Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _________ 
Introduced by Representative Ma. Victoria Co-Pilar 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The wisdom of our ancestors and the lessons of history have long taught us a 
fundamental truth: disasters are an inevitable part of life, and survival depends on our 
ability to adapt, prepare, and respond. Long before the advent of modern science and 
technology, early Filipinos already took proactive steps to safeguard their communities—
building settlements away from flood plains, storing food in times of plenty, and relying 
on collective strength in the face of adversity. 
In the spirit of this inherited resilience, the Philippine government institutionalized 
disaster governance through the establishment of the National Disaster Risk Reduction 
and Management Council (NDRRMC) under Republic Act No. 10121. While this 
framework has guided disaster response efforts for more than a decade, recurring 
tragedies—from typhoons to earthquakes and pandemics—continue to expose its 
limitations. Lives are lost, livelihoods destroyed, and opportunities for growth are 
permanently erased. Public criticism has grown over the perceived inefficiency and 
fragmented approach of our disaster interventions. 
These realities compel us to act with urgency and clarity of purpose. 
This measure proposes the creation of a Department of Disaster Resilience—a 
dedicated executive department mandated to lead, coordinate, and operationalize 
national efforts in disaster preparedness, risk reduction, response, recovery, and 
rehabilitation. With a centralized structure and empowered mandate, the proposed 
Department will: 
1. Leverage modern technology and data analytics to anticipate and mitigate the
impacts of natural and man-made hazards;
2. Streamline disaster response operations through institutional coordination
across national government agencies, local government units (LGUs), and other
stakeholders;
July 24, 2025
4:23 pm
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3. Institutionalize a comprehensive, time-sensitive, and inclusive disaster
management framework, involving the private sector, civil society, and local
communities;
4. Strengthen national and local capacities, ensuring that interventions are both
proactive and responsive, grounded in science and executed with urgency.
This bill recognizes that effective disaster governance is not merely about 
response—it is about foresight, integration, and decisive leadership. By transforming our 
current approach into a unified and adaptive system, we aim to protect not just lives and 
property, but the future and dignity of every Filipino. 
In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _________ 
Introduced by Representative Ma. Victoria Co-Pilar 
AN ACT 
CREATING THE DEPARTMENT OF DISASTER RESILIENCE, DEFINING ITS 
POWERS AND FUNCTIONS, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title - This Act shall be known as the “Department of Disaster 
Resilience Act”. 
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy - 15 The State shall carry out and harmonize the 
policies on disaster risk and vulnerability reduction and management, environmental 
management, and climate change adaptation, and sustainable development to uphold 
the welfare of the people particularly the vulnerable sectors of society. 
The  sate  shall  uphold  its  commitment  to  the  achievement  of  the sustainable  
development  goals  specifically,  integrating  and  implementing policies  and  plans  
towards  inclusion,  resource  efficiency,  mitigation  and adaptation to climate change, 
resilience to disasters, and develop and implement a holistic disaster risk management at 
all levels. 
The State shall uphold its commitment to the United Nations, Framework 
Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in the stabilization of greenhouse gas 
concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that prevents dangerous anthropogenic 
interference with the climate system, achievable within a time frame sufficient to allow 
the natural adaptation of the ecosystem to climate change, to ensure food production and 
food security, and to ensure sustainable economic development. 
The  State  shall  integrate  and  accelerate  the  implementation  of  the principles 
and concepts of climate change, disaster risk and vulnerability reduction contained in the 
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Paris Agreement of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change 
(UNFCCC), the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015 – 2030, the 2015 Asia 
– Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Framework, the
2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and the Philippine
Development Plan (PDP) 2017-2022 in various phases of policy formulation,
development plans and investments, poverty reduction strategies and other
development tools and techniques by all national and local agencies, institutions and
instrumentalities of the government to enhance the country’s climate change adaptive
capacity.
It shall be the duty of the State to: 
1. Uphold  the  people’s  constitutional  right  to  life  and  property  by minimizing,
if not eradicating, the root causes of vulnerabilities to disasters, strengthening
the country’s institutional capacity for disaster risk and vulnerability reduction
and management, and building the resilience of local communities to disasters
including climate change impacts, and human induced disasters;
2. Incorporate internationally accepted principles of disaster risk and
vulnerability reduction and 
management, and climate change adaptation,
including  the  universal  principles  and  standards  for humanitarian
assistance,  developing  and  implementing  national, regional and local
sustainable development and poverty reduction strategies,  policies,  plans  and
budgets,  as  part  of  the  country’s commitment to overcome human suffering
due to disasters;
3. Ensure a science – based in a whole of society approach and bottom - up
participation, representation, and decision – making in climate – disaster  risk
governance,  risk  assessment,  risk  reduction  and  risk management, and adopt
a comprehensive, integrated, and proactive approach to lessening the socio –
economic and environmental impacts of disasters and climate change;
4. Promote and advance the implementation of a comprehensive Disaster Risk and
Vulnerability Reduction Plan (DRVRP) that aims to strengthen the capacity 
of the national government and local government  units  (LGUs),  together  with 
development partners, stakeholders in building disaster resilience of 
communities, and institutionalize arrangements and measures for reducing 
disaster risks, including projected climate risks, and enhance disaster 
preparedness and response capabilities at all levels; 
5. Recognize the rile of, and work with international humanitarian and
development partners especially those with established presence in the country;
6. Develop,  maintain  and  ensure  the  accessibility  of  climate  and geospatial
information and services to the public through OPEN DATA,  which  means
data  that  can  be  freely  used,  reused  and redistributed by anyone, subject to
limitations on account of national security. This may include the use of impact
based forecast models, and probabilistic hazard maps;
7. Ensure  transparency and accountability in climate disaster risk governance by
facilitating access to financial records of public and disaster risk and


 
 
vulnerability reduction and management data, and ensure the transparency of 
humanitarian assistance from all sources; 
8. Ensure  that  disaster  risk  and  vulnerability  reduction  and  climate change 
adaptation measures are gender, disability and vulnerability sensitive and 
culturally sensitive, recognizing indigenous knowledge systems and practices, 
and respecting human rights; 
9. Recognize and strengthen the capacities of LGUs, communities and multiple 
stakeholders in mitigating and preparing for, responding to and recovering 
from the impact of disasters through identification of local risk patterns, and 
decentralized powers, responsibilities, and resources at the regional and local 
levels; 
10. Adopt and implement a comprehensive, integrated, efficient and responsive 
disaster risk and vulnerability reduction program that is incorporated in the 
development plan at various levels of government adhering to transparency 
accountability and other principles of good governance within the context of 
poverty alleviation and environmental protection; 
11. Mainstream disaster risk and vulnerability reduction in government by 
ensuring risk – informed planning, programming, implementation, monitoring, 
and evaluation, and the use of quality management, accountability, and 
performance systems in measuring and improving the effectiveness and 
efficiency of disaster risk and vulnerability reductio management processes 
across all government Levels, including those offices which manage peace 
processes and conflict – resolution approaches, so as to minimize loss of lives 
and damage to properties and ensure that communities in conflict zones can 
immediately resume their normal lives at the conclusion of episodes of 
intermittent conflicts; 
12. Adopt a disaster risk and vulnerability reduction and management approach 
that is holistic, comprehensive, integrated, and proactive in lessening the socio 
– economic and environmental impacts of disaster including climate
 
change, and promote the involvement and participation of all sectors 
and stakeholders concerned, at all levels, especially the local communities; 
13. Prioritize the development of disaster prevention and mitigation measures 
involving all levels of society and government; 
14. Adopt  risk  sharing  and  risk  transfer  mechanisms  to  ensure  the appropriate  
efficient  and  timely  recovery  of  disaster  –  stricken communities, especially 
for the poorest and the most vulnerable; 
15. Adhere to the principle of “Build Forward Better” in recovery and rehabilitation 
efforts by applying sustainable standards, programs, technologies and 
techniques which enhance resilience against future hazards; 
16. Recognize and respond to the differentiated concerns and needs of vulnerable 
groups such as women and girls, children and youth, older persons, persons 
with disabilities, urban poor, and indigenous peoples with respect to disaster 
risk reduction and management, at the same time, recognizing their inherent 
capacities to contribute to resilience; 
17. Create  an  enabling  environment  for  substantial  and  sustainable participation 
of civil society organizations (CSOs), private groups, volunteers and 
communities, and recognize their contributions to th disaster risk reduction and 
management efforts of the government 
18. Ensure the use  of  advanced science and the most up  to  date technologies in 
climate adaptation, disaster risk and vulnerability reduction and management 


 
 
through engagement, consultation, and employment with a regular department 
funding of academe or higher education institutions, such as the University of 
the Philippines Resilience Institute, University of the Philippines Nationwide 
Operational Assessment of Hazards Center and other scientific research  and  
academic  institutions  that  have a track record and expertise recognized both 
locally and internationally as well as the capacity to implement science and 
engineering requirements necessary for effective climate change adaptation, 
and disaster risk and vulnerability reduction; 
 
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 Actor and any Assisting 
Domestic Actor responding to a disaster in the country. 
c. Assisting Domestic Actor – refers to any not – for – profit entity established under 
domestic laws, which is responding to a disaster in the country. 
d. Assisting International Actor – refers to any foreign state, organization, entity  or  
individual  responding  to  a  disaster  within  or  transiting through the country 
to respond to a disaster in another country. 
e. Build Forward Better – refers to an approach to building and/or reconstructing 
an area or community, which entails a shift from simple recovery and 
restoration  to  a safer,  more  adaptive,  resilient,  and inclusive communities. 
f. Capacity – refers to the combination of all strengths, attributes and resources 
available within a community, society or organization that can reduce the level 
of risk, or impacts of a disaster. Capacity may include infrastructure and 
physical means, institutions, societal coping abilities, as well as human 
knowledge, skills and collective attribute such as social relationships, 
leadership and management. Capacity may also be described as capability. 
g. Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) - refer to non – state actors whose aims are 
neither to generate profits nor seek governing power, but to unite people to 
advance shared goals and interests. They have a presence in public life, 
expressing the interests and values of their members or others, based on ethical, 
cultural, scientific, religious or philanthropic considerations. CSOs include non-
government organizations (NGOs), professional associations, foundations, 
independent research institutes, community based organizations (CBOs), faith 
– based organizations, people’s organizations, social movements, and labor 
unions. 
h. 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 variability or as a result of human activity as defined under RA 9729, 
otherwise known as the “Climate Change Act of 2009”. These include internal 
processes or external forces such modulation of the solar cycles, volcanic 
eruptions and persistent anthropogenic changes in the composition of the 
atmosphere on in land use. 


 
 
i. Climate Change 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. 
j. 
Climate Finance – refers to finance that aims at reducing emissions, and 
enhancing sinks of greenhouse gasses and aims at reducing vulnerability of, 
and maintaining, and increasing the resilience of, human and ecological 
systems to negative climate change impacts. 
k. Community Based Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (CBDRRM) – refers to 
a process of disaster risk reduction and management I which at risk 
communities are actively engaged in the identification, analysis, treatment, 
monitoring and evaluation of disaster risks in order to reduce their 
vulnerabilities and enhance their capabilities, and where the people are at the 
heart of decision – making and implementation of disaster risk reduction and 
management activities. 
l. Complex Emergency – refers to a form of human – induced emergency in which 
the cause of the emergency as well as assistance to the afflicted is complicated 
by intense level of political considerations. 
m. Contingency Planning - refers to a management process that analyzes specific 
potential events or emerging situations that might threaten society or the 
environment and established arrangements in advance to enable timely, 
effective and appropriate responses to such events and situations. 
n. Dangerous Anthropogenic Interference – refers to the effect in the climate system 
as a result of the increase of greenhouse gas concentration in the atmosphere 
that leads to widespread climate change impacts such as wide spread demise of 
coral reefs.  
o. Disability – refers to an evolving concept that results from the interaction 
between persons with impairments , societal barriers, as defined under RA 7277, 
and attitudinal environmental barrier that hinder their fill and effective 
participation in society on an equal basis with others. 
p. 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 or 
society to cope using its own resources. 
q. Disaster Mitigation – refers to the lessening or limitation of the adverse impacts 
of hazards and related disasters. Mitigation measures encompass engineering 
techniques and hazard – resistant construction as well as improved 
environmental policies and public awareness, land use planning, and climate 
change. 
r. Disaster Preparedness – refers to knowledge an capacities developed by 
governments, professional response and recovery organizations, communities 
and individuals to effectively anticipate, respond to, recover from, the impacts 
of likely, imminent or current hazard events or conditions. It includes 
preparedness for response such as contingency planning, stockpiling of 
equipment and supplies, the development of arrangements for coordination, 
evacuation, and public information, and preparedness for recovery such as 
procurement of land for resettlement sites.  


