Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Constitution Hills, Quezon City 
 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
 
 
HOUSE BILL NO.  ________ 
 
 
Introduced by 2nd District of Agusan del Norte Representative 
HON. DALE B. CORVERA 
 
 
AN ACT 
CREATING THE DEPARTMENT OF DISASTER RESILIENCE, DEFINING ITS 
MANDATES, POWERS AND FUNCTIONS, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS 
THEREF  
 OR 
 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
 
 
Based on the World Risk Index 2022, the Philippines alarmingly ranked first (1st) in the world 
as the most affected country from extreme weather events. The World Risk Index is a tool used to 
assess and estimate the disaster risk of a country, using both external and internal hazard factors, 
including cyclones, floods, droughts, sea level rise and societal conditions.  
 
Because of its precarious location in the world, the Philippines perennially experiences 
catastrophic disasters, such as strong earthquakes and destructive tropical cyclones which causes loss 
of lives, destruction of properties and displacement of people. In fact, based on the Global Report on 
Internal Displacement 2022, the Philippines recorded its highest figures of internally displaced people 
in five years at 5.7 million in 2021.  
 
Worldwide, weather-related hazards accounted for 94% of the total displacements, largely due 
to implementation of pre-emptive evacuations in face of cyclones and floods. In the Philippines this 
is magnified by the archipelagic configuration of the country and the propensity of Filipinos to reside 
in coastal communities for livelihood and subsistence.  
The enactment of Republic Act No. 10121, otherwise known as the Philippine Disaster Risk 
Reduction and Management Act of 2010, aligned and harmonized the country’s National Disaster 
Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) System by mainstreaming the same in all national and 
local development processes. It created an inter-agency council known as the NDRRMC, headed the 
Secretary of the Department of National Defense (DND) as the Chairperson, with the Secretary of the 
Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) as Vice Chairperson for Disaster 
Preparedness, the Secretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) 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. It also includes as members the Secretaries of other Departments and 
heads of other government agencies of various disciplines, all of which execute other functions not 
principally related to DRRM. 


 
The creation of a department with special focus and expertise on DRRM programs, projects 
and activities will minimize, if not prevent, loss of lives, destruction of properties and displacement 
of people, attributable to disasters. It will help stabilize social and economic order, especially in areas 
considered as disaster high risk. 
 
Also, RA No. 10121 identified the Office of Civil Defense as the lead agency for the 
implementation the law and tasked it with the primary mission of administering a comprehensive 
national civil defense and disaster risk reduction and management program by providing leadership 
in the continuous development of strategic and systematic approaches as well as measures to reduce 
vulnerabilities and risks to hazards and manage the consequences of disasters. Hence, projects, 
programs and activities identified at the grassroot level as essential in pre-empting or addressing the 
catastrophic effects of disasters are submitted to the OCD, which will then forward the request to the 
NDRRMC for recommendation to the President of the Republic of the Philippines for approval. 
Unfortunately, it appears that submission to the OCD of the pr  oposed projects, programs and 
activities only add an additional layer of processing and delay the approval of the same. This runs 
counter intuitive to the essence of disaster risk response and management which must be swift and 
effective in order to minimize irreparable damages and consequences. 
 
Placing the National Disaster Resilience Fund (present NDRRM Fund) under the management 
and control of the proposed Department will align and harmonize the efforts of the national 
government in making the country more resilient to disaster and avoid piecemeal developments which 
are less effective. 
 
In view of the foregoing, immediate approval of this bill is earnestly sought. 
 
 
 
 
DALE B. CORVERA 
 
Representative 
 
2nd District of Agusan del Norte 
 
 


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Constitution Hills, Quezon City 
 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
 
 
HOUSE BILL NO.  ________ 
 
 
Introduced by 2nd District of Agusan del Norte Representative 
HON. DALE B. CORVERA 
 
 
AN ACT 
CREATING THE DEPARTMENT OF DISASTER RESILIENCE, DEFINING ITS 
MANDATES, POWERS AND FUNCTIONS, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS 
THEREFOR 
 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled: 
 
Article I 
GENERAL PROVISIONS 
 
SECTION 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as the "Disaster Resilience Act". 
 
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. – It shall be the policy of the State to: 
 
(a) 
Protect the lives and properties of its citizens by addressing and preventing the causes of 
vulnerabilities to natural disasters; 
 
(b) 
Uphold the sacredness of human life by efficiently and effectively addressing humanitarian 
emergencies, including calamities and disasters, through the establishment of a focused, streamlined, 
independent, empowered, capacitated, specialized agency on disaster risk reduction and management 
as well as emergency response, which is national in scope and civilian in character. The people are 
the most important assets of the nation, and all disaster risk and management efforts shall be 
responsive to the humanitarian needs of the people, the dignity and value of the human person, and 
respect for property; 
 
(c) 
Promote a simple, strategic, systematic, continuous, comprehensive, inclusive, and integrated 
approach to disaster risk reduction and management aimed at substantially reducing vulnerabilities 
and the risk of disasters and other humanitarian emergencies, towards the preservation of life and 
property, thereby ultimately preventing or deterring the loss of lives and protecting the social, 
economic, historical and cultural heritage, and environmental assets of the country; 
 
(d) 
Establish a permanent, institutionalized, cohesive, and comprehensive framework for disaster 
preparedness, prevention and mitigation, and response, to be implemented by a focused specialized 
agency with its own mandate, powers, and funding, and coordinating with the Philippine government, 
other foreign governments and financial institutions, international organizations, the private sector, 
and civil society. Disaster risk reduction and management shall first aim for the outright avoidance of 
the adverse impacts of hazards and related disasters. With the knowledge and capacities to effectively 
anticipate, respond to, and recover from the impacts of likely imminent or current hazard events or 


conditions, preparedness action shall be carried out in the most effective and efficient manner. In a 
disaster scenario, the response shall ensure the provision of emergency services and public assistance, 
during or immediately after a disaster; 
 
(e) 
Create an integrated, systematic, comprehensive, and cohesive plan to simplify, streamline, 
integrate, and coordinate the various programs, projects, and activities of the Government and such 
other actors or stakeholders in disaster risk reduction and management to ensure accountability, 
responsibility, and transparency as well as to ensure the efficient and effective performance of their 
functions; 
 
(f) 
Inculcate a culture of resilience and preparedness against natural disasters at the         national, 
regional, and local levels; 
 
(g) 
Establish a strong and empowered institution capable of responding to the greater   onslaught 
of normal or natural disasters brought by climate change, and spearhead efforts to ensure disaster 
resilience by delivering the highly critical and intertwined functions of disaster risk reduction and 
response, with a recovery strategy of "building forward better"; 
 
(h) 
Address the different concerns and needs of sectors with special needs or higher vulnerabilities 
such as women, children, elderly, persons with disabilities, and indigenous peoples with respect to 
disaster resilience and disaster management; 
 
(i) 
Foster an enabling environment for substantial and sustainable participation of 
nongovernment stakeholders such as civil society organizations, private groups, volunteers, and 
communities in disaster resilience programs and projects; 
 
(j) 
Adopt a whole-of-society, whole-of-government, and whole-of-nation approach in disaster 
preparedness to increase collaboration, planning, and dialogue among all sectors of society in 
preparing for natural disasters and in improving their strategies and action plans for disaster risk 
reduction; and 
 
(k) 
Strengthen the chain of command and establish a unified command system for disaster 
management. 
 
SEC. 3. Definition of Terms.  – As used in this Act: 
 
(a) 
Adaptation refers to the adjustment in natural or human systems in response to actual or 
expected climactic stimuli or their effects, which moderates harm or exploits beneficial opportunities; 
 
(b) 
Assisting actor refers to any assisting international or domestic actor following a disaster in 
the country; 
 
(c) 
Assisting domestic actor refers to any not-for-profit entity established under domestic laws, 
which is extending help following a disaster in the country; 
 
(d) 
Assisting international actor refers to any foreign State, organization, entity or individual 
extending help following a disaster within the country or transiting through the country to extend help 
following a disaster in another country; 
 
(e) 
Biological hazards refer to hazards that are of organic origin or conveyed by biological 
vectors, including pathogenic microorganisms, toxins, and bioactive substances. Examples are 
bacteria, viruses or parasites as well as venomous wildlife and insects, poisonous plants and 
mosquitoes carrying disease-causing agents; 


 
(f) 
Building forward better refers to an approach to building or reconstructing an area or 
community, which entails a shift from achieving simple recovery and restoration to creating safer, 
more adaptive, resilient, and inclusive communities; 
 
(g) 
Business continuity refers to the capability of an organization to continue the delivery of 
products or services at acceptable predefined levels following a disruptive incident; 
 
(h) 
Capacity refers to the combination of attributes and resources available within a community 
or area that can reduce the level of risk(s) from, or impact(s) of a disaster; 
 
(i) 
Civil society organizations (CSOs) refer to non-State actors whose aims are neither to generate 
profits nor to seek governing power, but to unite people to advance   shared goals and interests. CSOs 
may include non-government organizations (NGOs), professional associations, foundations, 
independent research institutions, community-based organizations, and social movements; 
 
