FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
) ' 
7 JN I3 E9:39 
First Regular Session 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
S E N A T E  
Senate Bill No. 6 9 9 
L ,  
INTRODUCED BY SEN. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Our country has always been coping with a hostile environment, 
continuously expending efforts to survive against typhoons, floods, earthquakes, 
epidemics, fire and other calamities, both natural and man-made. 
P.D. 1566, which created the National Disaster Coordination Council, has 
been enacted in order to respond to these calamities. Unfortunately, the law does 
not completely address disaster issues. First, it confers disaster management 
responsibilities to the Department of National Defense, which has difficulty 
handling the same as it has already been saddled with numerous responsibilities. 
Second, its provisions do not approach disaster issues in their entirety. 
The series of volcanic eruptions in the country and the recent onslaught of 
Typhoons claiming 36 lives and devastating millions of properties, signal the 
need to revise said decree and other appropriate existing laws. 
If the government were to effectively pursue a comprehensive disaster 
management program, it should create a separate body tasked to handle the 
same and address disaster issues in their totality, Le., prevention, mitigation, 
preparedness, emergency operations, relief, and rehabilitation, rather than the 
current emphasis on response operations. 
order to effectively undertake a comprehensive disaster management program. 
Hence, its immediate enactment into law is earnestly requested. 
This bill seeks to create the National Disaster Management Commission in 
c_) 
Senator 


FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
7 JUL -3 &’9:39 
J 
First Regular Session 
1 
S E N A T E  
Senate Bill No. 6 9 9 
I 
INTRODUCED BY SEN. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
AN ACT 
CREATING THE NATIONAL DISASTER MANAGEMENT COMMISSION, 
DEFINING ITS POWERS AND FUNCTIONS, PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR 
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacfed by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION I. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the 
“Comprehensive Disaster Management Act.” 
SEC 2. Declaration of State Policy. - It is hereby declared to be the 
policy of the State to develop, promote, and implement measures to prevent and 
counter the impact of disasters in the country, through collaboration of efforts and 
utilization of the resources of government, non-governmental organizations and 
other concerned sectors. 
SEC 3. Definition of Terms. -As used in this Act, 
I) 
Disaster - An event, natural or man-made, sudden or progressive, that 
seriously disrupts the functioning of a society, causing human, material, or 
environmental losses of such severity that the affected community has to 
respond by taking exceptional measures. The disruption (including 
essential services and means of livelihood) is on a scale that exceeds the 
ability of the affected society to cope with using only its own resources; 
2) Disaster Management - Disaster management includes all aspects of 
planning of and responding to disasters. It refers to the management of 
both the risks and the consequences of disasters, and includes both: 
prevention and preparedness measures taken in disaster-prone areas in 
anticipation of the known hazards - often referred to as “pre-disaster” and 
long-term rehabilitation (sometimes referred to as “reconstruction”); 
3) Disaster Preparedness - Measures that ensure the readiness and ability of 
a society to: (a) forecast and take precautionary measures in advance of 
an imminent threat (in cases where advance warnings are possible), and 
(b) respond to and cope with the effects of a disaster by organizing and 
delivering timely and effective rescue, relief, and other appropriate post 
disaster assistance. 


4) Emergency Situation - An extraordinary situation in which people are 
unable to meet their basic survival needs, and there are serious and 
immediate threats to human life and well being. 
5) Emergency Operation Centers - A suitably equipped and staffed area or 
room, from within which an emergency operation is conducted. 
6) Normal Phase (Normal Time) - A  period when there is no immediate threat 
but long-term actions are required in anticipation of the impact, at some 
unknown time in the future, of known hazards; 
7) Alert and Warning Phase - The period from the issuing of an alert or public 
warning of an imminent disaster threat to its actual impact, or the passage 
of the threat and the lifting of the warning. The period during which pre- 
impact precautionary, or disaster containment measures are taken; 
8) Disaster Phase - The period during which direct impact of a natural 
calamity is felt. Disaster phase is long in case of slow on-set disasters 
(draughts, normal monsoon flood) and short in case of rapid on-set 
disasters (flash flood, cyclone, earthquake, fire, industrial accident, 
landslide etc); 
9) Recovery Phase - The period, following the emergency phase, during 
which actions are to be taken to enable victims to resume normal lives and 
means of livelihood, and to restore infrastructure, services and the 
economy in a manner appropriate to long-term needs and defined 
development objectives. Recovery encompasses both rehabilitation and 
reconstruction, and may include the continuation of certain relief (welfare) 
measures in favor of particular disadvantaged, vulnerable groups. 
SEC 4. National Disaster Management Commission. - There shall be 
created a National Disaster Management Commission (hereinafter known as 
"Commission"). It shall be headed by a chairman and two commissioners who 
shall each have a term of four (4) years and shall be constituted by the President 
of the Philippines from among the list of nominees considered expert in the field 
of disaster management and preparedness. The chairman shall have the rank 
and 
privileges of 
a 
department undersecretary, and 
the appointive 
commissioners shall have the rank and privileges of assistant secretaries of a 
department. 
SEC 5. Status and Nature of the Commission. - The Commission shall 
be independent and autonomous and shall have the same status as that of a 
national government agency attached to the Office of the President. 
The Commission shall exercise corporate powers. It shall have a seal, 
may sue and be sued, and shall be the sole policy-making coordinating body of 
all disaster management programs. 
SEC 6. Powers of the Commission. - The Commission shall have the 
following powers: 
(1) To appoint the officers and other personnel of the Commission and fix 
their compensation, allowances and other emoluments, subject to the civil 
service and other existing applicable laws, rules and regulations; 