 
 
s. Disaster Prevention - refers to the outright avoidance of adverse impacts of 
hazards. It expresses the concept and intention to completely avoid potential 
adverse impacts through action taken in advance such as construction of dams 
or embankments that eliminate flood risks, land-use regulations that do not 
permit any settlement in high-risk zones, and seismic engineering designs that 
ensure the survival and function of a critical building in any likely earthquake. 
t. Disaster Response - 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 includes disaster relief focused 
on immediate and short-term needs of the victims and the vulnerable. 
u. Disaster Risk - refers to the potential disaster losses in lives, health status, 
livelihoods, assets and services that could occur to a particular community  or 
society in the future, and is determined by a combination of the vulnerability, 
capacity, exposure of persons and assets, hazard characteristics and the 
environment. 
v. Disaster Risk Governance - refers to the way in which the 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 means 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. 
w. Disaster Risk Management - refers to the systematic process of using 
administrative directives, organizations, and operational skills and capacities to 
implement strategies, policies and improved coping capacities in order to lessen 
the adverse impacts of hazards and the possibility of disaster. 
x. Disaster Risk Reduction - refers to the concept and practice of reducing disaster 
risks through systematic efforts to analyze and manage the causal factors of 
disasters, including through reduced exposure to hazards, lessened 
vulnerability of people and property, wise management of land and 
the 
environment, and improved preparedness for adverse events.  
y. Disaster Risk and Vulnerability Reduction - refers to the concept and practice of 
reducing potential loss of life, injury, or destroyed or damaged assets or 
disrupted which could occur to a system, society or a community in a specific 
period of time, determined probabilistically and conditions determined by 
physical, social, economic and environmental factors or processes which 
increase the susceptibility of an individual, a community, assets or system to 
the impacts of hazards through systematic efforts to analyze and reduce the 
causal factors of disasters  all  of  which  contribute  to strengthening resilience 
and therefore to the achievement of sustainable development. 
z. Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Information System - refers to a 
specialized database which contains, among others, information on disasters 
and their human, material, economic, and environmental impact, risk 
assessment and mapping, and vulnerable and marginalized groups. 


 
 
aa. Early Warning System - refers to the set of capacities needed to generate and 
disseminate timely and meaningful warning information to enable individuals, 
communities and organizations threatened by a hazard to prepare and to act 
appropriately and in sufficient time to reduce the possibility of harm or loss. A 
people-centered early warning system necessarily comprises four (4) key 
elements: knowledge of the risks; monitoring, analysis and forecasting of the 
hazards; communication or dissemination of alerts and warnings; and local 
capabilities to respond to the warnings received. The concept of "end-to-end 
warning system" emphasizes that warning systems need to span all steps from 
hazard detection  to  community  response.  Early  warning  systems  include 
systems developed at the level of communities or based on indigenous 
knowledge. 
bb.  Ecosystem Management and Restoration - refers to an integrated process to 
conserve, improve and restore the health of the ecosystem that sustains 
ecosystem services for human well-being. 
cc. Eligible Assisting Actor - refers to any assisting actor that has been determined to 
be eligible to receive legal facilities as provided in this Act and its implementing 
rules and regulations. 
dd. Emergency  -  unforeseen or sudden occurrence, especially danger, demanding 
immediate action. 
ee. Emergency Management – the organization and management 
of resources 
and responsibilities for addressing all aspects of emergencies, in particular 
preparedness, response and initial recovery; 
ff. Exposure - The situation of people, infrastructure, housing, production 
capacities and other tangible human assets located in hazard-prone areas. 
gg. Forced Evacuation - An order of last resort from competent authority to forcibly  
evacuate residents to an appropriate evacuation area to forestall their exposure 
to an imminent disaster or to prevent further exposure to residual risks after the 
onslaught of a disaster;  
hh. Gender-based Violence - the violence that is directed against a woman because of 
her gender, or that affects women disproportionately. It includes acts that inflict 
physical, mental or sexual harm or suffering, threats of such acts, coercion and 
other deprivations of liberty. 
ii. Geographic Information System (GIS) - refers to a system used to capture, store,  
manipulate, manage and display all types of spatial or geographical data. 
jj. Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Area (GIDA) - the areas with a 
marginalized population which is physically and socio-economically separated 
from the mainstream society and characterized by physical factors – isolated 
due to distance, weather conditions and transportation difficulties (island, 
upland lowland, landlocked, hard to reach and underserved communities); 
and/or socio-economic factors – (high poverty incidence, presence of 
vulnerable sector, communities in or recovering from situation of crisis or 
armed conflict); 
kk. Hazard - refers to a dangerous phenomenon, either natural or human- induced, 
that may cause loss of life, injury or other health impacts, property damage, loss 


 
 
of livelihood and services, social and economic disruption, or environmental 
damage.  
ll. Home-based evacuees - refer to displaced affected population staying with 
relatives, friends, other host families, community facilities aside from the 
official evacuation center; 
mm. 
Human-Induced Hazard - refers to an event caused by humans and occurs in 
or close to human settlements or a particular environmental area. This can 
include environmental degradation, technological or industrial conditions, 
pollution, accidents such as high density events, industrial  and  transport  
accidents,  complex  emergencies, armed conflict, situations of generalized or 
organized violence, and violation of human rights. 
nn. International Disaster Response and Early Recovery Period - the period which 
commences upon the issuance of a request for international disaster assistance 
or upon acceptance of an offer, and shall continue until terminated pursuant to 
guidelines set in the implementing rules and regulations;  
oo. Humanitarian  Assistance - Covers disaster response and recovery assistance 
designed to save lives, alleviate suffering, and maintain and protect human 
dignity during and in the aftermath of disasters, in line with the principles of 
humanity, impartiality, and neutrality 
pp. Imminent Disaster - Refers to a situation where on the basis of official forecasts it 
could reasonably be expected that a disaster will occur in a particular 
geographical area and within an estimated period of time, and where necessary 
preparedness actions or financing are required.  
qq. International Disaster Relief and Initial Recovery Period - refers to the period  which 
commences upon the issuance of  a  request  for international disaster assistance 
or upon acceptance of an offer, and shall  continue  until  terminated pursuant 
to guidelines set in the implementing rules and regulations. 
rr. Internally Displaced Persons - persons or groups of persons who have been forced 
or obliged to flee or to leave their homes or places of habitual residence within 
national borders, in particular as a result of or  in  order  to  avoid the effects of 
armed conflict, situations of generalized and/or organized violence, violations 
of human rights, implementation of development projects, or natural or human-
induced disasters. 
ss. International Humanitarian Assistance - Any aid and action taken by any duly 
coordinated foreign government or organization in the form of financial 
donations, international relief workers and in-kind donations, for the benefit of 
disaster affected areas, aimed at providing emergency response,  rehabilitation, 
and recovery operations to mitigate and address the effects of disasters or major 
emergencies. 
tt. International Relief Workers - the staff and volunteers of any assisting actor  
providing disaster relief or initial recovery assistance being persons who are 
neither citizens of nor domiciled in the Philippines prior to their recruitment by 
the international assisting actor. 
uu. Land-Use Planning - 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. 
vv. Legal Facilities - the special entitlements and exemptions that are made available 
to eligible assisting actors under this Act. 
ww. 
Mitigation - refers to effort to reduce or limit greenhouse gas  emissions or 
enhance greenhouse gas sequestration. 
xx.  National Continuity Policy - refers to a policy aimed at the development of an 
organizational culture that has the ability to provide a minimum level of service 
during interruptions, emergencies, and disasters, and return to full operations 
quickly. 
yy. National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Framework -  the comprehensive, 
all hazards, multi-sectoral, inter-agency and community-based approach to 
disaster risk reduction and management. 
zz. National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Plan (NDRRMP) – the 
document to be formulated by the NDRRMC and implemented by the 
Department that sets out goals and specific objectives for reducing disaster  
risks together with related actions to accomplish these objectives. The  
NDRRMP shall provide for the identification of hazards, vulnerabilities and 
risks to 'be managed at the national level; disaster risk reduction and 
management approaches and strategies to be applied managing said hazards 
and risks; agency roles, responsibilities and lines of authority at all government 
levels; and vertical and horizontal coordination of disaster risk reduction and 
management in the pre-disaster and post-disaster phases. It shall be in 
conformity with the national disaster risk reduction and management 
framework. 
aaa. 
National Service Reserve Corps - refers to the entity composed of all graduates 
of non-ROTC components of National Service Training Program in accordance 
with Republic Act 9163, the National Service Training Program (NSTP) Act of 
2001. 
bbb. 
Natural Hazards - naturally occurring physical phenomena caused either  by  
rapid  or  slow  onset  events  which  can  be  geological (earthquakes ground 
rupture, liquefaction, landslides, tsunamis, sinkholes, and volcanic activity), 
hydrological and meteorological (floods, severe winds, typhoons, storm 
surges), climatological variability (extreme temperatures, El Niño, La Niña, 
forest fires), or biological (disease, epidemics and insect/animal plagues and 
pandemics). 
ccc.Older persons/senior citizen/elderly - refers to any resident citizen of the 
Philippines at least sixty (60) years old. 
ddd. 
Open Data - data that can be freely used, shared and built-on by anyone, 
anywhere, for any purpose. It must be available in bulk, it should be available 
free of charge, or at least at no more than a reasonable reproduction cost. The 
information should be digital, preferably available by downloading through the 
internet, and easily processed by a computer too. It also must permit people to 
use it, re-use it, and redistribute it, including intermixing with other datasets 
and distributing the results. Lastly, it does not allow conditions to be placed on 


 
 
how people can use Open Data, but it does permit a data provider to require 
that data users credit them in some appropriate way, make it clear if the data 
has been changed, or that any new datasets created using their data are also 
shared as open data. 
eee. 
Persons  with  Disabilities - those who have long-term physical, mental, 
intellectual or sensory impairments which in interaction with various barriers 
may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with 
others. 
fff. Pre-Disaster Risk Assessment - a process to evaluate a hazard’s level of risk given 
the degree of exposure and vulnerability in a specific area likely to be affected 
by an imminent hazard. It presents the possible impacts  on  the  population 
and forms a basis to determine the appropriate level of response actions from 
the national level government agencies down to the local government units. It 
is hazard-specific, area focused and time-bound. 
ggg. 
Preemptive Evacuation- An order from competent authority to voluntarily 
evacuate residents to an appropriate evacuation area to forestall their exposure 
to an imminent disaster. 
hhh. 
Post-Disaster Recovery - the restoration and improvement where 
appropriate, of facilities, livelihood and living conditions of disaster- affected 
communities, including efforts to reduce disaster risk factors, in accordance 
with the principles of “build back better”. 
iii. Private Sector - private corporations, households, non-profit institutions serving  
households, and other economic enterprises outside of government. 
jjj. Public Sector Employees - all persons in the civil service. 
kkk. 
Recovery - the restoring or improving 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 back better”, to avoid or 
reduce future disaster risk. 
lll. Reconstruction - The medium-and long-term rebuilding and sustainable 
restoration of resilient critical infrastructures, services, housing, facilities,  and  
livelihoods  required for the full  functioning  of  a community or a society 
affected by a disaster, aligning with the principles of sustainable development 
and “build back better”, to avoid or reduce future disaster risk. 
mmm. Rehabilitation - The restoration of basic services and facilities for the 
functioning of a community or a society affected by a disaster. 
nnn. 
Relief Goods - Refer to food packs and non-food items to be given directly to 
the victims of a disaster or other emergency in order to meet their immediate 
humanitarian needs. 
ooo. 
Resilience - 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 in a timely and efficient manner, including through the preservation 
and restoration of its essential basic structures and functions through risk 
management. 
ppp. 
Response - any effort to provide assistance or intervention during or 
immediately after a disaster to meet the life preservation and basic subsistence 


 
 
needs of affected people and in the restoration of essential public activities and 
facilities. 
qqq. 
Risk Assessment - a methodology to determine the nature and extent of  risk  
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. 
rrr. Probabilistic Risk Assessment - simulates those future disasters which, based on 
scientific evidence, are likely to occur (UNISDR, 2015). As a result, these risk 
assessments resolve the problem posed by the limits of  historical  data  
(UNISDR  2015).  Probabilistic  models  "complete" historical records by 
reproducing the physics of the phenomena and recreating the intensity of a 
large number of synthetic events (UNISDR, 2015). Probabilistic Risk 
Assessment considers all possible scenarios, their likelihood, and associated 
impacts. It is characterized by inherent uncertainties partly related to the 
natural randomness of hazards, and partly because of our incomplete 
understanding and measurement of the hazards, exposure, and vulnerability. 
sss. Deterministic Risk Assessment - refers to an assessment that considers the possible 
disaster impacts of a single scenario. This is in contrast to probabilistic risk 
assessment which considers all possible scenarios, their likelihood, and 
associated impacts. 
ttt. 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. 
uuu. 
State of Calamity - a condition involving mass casualty and/or major 
damages to property, disruption of means of livelihoods, roads and normal way 
of life of people in the affected areas as a result of the occurrence of natural or 
human- induced hazard. 
vvv. 
Sustainable Development - the development that meets the needs of the 
present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their 
own needs. 
www. Underlying Disaster Risk Drivers/ Underlying Risk Factors – Processes or 
conditions, often development-related, that influence the level of disaster risk 
by increasing levels of exposure and vulnerability or reducing capacity. 
xxx. 
Vital Facility Items -  refers  to  government  risk  reduction  and 
preparedness equipment, accessories and other items such as radars, weather 
forecasting equipment, flood monitoring instruments, seismographs, tsunami 
warning systems, and automated weather systems. 
yyy. 
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. 
zzz. 
Vulnerable and Marginalized Groups - those who are at risk due to poverty 
and other underlying risk factors including, but not limited to, women, 
children, elderly, differently-abled people, and ethnic minorities. 