(j) 
Climate change refers to a change in the state of the climate that can be identified by changes 
in the mean and/or the variability of its properties, and that persists in an extended period, typically 
decades or longer, whether due to natural internal processes or external forces such as modulation of 
the solar cycles, volcanic eruptions, and persistent anthropogenic changes in the composition of the 
atmosphere or in land use; 
 
(k) 
Complex emergency refers to a form of human-induced emergency in which the cause of the 
emergency as well as the assistance to the afflicted is complicated by an intense level of political 
considerations; 
 
(l) 
Consequence management refers to the totality of interventions and measures taken to restore 
essential operations and services in a permissive environment, including measures to protect public 
health and safety, restore essential government services, and provide emergency relief to individuals, 
stakeholders, and communities affected by the consequences of emergencies, hazards, and disasters; 
 
(m) 
Contingency planning refers to a management process that analyzes specific    potential events 
or emerging situations that might threaten society or the environment and establishes arrangements in 
advance to enable timely, effective, and appropriate responses to such events and situations; 
 
(n) 
Cultural heritage refers to the totality of cultural property preserved and developed through 
time and passed on to posterity; 
 
(o) 
Deterministic risk assessment refers to an assessment that considers the possible   disaster 
impacts of a single scenario, in contrast to probabilistic risk assessment which considers all possible 
scenarios, their likelihood, and associated impacts; 
 
(p) 
Development assistance refers to financial, material or other forms of assistance to support the 
economic, social, and environmental well-being of areas or people affected by a natural disaster; 
 
(q) 
Disability refers to an evolving concept that results from the interaction between 
persons with impairments, as defined under Republic Act No. 7277, otherwise known as the "Magna 
Carta for Disabled Persons" and attitudinal and environmental barriers that hinder their full and 
effective participation in society on an equal basis with others; 
 
(r) 
Disaster refers to a serious disruption of the functioning of a community or a society involving 
widespread human, material, economic or environmental losses and impacts, which exceeds the 
ability of the affected community to cope using its own resources. Disasters are often described as a 


result of the combination of: the exposure to a hazard; the conditions of vulnerability that are present; 
and insufficient capacity or measures to reduce or cope with the potential negative consequences. 
Disaster impacts may include loss of life, injury, disease, and other negative effects            on human, 
physical, mental and social well-being, together with damage to property, destruction of assets, loss 
of services, social and economic disruption and environmental degradation. Unless otherwise 
specifically indicated in this Act, the term "disaster" shall refer to “natural disaster"; 
 
(s) 
Disaster assistance refers to financial, material, or other forms of assistance to address the 
immediate and long-term needs of people, communities, or areas affected by a disaster. This term 
includes humanitarian assistance and development assistance; 
 
(t) 
Disaster management refers to the planning, organization, and application of   measures 
preparing for, responding to, and recovering from disasters; 
 
(u) 
Disaster mitigation refers to the reduction or limitation of the adverse impacts of disasters and 
its related hazards; 
 
(v) 
Disaster preparedness refers to the knowledge and capacities developed by governments, 
professional response and recovery organizations, communities and individuals to effectively 
anticipate, respond to, and recover from, the impacts of likely, imminent or current disasters and 
related hazards; 
 
(w) 
Disaster prevention refers to the intention to avoid, or the outright avoidance of potential 
adverse impacts of disasters and related hazards through action(s) taken in advance; 
 
(x) 
Disaster recovery refers to restoration or improvement of livelihoods and health, as well as 
economic, physical, social, cultural and environmental assets, systems and activities, of a disaster-
affected community or society, aligning with the principles of sustainable development and "build 
forward better" to avoid or reduce future disaster risk; 
 
(y) 
Disaster response or disaster relief refers to the provision of emergency services and public 
assistance during or immediately after a disaster in order to secure and save lives, reduce health 
impacts, ensure public safety and meet the basic subsistence needs of the people affected. Disaster 
response is predominantly focused on immediate and short-term needs and is sometimes called 
"disaster relief; 
 
(z) 
Disaster rehabilitation refers to restoration of basic services and facilities for the function of a 
community or a society affected by a disaster; 
 
(aa) 
Disaster resilience refers to the ability of a system, community, or society        exposed to 
hazards to resist, absorb, accommodate, adapt to, transform, and recover from the effects of a hazard, 
including the long-term impact of climate change, in a timely and efficient manner, including through 
the preservation and restoration of its essential basic structures and functions through risk 
management; 
 
(bb) 
Disaster risk refers to the potential losses in lives, health status, livelihoods, assets and services 
that may occur to a particular community or society due to a disaster in the future, and is determined 
by a combination of the vulnerability, capacity, exposure of persons and assets, hazard characteristics 
and the environment; 
 
(cc) 
Disaster risk governance refers to the manner in which public authorities, civil    servants, 
media, private sector, and civil society coordinate at community, national and regional levels in order 
to manage disaster and climate related risks. This includes ensuring that sufficient levels of capacity 


and resources are made available to prevent, prepare for, manage and recover from disasters. It also 
entails mechanisms, institutions, and processes for citizens to articulate their interests, exercise their 
legal rights and obligations, and mediate their differences; 
 
(dd) 
Disaster risk management refers to the systematic approach or process of implementing 
strategies, policies and programs to lessen the possibility and/or   adverse impacts of disasters and 
related hazards; 
 
(ee) 
Disaster risk reduction refers to the prevention of new, or reduction of existing, disaster risks 
and the management of residual risk, to enhance resilience to disasters; 
 
(ff) 
Early warning system refers to an integrated system of hazard monitoring, forecasting and 
prediction, disaster risk assessment, and communication and preparedness activities and processes 
that enable individuals, communities, national government agencies, local government units, the 
private sector, and others to take timely action to reduce disaster risks and adequately prepare for 
disasters; 
 
(gg) 
Emergency 
refers 
to 
unforeseen 
or 
sudden 
occurrence, 
especially 
danger,  
demanding immediate action; 
 
(hh) 
Emergency management refers to the organization and management of resources              and 
responsibilities for addressing all aspects of emergencies, in particular, preparedness, response and 
initial recovery steps; 
 
(ii) 
Environmental hazards refer to hazards which may be chemical, natural and biological, and 
can be created by environmental degradation or physical or chemical pollution in the air water and 
soil. However, many of the processes and phenomena that fall into this category may be termed drivers 
of hazard and risk rather than hazards in themselves, such as soil degradation, deforestation, loss of 
biodiversity, salinization and sea-level rise; 
 
(jj) 
Exposure refers to the situation of people, infrastructure, housing, production   capacities and 
other tangible human assets located in hazard-prone areas; 
 
(kk) 
Framework Agreement shall refer to a written agreement between a procuring entity and a 
supplier or service provider that identifies the terms and conditions under which specific purchases 
are made for the duration of the agreement. The Framework Agreement is in the nature of an option 
contract between the procuring entity and the bidder(s) granting the procuring entity the option to 
either       place an order for any of the goods or services identified in the Framework Agreement List 
or not buy at all, within the period of the Framework Agreement; 
 
(ll) 
Geological 
or 
geophysical 
hazards 
refer 
to 
hazards 
which 
originate 
from      
internal earth processes, such as earthquakes, volcanic activities and emissions, and related 
geophysical processes which include mass movements, landslides, rockslides, surface collapses and 
debris or mud flows. Hydrometeorological factors are important contributors to some of these 
processes. While tsunamis are triggered by undersea earthquakes and other geological events, they 
essentially become an oceanic process that is manifested as a coastal water-related hazards; 
 
(mm) Geographic information system refers to a database which contains, among others, geo-hazard 
assessments, information on climate change, and climate risk reduction and management; 
 
(nn) 
Geographically isolated and disadvantaged  area (GIDA) refers to an area  with a marginalized  
population, which is physically  and socio-economically  separated from the mainstream society and 
characterized  by physical factor such as isolated due to distance, weather conditions and 


transportation difficulties due to island,  upland  lowland,  landlocked,  hard to reach and  underserved 
communities;  and/or socio-economic factors such as high poverty incidence, presence of vulnerable 
sector, communities in or recovering from a situation of crisis or armed conflict; 
 
(oo) 
Hazard refers to a phenomenon, substance, human activity, or condition that may              
cause loss of life, injury or impacts to health; and social and economic disruption, environmental 
damage, or loss of or disruption to property, livelihood and/or services; 
 
(pp) 
Historical landmarks refer to sites or structures that are associated with events or achievements 
significant to Philippine history as declared by the National Historical Institute or the applicable 
agency; 
 
(qq) 
Human-induced disasters refer to disasters induced entirely or predominantly by human 
activities or choices, such as ideologically motivated conflict or criminality; 
 
(rr) 
Humanitarian assistance refers to financial, material or other similar forms of assistance to 
address the immediate needs of people affected by a natural disaster;  
 