(2) To suspend, dismiss, or otherwise discipline for cause, any employee, 
and/or to approve or disapprove the appointment, transfer or detail of 
employees, subject to the provisions of existing laws and regulations; 
(3) To enter into contracts; 
(4) To acquire, use and control any land, building, facilities, equipment, 
instrument, tools, and rights required or otherwise necessary for the 
accomplishment of the objectives of the Commission; 
(5) To acquire, own, possess and dispose of any real or personal property; 
(6) To accept donations, gifts, bequests, and grants; 
(7) To ensure the implementation by various government departments and 
(8) To issue rules and regulations in pursuance of the provisions of this Act; 
(9) To perform any and all other acts incident to or required by virtue of its 
agencies of their disaster management programs; 
and 
creation 
SEC 7. Responsibilities of National Disaster Management Agency. - 
The Commission shall have the following responsibilities: 
(1) To formulate policy regarding Disaster Management and issue guidelines 
(2) To ensure coordination among various government agencies, the Armed 
Forces of the Philippines and concerned NOS, such as the Philippine 
National Red Cross, the Boy Scouts of the Philippines and other related 
organizations, in the planning process of disaster management; 
in this respect; 
(3) To arrange framing of law for prevention, mitigation, preparedness and 
disaster response; 
(4) To take necessary steps after evaluating the precautionary/preparedness 
measures immediately with the warning signals regarding imminent 
disaster; 
(5) To frame guidelines for distribution of relief materials and assign priority of 
steps during pre-disaster, disaster and post-disaster periods; 
(6) To consider other related issues and dispose of them; 
(7) To coordinate the activities of the government agencies concerned with 
(8) To scrutinize the disaster preparedness of different departments and 
(9) To take steps for coordination of relief operations in post-disaster recovery 
disaster management and evaluate the activities of the same; 
agencies every six months; 
period; 


(10) 
(11) 
To hold meetings with concerned departments, agencies and 
NGOs as often as necessary to effectively coordinate the national efforts 
on disaster preparedness emergency operations and recovery and 
rehabilitation activities: 
To advise and issue guidelines for other related issues; 
(12) 
To 
call 
on 
all 
other 
departments, 
bureaus, 
agencies, 
instrumentalities and corporations of the government and the private 
sector for assistance in preparing for, reacting to and recovering from the 
effects of disasters and civil emergencies; 
To coordinate the activities and functions of the various agencies 
and instrumentalities of the National Government and private institutions 
and civic organizations to implement the policies set by the Commission 
relative to disaster management; 
To prepare and disseminate disaster control manuals and other 
publications related to measures on disaster prevention, control and 
mitigation; and 
(13) 
(14) 
(15) To advise the President on matters concerning disaster management; 
A. Responsibilities regarding Disaster PreventionlMitigation 
(1) To recommend to the President regarding the prioritization and inclusion 
of disaster prevention/mitigation projects in the National Development 
Plan; 
(2) To determine the method of Disaster Impact Assessment (DIA) of large 
projects regarding their longevity against increasing disaster or damage 
during disaster; 
(3) To 
coordinate 
preparation 
and 
implementation 
of 
disaster 
preventionlmitigation projects and to recommend framing of policy, fixing 
priorities and distributing assets in this respect; 
(4) To arrange for increasing efficiency at all levels of disaster management 
(5) To monitor the disaster risks and their mitigation according to priorities in 
the national policy and their implementation and to keep the Commission 
informed of their progress; 
activities; 
B. Responsibilities regarding Disaster Preparedness 
1) To scrutinize the disaster forecasts and warning procedure and coordinate 
2) To review the action plan of all disaster related agencies; 
3) To monitor the overall disaster preparedness programmes and advise the 
4) To coordinate among different agencies responsible for educating people 
among the different agencies; 
President; 
concerning their duties during disasters; 