 
 
aaaa. 
Whole-of-society Approach - the meaningful participation of and synergy of 
stakeholders that represent different interests in all aspects of climate change 
adaptation, disaster risk and vulnerability reduction and management across 
all levels. “Acknowledge the contribution of and important role played by all 
relevant stakeholders, including individuals, families and communities, 
intergovernmental organizations and religious institutions, civil society, 
academia, the media, voluntary associations and, where and as appropriate, the 
private sector and industry.” 
bbbb. Whole of Government Approach - an approach that integrates the collaborative 
efforts of the departments and agencies to achieve unity of effort toward a 
shared goal to broadens the government’s options, increases efficiency to 
maximize all available resources in a collaborative effort.” 
cccc. 
Whole of Nation Approach - refers to an approach that seeks to bring about a 
concerted effort towards national peace and security by creating consensus and 
understanding of security that is shared not just among core security forces and 
oversight government institutions, but also by civil society and all the nation’s 
communities. 
dddd. Youth - refers to those persons aged fifteen (15) to thirty (30) years old, as 
provided for under Republic Act No. 8044, otherwise known as “Youth in 
Nation-Building Act”. 
 
CHAPTER II 
DEPARTMENT OF DISASTER RESILIENCE 
 
SEC. 4. Creation 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. 
SEC. 5. Powers and Functions of the Department.  - The Department shall exercise 
and perform the following functions: 
 
Risk Reduction 
 
a. 
Oversee, direct, and undertake programs and projects to identify, assess, 
prioritize and localize hazards and risks in the country, in consultation with 


 
 
national government agencies, local governments units, communities, and 
stakeholders that shall be involved in disaster risk reduction efforts. 
b. 
Monitor and ensure the integration of disaster risk and vulnerability reduction 
and management and climate change adaptation policies into national 
development plans. 
c. 
Design and implement an incentive system for greater private and public 
investment, both local and national, in disaster risk reduction. 
d. Oversee and ensure the mainstreaming of climate change adaptation and 
disaster risk reduction in development planning, including disaster-proofing 
and climate-proofing of land use plans and the preparation of contingency 
plans. 
e. 
Create an enabling environment for the design of relevant and appropriate risk-
sharing and risk-transfer instruments. 
f. 
Create an enabling environment that shall promote broader multi- stakeholder 
participation and integrate climate change mitigation, adaptation, and disaster 
risk and vulnerability reduction. 
g. 
Coordinate directly with local government units and private entities to address 
climate vulnerabilities and disaster risk assessment (CVDRA) of regions and 
provinces at the meso-scale, cities and municipalities at the micro-scale, and 
barangays at the meta-scale. 
h. 
Establish and monitor local and national capacity for disaster risk financing and 
insurance and other risk transfer strategies in coordination with the 
Department of Finance (DOF), the Government Service Insurance System 
(GSIS), and the Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP). 
i. 
Formulate the National Disaster Resilience Framework, National Disaster 
Resilience Plan, and the National Continuity Policy. 
j. 
Oversee and direct the comprehensive implementation of disaster risk 
reduction and climate change adaptation and mitigation policies, plans, and 
programs, as embodied in the Disaster Resilience Framework and Disaster 
Resilience Plan; 
k. 
Coordinate directly with local government units and private entities to address 
Disaster Risk Assessment (DRA) of regions and provinces at the meso-scale, 
cities and municipalities at the micro-scale, and barangays at the meta-scale. 
l. 
Review and evaluate local disaster resilience plans and other local plans to 
ensure their consistency with the Climate-Disaster Resilience Framework and 
Plan; 
m. Ensure that all disaster risk reduction programs, projects, and activities 
requiring regional and international support shall be in accordance with duly 
established national policies and aligned with international agreements that the 
State is a party to; 
 
Resilience, Framework and Plan; 
 
1. Ensure that all disaster risk reduction programs, projects, and activities requiring 
regional and international support shall be in accordance with duly established 


 
 
national policies and aligned with international agreements that the State is a party 
to; 
 
Disaster Preparedness and Response 
 
a. 
Oversee and maintain a national early-warning and emergency alert system 
that shall provide accurate, timely, and accessible information to national and 
local emergency response organizations and the general public. 
b. 
Coordinate information-sharing and other risk reduction protocols following 
the principle of interoperability among national government agencies and local 
government units. 
c. 
Establish and maintain a national humanitarian logistics system with a network 
of warehouses, transport, and resources, including response assets and disaster 
relief items, such as food and non-food items. 
d. 
Exercise command and control over relevant government agencies, including 
government-owned and controlled corporations, the Philippine National 
Police and other law enforcement agencies, during an imminent or actual 
disaster. Such command and control shall include the authority to utilize 
available services, assets, equipment, personnel, facilities, and other resources. 
e. 
 Call on the reserve force, as defined in Republic Act No. 7077, otherwise known 
as the ”Citizen Armed Forces of the Philippines Reservist Act”, to assist in relief 
and rescue operations during disasters. 
f. 
Work with the private sector and civil society organizations for assistance with 
regard to the use of facilities and resources for the protection and preservation 
of life and property. 
g. 
Deploy rapid assessment teams composed of government personnel and non-
government stakeholders, gather information, and, guided by the principle of 
inter-operability, coordinate information-sharing and other disaster risk 
reduction and management protocols among national and local government 
agencies before, during and after a disaster. 
h. 
Establish a National Disaster Resilience Research and Training Center that shall 
provide a ladderized  training program on disaster risk and vulnerability 
reduction and management for DRRM and CCAM professionals and other 
stakeholders in the public and private sector. It shall assist local government 
units in cascading national and regional training programs locally and conduct 
research programs to upgrade knowledge and skills and document best 
practices thereon. It shall ensure/oversee mainstreaming of DRR trainings in 
academic institutions  in  coordination  with  DepEd/CHED. The Research and 
Training Center shall accredit disaster resilience trainers or instructors, 
practitioners and institutions. 
i. 
Monitor and support local government units in the management of evacuation 
centers and ensure the welfare and dignity of internally- displaced persons. 
j. 
Procure goods and services during emergencies, in accordance with existing 
emergency procurement rules and regulations. 
k. 
Issue special procurement and auditing rules for preparedness, response and 
recovery activities including those prompted by a declaration of state of 
calamity and a state of imminent disaster; 
l. 
Assist in mobilizing the necessary resources to increase the overall capacity of 
local government units, specifically those with low income and situated in high-


 
 
risk areas. 
 
Rehabilitation and Recovery 
 
1. 
Prepare, organize, lead, implement, and manage post-disaster assessment and 
recovery and rehabilitation programs, in coordination with the affected local 
government units, national government agencies, and other stakeholders. 
2. 
Implement the cluster approach to expedite reconstruction efforts and 
orchestrate and serve as the clearinghouse for the participation of assisting 
actors in such efforts. 
3. 
Ensure that the principle of Building Forward Better is applied to rehabilitation 
and recovery efforts. 
 
Other Powers and Functions 
 
a. 
Establish the DDR Council Secretariat and an operating facility to be known 
as the National Disaster Resilience Council Secretariat and Operations Center 
(NDRCSOC) under the operational control of the Secretary and functional 
supervision of the Operations Service that shall be operated and staffed on a 
twenty-four (24) hour basis; 
b. 
Establish and monitor local and national capacity for climate-disaster risk 
financing and insurance and other risk transfer strategies in coordination with 
the Department of Finance (DOF), the Government Service Insurance System 
(GSIS), and the Land Bank of The Philippines (LBP). 
c. 
Coordinate information-sharing and other disaster risk and vulnerability 
reduction and climate change adaptation protocols following the principle of 
interoperability among national government agencies and local government 
units before, during, and after a disaster. Administer, oversee, and monitor the 
utilization of National Disaster Resilience Fund (NDRF), the Disaster 
Resilience Support Fund (DRSF) for third (3rd) to sixth (6th) class provinces 
and municipalities, and other grants and donations for disaster risk reduction 
and management and climate change adaptation, unless otherwise specified. 
d. 
Receive,  administer,  mobilize,  report  and  monitor  and  oversee  the 
utilization  of  the  National  Disaster  Resilience  Fund, recovery and 
rehabilitation funds, and donations for disaster risk and reduction and 
management, unless otherwise specified and subsequently subject to the 
regular accounting and auditing procedures or COA rules and regulations; 
e. 
Formulate and recommend the necessary guidelines and procedures on 
NDRRM Fund and the Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund 
(LDRRM Fund) releases, as well as utilization, accounting and auditing thereof 
in consultation with DOF, DBM, and COA. 
f. 
Use of advanced science and technologies in disaster risk reduction and 
management by engaging, consulting with, employing and regularly funding 
the academe or higher education and research institutions such as the 
University of the Philippines Resilience Institute and the University of the 
Philippines Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards Center or other 
institutions that have a recognized and credible track record, as well as the 
capacity to conceptualize and implement the science and engineering 
requirements necessary for effective climate change adaptation and disaster 
risk reduction. 
g. 
Establish a Disaster resilience information system to facilitate the creation of an 
integrated risk assessment platform that is built from the inputs of government 


 
 
and private scientific and academic institutions, national government agencies 
and local government units, local communities and other stakeholders, and is 
able to provide readily accessible and actionable information for purposes of 
risk governance and humanitarian action; 
h. 
Develop the criteria and procedure for the enlistment of accredited community 
disaster resilience volunteers (ACDRVs), and organize, train, equip and 
supervise emergency response teams and ACVs, ensuring that humanitarian 
workers have been given proper training and are equipped with basic skills, 
including the management of the differentiated needs of vulnerable and
 
marginalized groups child protection, gender-sensitive case management 
and handling cases of gender-based violence in times of disasters. It shall 
include a manual of operations for the volunteers which shall be developed by 
the Department in consultation with various stakeholders; 
i. 
Create and continuously update, in consultation with stakeholders, a manual  
of  operations  for  accredited  community  disaster  resilience volunteers and 
institutions. 
j. 
Perform such other functions as may be necessary for effective operations and 
implementation of this Act. 
 
CHAPTER III 
GENERAL WELFARE AND EMERGENCY MEASURES 
 
 
SEC. 6. General Welfare.- The Department shall exercise the powers expressly 
granted, those necessarily implied therefrom, as well as powers necessary, appropriate 
or incidental for its efficient and effective governance, and those which are essential to 
the promotion of the general welfare, such as the implementation  of  emergency  
measures including preemptive and forced evacuation, in anticipation of, during, and in 
the aftermath of emergencies, hazards and disasters and only when there is imminent 
danger of loss of lives and/or damage to property. 
 
SEC. 7. Emergency Measures at the National Level. – The Department may require 
the assistance of law enforcement agencies and the uniformed services, such as the PNP 
and the AFP, as well as emergency responders, to assist in the implementation of 
emergency measures. 
 
SEC. 8. Emergency Measures at the Local Level. – 
 
a. 
Local government units shall enact an ordinance on and implement through 
the LDRO the necessary and appropriate emergency measures, including 
preemptive and forced evacuation, in anticipation of, during, and in the 
aftermath of emergencies, hazards and disasters, and only when there is 
imminent danger of loss of lives and/or damage to property. 
b. 
Emergency measures, including preemptive and forced evacuation, shall be 
carried out in a manner that is humane, respectful of the dignity and culture 
of persons, without using disproportionate force, without discrimination, and 
with conscious attention to the needs of vulnerable and marginalized groups. 
c. 
All measures shall be taken to inform the population, in a manner and 
language that they can understand, of the need for emergency measures and 
evacuation for their safety, as well as the location where they will be taken and 
for how long they are going to stay there. Adequate evacuation centers and 
transportation to and from the affected area shall be provided by the local 


 
 
government. 
 
 
SEC. 9. Hierarchy of Evacuation Measures. –  
 
a. 
Preemptive evacuation shall be the preferred and primary mode of evacuation 
of people that will be affected by emergencies, hazards and disasters. 
b. 
Forced evacuation shall be considered as an emergency measure of last resort 
that may be undertaken in anticipation of, during or after an emergency, 
hazard or disaster and be carried out by the affected local government in 
accordance with a duly issued order by the local chief executive: Provided, 
That in case of the failure of the local government to appropriately issue such 
order, the forced evacuation shall be implemented by the Department, which 
may direct and compel the assistance of law enforcement and other relevant 
national agencies to implement said emergency measure. 
 
During such forced evacuation, government officials may direct and compel the 
population to be affected or is currently affected by an emergency, hazard or 
disaster to relocate to safer locations for their own safety. 
 
SEC. 10. Release from Liability in Case of Refusal to Evacuatet –  
 
1. 
Any person who willfully and deliberately disregards or opposes the order of 
forced evacuation issued by the local chief executive or the Department, 
releases the local government or the Department from any liability for injury, 
death, damage to or loss of property attributed to said disobedience. 
2. 
During evacuation, priority assistance shall be given to the vulnerable groups 
and persons who willfully comply with the order of forced evacuation. 
 
 
SEC. 11. Inspection and Implementation Powers. – The Department shall have 
inspection, visitorial and examining authority over government and non-governmental 
entities to ensure that all funds and assets allocated for disaster resilience are actually 
used for said purposes. The Department shall likewise have the power to inspect and 
examine the status of projects and programs being undertaken in furtherance of disaster 
resilience efforts. Whenever it becomes necessary, the Department may assume 
responsibility over the implementation of and directly implement any program or project 
in anticipation of, during, and in the aftermath of emergencies, hazards and disasters. 
 
SEC. 12. Utilization of Private Property for Public Purpose. – The Department 
shall have the power to utilize any private property for urgent public purpose in 
anticipation of, during, and in the aftermath of emergencies, hazards and disasters and 
only when there is imminent danger of loss of lives and/or  damage  to  property,  subject  
to  payment  of  just  compensation  in appropriate cases. 
 
 
SEC. 13. Emergency Powers. – Whenever it becomes necessary, the Department, 
subject to the approval of the President, may call on the AFP or the PNP, in coordination 
with the Secretary of National Defense and the Secretary of the Interior and Local 
Government, to prevent or suppress lawless violence and ensure the protection and 
preservation of life or property in anticipation of, during, and in the aftermath of 
emergencies, hazards and disasters. 
 


 
 
Whenever warranted by circumstances, the department may call upon other  
agencies  and  instrumentalities  of  the  government,  as  well  as  non-government and 
for the protection and preservation of life and/or property in anticipation of, during, and 
in the aftermath of emergencies, hazards and disasters. Private organizations, for 
assistance in the use of their facilities and resources. 
 
SEC. 14. Emergency Arrangements. - The Department shall have the power to 
negotiate, enter into, institutionalize and coordinate arrangements with any private 
person or juridical entity for the purpose of ensuring the adequate and prompt 
availability of all goods and services necessary in anticipation of, during, and in the 
aftermath of emergencies, hazards and disasters and only when there is imminent danger 
of loss of lives and/or damage to property. 
 
CHAPTER IV 
ORGANIZATION AND MANAGEMENT 
 
SEC. 15. Office of the Department Secretary. – The Department shall be headed by a 
Secretary with the rank and emoluments of a Cabinet Secretary.  The  Secretary shall be 
appointed by the President, subject to confirmation by the Commission on 
Appointments. 
 
All appointees shall be universally acknowledged and recognized experts in the 
field of disaster risk reduction and management and climate change and of proven 
honesty and integrity. 
 
SEC. 16. Powers and Functions of the Secretary. – The Secretary of the Department 
shall exercise the following powers and functions: 
 
a. 
Establish policies and standards for the effective, efficient, and economical 
operation of the Department in accordance with the programs of the 
Government; 
b. 
Exercise executive direction over the operations of the Department and 
administrative supervision over its attached agencies. 
c. 
Manage the financial and human resources of the Department. 
d. 
Appoint officers and employees of the Department, except presidential 
appointees, in accordance with civil service law, rules, and regulations.  
e. 
Exercise disciplinary authority over officers and employees of the Department 
in accordance with law. 
f. 
Call upon any and all agencies and instrumentalities of the State as well as 
nongovernment and civic organizations for assistance in terms of the use of 
their facilities and resources for the protection and preservation of life and 
properties in the whole range of disaster risk reduction and management and 
climate change adaptation. This Department includes the power to call on the 
reserve force as defined in Republic Act No. 7077 to assist in relief and rescue 
during disasters or calamities; 
g. 
Create regional and field offices and such other service units and divisions as 
may be necessary; and 
h. 
Advise the President on the promulgation of executive and administrative 
issuances and the formulation of regulatory and legislative proposals on 
matters pertaining to disaster resilience. 
i. 
Serve as the Vice-Chairperson of the Climate Change Commission. 


 
 
j. 
In coordination with the Department of Foreign Affairs, represent the 
Philippines in the climate change negotiations and articulate the national 
contribution to global, regional, and other inter-governmental disaster risk 
reduction and humanitarian platforms. 
k. 
Call upon the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National 
Police to render assistance in disaster-affected areas. 
l. 
Perform such other functions as may be necessary or proper to attain the 
objectives of this Act. 
 
 
SEC. 17. Organizational Structure, Functions and Management. – The Department 
shall be composed of the following officials and offices: 
 
1. 
The Secretary, as provided for under this Act; 
2. 
Five (5) Undersecretaries, to be appointed by the President, who shall assist 
the Secretary in administering the affairs of the Department, one to be 
responsible for Resilience, one to be responsible for Policy and Governance, 
one to be responsible for Operations, one to be responsible for  
Administration 
and Finance, and the Senior Undersecretary. The  
Undersecretaries  shall have functional and operational supervision over the 
bureaus, divisions, offices and units assigned to their respective functional 
areas; 
3. 
Ten (10) Assistant Secretaries, to be appointed by the President, who shall 
assist the Secretary in administering the affairs of the Department to be 
responsible for overall staff supervision, Internal Audit, Administration, 
Disaster Resilience Fund Management, Fiscal Management, Operations, 
Mobilization, Plans and Programs, Legal, Project Management and 
Sustainable Development; 
4. 
Eleven (11) Service Directors  who shall head the following Services: the 
Administrative and Financial Management Service, the Logistics and Resource 
Management Service, the Operations Service, the Responders Management 
Service, the Policy Development and Development Service, the Capacity 
Building and Training Service, the Legal Affairs and Compliance Service, the 
Disaster Risk Reduction Service, the Climate Change Service, the Recovery 
and Reconstruction Service, and the Strategic Communications Service; 
5. 
The Administrative and Financial Management Service shall provide the 
Department with economical, efficient and effective services relating to human 
resource management and development, financial management and general 
administration services to support civil defense and disaster risk reduction 
and management operations and functions. 
6. 
The Logistics and Resource Management Service shall be responsible for the 
efficient and effective management of all the assets and resources of the 
Department; the efficient and effective gathering, maintenance and updating 
of a database of pertinent assets and resources belonging to any and all 
agencies and instrumentalities of the Government, as well as non-government 
and civic organizations in support of operational readiness for utilization by 
the Department; and the procurement of necessary assets and resources to be 
maintained and utilized by the Department.  
7. 
The Operations Service shall be responsible for formulating, implementing 
and monitoring the operational plans of the Department and  ensuring  its 
operational readiness, as well as the effective functional management of the 
Emergency Management Operations Center. 
8. 
The Responders Management Service shall be responsible for the efficient and 


 
 
effective gathering, management, and updating of a national roster of 
individuals and groups from the civilian sector, volunteer organizations, 
uniformed services and the reserve force in support of operational readiness 
for utilization by the Department. 
9. 
The Policy Development and Planning Service shall be responsible for 
providing responsive, efficient and effective services relating to research, 
planning, programming, budgeting, project development, and policy 
formulation of civil defense and disaster risk reduction and management 
projects and activities. 
10. 
The Capacity-Building and Training Service shall be responsible for building 
and developing the capacity of the Department’s personnel, civil defense 
practitioners, communities and other stakeholders. 
11. 
The Legal Affairs and Compliance Service shall provide legal advice to the 
Department; interpret laws and rules affecting the administration and 
operations of the Department; prepare and review contracts and instruments 
to which the Department is a party; interpret provisions of contracts covering 
work involving the Department; and monitor the compliance with regulatory 
and reportorial matters involving the Department. 
12. 
The Disaster Risk Reduction Service shall be responsible for reducing disaster 
risks through systematic efforts and programs of the Department to analyze 
and reduce the causal factors of disasters such as exposure to hazards, 
lessening vulnerability of people and property, wise management of land and 
the environment, and improving preparedness and early warning for adverse 
events are all examples of disaster risk reduction. 
13. 
The Climate Change Service shall lead in the development and mainstreaming 
of evidence-based climate adaptation and mitigation policies of the 
Department through optimum coordination among key stakeholders towards 
achieving a climate-resilient and climate-smart Philippines with healthy, safe, 
prosperous, and self-reliant communities. 
14. 
The Rehabilitation and Recovery Management Service shall provide 
responsive, efficient and effective services relating to the formulation of 
standards  for  rehabilitation  and  recovery  programs,  projects, activities, and 
their subsequent implementation. 
15. 
The Strategic Communications Service shall be responsible for the formulation 
and implementation of the strategic communications plans and programs of 
the Department; serve as the public affairs arm of the Department tasked with 
directing, supervising and controlling the Department’s public information 
programs and activities as well as establishing and maintaining rapport with 
the media and the general public. 
16. 
Divisions, units and offices as may be created by the Department and whose 
officers and employees shall be appointed in accordance with civil service law, 
rules, and regulations; 
17. 
The National Climate and Disaster Resilience Research, Education, and 
Training Institute under the Capacity Building and Training Service, to be 
headed by a Director with the rank of Director IV; 
18. 
Regional  and  other  field  Offices  of  the  Department  that  shall  be 
established in each administrative region, each to be headed by a Regional 
Director with the rank of Director IV; 
19. 
Bureaus that are under the supervision and control of the Department; 
20. 
Seconded personnel from relevant agencies and detailed service from the 
uniformed services, as appropriate; and 
21. 
Grievance desks in every region, which shall serve as a referral mechanism 
and shall work jointly with relevant agencies, to receive complaints from the 


 
 
public regarding violations of this Act. It shall assist the complainant in the 
gathering of relevant documentation and other evidence to support said 
complaint. The grievance desk shall facilitate the forwarding of the complaint 
to the appropriate office within fifteen (15) days from receipt thereof, and shall 
provide timely feedback and updates regarding the status of the complaint. 
The grievance desk shall use the best available technology to ensure that 
complaints are endorsed to the proper office and are addressed in a timely 
manner. 
22. 
Seconded personnel from relevant agencies and detailed service from the AFP, 
as appropriate. 
 
CHAPTER V 
FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION 
 
 
SEC. 18. Fiscal Management. – The Department shall manage all funds 
appropriated to it by Congress and from other sources. This shall include all  donations,  
as  contemplated  under  the  succeeding  paragraph,  subject  to provisions of Section 3, 
paragraph (D) of Article 9, of the 1987 Constitution on the auditing powers of the 
Commission on Audit. 
SEC. 19. Donation.  –  
  
a. The Department shall have the power to receive donations and grants from  any  
person,  government  institution,  corporation,  international organization and 
other similar entities, and the power to recommend the procurement of 
developmental assistance for the purpose of disaster risk and vulnerability 
reduction and management and climate change adaptation. 
b. It shall be mandatory for the Department to acknowledge and certify the receipt of all DDR 
grant and donated funds and ensure their judicious management  including their 
proper and accurate audit reporting to constituents.  
c. The importation and donation of food, clothing, medicine and equipment for relief 
and recovery and other disaster management and recovery- related supplies is 
hereby authorized in accordance with, Section 800, Chapter 1, Title 8, of Republic 
Act No. 10863, otherwise known as the “Customs and Tariff Modernization Act”, 
as amended, and the prevailing provisions of the General Appropriations Act 
covering national internal revenue taxes and import duties of national and local 
government agencies; 
 
All importations and donations under Section 11 (c) of Republic Act No. 10863, otherwise 
known as the “Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CTMA)” shall be 
considered as importation or donation to the Department, subject to the approval 
of the Office of the President. 
 