(ss) 
Hydrometeorological hazards refer to hazards that are of atmospheric, hydrological and 
oceanographic origin, such as tropical cyclones also known as typhoons and hurricanes; floods, 
including flash floods, drought; heatwaves and cold spells, coastal storm surges, and marine 
heatwaves, extreme sea events, and sea level rise. Hydrometeorological conditions may also be a 
factor in other hazards such as landslides, wildland fires, locust plagues, epidemics, and in the 
transport and dispersal of toxic substances and volcanic eruption material; 
 
(tt) 
Impact and needs assessment refers to assessing the nature and magnitude of a disaster, its 
impact on affected populations, the type and extent of emergency, and the requirements for recovery 
and rehabilitation of the affected areas; 
 
(uu) 
Land-use planning refers to the process undertaken by public authorities to identify, evaluate, 
and decide on different options for the use of land, including consideration of long-term economic, 
social, and environmental objectives and the implications for different communities and interest 
groups, and the subsequent formulation and promulgation of plans that describe the permitted or 
acceptable uses; 
 
(vv) 
Legal facilities refer to entitlements and exemptions that are granted to assisting    domestic 
or international actors which are declared to be eligible pursuant to this Act and its implementing 
rules and regulations; 
 
(ww) Local Disaster Resilience Plan (LDRP) refers to a document prepared by a local government 
unit (LGU) based on the National Disaster Resilience Framework (NDRF) and National Disaster 
Resilience Plan and Investment Program (NDRPIP) that sets out specific programs, objectives, and 
goals to implement disaster risk management and climate change adaptation measures at the local 
level. The plan shall include among others, an evaluation and analysis of emerging disaster risks, 
hazards and vulnerabilities applicable to an LGU, and specific programs and activities to ensure 
responsive, effective, and the appropriate disaster preparedness and management at the local level; 
 
(xx) 
National continuity policy refers to a policy aimed at the development of an organizational 
culture that has the ability to provide a minimum level of service during interruptions, emergencies, 
and disasters, and return to full operations quickly; 
 
(yy) 
National cultural treasure refers to a unique cultural property found locally, possessing 
outstanding historical, cultural, artistic and/or scientific value which is highly significant and 


important to the country and nation, and officially declared as such by the pertinent cultural agency; 
 
(zz) 
National Disaster Resilience Framework (NDRF) refers to a framework that       
provides for a comprehensive, all-hazards, multi-sectoral, inter-agency and community-based 
approach to enable communities to resist, prevent, mitigate   against, absorb, accommodate, adapt to, 
recover, or build forward better from the effects of a hazard in a timely and efficient manner through, 
among others, disaster risk reduction and management and climate change adaptation and mitigation. 
The NDRF shall be composed of a National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Framework 
(NDRRMF), and National Framework Strategy on Climate Change (NFSCC); 
 
(aaa) National Disaster Resilience Plan and Investment Program (NDRPIP) refers to a plan 
formulated and implemented by the Department of Disaster Resilience in accordance with the NDRF 
that sets out the outcomes, goals and objectives, priorities, programs and corresponding action plans 
for disaster risk reduction, preparedness, and management, and climate change mitigation. It shall 
also include, among others, the goals, objectives and action plans for a National Continuity Policy; 
 
(bbb) Natural disaster refers to a disaster predominantly associated with and/or caused by natural 
processes or phenomena, such as those related to geology such as earthquakes, ground rupture, 
liquefaction, landslides, tsunamis, sinkholes, volcanic activity; hydrology and meteorology such as 
floods, severe winds, typhoons, storm surges, climatological variability such as extreme temperatures, 
El Niño, La Niña, and forest fires; biological events such as epidemics or pandemics caused by 
outbreaks of viral, bacterial, parasitic, fungal or prion infectious diseases affecting human, animal or  
plant life, insect infestations or swarms; and extraterrestrial events such as a meteorite or asteroid 
strikes; 
 
(ccc) Open data refer to facts and statistics that can be freely used, shared and built-on by anyone, 
anywhere, for any purpose, which must be available in bulk, free of charge, or at least at no more than 
a reasonable cost and permit people to use, re-use, and redistribute, intermix with other data providers; 
 
(ddd) Post-Disaster recovery refers to the restoration improvement where appropriate, of facilities, 
livelihood and living conditions, of disaster-affected communities, including efforts to reduce disaster 
risk factors, in accordance with the principle of "build forward better"; 
 
(eee) Preparedness refers to pre-disaster actions and measures being undertaken within the context 
of disaster risk reduction and management and are based on sound risk analysis as well as pre-disaster 
activities to avert or minimize loss of life and property such as community organizing, training, 
planning, equipping, stockpiling, hazard mapping, insuring of assets, and public information and 
education initiatives. This also includes the development or enhancement of an overall preparedness 
strategy, policy, institutional structure, warning and forecasting capabilities, and plans that      define 
measures geared to help at-risk communities safeguard their lives and assets            by being alert to 
hazards and taking appropriate action in the face of an imminent threat or an actual disaster; 
 
(fff) 
Prevention refers to activities and measures to avoid existing and new disaster risks, and the 
concept and intention to avoid potential adverse impacts of hazardous events; 
  
(ggg) Probabilistic risk assessment refers to the simulation of those future disasters based on 
scientific evidence, and which are likely to occur in order to resolve the problem posed by the limits 
of historical data by reproducing the physics of the phenomena and recreating the intensity of a large 
number of synthetic events, including all possible scenarios, their likelihood, and associated impacts;  
 
(hhh) Rehabilitation refers to measures that ensure the ability of affected communities or areas to 
restore their normal level of functioning by rebuilding livelihood and infrastructures and increasing 
the communities' organizational capacity; 


 
(iii) 
Resilience refers to the ability of a system, community or society exposed to hazards to resist, 
absorb, accommodate, and recover from the effects thereof in a timely and efficient manner, including 
through the preservation and restoration of its essential basic structures and functions in a manner that 
will make them more resistant to future risks;  
 
(jjj) 
Response refers to any concerted effort by two (2) or more agencies, public  
or private, to provide assistance or intervention during or immediately after a disaster to meet the life 
preservation and basic subsistence needs of those people affected and in the restoration of essential 
public activities and facilities; 
 
(kkk) Retrofitting refers to an act reinforcing or upgrading existing structures to make  
them more resistant and resilient to the damaging effects of hazards; 
 
(lll) 
Risk refers to the combination of the probability of an event and its negative consequences; 
 
(mmm)Risk assessment refers to a methodology to determine the nature and extent of  
risks 
by 
analyzing 
potential 
hazards 
and 
evaluating 
existing 
conditions 
of  
vulnerability that together could potentially harm exposed people, property, services, livelihood and 
the environment on which they depend. Risk assessment with associated risk mapping include: a 
review of the technical characteristics of hazards such as their location, intensity, frequency and 
probability; the analysis of exposure and vulnerability including the physical, social, health, 
economic, and environmental dimensions; and the evaluation of the effectiveness of prevailing and 
alternative coping capacities in respect to likely risk scenarios; 
 
(nnn) Risk transfer refers to the process of formally or informally shifting the financial consequences 
of particular risks from one party to another whereby a household, community, enterprise or State 
authority will obtain resources from the other party after a disaster occurs, in exchange for ongoing 
or compensatory social or financial benefits provided to that other party; 
 
(ooo) Safety stock refers to items of raw materials, component parts, or finished goods maintained 
in inventory in order to reduce the risk that such item will be out of stock, in anticipation of unforeseen 
shortages or unusual demand for such items; 
 
(ppp) State of Calamity refers to a condition involving mass casualty, disruption of  
means of livelihoods, and/or major damages to property, roads and normal way of  life of people in 
the affected areas as a result of the occurrence of natural or human-induced hazard; 
 
(qqq) Sustainable development refers to development that meets the needs of the present generation 
without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own. It contains within it two (2) 
key concepts: first, the concept of "needs", in particular, the essential needs of the world's poor, to 
which overriding priority should be given; and second, the idea of limitations imposed by the state of 
technology and social cohesion and harmony, and ecological integration of a sound and viable 
economy, responsible governance, and ecological integrity to ensure that human development now 
and through future generations is a life enhancing process; 
 
(rrr) 
Volunteers 
refer 
to 
individuals, 
groups 
or 
entities 
that 
offer 
and 
provide  
services or assistance, without compensation, to help people and areas affected by disasters; 
 
(sss) 
Vulnerability refers to the characteristics and circumstances of a community,  
system or asset that make it susceptible to the damaging effects of a hazard. Vulnerability may arise 
from various physical, social, economic, and environmental factors such as poor design and 
construction of buildings, inadequate protection of assets, lack of public information and awareness, 


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


'
1) Earthquake – ground rupture, ground shaking, liquefaction, tsunami, fire,  landslides, and 
seiche or lake water oscillation 
2) Volcanic activity – ash fall, pyroclastic flow, lava flow, lahar, fissuring, and  
volcanic gas 
3) Mass movement – landslides, debris flow, sinkholes 
 
