by 
administrative suspension of six (6) months and one (1) day to one (1) 
year for the first offense, and dismissal from the service for the second 
offense. The penalty of dismissal shall carry with it the cancellation of 
eligibility to or forfeiture of retirement benefits, perpetual disqualification 
from holding public office and disqualification from taking civil service 
examinations. 


 
50
Acts committed in violation of this Section shall be without prejudice to 
the imposition of other criminal, civil and administrative liabilities under other 
existing laws. 
SEC. 71. Liability for Unlawful Performance of Duties and State 
Liability in Case of Defense Litigation. -  In case a lawsuit is filed against an 
officer or employee of the Department as a result of the performance of official 
duties, and such performance was found to be lawful, the officer shall or 
employee shall be reimbursed by the Department for reasonable costs of 
litigation. For this purpose, the Department is authorized to procure the 
applicable liability insurance for its officers and employees. 
SEC. 72. Disciplinary Powers of the President. - The President, upon 
the recommendation of the Department Secretary, shall impose administrative 
sanctions against local chief executives and barangay officials for willful or 
negligent acts performed in the implementation of, or compliance with, this Act 
and its IRR or relating to their official functions which adversely affect disaster 
resilience projects such as delayed issuance of permits or failure to implement 
local ordinances. 
Article XVII 
SPECIAL COURTS AND INJUNCTIONS 
SEC.  73. Special Courts on Disaster Resilience Matters. -  To ensure 
the prompt and expeditious resolution of disputes relating to disaster response, 
recovery or rehabilitation measures, the Supreme Court shall establish special 
courts to hear, try, and decide cases arising from the following, among others: 
(a) Implementation of the government’s policies, plans, programs, projects 
and budge related to the NDRPIP, LDRP, PDRP, other disaster 
resilience activities, or pursuant to the provisions of this Act; 
(b) Construction of new settlements, or relocation of informal settlers or 
settlements, to promote disaster resilience; 
(c) Expropriation, eminent domain or right-of-way issues relating to the 
implementation of disaster resilience projects; 
(d) Failure to comply with standards for disaster preparedness and 
continuity planning, including, but not limited to infrastructure 
standards and designs; 
(e) Declaration of state of calamity under Article X of this Act; 
(f) Imposition of tax, customs duties, or the implementation of tax relief, 
exemptions, reductions and other tax or customs rules and 
regulations in relation to donations, disaster assistance, or other tax 


 
51
policies implemented by the BIR or BOC pursuant to the provision of 
this Act; 
(g)Commission of prohibited acts under Article XVI of this Act; 
(h) Disputes involving donations, relief goods, or contracts executed or 
implemented pursuant to the provisions of this Act; 
(i) Other matters relating to achieving the purposes of this Act which the 
Supreme Court may determine as falling under the jurisdiction of the 
special courts created pursuant to this Section. 
SEC. 74. Dispute Resolution Mechanisms.  -The Department shall 
establish a Disaster Resolution Board which shall resolve disputes involving 
administrative matters related to: 
(a) Accreditation or denial of accreditation of disaster resilience training 
institutions, trainers, instructors, donors, volunteers, and Assisting 
Domestic or International Actors; 
(b) Decisions of the ROs; 
(c) Contracts entered into by the Department or any of its agents pursuant 
to the provisions of this Act; 
(d) Other administrative matters or issues as may be determined by the 
Department. 
The composition, structure, and other organizational matters related to 
the DRB shall be defined and provided in the IRR of this Act. 
SEC. 75. Special Prosecutors - The Ombudsman shall designate special 
prosecutors to handle and prosecute violations of this Act involving public 
officials and employees. 
SEC. 76. Imposition of Temporary Restraining Order. -  No Court, 
except the Supreme Court, shall have the powers to issue an injunction or a 
temporary restraining order against any action taken or projects implemented 
by the Department or its agents pursuant to this Act. 
Article XVIII 
FINAL PROVISIONS 
SEC. 77. Transfer and Attachment. –  
a) The disaster risk reduction and management powers, functions, assets, 
personnel, fund and appropriations of the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) 