CHAPTER VI 
WHOLE OF GOVERNMENT AND WHOLE OF NATION APPROACH 
 
SEC. 20. National Disaster Resilience Council. – 
 
1. 
There is hereby created the National Disaster Resilience Council (NDRC), 
which shall serve as the policy advisory body to the Department on disaster 


 
 
risk reduction and management and climate change adaptation, consistent 
with the policies and scope as defined in this Act. 
2. 
The NDRC shall be chaired by the Secretary of Disaster Resilience and shall be 
composed of the following: 
a. Secretary of Science and Technology; 
b. Secretary of the Interior and Local Government; 
c. Secretary of Social Welfare and Development: 
d. Secretary of National Defense; 
e. Director-General of the National Economic and Development Authority; 
f. Secretary of Health; 
g. Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources; 
h. Secretary of Agriculture; 
i. Secretary of Education; 
j. Secretary of Energy; 
k. Secretary of Finance; 
l. Secretary of Trade and Industry; 
m. Secretary of Transportation; 
n. Secretary of Budget and Management; 
o. Secretary of Public Works and Highways; 
p. Secretary of Foreign Affairs; 
q. Secretary of Justice; 
r. Secretary of Labor and Employment; 
s. Secretary of Tourism; 
t. Secretary of Human Settlements and Urban Development; 
u. Secretary of Information and Communications Technology; 
v. Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process; 
w. Chairperson of the Commission on Higher Education; 
x. Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines; 
y. Chief of the Philippine National Police; 
z. Head of the Presidential Communications Operations Office; 
aa. Secretary-General of the Philippine National Red Cross; 
bb. Chairperson of the Commission on Human Rights; 
cc. Executive Director of the Council for Welfare of Children; 
dd. Lead Convenor of the National Anti-Poverty Commission; 
ee. Chairperson of the Philippine Commission on Women; 
ff. Chairperson of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating 
Council; 
gg. Chairperson of the National Council for Disability Affairs; 
hh. Chairperson of the National Commission on Indigenous Filipinos; 
ii. Chairperson of the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos; 
jj. Chairperson of the National Youth Commission; 
kk. President of the Government Service Insurance System; 
ll. President of the Social Security System; 
mm. 
President of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation; 
nn. President of the Home Development Mutual Fund; 
oo. President of the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines; 


 
 
pp. President of the League of Provinces of the Philippines; 
qq. President of the League of Cities of the Philippines; 
rr. President of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines; 
ss. President of the Liga ng mga Barangays; 
tt. Maximum of six (6) representatives from the academia and other relevant 
research institutions; 
uu. Maximum of six (6) representatives from the Civil Society Organizations; 
and 
vv. Maximum of six (6) representatives from the private sector. 
 
3. 
Composition – The Council is hereby organized into five (5) clusters, namely, 
Disaster Prevention and Mitigation to be led by DOST, Disaster Preparedness 
to be led by DILG, Disaster Response by DSWD, Logistics led by DND, and 
Recovery and Sustainable Development led by NEDA. 
4. 
Technical Management Advisory Group – The Department may constitute, as the need 
arises, a technical management advisory group from the different 
stakeholders, that shall coordinate and meet with the Department  as  often as  
necessary to effectively manage and sustain national efforts on disaster risk 
and vulnerability reduction and emergency management, and climate change 
adaptation and mitigation; and 
5. 
Guidelines for the Department of Disaster Resilience Fund (DDRF) and Local 
Disaster Resilience Fund (LDRF) – The Department shall provide the 
necessary guidelines and procedures on the DDRF and the LDRF releases as 
well as utilization, accounting and auditing thereof. 
 
 
SEC. 21. Monitoring, Reporting and Validation 
 
a. 
Monitoring and Reporting. On or before the last quarter of the preceding year, 
member-agencies of the National Disaster Resilience Council shall submit to 
the Department through the Council Secretariat their respective DDR annual 
work and financial plans (AWFPs) for the next year. The AWFPS shall be based 
on the DDR Plan. 
The member-agencies shall submit to the Secretariat quarterly progress 
reports of their implementation of the AWFPs within thirty (30) days from the 
end of each quarter. 
 
The Department is likewise accountable, liable and responsible or monitoring 
and requiring the appropriate implementation of remedial measures by 
member-agencies of the Council during a state of calamity. It shall have the 
authority and power to require reports from the appropriate member-agencies 
regarding implementation of such measures. 
b. 
Validation. The Secretary shall require the submission of reports from LGUs 
to validate the progress reports of the Council member-agencies. Submission 
shall be through the local field offices of the DDR. 
 
Every two (2) years, the implementation of the Climate-Disaster Resilience 
Plan (CDRP) and utilization of the Local Disaster Resilience Fund (LDRF) of 
each province, LGUs, independent city shall be evaluated by the Regional 
Disaster Resilience Council (RDRC) based on appropriate criteria, such as the 
award, recognition, citation criteria for provinces, cities and municipalities, 
barangay and stakeholders. 


 
 
 
The Regional Disaster Resilience Councils (RDRC) – The Regional Disaster 
Resilience Councils (RDRCs) shall coordinate, integrate, supervise, and 
evaluate the activities of the LDRCs. It shall be accountable, responsible and 
liable for ensuring climate-disaster risk sensitive and inclusive regional 
development plans, and in case of emergencies shall convene the different 
regional line agencies and authorities, concerned institutions, developmental 
partners and multiple stakeholders. 
 
The Regional Directors of the Department shall serve as chairpersons of the 
RDRCs and the Regional Directors of the DSWD, the DILG, and the NEDA 
shall serve as cluster heads. In the case of the Bangsamoro Autonomous 
Region in Muslim Mindanao, the Chief Minister shall be the RDRC 
Chairperson. In the case of Metro Manila, the MDRC shall be headed by the 
Chairperson of the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA). 
 
The RDRCs shall establish the RDRC Secretariat and operating facility to be 
known as the Regional Disaster Resilience Council Secretariat and Operations 
Center (RDRC). The RDRCs shall be composed of concerned regional agencies, 
offices, LGUs and other multiple stakeholders. 
1. 
LDRC Budgetary Requirements of LDRO – The budgetary requirements for 
personal services, maintenance and other operating expenditures, and capital 
outlay of the LDRO shall be sourced from the General Fund of the LGU, subject 
to Section 76 of Republic Act No. 7160, as amended, otherwise known as the 
“Local Government Code of 1991, as amended. The enforcement of Sections 
325(a) and 331(b) of Republic Act No. 7160, as amended shall be waived to 
enable the LGUs to fund the initial year requirements for the creation of the 
minimum five (5) mandatory positions of the LDRO. 
 
Other maintenance and operating expenditures, 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 Climate-Disaster Resilience Fund of the LGUs. 
 
2. 
Establish  linkage  or  network  with  other  LGUs  for  disaster  risk  and 
vulnerability reduction, climate change adaptation and emergency response 
purposes; 
3. 
Recommend  through  the  LDRC,  the  enactment  of  local  ordinances 
consistent with the requirements of this Act; 
4. 
Establish a Provincial City, Municipal, and Barangay Climate and Disaster 
Resilience Operations Center; and 
5. 
Encourage Government-Owned and Controlled Corporations OCCs to 
establish their own Climate and Disaster Resilience Operations Center within 
their territories. 
 
 
SEC. 22. Synergy with Stakeholders. – The Department shall ensure seamless 
synergy 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 research, education, and training mechanism  with  
relevant  stakeholders. The Department shall establish a platform, paradigm, and 
mechanisms for convergence and coordination with stakeholders, including the 


 
 
development of standards, protocols, and procedures for collaboration for disaster 
resilience. 
 
 
SECTION 23. Establishment of Multi-Stakeholders Convergence Unit. The 
Department, with the assistance of other relevant government agencies and stakeholders, 
shall establish a Multi-Stakeholders Convergence Unit (MSCU), which shall align the 
disaster resilience efforts of the private sector, CSOs, academe, and other stakeholders 
with the Department by assisting, coordinating, or providing services that strengthen 
public-private cooperation and 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 disasters. 
b. Establishment and implementation of a National Continuity Policy to ensure 
service continuity during power and utilities 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 disaster resilience plans of local government units. 
d. Facilitation or assistance in obtaining or processing incentives for the private 
sector or other non-government stakeholders. 
e. Preparation and facilitating the issuance of 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 stakeholders 
 
CHAPTER VII 
DISASTER RISK AND VULNERABILITY REDUCTION AND CLIMATE CHANGE 
ADAPTATION MAINSTRWAMING, INTEGRATION AND CONVERGENCE 
 
 
SEC. 24. Integration of DRR and Climate Change Adaptation in the Climate and 
Disaster Resilience Framework and Plan. – The existing National Disaster Resilience 
Framework and plan and the National Climate Change Strategic Framework and Plan 
shall be enhanced by the Climate and Disaster Resilience  Framework  and  plan  which 
provides for the comprehensive probabilistic multi-hazards, multi-scenario, multi-
sectorial, resilience-building, and community risk-based 
approach 
and 
management of disaster and climate risk, and provide for the integration of disaster risk 
and vulnerability reduction and climate change adaptation, as well as the mainstreaming 
in other sectoral policies. It shall be reviewed every three (3) years. 
 
The Climate and Disaster Resilience Plan shall provide for the following: 
 
1. 
Identification of the underlying factors of risk, or the nature and degree of 
hazards, vulnerabilities, exposures and capacities, which need to be managed 
at the national level; 
2. 
Disaster risk and vulnerabilities reduction and management approaches and 
strategies to be applied in managing said hazards and risks; 
3. 
Agency roles, responsibilities, and lines of authority at all government levels; 
and 


 
 
4. 
Vertical and horizontal coordination of climate change adaptation, disaster 
risk and vulnerability reduction and management before, during, and after a 
disaster. The Climate and disaster resilience plan shall be in conformity with 
the framework. 
 
The climate and disaster resilience framework and plan for climate-disaster risk 
governance, climate vulnerability assessment, risk assessment and risk 
management shall be formulated and jointly approved by the NDRC and the 
CCC. 
 
 
SEC. 
25. 
Ecosystem-Based 
Approach 
to 
Prevention 
and 
Mitigation, 
Rehabilitation and Recovery from Disaster. – The Department shall ensure the 
application of ecosystems-based approaches in disaster risk and vulnerability reduction 
and climate change adaptation, particularly through ecosystem management and 
restoration as defined in this Act, and ensuring that environmental and natural resource 
policies are risk-informed. 
CHAPTER VIII 
CLIMATE AND DISASTER RESEARCH EDUCATION, AND TRAINING 
INSTITUTE 
 
 
SEC. 26. Creation of the Climate and Disaster Research, Education, and Training 
Institute. – 
 
a. 
Within one (1) year from approval of this Act, the Department shall establish 
the Climate and Disaster Research, Education, and Training Institute in 
collaboration with higher education institutions and Private and State 
Universities and Colleges (SUCs) which shall be a world-class center of 
excellence for learning and research in the field of disaster risk and 
vulnerability reduction and management and climate change adaptation; 
b. 
The Climate and Disaster Research, Education, and Training Institute shall be 
headed by a Director. The organizational structure and staffing pattern shall 
be determined by the Department in consultation with the DBM and in 
accordance with civil service laws, rules and regulations. 
c. 
The Climate and Disaster Research, Education, and Training Institute shall 
have the following functions: 
 
1. Establish regional branches as well as provincial, city or municipal 
branches if deemed necessary, to train individuals from the public and 
private sectors in the fields of disaster risk and vulnerability reduction and 
management, climate change adaptation, and ecosystem management and 
restoration, among others; 
2. Develop and implement an inclusive and ladderized curricula on climate 
change adaptation, and disaster risk and vulnerability reduction and 
management; 
3. Develop research programs and a knowledge management system on 
climate change adaptation and disaster risk and vulnerability reduction 
management for the purpose of innovation and capacity building and 
development; 
4. Partner with public and private academic and research institutions, the 


 
 
private sector, civil society, community-based disaster risk and 
vulnerability reduction management and climate change adaptation 
practitioners, and other relevant sectors in developing research 
opportunities and programs on climate vulnerability and disaster risk 
assessment; 
5. Establish a resource center for information, education and communication 
materials, research, publications, best work practices, lessons identified 
and learned, and other knowledge products on disaster risk and 
vulnerability reduction and management, and climate change adaptation;  
6. Consolidate and prepare information, education and communication and 
training materials or publications to assist disaster risk and vulnerability 
reduction and management, and climate change adaptation practitioners 
in the planning and implementation of their plans, programs, projects and 
activities; 
7. Organize and recognize a community of climate change adaptation and 
disaster risk reduction and management practitioners; and 
8. Accredit, recognize, monitor and evaluate climate change adaptation, 
disaster risk and vulnerability reduction and management training 
institutions. 
 
d. Financial Support to the Center: 
 
1. The budget for the Climate and Disaster Resilience Research and Training 
Center shall be sourced from the annual General Appropriations Act. 
2. The Department shall assist in the establishment of Research and Training 
Centers at the provincial, city, and municipal governments, as 
appropriate. The funding for such local Climate and Disaster Research and 
Training Centers may be sourced from the eighty (80%) percent portion of 
the LDRF and other financial sources of the local government unit 
concerned. 
 