(b) Hydrological, Oceanographic and Meteorological Phenomena and Related Hazards 
1) Tropical cyclone - severe winds, storm surge, rouge waves, severe rainfall  
including hail 
2) Flood, rain-triggered landslides, and storm surges 
3) Erosion 
4) Marine heatwaves, extreme sea events, and sea level rise 
 
(c) Climate Variability/Change with Related Hazards of Compound Events and Cascading  
Impacts 
1) El Nino or La Nina (ENSO) with associated rainfall and temperature (in particular,     
projected extreme ENSOs) 
2) Extreme temperature (heat wave or cold wave), extreme weather conditions      (drought or 
excessive rainfall) 
3) Wildfire (forest or land fires) 
 
(d) Biological and Related Hazards 
1) Epidemic/Pandemic - viral, bacterial, parasitic, fungal, prion infectious diseases 
2) Insect Infestation- grasshoppers/locusts 
 
(e) Extra-Terrestrial - Meteorite/Asteroid impact 
 
The Department shall manage and direct the implementation of national, local, and 
community-based disaster resilience and disaster management programs, projects and activities,  
including disaster response, recovery, and rehabilitation, when applicable, in collaboration with  
relevant  national  government  agencies,  LGUs,  CSOs,  academic  institutions  and  other  
stakeholders: Provided, That for human-induced disasters, the Department of the Interior and  
Local Government (DILG), Department of National Defense (DND), Department of Social  
Welfare and Development (DSWD), and other relevant government instrumentalities, including  
the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), Philippine National  
Police (PNP), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), and Office of Civil Defense (OCD), shall continue  
to perform their functions: Provided, further, That the Department shall remain as the lead  
agency m recovery and rehabilitation efforts in collaboration with all stakeholders when  
applicable. 
 
Notwithstanding, the mandates and powers stated herein shall be without prejudice  
to the President's directive to address natural, human-induced, or other disasters such as an  
epidemic. 
 
SEC. 5. Powers and Functions of the Department. - The Department shall exercise the 
following powers and functions, in collaboration with the relevant departments, agencies, and  
nongovernment stakeholders: 
 
(a) General Functions 
1) 
Conduct risk and vulnerability assessment at the local level based on the national  
criteria, and establish a database that includes, among others, an inventory of  
hazards to better prepare for and respond to natural disasters; 
 


2) 
Undertake the establishment or construction of evacuation centers that conform to the 
standards under the United Nations (UN) Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in 
Humanitarian Response or The Sphere Minimum Standards for Shelter and Settlement,  
and Republic Act No. 10821, otherwise known as the "Children's Emergency Relief and 
Protection Act", among others. The upkeep and maintenance of the evacuation centers  
shall be the responsibility of the concerned LGUs; 
 
3) 
Develop, maintain and update an integrated disaster management and disaster  
resilience information system that includes, among others, multi-hazard mapping, 
vulnerability and probabilistic risk assessments, early warning, exposure database, 
communication and emergency management systems at the national, regional, and  
provincial levels; 
 
4) 
Undertake the formulation and implementation of the government's policies, plans,  
programs, projects, and budget for disaster resilience including those related to  
disaster risk reduction, response, recovery, rehabilitation, and building forward  
better; 
 
5) 
Review and build upon, to the extent necessary, the existing disaster resilience  
framework, plans and strategies in the crafting of an NDRF and the corresponding  
NDRPIP; 
 
6) 
Oversee, review, and approve the translation, integration, and implementation of  
the NDRPIP into LDRPs; 
 
7) 
Facilitate the availability of highly competent DRR professionals at all levels and  
prescribe benefits, allowances, and similar emoluments for DRR professionals, as  
it may deem fit; 
 
8) 
Communicate and disseminate critical information to help the public prepare for,  
respond to, and recover from a disaster; 
 
9) 
Receive, manage, administer and control all the funds, assets and properties  
received by the Department to accomplish the purposes of this Act; 
 
10) 
Recommend to the President of the Philippines the declaration of a state of  
calamity due to a natural disaster, and the lifting thereof when conditions stabilize; 
 
11) 
Advise the President on matters concerning disaster resilience and make 
recommendations, as appropriate; 
 
12) 
Advance the country's interests relating to disaster resilience in the regional and  
global arena; 
 
13) 
Collaborate with any government entity to help ensure the attainment of the goals  
and objectives of this Act; and 
 
14) 
Perform such other functions, as provided by law or assignment of the President,  
and undertake all other necessary actions to ensure the attainment of the overall  
goals and objectives of this Act. 
 
 
(b) Disaster Risk Reduction 


1) 
Develop coordinated regional and local strategies for the effective prevention and  
mitigation of disaster risk resulting from natural hazards, including the effects of  
climate change; 
 
2) 
Develop and implement policies and programs relating to the construction of new  
settlements or relocation of settlements in safe areas which shall, to the extent such  
policies and programs relate to disaster risk reduction, mitigation, prevention or  
building forward better, prevail over policies or decisions of other government  
departments, 
government 
agencies, 
government 
owned 
and/or 
controlled  
corporations, LGUs, or other government institutions; 
 
3) 
Develop, in coordination with relevant government agencies, policies and  
programs 
on 
land-use 
planning, 
urban 
planning 
and 
zoning 
which 
shall,  
to the extent such policies and programs relate to disaster risk reduction,  
mitigation, 
prevention 
or 
building 
forward 
better, 
prevail 
over 
policies  
or 
decisions 
of 
other 
government 
departments, 
government 
agencies,  
government owned and/or controlled corporations, LGUs, or other government  
institutions; 
 
4) 
Establish or enhance standards for disaster preparedness and continuity planning,  
such as on infrastructure standards and designs; 
 
5) 
Collaborate with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and  
other relevant government agencies in the conduct of regular structural, safety audit  
of buildings and other types of infrastructure, and require the submission of  
necessary data, information or reports related thereto; 
 
6) 
Formulate a National Continuity Policy including plans and programs to implement  
government governance and business continuity;  
 
7) 
Ensure the use of advanced science and technology in the anticipatory planning  
of 
communities 
against 
the 
impact 
of 
natural 
hazards 
and 
climate 
change  
through consultation, and employment with a regular department funding for  
relevant academic or higher educational institutions with proven risk reduction  
record; 
 
8) 
Establish a system to ensure that all disaster-related data are accessible to all 
stakeholders to generate the best scientific information and technological products  
for use in disaster resilience; 
 
9) 
Ensure that all climate change-related hazards are included in the development of  
climate risk profiles of targeted LGUs as provided for in the Climate Risk and Management 
Framework (CRMF) policy document of the Climate Change Commission (CCC) and that the 
appropriate institutions such as the academe and other science experts or organizations who 
have the capability to develop or have developed methodologies to establish climate change 
risk profile are officially engaged; 
 
10) 
Undertake programs and projects to reduce the vulnerability of physical 
infrastructure, assets, and facilities including retrofitting, and structural and nonstructural 
upgrading, in coordination with the relevant government agencies; 
 
11) 
Call on relevant government agencies to develop alternative livelihood programs to 
reduce the vulnerability to disasters of certain areas or certain sectors of society; 


 
12) 
Formulate, facilitate and monitor efforts relating to certain resources or sectors  
toward addressing the long-term effects of climate change on sustainable development, such 
as 
water 
resources, 
agriculture, 
forestry, 
coastal 
and 
marine  
resources, health, and infrastructure, in coordination with relevant government  
agencies; 
 
13) 
Design and implement an incentive system for greater private and public investment, 
both at the local and national levels, on disaster risk reduction; 
 
14) 
Oversee and ensure the mainstreaming of climate change adaptation and disaster  
risk reduction in development and land use planning, and the preparation of contingency plans; 
 
15) 
Create an enabling environment that shall promote broader multi-stakeholder 
participation for disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation and mitigation;  
 
16) 
Establish, develop, and monitor programs and projects, in coordination with  
relevant 
government 
agencies, 
that 
consider 
climate 
projections, 
including  
temperature increase and rainfall change in the Philippines to ensure climate  
resilient communities; 
 
17) 
Establish and monitor national and local capacity for disaster risk financing and 
insurance and other risk transfer strategies in coordination with the Department of Finance 
(DOF), 
Government 
Service 
Insurance 
System 
(GSIS), 
Land 
Bank 
of 
the  
Philippines (LBP), and Insurance Commission; 
 
18) 
Review and evaluate local disaster resilience plans and other local plans to ensure  
their consistency with the National Disaster Resilience Framework; and 
 
19) 
Undertake all other programs and projects necessary to attain the necessary  
outcomes for disaster risk reduction. 
 