 
52
currently under the DND, are hereby transferred to the Department, 
and the civil defense functions shall remain with the DND.  
The existing organizational and administrative systems and processes of 
the OCD, as transferred, shall serve as the core organization of the 
Department. 
b) The applicable powers, functions, funds and appropriations of the 
Disaster Response Assistance and Management Bureau and the 
National Resource and Logistics Management Bureau under the 
DSWD, are hereby transferred to the Department. 
c) The NDRRMC is hereby abolished. 
The DILG, DND, DSWD, and other relevant government instrumentalities, 
including the AFP, BFP, PNP, PCG, and OCD, shall continue to perform their 
functions related to the consequence management of human-induced 
disasters, as provided for by existing laws. 
The Department shall, by virtue of this Act, be subrogated to all the rights 
and assume all the liabilities of the agencies transferred under this Act, and all 
their funds, records, property, assets, equipment, and such personnel as 
necessary, including unexpended appropriations or allocations. All contracts 
and liabilities of the said agencies are hereby transferred to and assumed by 
the Department and shall be acted upon in accordance with the Auditing Code 
and other pertinent laws, rules, and regulations.  
SEC. 78. Coordination and Convergence with the Climate Change 
Commission - The Department, and the Climate Change Commission, 
pursuant to its mandate under Republic Act No. 9729, as amended, shall 
establish and implement a convergence mechanism to facilitate coordination on 
the following areas: 
a) Conduct of current and future climate and disaster risk assessment as 
basis for sustainable development and resilient investment planning 
and programming at the national, sectorial, and local levels; 
b) Establishment of a National Integrated Climate and Disaster Risk 
Information System, a singular platform for integrating and sharing 
climate and disaster risk information; 
c) Development and implementation of capacity-building and technical 
assistance programs for local government units and stakeholders on 
climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction; 
d) Monitoring and evaluation of progress of implementation of national, 
sectorial, and local plans and programs on climate change adaptation 
and disaster risk reduction; and, 


 
53
e) Development of knowledge exchange platforms and implementation of 
information, education, and communication program, including good 
practices on Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction. 
SEC. 79. Transitory Provision. - The transfer of functions, assets, 
funds, equipment, properties, transactions, and personnel of the affected and 
transferred agencies, and the formulation of the internal organic structure, 
staffing pattern, operating system, and revised budget of the Department, shall 
be completed within two (2) years from the effectivity of this Act, during which 
time the existing personnel shall continue to assume their posts in holdover 
capacities until new appointments are issued: Provided, That, after the 
abolition of the agencies as specified in Section 77 of this Act, the Department, 
in coordination with the DBM,                          shall evaluate, abolish old 
and/or create new positions. 
SEC. 80. Inter-Departmental Relations and Joint Supervision. The 
Department shall exercise joint operational supervision with the following 
Departments and agencies: (a) DOST over the Philippine Atmospheric, 
Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) and 
Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS); (b) DENR over 
the Geo-Hazard Assessment and Engineering Geology Section of the Mines and 
Geosciences Bureau (MGB), (c) DOH over the Health Emergency Management 
Bureau (HEMB), and (d) DILG over the Bureau of Fire and Protection: Provided, 
That the Department, the DOST, PAG-ASA, PHIVOLCS, DENR, DOH and DILG, 
shall establish systems and protocols for sustained sharing of data, information 
technology, facilities and other resources critical to the DRR at all times: 
Provided further, That the Department shall provide DRR training to the 
personnel of these departments, and shall upgrade the equipment and other 
logistical requirement of these Department: Provided furthermore, That the said 
agencies will be under the operational supervision and direct control of the 
Department in anticipation of, during, and as necessary in the determination of 
the Secretary of the Disaster Resilience, in the aftermath of emergencies and 
disasters: Provided finally, That PAGASA, PHILVOCS and the Geohazards Unit 
of the MGB shall second dedicated staff to the Department based on its 
personnel and other operational requirements. 
SEC. 81. Transfer of Resources. - The transfer of powers and functions 
of agencies listed in Section 77 shall include the corresponding funds and 
appropriations, plantilla positions, records, equipment, facilities, and properties 
of such agencies, subject to the power of the Department to reorganize or 
reallocate the resources and positions from such agencies, as may be necessary 
to attain the objectives of this Act.  
SEC. 82.  Program Management Office for the Earthquake 
Resiliency of the Greater Metro Manila Area. - The Program Management 
Office for the Earthquake Resiliency                                      of the Greater 
Metro Manila Area (PMOERG), as created pursuant to Executive Order                      
No. 52 s. 2018, shall be transferred to the Department under the supervision 