5) To ensure coordination among government agencies and NGOs 
responsible for imparting training on disaster management; 
training programs; 
reconstruction work: 
6) To extend help to concerned NGOs by sponsoring disaster management 
7) To ensure quick assessment of damage due to disaster and the quality of 
8) To maintain liaison with different government agencies, aid-giving 
agencies, NGOs and Voluntary Organizations and ensure their maximum 
cooperation and coordination in all matters of disaster management. 
C. Responsibilities to meet emergency situation 
1. Normal Phase 
a) To review existing disaster management programs every 3 (three) 
months; 
b) To identify disaster prone and special disaster prone areas and the 
population likely to be affected by the disaster; 
c) To update the list of foreign and private agencies willing to participate in 
the disaster preparedness, emergency response and rehabilitation 
programmes; 
d) To preserve information regarding food, relief materials and transports 
usable at all levels during disaster; 
e) To issue necessary orders for proper coordination of steps relating to 
disaster and response; 
f) To undertake various activities for creating awareness among the people, 
government employees and people of other professions for reducing risks 
during disaster. 
2. Alert and Warning Phase 
a) To issue orders, for dispatch of relief materials to required places and 
to keep the transports ready, in coordination with concerned 
government departments, agencies and instrumentalities; 
b) To direct local government units to establish Emergency Operation 
Center (EOC) of their own; 
c) To ensure direct communication with PAG-ASA and issue orders for 
collection of inputs (warning message and signal) from the department; 
d) To ensure publicity of warning signals through Radio, Television, 
Telegram, Fax, tele printer etc and also inform departments and other 
concerned agencies and officials; 
e) To keep the EOC open day and night; 


9 To call a meeting with the Committee in order to solicit participation 
from each member: 
g) To request the AFP to keep a helicopter and transport plane ready for 
reconnaissance of loss and damages and for relief operations and to 
keep water vessels ready for rescue and relief operations; 
h) To issue directives to evacuate to safer places for saving life and 
Property; 
i) To request the AFP to be on red alert for speedy mobilization to the 
affected areas; 
j) To instruct, in coordination with the DILG, authorities to requisition 
required transports for rescue and relief work; 
k) In consultation with PAG-ASA, to issue instructions to local 
administration for evaluation of the people likely to be affected to safer 
places; 
I) To arrange in advance necessary relief materials for the disaster prone 
areas; and 
m) To request the Department of Health and the Philippine National Red 
Cross to send medical teams to areas likely to be affected. 
3. Disaster Phase 
a) To request the AFP to keep vessels and air planes ready for assessment 
of loss and damage and rescue operations as soon as weather becomes 
favorable; 
b) To request the DOH and other concerned agencies to assist the AFP in 
respect of evacuation, relief and rescue operations on the basis of need; 
c) To coordinate rescue and relief work with NGOs; 
d) To collect information of loss and damage; 
e) To fix additional requirement of funds and materials for relief and 
rehabilitation work; 
9 To collect quickly funds and relief materials for gratuitous relief; 
g) To ensure rapid supply of additional equipmentlmaterials to places where 
telecommunication has been disrupted on account of disaster by 
coordinating with the Department of Transportation and Communications; 
4. Rehabilitation Stage 
a) To arrange, in coordination with concerned departments and agencies for 
b) To continue emergency rehabilitation work in affected areas until return of 
housing building grant, test relief and food for works programs; 
normalcy; 


c) To coordinate rehabilitation programs, extended by various government 
agencies and non-governmental organizations; 
d) To coordinate with the Department of Public Works and Highways for the 
construction of infrastructure projects particularly in gravely devastated 
areas; 
SEC 8. The Secretariat and the Executive Director. - The Commission 
shall organize a secretariat to be headed by an executive director who shall 
serve as the chief operating officer. The executive director shall be appointed by 
the President of the Philippines upon the recommendation of the Commission for 
a term of four (4) years with reappointment for another term, and must have the 
qualifications, rank and privileges of a bureau director. He must possess 
executive and management experience of at least three (3) ye ars and with 
considerable exposure to disaster management programs. He shall be 
responsible for the effective implementation of the policies promulgated by the 
Commission and shall also direct and supervise the day-to-day operations of the 
Commission. 
The staffing pattern and compensation schedule of the secretariat shall be 
drawn up in accordance with existing laws, rules and regulations. 
SEC 9. Duties and Responsibilities of the Secretariat - The Secretariat 
shall be responsible for: 
a) Ensuring an effective and efficient performance of the functions of the 
Commission and prompt implementation of the programs; 
b) Proposing specific allocation of resources for projects instated under the 
approved programs; 
accomplishment of programs and projects; 
c) Submitting periodic reports to the Commission on the progress and 
d) Preparing an annual report on all activities of the Commission; 
e) Providing and performing general administrative and technical staff 
support; and 
f) Performing such other functions as the Commission may deem necessary. 
SECTION I O .  National Disaster Management Advisory Committee. - 
There shall be created a National Disaster Management Advisory 
Committee, hereinafter known as "Committee" to be composed of the following: 
a) Secretary, Department of Health (DOH), Chairman 
b) Secretary, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Vice 
Chairman 
c) Secretary, .Department of National Defense (DND), Member 
d) Secretary, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Member 