(c) Disaster Preparedness and Response 
 
1) 
Lead, manage, and collaborate with the relevant government instrumentalities,  
non-government stakeholders, and international partners in providing the minimum  
basic needs of people in affected areas before, during and/or immediately after a  
disaster to save lives and minimize casualties; 
 
2) 
Establish a corps of first responders in partnership with national and local  
stakeholders, both public and private; 
 
3) 
Implement projects and programs that will enhance the capacity of LGUs to prepare  
for and respond to disasters, giving priority to LGUs with low income or those  
situated in high-risk areas; 
 
4) 
Ensure the efficient prepositioning of goods, maintenance and disposal of safety  
stocks; 
 
5) 
Accredit, monitor, and evaluate training institutions on disaster resilience; 
 
6) 
Regulate the accreditation of donors, volunteers, and assisting non-government  
stakeholders, both domestic and international;  


 
7) 
Formulate standards for contingency planning that shall be adopted by the LGUs; 
 
8) 
Develop a database of exposure or elements at risk per area to facilitate and ensure  
quick impact and needs assessment in the event of a disaster; 
 
9) 
Facilitate and regulate the acceptance, inventory, and accounting of humanitarian  
assistance, including relief goods; 
 
10) 
Maintain a database of volunteers and, when necessary, mobilize volunteers to  
augment 
the 
personnel 
complement 
and 
logistical 
requirements 
for 
disaster  
response and/or for the delivery of DRRM programs, projects and activities; 
 
11) 
Oversee and maintain a national early-warning and emergency alert system that  
must provide a specific, areas-focused and time-bound warning that are accurate,  
timely, understandable and readily accessible to national and local emergency  
response organizations and the general public; 
 
12) 
Coordinate information-sharing and other disaster risk reduction protocols  
following the principle of inter-operability among national government agencies  
and local government units; 
 
13) 
Call 
upon 
other 
instrumentalities 
or 
entities 
of 
the 
government 
and  
non-government 
and 
civic 
organizations 
for 
assistance 
in 
terms 
of 
the  
use of their facilities and resources for the protection and preservation of life and  
properties in the whole range of disaster risk reduction and management. This  
function includes the power to call on the reserve force as defined in Republic Act  
No. 7077, otherwise known as the "Citizen Armed Forces of the Philippines  
Reservist Act" to assist in relief, rescue, retrieval and management of dead and  
missing persons during disasters or calamities; 
 
14) 
Organize, train, equip, and maintain a system of response capacity for search,  
rescue and retrieval and the delivery and distribution of relief goods; 
 
15) 
Recommend to the President to call upon the AFP and PNP to render  
the necessary assistance in a disaster-affected area by the authority of the  
President; 
 
16) 
Call upon, by authority of the President, the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the  
Philippine National Police, the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), the Philippine  
Coast Guard, and other uniformed services to the extent necessary for the  
Department to achieve the purposes of this Act; 
 
17) 
Establish a National Corps of Volunteers to be composed of, among others:  
Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC), National Service Training Program  
(NSTP), reservists, and other socio-civic organizations; 
 
18) 
Assist in mobilizing necessary resources to increase the overall capacity of local 
government units, specifically those with low income and situated in high-risk  
areas; and 
 
19) 
Undertake all other programs and projects necessary to attain the necessary  
outcomes for disaster preparedness and response. 


 
(d) Recovery and Building Forward Better 
 
1) 
Prepare, organize, lead, implement, and manage post-disaster assessment and  
recovery 
and 
rehabilitation 
programs 
and 
plans, 
in 
coordination 
with 
the  
affected 
local 
governments 
units, 
national 
government 
agencies, 
and 
other  
stakeholders; 
 
2) 
Establish a system to promptly perform impact and needs assessment, including  
strengthening the in-house capacity of the Department to conduct accurate and  
timely impact and needs assessment; 
 
3) 
Establish a system that utilizes templates, exposure database, and other tools,  
and 
develop 
the 
Department's 
in-house 
capacity 
for 
the 
prompt 
and  
expedient 
preparation 
of 
rehabilitation 
plans, 
when 
needed, 
for 
disaster  
affected areas; 
 
4) 
Formulate or direct relevant government agencies and LGUs to issue guidelines for  
fast-tracking the issuance of permits, certifications, clearances and licenses to  
implement 
disaster 
recovery 
and 
rehabilitation 
measures, 
including 
housing  
projects, in affected areas; 
 
5) 
Prepare and implement rehabilitation plans for disaster affected areas; 
 
6) 
Manage and oversee the implementation of disaster recovery and rehabilitation  
measures; 
 
7) 
Collaborate with relevant government agencies to establish programs to restore or  
generate livelihood in disaster affected areas; 
 
8) 
Formulate policies and standards for post-disaster shelter recovery which may  
include, among 
others, 
implementation 
arrangements, 
coordination arrangements  
with relevant agencies and LGUs, and modalities for emergency transitional and  
permanent shelter recovery; 
 
9) 
Ensure that the principle of building forward better is applied to rehabilitation or 
reconstruction efforts; and 
 
10) 
Undertake all other programs and projects necessary to attain the necessary  
outcomes for recovery and safer, adaptive, resilient, and inclusive communities. 
 
(e) Other Functions 
1) 
Constitute, call, convene or deputize agencies of government, and invite  
non-government and private organizations, to assist, advise, or coordinate with  
the Department to achieve the purpose of this Act; 
 
2) 
Inspect and examine the status of projects, programs, and activities undertaken by  
national government agencies and local government units in furtherance of disaster  
resilience efforts; 
 
3) 
Save lives and/or minimize damages to livelihood and property, complement and  
collaborate with relevant government agencies and nongovernment stakeholders in  
 


 
 
 
 
providing humanitarian response and the consequence management of human- 
induced disasters whenever it becomes necessary; 
 
4) 
Negotiate, enter into, institutionalize, and coordinate arrangements with any private  
person or entity for the purpose of ensuring the adequate and prompt availability  
of goods and services necessary in anticipation of, during, and in the aftermath of  
disasters; 
 
5) 
Promulgate rules and regulations for the receipt, management, and accounting of  
donations that are consistent with the rules of the Commission on Audit (COA) on  
the use of foreign and local aid during calamities and disasters; 
 
6) 
Create or reorganize offices and/or task forces, as may be necessary to carry out  
the objectives of this Act; and 
 
7) 
Perform such other functions, as may be necessary, for the attainment of the  
objectives of this Act. 
 
 
Article III 
EMERGENCY MEASURES 
 
SEC. 6. Emergency Measures. - (a) To protect and preserve life and property and ensure and 
promote public safety and welfare, the Department may undertake and implement the following 
emergency measures in anticipation of, during, and in the aftermath of disasters: 
1) 
Carrying out of preemptive evacuation; 
2) 
Imposition of curfew; 
3) 
Rationing of the distribution of basic goods in critical shortage, and when  
necessary, preventing or restricting the transfer of such goods outside of the area  
affected by the disaster, including access to rice inventory of the National  
Food Authority (NFA) office or storage located in the affected area; 
4) 
When there is imminent danger of loss of lives or damage to property, temporarily  
take over or direct the operation of any private utility or business, subject to payment  
of just compensation; and 
5) 
With the concurrence of the DOF, recommend to the Monetary Board the deferment  
of the payment of monetary obligations of local government units and private entities  
that have been severely affected by disaster. 
 
 
(b) Local government units shall enact ordinances on and implement necessary  
and appropriate emergency measures to ensure the protection and preservation of life and property 
and the promotion of public safety and welfare in anticipation of, during, and in the  
aftermath of disasters. 
 
(c) Emergency measures shall be carried out in a manner that is humane, respectful  
of 
the 
dignity 
and 
culture 
of 
persons, 
without 
the 
use 
of 
discrimination 
and  
disproportionate force, and with conscious attention to the needs of vulnerable and marginalized,  
groups. 
 


(d) Appropriate steps shall be taken to inform the public of the need to implement  
emergency measures for their safety. 
 
SEC. 7. Preemptive and Force Evacuations. - Preemptive evacuation shall be the  
preferred and primary mode of moving and relocating people that will be affected by impending  
disasters. 
A forced evacuation shall be considered as an emergency measure of last resort that  
may be undertaken in anticipation of or during a disaster and carried out by the concerned  
local government unit: Provided, That in case of the failure or inability of the local  
government units to implement the same, the forced evacuation shall be implemented by  
the Department, which may direct and compel the assistance of law enforcement and other  
government agencies to implement such measure. 
Any person who willfully disregards or disobeys a preemptive or forced evacuation  
carried out by the local government unit or the Department releases such local government unit  
or the Department, as the case may be, from any liability for injury, death, damage to, or loss of  
property due to such disobedience. 
 
Article IV 
ORGANIZATION AND MANAGEMENT 
 
SEC.  8.  The Secretary.  -  The Department shall be headed by the Secretary  
of Disaster Resilience, hereinafter referred to as the Secretary, who shall be appointed  
by the President, subject to confirmation by the Committee on Appointments.  The  
Secretary 
shall 
preferably 
have 
a 
good 
background 
in 
any 
of 
the 
scientific,  
engineering, and public management fields relevant to the attainment and promotion of  
resiliency to natural hazards and climate change, and demonstrated managerial acumen. 
 
SEC. 9. Powers and Functions of the Secretary. -  The Secretary shall have the following 
powers and functions: 
(a) 
Provide executive direction and supervision over the entire operations of the  
Department; 
(b) 
Establish and promulgate policies, rules, and regulations for the effective and  
efficient operation of the Department and implement these to carry out its mandate, functions, 
programs, and activities; 
(c) 
Exercise control and supervision over all functions and activities of the Department  
and its officers and personnel; 
(d) 
Manage the financial, human and other resources of the Department; 
(e) 
Appoint and designate officers and employees of the Department, excluding those 
requiring presidential appointment as provided for by law; 
(f) 
Exercise disciplinary powers over officers and employees of the Department in 
accordance with law, and investigate such erring officers and employees, or  
designate a committee or officer to conduct an investigation; 
(g) 
Collaborate with other government agencies, the private sector, and civil society 
organizations on the policies, programs, projects, and activities of the Department,  
as may be necessary; 
(h) 
Advise the President on the promulgation of executive and administrative orders,  
and the formulation of regulatory and legislative proposals on matters pertaining to  
disaster resilience; 
(i) 
Represent the Philippines and articulate the national contribution to global,  
regional, and other inter-governmental disaster risk reduction and humanitarian·  
platforms, in coordination with the Department of Foreign Affairs; 
(j) 
Formulate such rules and regulations, and exercise such other powers as may be  
required to implement the objectives of this Act; 


(k) 
Serve as a member of the Government Procurement Policy Board (GPPB); and 
(l) 
Perform such other tasks as may be provided by law or assigned by the  
President. 
 
SEC. 10. The Undersecretaries. - The Secretary shall be assisted by four (4) Undersecretaries, 
which shall be responsible for the following key result areas: 
 
(a) 
Disaster Preparedness and Response - to implement projects and programs that will  
enhance the capacity of LGUs to prepare against, and respond to, disasters. This also includes 
development of a database of exposure or elements at risk per area and database of volunteers, 
among 
others. 
It 
involves 
the 
establishment 
of 
evacuation  
centers and the implementation of responsive and efficient prepositioning of goods, 
maintenance and disposal of stocks, among others; 
 
(b) 
Disaster Risk Reduction - to formulate, adopt, and/or implement, among others, a  
whole-of-society approach in policies and programs to prevent new, if not reduce  
existing disaster risks, to address the effects of climate change, and to minimize loss   
and damage to lives and properties. This includes the formulation of the required  
policies and/or programs for disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation in,  
among others, the NDRF and the NDRPIP; 
 
(c) 
Recovery and Building Forward and Better - to formulate and implement  
rehabilitation plans for disaster-affected areas, and to ensure the implementation of  
disaster recovery and rehabilitation measures, such as, but not limited to, post-disaster  
shelters and livelihood projects, in collaboration with relevant agencies, LGUs, and  
other stakeholders; and 
 
(d) 
Support to Operations - to formulate and implement, among others, policies,  
programs and/or projects to ensure the efficient, effective, and responsive delivery of  
the Department's key result areas. Support to Operations covers knowledge management, 
institutional 
development 
and 
planning, 
finance, 
office 
administration,  
human resources management, and development of the Department's in-house  
capacities, among others. 
 
SEC. 11. The Assistant Secretaries and Directors. - The Department shall have four (4)  
Assistant Secretaries and appropriate number of Directors to ensure for the effective, efficient,  
and responsive implementation of the mandate and functions of the Department. 
 
SEC. 12. Qualifications. - No person shall be appointed Secretary, Undersecretary, or  
Assistant Secretary of the Department unless a citizen and resident of the Philippines, of good  
moral character, and of proven experience, competence or expertise in humanitarian relief  
assistance and disaster management. The Secretary, Undersecretary, or Assistant Secretary shall  
not hold any other position, public or private, during their terms of office. 
 
SEC 13. Structure and Staffing Pattern. -  The Department shall determine its organizational 
structure and staffing pattern and create such services, divisions, and units, as it  
may require or deem necessary, subject to the approval of the Department of Budget and Management. 
 
SEC. 14. National Disaster Operations Center, Alternative Command Center, and Research 
and Training Institute. - The Department shall establish, within one (1) year from the  
approval of this Act, and act as the primary operator, the National Disaster Operations Center  
(NDOC), Alternative Command and Control Center (ACCCs) as may be necessary in each of the 
country's major island groups, and the Disaster Resilience Research and Training Institute (DRRTI). 


 
 
The Department is authorized to collect fees derived from the DRRTI., 
 
The NDOC is a physical center equipped with the necessary tools and systems to monitor,  
manage, and respond to disasters in all areas of the country. The NDOC shall also provide the  
necessary support for the overall coordination and implementation of emergency and disaster  
response measures throughout the country. 
 
The ACCCs are command centers established in other locations to provide supplemental  
support to the NDOC. The number and location of ACCCs shall be determined by the  
Department. Temporary ACCCs may likewise be established by the Department, if necessary. 
 
SEC. 15. DRRTI Functions and Inter-Agency Knowledge Sharing. - The DRRTI shall  
be a platform for providing training preferably on site, and for collecting, consolidating,  
managing, analyzing, and sharing knowledge and information to improve or enhance disaster  
resilience. 
 
The DRRTI shall: 
a) 
Establish reliable and up-to-date disaster-related information and communication  
systems and technologies through close collaboration with the DOST and with academic institutions; 
b) 
Institutionalize, maintain, and update an integrated disaster resilience information  
system (IDRIS), which includes, among others, multi-hazard mapping, probabilistic risk assessment, 
risk analysis, early warning, exposure database, communication, and emergency management 
systems; 
c) 
Establish a database that includes relevant information from other government agencies  
and third parties for the Department to better prepare and respond to natural hazards including,  
but not limited to, an inventory of hazardous materials per area; 
d) 
Consult and coordinate with, and consolidate information/data from, relevant  
government agencies, such as, but not limited to, DOST, LGUs, academic institutions, and  
relevant CSOs to enhance the IDRIS and to promote knowledge sharing among all stakeholders; 
e) 
Conduct disaster-related research programs, seminars, and trainings for all types of 
stakeholders; 
f) 
Consolidate, orgru1ize and/or prepare training materials and publications; and 
g) 
Conduct other activities consistent with promoting the formation and dissemination of 
knowledge and information relating to disaster resilience and disaster management. 
 
 
SEC. 16. Compliance and Accreditation of DRRTI with International Standards. –   
The Department shall strive to obtain certification from, and accreditation by, international 
accreditation bodies of the DRRTI to ensure DRRTI's compliance with international standards.  
The Department shall likewise ensure collaboration with key countries and international organizations 
to incorporate best practices on disaster resilience in the Department's policies and programs. 
 
SEC. 17. Disaster Assistance Action Center. - The Department shall institutionalize a  
one-stop shop mechanism through a Disaster Assistance Action Center (DAAC) which shall,  
among others, process necessary documents for both domestic and international assisting actors.  
 
SEC. 18. Incentives. - The Department has the authority to prescribe benefits, allowances,  
and similar emoluments for disaster management professionals and disaster resilience officers at  
the national and local levels. 
 
         
     
 
 


Article V 
NATIONAL AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT RELATIONS 
 
SEC. 19. Retention of Local DRRM Offices and Creation of Local Disaster Resilience  
Offices. - The Local DRRM Offices (LDRRMOs) in provinces, cities, and municipalities shall  
be retained and renamed as Provincial, City, and Municipality Disaster Resilience Offices, 
respectively. They shall collectively be called Local Disaster Resilience Offices (LDROs). All  
LGUs shall establish an LDRO at the provincial, city, and municipal levels. All Local DRRM  
Councils (LDRRMCs) shall be abolished. 
 
The budgetary requirements for personal services, maintenance and other operating  
expenses, and capital outlay of the LDROs shall be sourced from the General Fund of the LGU,  
subject to Section 76 of Republic Act No. 7160, otherwise known as the "Local Government  
Code of 1991", as amended. 
 
Other maintenance and operating expenses and other capital outlay requirements of the  
LDRO in the implementation of disaster risk and vulnerability reduction management and  
climate change adaptation programs shall be charged to the Local Disaster Resilience Fund of  
the LGUs. 
 
Provinces, cities or municipalities shall be exempted from the Personnel Services (PS)  
limitation on local government budgets in relation to the creation of the LDROs and the appointment 
of its officers and personnel. 
 
SEC. 20. Composition and Organization of LDROs. - The LDRO shall be under  
the supervision and control of the provincial governor, and city or municipal mayor, as applicable.  
The 
LDRO 
shall 
be 
composed 
of 
an 
officer 
and 
five 
(5) 
permanent  
personnel responsible for, among others, administration, research and planning, training, and 
operations. The 
organization, 
composition, 
functions, 
and 
responsibilities 
of 
retained  
LDRRMOs shall be modified to the extent provided in, and shall comply with the requirements  
and standards of, this Act and the IRR for the establishment, maintenance and operations of  
LDROs. 
 