CHAPTER IX 
INTEGRATION MAINSTREAMING CLIMATE AND DISASTER RESILIENCE 
INFORMATION, EDUCATION, AND COMMUNICATION CONVERGENCE 
 
SEC. 27. The Department shall establish a National and Regional Information 
Management System for Climate and Disaster Resilience. It shall constitute a physical 
central database of all disaster risk reduction and climate change  data,  including  a  
geographic  information  system  on  geo-hazard assessments and climate risk. It shall be 
the repository of current and multi-temporal information for wide-scale disaster risk 
analysis and climate change vulnerability assessment. The CDRIMS shall at all times be 
made available to the Emergency Operations Center of the National and Regional 
Climate and Disaster Resilience Council (NRCDRC) development partners and multi-
stakeholders to access critical information and ensure that the collection processing, 
analysis and dissemination of information is timely, reliable and accurate to support 
overall decision making and effective coordination both at the national and sub-national 
level. 
 
 
SEC. 28. Disaster Resilience and Climate Change Education and Training. – 
 


 
 
a. 
The Department of Education, CHED, and Technical Education and Skills 
Development Authority (TESDA), in coordination with the National Youth 
Commission (NYC), the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), 
Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of 
Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Health (DOH), 
Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), and other relevant 
agencies, developmental institutions, and non-government organizations 
shall integrate disaster risk and vulnerability reduction and climate change 
adaptation education in the school curricula at all levels of education, from K 
to12 to tertiary levels, including the early and adult learning programs, 
National Service Training Program (NSTP), and education for children and 
persons with special needs, whether private or public, including formal and 
non-formal, technical-vocational, indigenous learning, out-of-school youth 
courses and programs, and other channels of educational integration,  
including media, church, entertainment centers (malls), international and 
domestic airports and transport terminals. 
b. 
The Civil Service Commission (CSC), Professional Regulatory Commission 
(PRC), and other licensure bodies shall integrate disaster risk and vulnerability 
reduction management and climate change adaptation questions in all 
professional and licensure examinations. 
c. 
In coordination with the Department and the Disaster Resilience Research and 
Training Institute shall develop a curriculum for courses or subjects specific to 
disaster risk and vulnerability reduction management and climate change 
adaptation and shall mandate all tertiary learning institutions to offer these 
subjects. 
d. 
The Parents and Teachers Community Associations shall initiate, support, and 
participate in disaster risk and vulnerability reduction management and 
climate change adaptation related activities in schools and host communities.  
e. 
The DepEd, the CHED, and the Technical Education and Skills Development 
Authority (TESDA) and other developmental institutions, community-based 
practitioners and organized non-governmental organizations shall formulate 
and institutionalize flexible learning options such as online modules, 
supplemental learning materials, resources and platforms, as part of its climate 
change adaptation, disaster risk and vulnerability reduction and governance, 
analysis, and management strategy. 
f. 
The DepEd, CHED, TESDA, developmental institutions and community- 
based organizations shall regularly review, monitor, evaluate and report to the 
Council the status of integration, 
mainstreaming and implementation of 
climate change adaptation, disaster risk and vulnerability reduction and 
management in public-private schools and other learning institutions. 
g. 
The LDROs shall form formal partnerships with tertiary learning institutions 
within their respective jurisdictions to provide standard and ladderized 
training programs for LGU officials and other disaster risk and vulnerability 
reduction management and climate change adaptation. 
h. 
The DRC, the RDRCs, the LDRCs, the LDROs, the BDRCs, and the 
Sangguniang Kabataan shall encourage the community, specifically the youth, 
participation in disaster risk and vulnerability reduction and climate change 
adaptation activities, such as Information, Education and Communication 
(IEC) Campaigns organizing quick response groups, particularly in identified 
disaster-prone areas, as well as the inclusion of DRVR-climate change 
adaptation programs as part of programs and projects of the Sangguniang 
Kabataan, youth  organizations  and community-based disaster risk and 


 
 
vulnerability reduction management and anticipatory adaptation initiatives. 
i. 
There shall be a mandatory training climate change adaptation-DRVR for 
public and private sector employees, including teachers and Climate-Disaster 
Resilience Coordinators from both the public and private learning institutions, 
shall be trained in emergency preparedness and response in compliance with 
the provisions of this Act. 
 
 
SEC. 29. Standard Mechanism for Cascading Information, Education and 
Communication on Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk and Vulnerability 
Reduction Management. – 
 
1. 
The DRC shall promote and advocate a culture of resilience and responsible-
accountable, liable and responsible citizenship through information, 
education and communication that is appropriate, integrated, calibrated, 
inclusive, localized, science- and risk-based, gender, culture and disability 
sensitive and accessible using multimedia. Information, education, and 
communication on climate change adaptation and disaster risk and 
vulnerability reduction management should be compelling but not alarming. 
2. 
The NDRC shall formulate a Strategic Risk Communications Plan to 
encompass the entirety of disaster risk and vulnerability reduction and 
Climate change adaptation to achieve the desired behavioral and attitudinal 
change towards responsible citizenship and culture of resilience. It shall serve 
as a reference on continuous awareness raising and education at all levels of 
the government and multiple stakeholders. 
3. 
A Climate and Disaster Resilience Information Officer shall be designated at 
all levels of the Department to ensure implementation of the disaster risk and 
vulnerability reduction and management and climate change adaptation 
information, education, and communication campaign and shall serve as the 
primary coordinator for the dissemination of information, education, and 
communication on climate change adaptation and disaster risk and 
vulnerability reduction management. 
 
 
SEC. 30. Declaration of Imminent Disaster. – The DDR shall provide guidance 
and operating guidelines to LDRCs for the declaration of imminent disaster in their 
respective areas which shall allow them to implement preemptive measures and use 
their quick response funds in order to save lives and minimize damage to property, loss 
of livelihood and other assets; 
 
 
SEC. 31. Flash Appeal or Appeal for International Assistance. – Upon 
consultation with the NDRC and in cognizance of the urgency, criticality and intensity 
of an imminent risk, the DDR 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. 
 
CHAPTER X 
CLIMATE AND DISASTER RISK INSURANCE AND INCENTIVES 
 
 
SEC. 32. Climate and Disaster Risk Transfer, Insurance and Social Welfare – 
 
a. 
The Department shall oversee all climate and disaster risk-sharing and risk-


 
 
transfer  instruments  and  other  related  initiatives  to  ensure  the protection 
of property and livelihood, both public and private. 
b. 
The Department shall ensure the mandatory insurance of all assets and 
properties of national government agencies including government-owned or 
controlled corporations, and those over which the government has insurable 
interest, as prescribed under Republic Act No. 656, otherwise known as the 
“Property Insurance Law”. The insurance shall be provided by any 
government insurance agency. 
c. 
The Department shall oblige the local government units the mandatory 
insurance coverage of assets, properties and livelihood of vulnerable and 
marginalized  groups  for  unforeseen  or  contingent  potential  losses, 
damages  and  disruption  from  natural  hazards  and  human-induced 
disasters chargeable against the LDRF. 
d. 
Recognition and Incentives. – Unless otherwise provided, the Department 
shall establish an incentives program that recognizes outstanding 
performance of LDRC, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), civil society 
organizations (CSOs), private sectors, schools, hospitals, and other 
stakeholders in promoting and implementing significant disaster risk and 
vulnerability reduction management- climate change adaptation programs 
and innovations, and meritorious acts of individuals, groups or institutions 
during natural or human-induced disasters. 
 
CHAPTER XI 
PREPAREDNESS AND INTEGRATED EARLY WARNING 
 
 
SEC. 33. Standards for Disaster Preparedness Activities. –  
 
1. 
The NDRC shall establish standards for disaster preparedness, contingency 
planning, localizing and operationalizing disaster risk and vulnerability 
reduction and management, preparedness for disaster response, preparedness 
for early recovery, continuity of essential services, and other relevant 
preparedness activities. 
2. 
LGUs shall identify safe or 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”, in order to avoid 
disruption of school classes and lessen the use of school buildings and facilities 
as evacuation centers. 
 
The LGUs shall immediately compensate schools used as evacuation centers. 
The schools may seek compensation renovation or repairs of damaged 
facilities for such use. 
 
SEC. 35. Multi-Hazard Early Warning and Risk Communication Standards. – 
 
a. 
There shall be a streamlined policy governing early warning systems and risk 
communication protocols to ensure effective and efficient measures to 
prevent, prepare for, respond to, and recover from possible risk caused by 
natural and human-induced hazards and climate risk. The NDRC shall issue, 


 
 
and the Department shall oversee and monitor the implementation of this 
policy. 
b. 
The Department and all other concerned agencies with an integrated early 
warning and information mandate shall collaborate with the local executives 
and officers to disseminate climate-disaster risk information through the 
involvement of local government units, community-based organizations, civil 
society organizations, and other non- governmental organizations. 
 
 
SEC. 36. Early Warning Mandate. – 
1. 
Department shall issue an integrated 
early warning for hydro-
meteorological,  geologic, or terrestrial phenomena to the appropriate 
government agencies or government-accredited organizations for forecasting 
and early warning purposes. The Department shall recognize and proactively 
support local or indigenous modes of early warning systems and allow open 
access to 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. 
2. 
The Department shall enhance and strengthen Philippine Atmospheric, 
Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) and 
Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) mandates 
under the Republic Act No. 10692 and Executive Order No. 128 s. 1987, 
respectively. 
3. 
The Department shall recognize and proactively support local or indigenous 
modes of early warning systems and allow open access to 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. 
4. 
Transmission of Early Warning. A 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 NDRC. 
5. 
The NDRC at the national and subnational level shall consider the use of 
integrated early warning system to ensure it is consistent and locally 
contextualized with the communication protocol and safe evacuation 
procedure of the affected communities to achieve zero casualty, to zero death. 
6. 
The Department shall consider working with other agencies or organizations  
on  pre-crisis information mapping of the humanitarian needs of the at-risk 
community that will enhance the overall prepositioning of resources at the national and local 
level. 
 
CHAPTER XII 
DISASTER RESPONSE AND EARLY RECOVERY 
 
 
SEC. 37. Declaration of State of Calamity. – The Department shall declare a cluster 
of barangays, municipalities, cities, provinces, and regions under a state of calamity, and 
the lifting thereof, based on the criteria set by the NDRC. 
 
The declaration and lifting of the state of calamity may also be issued by the local 
Sanggunian, upon the recommendation of the LDRO, based on the results of the damage 


 
 
assessment and needs analysis. Provided: That the Department, through the LDRC, may 
seek from the local legislative body or Sanggunian, the declaration of a state of imminent 
disaster to enable the local executives to implement pre-emptive evacuation and 
precautionary measures in order to save lives and minimize damage to property, loss of 
livelihoods, and disruption of livelihood that require the use of funds and resources 
under the LDRF. 
 
SEC. 38. Emergency Management. – The respective Climate and Disaster Resilience 
Councils shall lead in preparing for, responding to, and recovering from the effects of any 
disaster, upon due consideration to the economics of classification, capacity and 
vulnerability of the local governments concerned: 
 
a. 
The BDRC, if one barangay is affected; 
b. 
The city/municipal DRCs, if two (2) or more barangays are affected; 
c. 
The provincial DRC, if two (2) or more cities/municipalities are affected; 
d. The regional DRC, if two (2) or more provinces are affected; and 
e. 
The NDRC, if two (2) or more regions are affected 
 
 
SEC. 39. Humanitarian Assistance Action Center. – The DRC shall institutionalize 
a one-stop shop mechanism through the Humanitarian Assistance Action Center for the 
processing and release of goods, articles or equipment intended for humanitarian 
assistance and the processing of necessary documents  for  international  assisting actors. 
The Humanitarian Assistance Action Center shall be managed by the Department and 
shall be composed of the following NDRC agencies: 
 
1. 
Department of Finance-Bureau of Customs; 
2. 
Department of Foreign Affairs; 
3. 
Department of Social Welfare and Development; 
4. 
Department of Health; 
5. 
Food and Drug Administration; 
6. 
Department of Agriculture; 
7. 
Department of Energy; 
8. 
Philippine National Police; 
9. 
Philippine Coast Guard; and 
10. 
Department of Justice - Bureau of Immigration 
 
 
SEC. 40. Accreditation, Mobilization, and Protection of Disaster Volunteers and 
National Service Reserve Corps, CSOs and the Private Sector. The government agencies, 
CSOs, private sector and LGUs may mobilize individuals  or  organized volunteers to 
augment their respective personnel complement and logistical requirements in the 
delivery of disaster risk reduction programs and activities. The agencies, CSOs, private 
sector, and LGUs concerned shall take full responsibility for the enhancement, welfare 
and protection of volunteers, and shall submit the list of volunteers to the Department, 
through the LDROs, for accreditation and inclusion in the database of community 
disaster volunteers. 
 