e) Secretary, Department of Agriculture (DA), Member 
f) Secretary, Department of Education (DepEd), Member 
g) Secretary, Department of Finance (DOF), Member 
h) Secretary, Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Member 
i) Secretary, Department of Justice (DOJ), Member 
j) Secretary, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Member 
k) Secretary, Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Member 
t) 
Secretary, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), 
Member 
m) Chief of Staff, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Member 
n) Secretary-General, Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC), Member 
The Committee shall meet once every three (3) months, or as often as 
may be necessary upon call of its chairman, advise and be consulted by the 
Commission on important matters relating to disaster management. 
The Committee may form task forces which shall convene between the 
meetings. The Commission shall provide the technical support and the 
secretariat required by the Council to function according to this Act. 
SEC 11. Advisory Capacity. - The Committee shall be the advisory arm 
of the Commission, tasked primarily to formulate policy programs which the 
Commission may adopt. Specifically, the Committee shall have the following 
responsibilities 
I) 
To advise the Commission on technical management and socio-economic 
aspects of Disaster Preventionlmitigation, preparedness, emergency 
response and development (rehabilitation and reconstruction matters); 
2) To alert the Commission about the risk of disaster and mitigation 
possibilities and encourage them in respect of workshop, training and 
research; 
3) To create a forum for discussion by experts on the risk of disaster, 
opening opportunities for cooperation towards solution of problems 
relating to disaster management; 
4) To recommend release of funds for special project works and also for 
introduction of special emergency methods or empowerment, if needed; 
5) To recommend solution of problems identified by the Commission; 
6) To propose long term rehabilitation plans; 
7) To evaluate and approve programmes undertaken by the Commission in 
order to meet the disaster and submit a report with recommendations to 
the Commission; 


8) Propose legislation on Disaster, Preparedness and Mitigation and other 
instructions. 
SEC 12. Ofher Responsibilifies - The members of the Committee shall 
also have the following responsibilities: 
1) The DlLG Secretary shall be responsible for overseeing the organization 
of, disaster coordinating councils and the establishment of operation 
centers of all local governments; 
2) The Labor Secretary shall be responsible for the organization of disaster 
control groups in all factories and industrial complexes, utilizing the 
existing safety committee therein; 
3) The DepED Secretary shall be responsible for the organization of disaster 
control groups and reaction teams in all schools and institutions of 
learning; 
4) The DTI Secretary shall be responsible for the organization of disaster 
control groups and reaction teams in large buildings used for commercial 
and recreational purposes; 
5) The DSWD Secretary shall be responsible in the extension of emergency 
relief assistance and social services to the victims which will immediately 
restore them to rehabilitation and a life of normalcy; 
6) The DOH Secretary shall provide medicines and other relief materials and 
prepare medical teams to be dispatched whenever necessary, provide 
emergency medical treatment of disaster victims and subsequent 
hospitalization if necessary, provide medicine, other medical supplies and 
equipment, institute preventive and curative measures to check and 
control occurrence and spread of disease, maintain sanitary conditions in 
disaster affected areas, check and monitor quality of water supplies in 
disaster affected areas, recommend evacuation when necessary and 
advise on health resources to cover evacuation requirements, and provide 
field hospital and resources at the disaster site, if necessary; 
All members of the Committee shall make available their personnel, 
facilities and expertise to effectively carry out the functions of the Commission. 
SEC 13. Appropriations. - There is hereby authorized to be appropriated 
the amount of Seventy Million Pesos (P70,000,000) as additional funding for the 
Commission to be charged against the unexpended contingency funds of the 
Office of the President. Thereafter, the amount needed for the operation and 
maintenance of the Commission shall be included in the annual General 
Appropriations Act: Provided, That operating expenses of the Commission itself 
shall not exceed ten percent (10%) of the annual appropriation and that at least 
ninety percent (90%) of said annual appropriation shall be disbursed for disaster 
management programs, projects and activities. 
SEC 14. Rules and Regulations. - The Commission shall issue rules and 
regulations to implement this Act. 


SEC 15. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof, is held 
invalid or unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise 
affected shall remain valid and subsisting. 
SEC 16. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, 
executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation 
contrary to or inconsistent with the provision of this Act is hereby repealed, 
modified or amended accordingly. 
SECTION 17. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) 
days after its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved,