Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILLNO._5'7'74

Introduced by REP. ANTHONY G. DEL ROSARIO

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Climate change is a daunting reality that we have to deal with. Over the years, its
ill effects have manifested in the worst ways possible.

Here in the Philippines, natural calamities are a common occurrence. We
witnessed several typhoons which caused massive damage to lives and properties. The
deadliest of which was Supertyphoon Yolanda (Haiyan) that left over 6,000 people dead
and affected over 14 million when it hit Leyte and its neighboring provinces in the
Visayas Region in November of 2013.

Left with no choice, we have learned to cope with disasters through our resilience
and spirit of volunteerism. It is not unusual for Filipinos to be one another's source of
strength and support during the hard times. In the wake of typhoons, we can expect
several volunteers who willingly take on jobs needed for rescue, relief and recovery
operations,

In view of the impending dangers that climate change is most likely to bring in the
country, it is mandatory to intensify the disaster preparedness efforts and make them
proactive. As we gear towards that direction, it is fitting to involve the youth sector in this
discourse and institutionalize its participation. The young people should be tapped in
both the national and local disaster risk reduction and management initiatives. After all,
they should be given the ownership and responsibility to advocate for their right to a
balanced and healthy ecology.

This measure seeks to amend Republic Act No. 10121, otherwise known as “The
Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010" by including youth
participation as represented by the National Youth Commission (NYC). It is hoped that
the youth will be empowered to take an active part in the decision-making and planning
on prevention, preparedness, service and education on issues relative to climate
change

It is for the foregoing reasons that the approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

REP, ONY G. DEL ROSARIO


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS.
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 5774

Introduced by REP. ANTHONY G. DEL ROSARIO

AN ACT
INCLUDING RESPONSIVE, EMPOWERED AND SERVICE-CENTERED YOUTH IN
THE DISASTER RISK REDUCTION AND MANAGEMENT COUNCIL IN ALL.
LEVELS, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO, 10121,
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE PHILIPPINE DISASTER RISK REDUCTION AND
MANAGEMENT ACT OF 2010

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:

Section 1. This Act shall be known as the “Youth Participation in Disaster Risk
Reduction and Management Act of 2014.”

Section 2. Section 3 of Republic Act No. 10121 is hereby amended as follows:

Section 3. Definition of Terms. - For purposes of this Act, the following shall refer
to:

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(PP) “YOUTH” — REFERS TO THOSE PERSONS AGED FIFTEEN (15) TO
THIRTY (30) YEARS OLD AS PROVIDED UNDER REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8044.

(QQ) “YOUTH PARTICIPATION” ~- REFERS TO THE PROCESS OF
INVOLVING YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE INSTITUTIONS AND DECISIONS THAT
AFFECT THEIR LIVES INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO ORGANIZING
GROUPS FOR SOCIAL AND POLITICAL ACTIONS, PLANNING THEIR
PROGRAMS, AND ADVOCATING THEIR INTERESTS IN THE COMMUNITY
TO RAISE CONSCIOUSNESS, EDUCATE OTHERS, AND PROVIDE
SERVICES.

Section 3. Section 5 of RA No. 10121 is hereby amended as follows:

Section 5. National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council. - The
present National Disaster Coordinating Council or NDCC shall henceforth be
known as the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council,
hereinafter referred to as the NDRRMC or the National Council

The National Council shall be headed by the Secretary of the Department of
National Defense (DND) as Chairperson with the Secretary of the Department of
Interior and Local Government (DILG) as Vice Chairperson for Disaster
Response, the Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST)
as Vice Chairperson for Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, and the Director-
General of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) as Vice
Chairperson for Disaster Rehabilitation and Recovery.


The National Council's members shall be the following:
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(v) Commissioner of the National Anti-Poverty Commission-Victims of
Disasters and Calamities Sector (NAPCVDC);

(W) CHAIRPERSON OF THE NATIONAL YOUTH COMMISSION

[(w)] (x) Chairperson, National Commission on the Role of Filipino
Women;

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Section 4. Section 7 is hereby amended to read as follows:

Section 7. Authority of NDRRMC Chairperson. — The Chairperson of the
NDRRMC may call upon other instrumentalities or entities of the government and
nongovernment, CIVIC, AND YOUTH ORGANIZATIONS, for assistance in terms
of the use of their facilities and resources for the protection and preservation of
life and properties in the whole range of disaster risk reduction and management.
This authority 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.

Section 5. Section 10 is hereby amended to read as follows:

Section 10. Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Organization at the
Regional Level. - The current Regional Disaster Coordinating Councils shall
henceforth be known as the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management
Councils (RORRMCs) which shall coordinate, integrate, supervise, and evaluate
activities of the LDRRMCs. The RDRRMC shall be responsible in ensuring
disaster sensitive regional development plans, and in case of emergencies shall
convene the different regional line agencies and concerned institutions and
authorities

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Section 6. Section 11 is hereby amended to read as follows:

Section 11. Organization at the Local Government Level. - The existing
Provincial, City and Municipal Disaster Coordinating Councils shall henceforth be
known as the Provincial, City, and Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and
Management Councils. The Barangay Disaster Coordinating Councils shall
cease to exist and its powers and functions shall henceforth be assumed by the
existing Barangay Development Councils (BDCs) which shall serve as the
LDRRMCs in every barangay.

(a) Composition: The LDRRMC shall be composed of, but not limited to, the
following:

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(15) The President of the Association of Barangay Captains (ABC),
member;


(16) A LOCAL YOUTH REPRESENTATIVE AS MAY BE DETERMINED
BY THE LGU, IN CONSONANCE WITH THE GUIDELINES ISSUED BY
NYC AND THE DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR AND LOCAL
GOVERNMENT (DILG);

{(16)] (17) The Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC), member;

[(17)] (18) Four (4) accredited CSOs, members; and

{(18)] (19) One (1) private sector representative, member.
Section 7. Section 12 is hereby amended to read as follows:

Section 12. Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (LORRMO). ~

(a) There shall be established an LDRRMO in every province, city and
municipality, and a Barangay Disaster Risk Reduction and Management
Committee (BDRRMC) in every barangay which shall be responsible for
setting the direction, development, implementation and coordination of
disaster risk management programs within their territorial jurisdiction.

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(b) The provincial, city and municipal DRRMOs or BDRRMCs shall perform the
following functions with impartiality given the emerging challenges brought by
disasters of our times:

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(8) Conduct continuous disaster monitoring and mobilize instrumentalities

and entities of the LGUs, CSOs, private groups and organized volunteers,
INCLUDING YOUTH ORGANIZATIONS, to utilize their facilities and
resources for protection and preservation of life and properties during
emergencies in accordance with existing policies and procedures:

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(17) MONITOR AND ENSURE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF RESPONSE
AND REHABILITATION PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH,
SUCH AS MENTAL HEALTH AND PSYCHO-SOCIAL SERVICES,
GENDER SENSITIVITY AND SECURITY, LIVELIHOOD, AND
EDUCATION;

[(17)] (18) Within its area, promote and raise public awareness of and
compliance with this Act and legislative provisions relevant to the purpose
of this Act;

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(d) The BORRMC shall be regular committee of the existing BDC and shall be
subject thereto. The punong barangay shall facilitate and ensure the
participation of at least ONE (1) YOUTH REPRESENTATIVE, THROUGH
THE GUIDELINES FORMULATED BY THE NYC AND THE DILG; THE SK
CHAIRPERSON; AND two (2) CSO representatives from existing and active
community-based people's organizations representing the most vulnerable
and marginalized groups in the barangay.

Section 8. Section 13 is hereby amended to read as follows:


Section 13. Accreditation, Mobilization, and Protection of Disaster Volunteers and
National Service Reserve Corps, CSOs and the Private Sector. - The
government agencies, CSOs, YOUTH ORGANIZATIONS, private sector and
LGUs may mobilize individuals or organize volunteers to augment their
respective personnel complement and logistical requirements in the delivery of
disaster risk reduction programs and activities. The agencies, CSOs, YOUTH
ORGANIZATIONS, 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 OCD, through LDRRMOs, for
accreditation and inclusion in the database of community disaster volunteers.

A national roster of ACVDs, National Service Reserve Corps., CSOs, YOUTH
ORGANIZATIONS, and the private sector shall be maintained by the OCD
through the LORRMOs. Accreditation shall be done at the municipal or city level.

YOUTH ORGANIZATIONS UNDER THE YOUTH ORGANIZATION
REGISTRATION PROGRAM (YORP) OF THE NYC, ESPECIALLY THOSE
THAT SPECIALIZE IN DISASTER RISK REDUCTION AND MANAGEMENT,
SHALL BE TAPPED BY THE NDRRMS TO ASSIST IN PREPARING FOR,
RESPONDING TO, AND RECOVERING FROM DISASTERS.

Mobilization of volunteers shall be in accordance with the guidelines to be
formulated by the NDRRMC consistent with the provision of the Act. Any
volunteer who incurs death or injury while engaged in any of the activities defined
under this Act shall be entitled to compensatory benefits and individual personnel
accident insurance as may be defined under the guidelines.

Section 9, Section 14 is hereby amended to read as follows:

Section 14, Integration of Disaster Risk Reduction Education into the Schoo!
Curricula and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Program and Mandatory Training for
the Public Sector Employees. - The DepED, the CHED, the Technical Education
and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), in coordination with the OCD, the
National Youth Commission (NYC), the DOST, the DENR, the DILG-BFP, the
DOH, the DSWD and other relevant agencies, shall integrate disaster risk
reduction and management education in the school curricula of secondary and
tertiary level of education, including the National Service Training Program
(NSTP), whether private or public including formal and non-formal, technical-
vocational, indigenous learning, and out of school youth courses and programs.

The NDRRMC, the RDRRMCs, the LDRRMCs, the LDRRMOs, the BDRRMCs,
the SK councils, AND THE BARANGAY YOUTH REPRESENTATIVE, shall
ENSURE COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION, SPECIFICALLY THE YOUTH,
[encourage community, specifically the youth participation] in disaster risk
reduction and management activities, such as organizing quick response groups,
particularly in identified disaster-prone areas, as well as the inclusion of disaster
tisk reduction and management program as part of the SK programs and
projects.

The public sector employees shall be trained in emergency response and
preparedness. The training is mandatory for such employees to comply with the
provision of this Act,

Section 10. Section 15 is hereby amended to read as follows:


Section 15. Coordination During Emergencies. - The LDRRMC shall take the
lead in preparing for, responding to, and recovering from the effects of any
disaster based of the following criteria

(a) The BDC, if a barangay is affected;
(bo) The city/municipal DRRMCs, if two (2) or more barangays are affected:

(c) The provincial DRRMC, if two (2) or more cities/municipalities are affected;
(d) The regional DRRMC, if two (2) or more provinces are affected; and

(e) The NDRRMC, if two (2) or more regions are affected

The NDRRMC and the intermediary LDRRMC shall always act as support to
LGUs which have the primary responsibility as first disaster responders. Private
sector and civil society groups, INCLUDING YOUTH ORGANIZATIONS, shall
work in accordance with the coordination mechanism and policies set by the
NDRRMC and concerned LDRRMCs.

Section 11. Section 21 is hereby amended to read as follows:

Section 21. Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund (LDRRMF). —
The present Local Calamity Fund shall henceforth be known as the Local
Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund (LDRRMF). Not less than five
percent (5%) of the estimated revenue from regular sources shall be set aside as
the LDRRMF to support disaster risk management activities such as, but not
limited to, pre-disaster preparedness programs including training, purchasing life-
saving rescue equipment, supplies and medicines, for post-disasters activities,
and for the payment of premiums on calamity insurance. The LDRRMC shall
monitor and evaluate the use and disbursement of LDRRMF based on the
LDRRMP as incorporated in the local development plans and annual work and
financial plan, Upon the recommendation of the LDRRMO and approval of the
sanggunian concerned, the LDRRMC may transfer the said fund to support
disaster risk reduction work or other LDRRMCs which are declared under state of
calamity.

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NOT LESS THAN FIVE PERCENT (5%) OF THE LDRRMF SHALL BE
ALLOCATED TO SUPPORT YOUTH-ORIENTED PRE- AND POST-DISASTER
ACTIVITIES INCLUDED IN THE YOUTH PLAN SUCH AS, BUT NOT LIMITED
TO, TREE-PLANTING, INFORMATION DISSEMINATION, AND CLIMATE
CHANGE ADAPTATION EFFORTS.

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Section 12. All other laws, decrees, executive orders, proclamations and other
executive issuances which are inconsistent with or contrary to the provisions of this Act
are hereby amended or repealed accordingly.

Section 13. If any provision of this Act shall be held unconstitutional or invalid, the other
provisions not otherwise affected shall remain in full force and effect.

Section 14. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following its complete publication
in the Official Gazette or in two (2) national newspapers of general circulation.

Approved