 
54
and control of the Secretary and shall continue to exercise its mandated 
functions. 
SEC. 83. Post-Disaster Shelters. - The Department shall establish a 
post-disaster shelter recovery policy framework for low-income or informal 
settler families, with the assistance of the appropriate housing agencies and the 
concerned LGUs. It shall, among others, determine the appropriate shelter 
modalities depending on the following post-disaster phases: emergency, 
temporary or transitional, and permanent. The Department shall likewise 
identify, assess, and designate safe zones where the appropriate shelters shall 
be built.  
SEC. 84. Cultural Heritage. - To protect, preserve, and promote the 
nation’s historical and cultural heritage, the Department shall assist the 
appropriate cultural agencies and the appropriate LGUs to give priority 
protection and restoration to all national cultural treasures or national 
historical landmarks, sites, or monuments in post-disaster recovery or 
rehabilitation measures. 
SEC. 85. Indigenous People. - (a) The Department shall, with the 
assistance of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) and the 
concerned LGUs, devise and implement mechanisms that foster social 
protection for indigenous communities that are vulnerable to the effects of 
natural disasters. 
(b) The Department shall ensure respect for, and protection of, the 
traditional resource right of the Indigenous Cultural Communities or 
Indigenous Peoples (ICCs or IPs) to their ancestral domains and recognize the 
customary laws and traditional resource use and management, knowledge, and 
practices in ancestral domains. 
(c) In ancestral domains which are disaster-prone, the Department, with 
the assistance of the NCIP and applicable LGUs, shall create an Ancestral 
Domain Disaster Management and Resiliency Plan. It shall likewise properly 
communicate and explain information on disaster risks in ancestral domains 
with the concerned ICCs or IPs and, as much as possible, engage such ICCs or 
IPs in jointly formulating a disaster resiliency plan for their ancestral domain. 
SEC. 86. Livelihood. - The Department shall, with the assistance of the 
relevant government agencies, such as the DTI and Department of Labor and 
Employment (DOLE), establish policies and programs to restore and/or 
generate livelihood in areas affected by natural disasters.  
SEC. 87. Structural Audit of Government Buildings. - The 
Department, with the assistance of the DPWH and other relevant government 
agencies and stakeholders, shall ensure and conduct structural audit, as often 
as necessary, on government buildings, especially those located in congested 
and disaster-prone areas, to ensure structural integrity and disaster risk of 


 
55
urban buildings and to prevent the loss of life and property in the event of an 
anticipated natural disaster.  
SEC. 88. Magna Carta Benefits. – Qualified employees of the 
Department including those of its attached agencies, shall be covered by and 
entitled to the benefits under Republic Act No. 8439, otherwise known as the 
Magna Carta for Scientists, Engineers, Researchers and other Science and 
Technology Personnel in the Government, and Republic Act No. 7305, otherwise 
known as the Magna Carta of Public Health Workers and Republic Act No. 9433 
otherwise known as the Magna Carta for Social Workers. 
SEC. 89. Hazard Pay. – Qualified personnel of the Department and the 
local disaster resilience offices are entitled to receive hazard pay, subject to 
existing policies and guidelines. 
SEC. 90.  Separation of Benefits of Officials and Employees of 
Affected Agencies. -  
Public Sector employees who have been displaced or separated from the 
service pursuant to reorganization under this Act shall be entitled to separation 
pay, retirement and other benefits in accordance with Republic Act No. 6656 or 
the Government Reorganization Law, and other laws, and rules and regulations 
issued by the Civil Service Commission on government reorganization.  
In no case shall there be any diminution of benefits under the separation 
plan until the full implementation of this Act. 
Employees who shall be displaced or separated as aresult of the 
implementation of this Act shall be given preference for appointment in the 
Department and in other government agencies if they meet the qualification 
requirements of the positions. 
No new employees shall be considered for appointment until all 
incumbent employees have been placed. The placement of an incumbent 
employee to a higher position which constitutes a promotion shall not be 
allowed until all incumbent employees have been placed to comparable 
positions for which they are considered. 
SEC. 91. Appropriations. – The amount necessary for the initial 
implementation of this Act shall be taken from the current fiscal year’s 
appropriations of all agencies herein absorbed, transferred, and attached to the 
Department. Thereafter, the amounts necessary for the operation of the 
Department and the implementation of this Act shall be included in the annual 
General Appropriations Act. 
SEC. 92. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Department, 
DBM, DND, DOF, DILG, DOST, NEDA, DSWD, CSC, and the Career Executive 
Service Board (CESB),                                    the House and Senate 
Committees on Government Reorganization, and representatives from relevant 


 
56
government 
agencies, 
academe, 
business 
sector, 
non-government 
organizations, and civil society organizations shall prepare and issue the 
implementing rules and regulations (IRR) to implement this Act within ninety 
(90) days from its effectivity. 
SEC. 93. Joint Congressional Oversight Committee on Disaster 
Resilience. – There shall be created a Joint Congressional Oversight 
Committee on Disaster Resilience to monitor the implementation of this Act. 
The Committee shall be composed of six (6) members of the House of 
Representatives and six (6) members of the Senate to be designated by the 
Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President of the Senate, 
respectively: Provided, That two (2) members of the House of Representatives 
and two (2) Senators shall come from the Minority of their respective houses of 
Congress. The Committee shall be jointly chaired by a Members of the House of 
Representatives and a Senator designated by the Speaker of the House of 
Representatives and the President of the Senate, respectively.   
The Joint Congressional Oversight Committee on Disaster Resilience shall 
be assisted by a secretariat to be composed by personnel under secondment 
from the Senate and the House of Representatives and may retain consultants. 
SEC. 94. Mandatory Review. - Within five (5) years after the effectivity of 
this Act, or as the need arises, the Congressional Oversight Committee shall 
conduct a systematic evaluation of the accomplishments and impacts of this 
Act, as well as the performance, and organizational structure of the 
Department, for purposes of determining remedial legislation.  
SEC. 95. Interpretation. -  Any doubt in the interpretation of any 
provision of this Act shall be resolved in favor of a liberal interpretation that will 
fulfill the objectives of this Act, especially in relation to the provision of effective, 
efficient and timely disaster response, rehabilitation and recovery. 
SEC. 96. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act shall be 
declared unconstitutional or invalid, the other provisions or parts thereof not 
otherwise affected shall remain in full force and effect. 
SEC. 97.  Repealing Clause.–The provisions of Republic Act No.10121 
otherwise known as the Philippine Disaster Risk reduction and Management Act 
of 2010, Republic Act No. 7160 otherwise known as the Local Government Code 
of 1990, Republic Act No. 7916 otherwise known as the Special Economic Zone 
Act of 1995, and all other laws, decrees, executive orders, proclamations and 
other executive issuances, which are not consistent with or contrary to the 
provisions of this Act, are hereby repealed or amended. 
SEC. 98.  Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
Approved, 


 
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