A national roster of Accredited Community Disaster Resilience Volunteers 
(ACDRVs) and institutions, National Service Reserve Corps, CSOs and the private sector 
shall be maintained by the Department through the LDROs. Accreditation shall be done 
at the municipal or city level. 
 


 
 
The mobilization of volunteers shall be in accordance with this Act and 
implementing guidelines to be formulated by the NDRC. Any volunteer who died or was 
injured while engaging in any of the activities defined under this Act shall be entitled to 
compensatory benefits and individual personal accident insurance as may be defined 
under the guidelines. 
 
 
SEC. 41. Reporting of Humanitarian Assistance. – The concerned local 
government unit shall submit a report to the Department, all domestic or international 
humanitarian assistance received and distributed within its area o  
responsibility. 
 
CHAPTER XIII 
INTERNATIONAL HUMANTARIAN ASSISTANCE 
 
 
SEC. 42. International Humanitarian Assistance. — The Department 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. 43. Assessment of the Need for International Humanitarian Assistance. – 
 
a. 
Immediately after the declaration of a state of calamity by the sanggunian of a 
local government unit or by the Department, as the case may be, the 
Department shall determine as to 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 by the President, 
prior to the onset of an imminent disaster. 
b. 
In the event the Department determines 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. 44. Request for International Humanitarian Assistance. — The President 
may request for international humanitarian assistance upon the advice of the  
Department. Such request may be specifically directed to particular assisting 
international actors, or it may be a general request directed to the international 
community. 
 
SEC. 45. Humanitarian Assistance Action Center. — The Department shall 
institutionalize an inter-agency one-stop shop mechanism called through the Philippine 
International Humanitarian Assistance Reception Action Center (PIHARAC) for the 
processing and release of entry and facilitation of goods, articles or equipment, and 
services of international relief workers for the provision of international humanitarian 
assistance, and the processing of necessary documents for assisting international actors. 


 
 
 
CHAPTER XIV 
OFFER AND FACILITATION OD HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE TO FOREIGN 
STATES 
 
 
SEC.  46. 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 may offer, facilitate 
and provide international humanitarian assistance to such foreign state, which shall be 
subject to guidelines to be promulgated by the Department for the purpose. 
 
SEC. 47. 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. 
 
CHAPTER XV 
LEGAL FACILITIES FOR ELIGIBLE ASSISTING INTERNATIONAL ACTORS 
 
 
SEC. 48. Guidelines for Coordination of International Humanitarian Assistance. 
– The DRC shall issue comprehensive guidelines on the initiation, entry, facilitation, 
transit and regulation of international relief goods and personnel,  as  well  as  eligibility  
guidelines  to  utilize  the  legal  facilities  for assisting international actors provided 
hereunder. 
 
SEC. 49. Visa Waiver. – Eligible assisting international actors shall be entitled to 
waiver of entry visa requirements, including any associated fees or charges, to perform 
Disaster Relief and Initial Recovery Assistance work for their sponsoring entities without 
the requirement to seek a separate residence or work permit. 
 
SEC. 50. Recognition of Foreign Professional Qualifications. -  
 
1. 
Eligible  assisting  international  actors  wishing  to  deploy  international 
personnel for tasks requiring legal recognition of their foreign professional 
qualifications shall certify the validity of those qualifications under the law of 
the country where they were obtained and the competence of their personnel 
for the tasks envisaged. 
2. 
The Department shall establish the guidelines and scope for recognition of 
foreign professional qualifications for disaster response and early recovery. 
3. 
Recognition of qualifications shall remain valid until the end of the 
International Initial Recovery Period, absent individual criminal conduct or 
other professional misconduct sufficient to bar the individual from professional 
practice in the country. 
 
 
SEC. 51. Recognition of Foreign Driving Licenses. – Foreign driving licenses of 
eligible assisting international actors shall be accorded temporary recognition during the 
International Disaster Relief and Initial Recovery Periods. 
 
SEC. 52. Facilitation of Access. – The international personnel of eligible assisting 


 
 
international actors shall be allowed access to disaster-affected areas and persons 
requiring Disaster Relief or Initial Recovery Assistance subject to coordination 
requirements as mandated by the Authority and limitations based on national security, 
public order or public health, weighed in the context of the urgency of the disaster needs. 
They shall be permitted to provide their goods and services directly to affected persons. 
 
ENTRY OF INTERNATIONAL DISASTER RELIEF GOODS AND EQUIPMENT 
 
 
SEC. 53. Customs Facilitation and Priority Treatment.  –  The Department shall 
facilitate the rapid importation of consignments of goods and equipment by eligible 
assisting actors and shall accord them priority treatment in handling. 
 
SEC. 54. Duty of Compliance by Eligible Assisting Actors. – In order to benefit 
from the aforementioned legal facilities, eligible assisting international actors shall: 
 
a. 
Declare that all the goods and equipment they seek to import under this Part 
are exclusively for Disaster Relief or Initial Recovery Assistance and that they 
comply with any relevant standards under Philippine laws; and 
b. 
Pack, classify and mark their consignments in accordance with the 
requirements described in this Act and its implementing rules and regulations. 
 
SEC. 55. Exemption from Import Duties, Taxes and Restrictions. – Consignments 
of goods and equipment by or on behalf of eligible assisting international actors shall 
benefit from: 
 
1. 
Exemption from all duties and taxes; 
2. 
Waiver of economic prohibitions and restrictions except for categories of  
special  goods  and  equipment  that  may  be  indicated  by  the Department; 
and 
3. 
Clearance without regard to the country of origin or the country from which 
the goods have arrived, subject to monitoring for reasons of public health and 
security. 
 
EXPEDITED ENTRY AND USE RESTRICTION FOR SPECIFIC INTERNATIONAL 
DISASTER RELIEF GOODS AND EQUIPMENT 
 
 
SEC. 56. Simplification of Documentation Requirements. – 
 
a. 
Consignment of goods and equipment sent by or on behalf of eligible assisting 
international actors shall be cleared or released on the basis of a simplified 
goods declaration providing the minimum information necessary for the 
Bureau of Customs to identify the goods and equipment and subject, when 
deemed necessary, to completion of a more complete declaration within a 
specified period. 
b. 
The requirements for the declaration for all imports of goods or equipment by 
or on behalf of eligible assisting international actors and any supporting 
documents relating to said consignment, release and clearance of goods or 
equipment shall be simplified and lodged without fee. 
 


 
 
SEC. 58. Medications. – Eligible assisting international actors shall be permitted to 
import and transport medications and medical equipment for the purpose of Disaster 
Relief or Initial Recovery Assistance so long as they conform to the implementing rules 
and regulations to be provided by the NDRC. 
 
SEC. 59. Food. – Food imported by eligible assisting international actors for disaster 
relief and recovery shall be admitted pursuant to expedited procedures set out by the 
DRC. 
 
SEC. 60. Imported Vehicles. – The granting of local registration and plates for 
vehicles imported by eligible assisting international actors shall be expedited. 
 
PERMITTED DISPOSITION OF EQUIPMENT AND UNUSED GOODS. 
 
 
SEC. 61. Disposition of Equipment and Unused Goods. – The DRC shall  provide 
for the guidelines for retention,  re-exportation, donation and disposal of unused goods 
and equipment after the termination of Disaster Relief and Initial Recovery Assistance 
operations. 
 
CHAPTER XVI 
RECOVERY 
 
 
SEC. 62. Standards for Recovery. – The Department shall observe 
 internationally accepted standards for recovery, planning, programming and 
implementation of the recovery process shall: 
 
1. 
 Improve  the  community’s  physical,  social  and  economic  resilience, 
consistent with the principle of “build forward better”; 
2. 
Use  locally-driven  and  centrally-supported  processes  based  on  legal 
mandates with supplementary capacity support when requested; 
3. 
Redirect development outside danger zones to minimize loss of lives and 
structures  resulting  from  typhoons,  flooding,  landslides,  and  other hazards 
4. 
Employ outcome-driven planning and implementation; 
5. 
Maximize use of private-public sector partnership where possible; 
6. 
Consider local conditions such as culture, security situation, and existing 
capacities of communities in identifying programs and projects; 
7. 
Ensure access to public transport, physical and mental health services, 
markets, schools, sustainable livelihoods, and other public services in 
planning for settlement areas; and 
8. 
Ensure  restoration  of  peace  and  order  and  recovery  of  government 
functions. 
 
CHAPTER XVII 
REMEDIAL MEASURES UNDER STATE OF CALAMITY 
 
 
SEC. 63. Remedial Measures under State of Calamity. – Upon the declaration of 
the state of calamity, the following remedial measures shall be immediately undertaken 
by concerned government agencies both of national and 
local levels: 
 


 
 
a. 
 Imposition of price ceiling on basic necessities and prime commodities by the 
National Price Control Council, as provided for under Republic Act No. 7581, 
otherwise known as the "Price Act”, as amended by Republic Act. No.10623; 
b. 
Monitoring, prevention and control by the Local Price Coordination Council of 
overpricing/profiteering and hoarding of prime commodities, medicines and 
petroleum products; 
c. 
Programming/reprogramming of funds for the repair of critical facilities or  
public  infrastructures  that  are  vital  for  the  quick delivery of humanitarian 
assistance, to reduce further threat to lives and arrest further deterioration of 
properties and loss of livelihoods in the affected communities, following the 
“build better forward” principle: 
1. Grant  of  no-interest  loans  by  government  financing  or  lending 
institutions  to  the  most  vulnerable  and  marginalized  groups  or 
individuals; and 
2.  cal tax exemptions, incentives or reliefs under such terms and conditions  
as  may  be  deemed  necessary  by  the  affected  local government unit. 
 
CHAPTER XVIII 
PROCUREMENT 
 
 
SEC. 64. General Rule on Procurement. – Any procurement of goods, services,  
consultancy  or  infrastructure  for  disaster  risk  and  vulnerability reduction and climate 
risk, whether at the national or local level shall conform to the provisions and 
Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 9184 otherwise known as 
“Government Procurement Reform Act”, as amended. 
 
SEC. 65. Emergency Procurement. – In order to expedite disaster response and early 
recovery, the procurement or lease of equipment and delivery of goods and services 
through emergency procurement or purchase at site shall be allowed. Periods of action 
on procurement activities may also be waived for the same purpose and conditions. 
 