SEC. 21. Local Disaster Resilience Officer. - The LDRO shall be headed and managed  
by a well-qualified and full-time Local Disaster Resilience Officer with regular plantilla position.  
The Local Disaster Resilience Officer and Staff shall be appointed by the Local Chief Executive  
 subject to the requirements and endowed with the emoluments and benefits in accordance with  
existing laws, rules, and regulations. 
 
SEC. 22. Powers and Functions of City and Municipal DROs. - The City and Municipal  
(CDRO and MDRO) shall have the following powers and functions: 
 
(a) 
Formulate and implement, in close coordination with the Department, a 
comprehensive and integrated LDRP in accordance with the NDRF and the NDRPIP; 
 
(b) 
Design, program, coordinate, and implement disaster resilience activities  
including 
preparedness, 
risk 
reduction, 
response, 
recovery 
and 
rehabilitation  
measures 
consistent 
with 
the 
standards 
and 
guidelines 
provided 
by 
the  
Department, and implement the NDRF and the NDRPIP at the city or municipal  
level; 
 
(c) 
Prepare and submit to the local Sanggunian, the LDRP, the proposed programming of  
the LDR Fund, other dedicated disaster resilience resources, and other regular funding  


source of the LDRO; 
 
(d) 
Recommend to the local Sanggunian the enactment of local ordinances to implement  
the LDRP, NDRF and NDRPIP at the city or municipal level, and to comply with other 
requirements of this Act; 
 
(e) 
Prepare and submit to the Department, the local Commission on Audit, and the 
applicable Regional Disaster Resilience Office a report on the utilization of  
its Local Disaster Resilience Fund and other disaster risk reduction and management  
resources; 
 
(f) 
Establish and maintain, in coordination with the Department, an information 
management system within the LGU which, among others, consolidates includes local risk 
information on natural hazards, profile of the LGU's vulnerable or marginalized groups, local 
risk maps, and a disaggregated database of human resource, equipment, services, resources, 
directories and location of critical infrastructures withtheir capacities as hospitals and 
evacuation centers; 
 
(g) 
Operate and maintain, in coordination with the Department, a multi-hazard early  
warning and communications system to provide accurate and timely information to the  
public; 
 
(h) 
Organize and conduct training and knowledge management activities on disaster  
resilience at the local level, in coordination with the DRRTI; 
 
(i) 
Procure emergency works, goods, and services in compliance with the  
regulations, orders, and policies of DBM and Government Procurement Policy  
Board (GPPB), to implement the DRP or support early recovery and post-disaster  
activities; 
 
(j) 
In coordination with the Department, the DOF and other relevant agencies, access  
foreign loans to finance its projects, programs, and policies for disaster preparedness,  
response, recove1y, and rehabilitation, subject to terms and conditions agreed upon by  
the LDRO and the lender; 
 
(k) 
Monitor and mobilize instrumentalities and entities of the LGU and its partner LGUs,  
CSOs, private sector, organized volunteers, and sectoral organizations for disaster  
resilience activities, in accordance with policies and procedures of the Department and  
applicable laws; 
 
(l) 
Coordinate and provide the necessary support or assistance to the Department in the 
implementation of rehabilitation plan within the city or municipality covered by the  
LDRO; 
 
(m) 
Coordinate with the Department, other government agencies, members of the private  
sector and other stakeholders in the LGU to establish a Business Continuity Plan as  
part of their LDRP's disaster preparedness measures; 
 
(n) 
Establish linkage or network and coordination mechanisms with other LGUs and the 
Department for disaster resilience activities and to achieve the purposes of this Act;  
and 
 
(o) 
Conduct other activities and/or act on other matters, in accordance with policies  


and procedures of the Department and applicable laws, to achieve the purposes of  
this Act.  
 
 
SEC. 23. Provincial Disaster Resilience Officer. - The Provincial Disaster Resilience  
Office (PDRO) shall be headed and managed by a Provincial Disaster Resilience Officer with  
regular plantilla position. 
 
 
SEC. 24. Powers and Functions of the PDRO. - The PDRO shall have the following  
powers and functions: 
 
(a)   Formulate and implement, in close coordination with the Department and cities or 
municipalities within its jurisdiction, a comprehensive and integrated Provincial LDRP  
in accordance with the NDRF and the NDRPIP; 
 
(b)  Review the LDRPs of cities and municipalities within its jurisdiction, and require the 
amendment of such LDRPs if necessary, to ensure compliance with the Provincial LDRP 
and/or the NDRF and NDRPIP; 
 
(c)  Design, program, coordinate, and/or implement disaster resilience activities consistent  
with the standards and guidelines provided by the Department, and implement the NDRF  
and the NDRPIP at the provincial level; 
 
(d) Prepare and submit to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, the Provincial LDRP,  
the proposed programming of the province's Local Disaster Resilience Fund  
other 
dedicated 
disaster 
resilience 
resources, 
and 
other 
funding 
sources 
of  
the PDRO; 
 
(e)  Recommend to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan the enactment of local ordinances to 
implement the Provincial LDRP, NDRF and NDRPIP at the provincial level, and to  
comply with other requirements of this Act; 
 
(f) Prepare and submit to the Department, the local Commission on Audit, and the  
applicable Regional Disaster Resilience Office a report on the utilization of the province's 
Local Disaster Resilience Fund and other disaster risk reduction and management resources; 
 
(g) Establish and maintain, in coordination with the Department, a Provincial Command and 
Control Center (PCC) which includes, among others, an information management system  
at the provincial level which consolidates and integrates information from the cities and/or  
municipalities  within  its jurisdiction,  a  multi-hazard  early  warning  and communications 
system that is connected with the cities and/or municipalities within its jurisdiction, and a 
monitoring system that enables the PDRO to oversee, supervise, monitor and respond to the 
needs of cities and/or municipalities within its jurisdiction in relation to disaster resilience 
activities. 
 
(h)  Procure emergency works, goods, and services in compliance with the regulations, orders, 
and policies of DBM and GPPB, to implement the provincial LDRP or support early recovery 
and post-disaster activities of the PDRO; 
 
(i) In coordination with the Department and the DOF, access foreign loans to finance its 
projects, programs, and policies for disaster preparedness, response, recovery, and 
rehabilitation, subject to terms and conditions agreed upon by the PDRO and the lender; 
 


(j) Formulate and establish mechanisms to mobilize and direct LDROs within its jurisdiction  
as necessary for disaster preparedness and response at the provincial level; 
 
(k) Coordinate and provide the necessary support or assistance to the Department in the 
implementation of rehabilitation plan(s) within the cities and/or municipalities covered  
by the PDRO; and 
(1) Conduct other activities and/or act on other matters, in accordance with policies and 
procedures of the Department and applicable laws, to achieve the purposes of this Act. 
 
 
SEC. 25. Regional Offices. - The Department shall establish and maintain Regional  
Offices (ROs) at each region, and a National Capital Region Office (NCR). The size,  
composition and organization of ROs and NCR shall be based on parameters provided in the  
IRR on the ability of LGUs within its jurisdiction to cope with previous disasters, or to implement  
their LDRPs or Provincial LDRPs; the level of income, population, hazard exposure of LGUs.  
The ROs and NCR shall be funded by the Department. 
 
 
SEC. 26. Regional Director. - Each RO and the NCR shall be headed and managed by a  
Regional Director with regular plantilla position. The Regional Director shall be appointed by  
the Department Secretary for a fixed term pursuant to requirements, terms of office. and endowed  
with the emoluments and benefits subject to existing laws, rules and regulations. 
 
 
SEC. 27. Powers and Functions of ROs and NCR. - The ROs and the NCR shall have  
the following powers and functions: 
 
(a) 
Review the LDRPs and Provincial LDRPs of LGUs within its jurisdiction, and require  
the amendment of such LDRPs and/or Provincial LDRPs if necessary, to ensure compliance 
with the NDRF and NDRPIP; 
 
(b) 
Monitor and direct LDROs and PDROs to implement their respective LDROs and  
PDROs; 
 
(c) 
Recommend to the appropriate Sanggunian at the city, municipal or provincial level,  
the enactment of local ordinances to implement the LDRP, NDRF and NDRPIP at the  
city, municipal or provincial level, and to comply with other requirements of this Act; 
 
(d) 
Review reports on the utilization of the LDRF and other disaster risk reduction and 
management resources of LGUs within its jurisdiction, and give recommendations, as 
necessary; 
 
(e) 
Disburse to, and monitor the use by, LGUs of Supplemental LDRF as granted by the 
Department pursuant to this Act and its IRR; 
 
(f) 
Provide, upon the request of LGUs or unilaterally at its own discretion, assistance to   
LGU(s) within its jurisdiction as necessary to ensure the implementation of LDRPs or 
Provincial LDRPs, NDRF and NDRPIP, and to render efficient and timely disaster 
preparedness, response and recovery measures;  
 
(g) 
Identify and report to the Department issues and problems relating to, or affecting, the  
disaster resilience of LGUs within its jurisdiction, and make recommendations to the 
Department and/or to the LGUs to address such issues or problems; 
 
(h) 
Procure goods and services in compliance with the regulations, orders, and policies of  
DBM and GPPB, to implement the NDRPIP and NDRF at the regional level; 


 
(i) 
Formulate and establish mechanisms to mobilize and direct LDROs and PDROs within  
its jurisdiction as necessary for disaster preparedness and response at the regional level; 
 
(j) 
Establish and maintain, in coordination with the Department, a Regional Command  
and Control · Center (RCC) which includes, among others, an information  
management system  at  the  regional  level  which  consolidates  and  integrates information 
from 
the 
provinces, 
cities 
and 
municipalities 
within 
its 
jurisdiction,  
a multi-hazard early  warning  and  communications system,  and a  monitoring  
system that enables the RO to oversee, supervise, monitor and respond to the needs  
of LGUs within its jurisdiction in relation to disaster resilience activities; implement  
or assist in the implementation, as directed by the Department, of rehabilitation 
plans for LGUs within its coverage; and 
 
(k) 
Conduct other activities and/or act on other matters, in accordance with policies and 
procedures of the Department and applicable laws, to achieve the purposes of this Act. 
 