CHAPTER XIX 
PROHIBITED ACTS AND BENALTIES 
 
 
SEC. 66. Prohibited Acts. – Any public official, private person, group or 
corporation who commits any of the following prohibited acts shall be liable and be 
subjected to the criminal and administrative penalties as provided for in Section 67 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 duties which leads to destruction, loss of lives, critical damage 
of facilities and misuse of funds; 
2. Failure to create a functional LDR Office within six (6) months from approval 
of this Act; 
3. Failure to appoint a permanent local disaster resilience officer within six (6) 
months from approval of this Act; 
4. Failure to prepare and implement a Contingency and Adaptation Plan for 
hazards frequently occurring within their jurisdictions; 
5. Failure to formulate and implement the LDRP with the corresponding budget 
allocation; 


 
 
6. Sexual exploitation and abuse, and other forms of sexual misconduct to the 
affected population or at-risk communities shall be punishable under existing 
criminal and administrative laws. 
 
b. 
Prohibited Acts of Public Officials and Private Persons or Institutions – 
 
1. 
Delaying,  without  justifiable cause in the delivery or improper handling or 
storage of aid commodities, 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 disaster affected persons, 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 misdelivery of 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 not intended for nor consigned to them; 
10. Misrepresenting the source of relief goods, equipment, or other aid 
commodities by: 
a. 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 persons; 
b. Making a false verbal claim that the goods, equipment or other and 
commodities in their untampered original containers actually came from 
another agency or persons or was released upon the instance of a particular 
agency or persons; 
11. Substituting  or  replacing  relief  goods,  equipment,  or  other  aid 
commodities with the same items or of inferior/cheaper quality; 
12. Illegal solicitations by  persons  or  organizations  representing  others as 
defined in the standards and guidelines set by the NDRC; 
13. Deliberate use of false or inflated data in support of the request for funding,  
relief  goods,  equipment,  or  other  aid  commodities  for emergency 
assistance or livelihood projects; 
14. Stealing, taking, or possessing of any of the equipment, accessories and other 
vital facility or items or any part thereof; 
15. Selling or buying stolen equipment, accessories, and other vital facility items 
or any part thereof; 
16. Tampering with or stealing hazard monitoring and disaster preparedness 
equipment and paraphernalia. 
17. Attempting to commit any of the abovementioned prohibited acts; and 
18. Benefitting from the proceeds or fruits of any of the abovementioned 


 
 
prohibited acts knowing that the proceeds or fruits are derived from the 
commission of the prohibited acts. 
19. Over  pricing,  profiteering  and  hoarding  of  prime  commodities, 
medicines and petroleum products as defined in section 5 of RA 7581 
20. Unnecessary increase of price on basic commodities during disaster subject 
to rules and regulations of DTI, LPCC, and other related agencies 
21. Dissemination of false information that caused panic, injury, and death 
 
 
SEC. 67. Penalties. — The following penalties shall be imposed on any 
individual, corporation, partnership, association or other juridical entity that 
commits any of the prohibited acts in the preceding section: 
 
a. 
Imprisonment of not less than twelve (12) years but not more than fifteen (15) 
years or a fine of not less than One million pesos (Php1,000,000.00) but not 
more than Three million pesos (Php3,000,000.00), or both imprisonment and 
fine at the discretion of the court shall be imposed upon any person found 
guilty of violating subsections (b)(1) to (b)(16), as well as the confiscation or 
forfeiture in favor of the government of the objects and the instrumentalities 
used in the commission of the prohibited acts; 
b. 
Imprisonment of not less than six (6) years but not more than eight (8) years  
or  a  fine  of  not  less  than  Five  hundred  thousand pesos (Php500,000.00) 
but not more than One million pesos (Php1,000,000.00), or both 
imprisonment and fine at the discretion of the court, shall be imposed upon 
any person who attempts to commit any of the prohibited acts in the 
preceding section, in violation of subsection (b)(17) thereof; 
c. 
Imprisonment of not less than two (2) years but not more than six (6) years or 
a fine of not less than Two hundred thousand pesos (Php200,000.00) but not 
more than Five hundred thousand pesos (Php500,000.00), or both 
imprisonment and fine at the discretion of the court, shall be imposed upon 
any person found guilty of unlawfully benefiting from the proceeds or fruits 
of any of the prohibited in the preceding section, in violation of subsection 
(b)(18) thereof; 
d. 
Perpetual disqualification from public office aside from the penalty of fine or 
imprisonment or both, shall be imposed if the offender is a public officer, and 
confiscation or forfeiture in favor of the government of the objects and the 
instrumentalities used in the commission of any of the prohibited in the 
preceding section; 
e. 
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 these entities’ 
registration, license or accreditation issued to them by any licensing or 
accredited body of the government. If such offender is an alien, the person 
shall, in addition to the penalties prescribed in this Act, be deported without 
further proceedings after service of the sentence; 
f. 
Payment of the full cost of repair or replacement of the government risk 
reduction and preparedness equipment, accessories and other vital facility 
items, or any part thereof, which is the object of the crime shall likewise be 
imposed upon any person who shall commit any of the prohibited acts in the 
preceding section; and 
 
The prosecution for offenses set forth under the preceding section shall be 


 
 
without prejudice to any criminal liability for violation of Act No. 3815, as 
amended, otherwise known as the “Revised Penal Code”, and other existing 
laws, as well as the imposition of applicable administrative or civil liabilities. 
 
CHAPTER XX 
APPROPRIATIONS 
 
 
SEC. 68. Appropriations. – 
 
1. 
The amount needed for the initial implementation of this Act shall be taken 
from the current fiscal year’s unexpended appropriation of all agencies 
herein absorbed, transferred, and attached to the Department. Thereafter, the 
amount needed for the operation and maintenance of the Department shall 
be included in the General Appropriations Act. 
2. 
National Disaster Resilience Fund (NDRF). The utilization and allocation of  
the  entire  NDRF  (Calamity  Fund)  and  its  quick  response  fund 
component shall be managed by the Department except as provided for by 
specific laws. 
3. 
Local Disaster Resilience Fund (LDRF). Not less than seven percent (7%) of 
the estimated revenue from regular sources shall be set aside as the LDRF to 
support disaster risk and vulnerability reduction and climate change 
adaptation and mitigation programs, projects and activities. The LDRC shall 
monitor and evaluate the use and disbursement of the LDRF based on the 
LDRP as incorporated in the local development plans and annual work and 
financial plan. Upon the recommendation of the LDRO and approval of the 
sanggunian concerned, the LDRC may transfer the said fund to support the 
disaster risk and vulnerability reduction and climate change adaptation work 
and initiatives of other LDRCs that are declared under a state of calamity. 
4. 
Of the amount appropriated for LDRF, twenty percent (20%) shall be 
allocated as Quick Response Fund (QRF) or stand-by fund for prepositioning 
of goods and relief and early recovery programs in order that the situation 
and living conditions of people in communities or areas stricken  by  
disasters,  epidemics,  or  complex  emergencies,  may  be normalized as 
quickly as possible. 
5. 
Of the annual appropriation of LDRF, eighty percent (80%) shall be 
appropriated for climate change adaptation, disaster risk and vulnerability 
reduction, prevention, adaptation and mitigation programs, project ands, 
activities focusing on both institutional capacity building of vulnerable 
communities and risk-reducing infrastructure. The NDRC shall pass a 
resolution to set the priority allocations and govern and trigger the 
acceleration and implementation of this section. 
6. 
Of the amount appropriated for the Disaster Resilience Fund, twenty percent 
(20%) shall be allocated as Quick Response Fund (QRF) or stand- by fund for 
prepositioning of goods and equipment and relief and early recovery 
programs in order that situation and living conditions of people in 
communities or areas stricken by disasters, epidemics, or complex 
emergencies, may be normalized as quickly as possible. 
7. 
All departments/agencies and LGUs that are allocated with Local Disaster 
Resilience Fund shall submit to the Department their monthly statements on 
the utilization of Local Disaster Resilience Funds and make an accounting 
thereof in accordance with existing accounting and auditing rules. 
8. 
All departments, bureaus, offices and agencies of the government are hereby 


 
 
authorized to use a portion of their appropriations to implement projects  
designed  to  address  disaster  risk  and  vulnerable  reduction- climate  
change  adaptation  activities  in  accordance  with  the  Disaster Resilience 
Plan and the guidelines to be issued by the DRC in coordination with the 
Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and Commission on Audit 
(COA). Unexpended LDRF shall accrue to a trust fund solely for the purpose 
of supporting disaster risk reduction and management and climate change 
adaptation activities of the LDRCs within the next two (2) years. Any such 
amount still not fully utilized after two (2) years shall revert back to the 
general fund and will be available for other social services to be identified by 
the local sanggunian. The NDRC shall issue guidelines on the utilization and 
release of LDRF in coordination with other concerned government agencies. 
9. 
Prevention, Mitigation and Preparedness Fund for third (3rd) to sixth (6th) 
class provinces and municipalities. There shall be in the annual General 
Appropriations Act an amount allotted solely for the use of 3rd to 6th class 
provinces and municipalities for the purpose of augmenting their LDRF with 
respect to plans, programs, projects, and procurement for climate change 
adaptation, disaster risk prevention, mitigation, and preparedness. The 
requirements to avail of this fund shall be laid down in rules and regulations 
to be promulgated by the Secretary. 
 
CHAPTER XXI 
FINAL PROVISIONS 
 
SEC. 69. Transfer and Attachment. — 
 
a. 
The applicable powers, functions, funds, and appropriations of the Office of 
Civil Defense (OCD) and the Climate Change Office (CCO), Geo-Hazard 
Assessment and Engineering Geology Section of Mines and Geosciences 
Bureau (MGB), Health and Emergency Management Bureau of the 
Department of Health (DOH), the Disaster Response Assistance and 
Management Bureau (DREAMB) of the DSWD, and the Bureau of Fire 
Protection are hereby transferred to the Department. 
b. 
The disaster risk reduction and management functions, assets and personnel 
of the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) currently under the DND, are hereby 
transferred to the Department, and  the civil defense functions shall remain 
with the DND; 
c. 
The existing organizational and administrative systems and processes of the  
transferred  OCD  shall  serve  as  the  core  organization  of  the Department. 
d. 
The Climate Change Office of the Climate Change Commission continue its 
functions under Republic Act No. 10174 under the Department. The 
following agencies are hereby attached to the Department: 
1. 
Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services 
Administration (PAGASA); and 
2. 
Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS).  
 
The employees of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) shall remain as a 
distinct  entity  within  the  Department  including  their  uniformed 
personnel status and benefits. 
 
The Department shall, by virtue of this Act, be subrogated to all the rights 
and assume all the liabilities of the agencies absorbed 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. 70. Separation Benefits of Officials and Employees of Affected Agencies – 
National government employees displaced or separated from the service as a result of 
this Act shall be entitled to separation pay and other benefits in accordance with 
Republic Act No. 6656, otherwise known as “Government Reorganization Law” and 
other existing laws, rules or regulations. Provided, That those who are qualified to retire 
under existing retirement laws shall be allowed to retire and receive retirement benefits 
to which they may be entitled under applicable laws and issuances. 
 
 SEC. 71. Magna Carta for DDR Personnel. Qualified employees of the DDR, 
Local Government Units and its attached units shall be covered by Republic Act No. 
8439, known as the Magna Carta for Scientists, Engineers, Researchers and Other 
Science and Technology Personnel in the Government, and Republic Act No. 7005, 
otherwise known as “Magna Carta for Public Health Workers.” 
 
CHAPTER XXII 
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS 
 
SEC. 72. Implementing Rules and Regulations. The Department, in consultation 
with concerned stakeholders, shall issue the necessary rules and regulations for the 
effective implementation of this Act within ninety (90) days from the effectivity of this 
Act. 
 
SEC. 73. Congressional Oversight Committee. - There shall be created a  
Congressional  Oversight Committee on Climate Change and Disaster Resilience to 
monitor and oversee the implementation of the provisions of this Act. The Committee 
shall be composed of six (6) members from the Senate and six (6) members from the 
House of Representatives with the Chairpersons of the Committees on National Defense 
and Security of both the Senate and the House of Representatives as joint Chairpersons 
of this Committee. The five (5) other members from each Chamber are to be designated 
by the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, respectively. 
The minority shall be entitled to pro rata representation but shall have at least two (2) 
representatives from each Chamber. 
 
SEC. 74. Review. Five (5) years after the effectivity of this Act, or as the  need  arises, 
the Congressional Oversight Committee shall conduct a systematic evaluation by the 
Congressional Oversight Committee of the accomplishments and impact of this Act, as 
well as the performance and organizational structure of its implementing agencies, for 
purposes of determining remedial legislation. 
 
SEC. 75. Separability Clause. If any provision of this Act shall be declared 
unconstitutional or invalid, the other provisions not otherwise affected shall remain in 
full force and effect.  
 
SECTION 76. Repealing Clause. – 
 


 
 
1. 
Republic Act No. 10121, otherwise known as the Philippine Disaster Risk; 
Reduction and Management Act of 2010, is hereby repealed. 
2. 
The following provisions are hereby amended or modified, accordingly: 
a. Section 30 of Executive Order No. 128, Series of 1987, otherwise known as 
the Reorganization Act of the National Science and Technology 
Authority; 
b. Section 6 of Republic Act 6975, otherwise known as the Department of the 
Interior and Local Government Act of 1990; 
c. Section 3(d) and 5 of Republic Act No. 9729, otherwise known as the 
Climate Change Act of 2009, as amended by Republic Act No. 10174; 
d. Section 4 of Republic Act No. 10639, otherwise known as the Free Mobile 
Disaster Alerts Act; and 
e. Section 5 of Republic Act No. 10692, otherwise known as the PAGASA 
Modernization Act of 2016’ 
 
3. 
All other laws, decrees, executive orders and issuances, proclamations, rules  
and  regulations,  and  other  issuances  or  parts  thereof  that  are 
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby  repealed  or amended, 
accordingly. 
 
SEC. 77. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication 
in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
 
Approved,