 
SEC.  28. Inter-Regional Disaster Resilience Office Collaboration. - The Department  
shall create policies and programs to establish collaboration and coordination among the  
different ROs. 
 
 
SEC. 29. Levels of Responsibility for Disaster Preparedness and Response. -  
The primary responsibility for disaster preparedness and response shall be exercised at  the local and 
national 
level 
m 
collaboration 
with 
the 
relevant 
departments 
and 
agencies,  
as follows: 
LEVELS OF 
RESPONSIBILTY 
RESPONSIBLE 
OFFICIALS 
CONDITIONS 
Level 1 – City or Municipality 
Mayor 
of 
the 
City 
/ 
Municipality (Lead) 
 
Local 
Disaster 
Resilience 
Office 
 
(In the case of BARMM: 
Municipal / City Mayor and 
BARMM 
Local 
Disaster 
Resilience Office) 
If a disaster affects a single 
municipality / city 
Level 2 – Province 
Governor (Lead) 
 
Provincial Disaster Resilience 
Office 
 
Applicable 
Local 
Disaster 
Resilience Offices 
 
(In the case of BARMM: 
Provincial 
Governor 
and 
BARMM 
Local 
Disaster 
Resilience Office/s) 
If a disaster affects two or more 
municipalities / cities 
Level 3 – Region 
Regional 
Director 
of 
the 
Regional Office 
(RO) (Lead) 
 
If a disaster affects two or 
more 
provinces 
and/or 
independent  
component 
or 
highly 


Applicable Governors 
 
Applicable Provincial Disaster 
Resilience Offices 
 
(In the case of BARMM: 
Regional 
Governor 
and 
ARMM 
Local 
Disaster 
Resilience Office/s) 
 
(In the case of Metro Manila: 
MMDA Chair)) 
urbanized 
cities 
Level 4-National 
 
During a state of calamity in  
any area(s) or affecting several 
regions 
Secretary of the Department of 
Disaster Resilience (Lead) 
 
Governors of the affected 
Provinces 
a. 
When 
a 
state 
of 
calamity is declared by the 
President 
 
b. 
If a disaster affects at least 
two (2) regions 
 
c. 
When 
the 
affected 
LGU 
cannot 
dispense 
its 
functions, or respond to the 
threat or effect of disaster; 
 
d. 
When the local chief 
executive or, in his/her absence 
or incapacity, the next high-
ranking 
official, 
directly 
requests the Department to 
take over; 
When the President directs a 
Level 4 response. 
 


 
 
SEC. 30. Inter-Local Government Assistance. - LGUs are hereby authorized to  
extend assistance to another LGU, whether through funding or donation of goods and/or 
services,  
to ensure effective disaster preparedness and response, such as the pre-positioning and 
provision  
of basic goods, and training of first responders, among others, subject to auditing and 
accounting. 
 
 
SEC. 31. Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Powers of the Department. – The 
Department shall be primarily responsible for the identification, planning and funding of 
priority reconstruction and rehabilitation projects and programs on areas affected by disasters: 
Provided,  
That the Department of Public Works and Highways shall be the primary implementor of all 
infrastructure-related rehabilitation and reconstruction projects, including retrofitting of  
structures to make them more resistant and resilient to the effects of natural disasters. 
 
 
SEC. 32. Service Continuity of the Department. -  To ensure service continuity,  
the Department and its regional and attached offices shall be established in a reasonably  
resilient location; and undertake the necessary interventions to make its offices and systems  
disaster- resilient. 
 
 
SEC. 33. Assistance to Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. –  
The National Government, thru the Secretary of Disaster Resilience, and the  
Bangsamoro Autonomous Regional Government shall create an inter-governmental  
mechanism for humanitarian relief assistance in the BARMM during times of natural  
disasters. 
 
Article VI 
WHOLE OF GOVERNMENT, WHOLE OF NATION, AND WHOLE OF SOCIETY 
APPROACH AND INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS 
 
 
SEC.  34. Inter-operability of Systems. -  The Department shall establish mechanisms  
to ensure the inter-operability of systems among government agencies, and to allow access of  
agencies to the IDRIS as established pursuant to Section 15 of this Act. It shall develop 
protocols  
to allow real-time access to information by government agencies in relation to natural disasters  
and the implementation of disaster resilience measures. 
 
SEC. 35. Synergy with Stakeholders. -The Department shall ensure close collaboration  
and coordination with stakeholders, including CSOs, the academe, and the private sector, in  
relation to disaster resilience programs and projects, and the development and promotion of  
education and training mechanisms with relevant stakeholders. 
 
The Department shall establish a platform and mechanisms for coordination with 
stakeholders, including the development of standard operating procedures for collaboration in  
the event of a disaster. 
 
SEC.  36. Establishment of Multi-Stakeholders Convergence Unit. - The Department  
shall, with the assistance of other relevant government agencies and stakeholders, establish a  


Multi-Stakeholders Convergence Unit (MSCU) which shall align the disaster resilience efforts  
of the private sector, CSOs, academe and other stakeholders with that of the Department by  
assisting, coordinating or providing services that strengthen public-private coordination in  
disaster resilience, including the following: 
 
a. 
Establishment and implementation of business continuity practices to ensure the 
continued delivery of products and services in the event of a natural disaster; 
 
 
 
b. 
Crafting and implementation of a National Continuity Policy to ensure service  
continuity during interruptions, emergencies, and disasters and ensure the quick return  
to full operations; 
c. 
Establishment, incorporation, and application of business continuity plans as 
part 
of  
the LDRP of LGUs; 
d. 
Facilitation or assistance in obtaining or processing incentives for the private 
sector 
or  
other nongovernment stakeholders, such as tax credits; and 
e. 
Preparation and facilitating the issuance of special rules for Micro, Small,  
and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) such as mechanisms involving procurement  
and liquidity to create enabling environments for disaster preparedness and  
recovery. 
 
The MSCU shall establish a platform that includes, among others, a database for  
monitoring and coordinating efforts and resources of nongovernment stakeholders. It shall be  
headed by one (1) of the Undersecretaries of the Department. 
 
SEC.   37. Roles and Responsibilities of Stakeholders. - The commitment, goodwill,  
knowledge, experience and resources of relevant stakeholders are critical to realize a safer,  
adaptive, resilient and inclusive Filipino community. Citizens shall have the shared vision and  
duty to provide support to the State in the implementation of policies and programs, particularly  
the Disaster Resilience Framework and Disaster Resilience Plan at the national, regional, and  
local levels. 
 
(a) 
Civil society, non-governmental organizations, international non-governmental  
organizations, private sector, DRRM practitioners, and volunteers shall participate,  
in collaboration with public institutions, in the exchange of information, learnings,  
and guidance on disaster resilience. The Department shall encourage and  
institutionalize their engagement in the implementation of local, regional, national,  
and global plans and strategies to enhance public awareness and promote a culture  
of disaster resilience; 
 
(b) 
Women, children, and youth, as agents of change, shall endeavor to contribute 
actively and participate in disaster resilience trainings and information dissemination; 
 
(c) 
Senior citizens and persons with disabilities shall contribute their knowledge 
and  
experience on disaster preparedness and resiliency; 
 


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


 
 
 
(c) The concerned LGUs shall immediately compensate schools used as evacuation  
centers. The schools used as evacuation centers may seek compensation for renovation,  
replacement, or repairs of damaged facilities for such use. 
 
 
SEC. 40. Multi-Hazard Early Warning and Risk Communication Standards. – There  
shall be a streamlined policy governing early warning systems and risk communication 
protocols  
to ensure effective and efficient measures to prepare for, respond to and recover from potential  
risks and disasters. 
 
 
 
The Department shall formulate and implement multi-hazard early warning protocols 
integrating all disaster preparedness systems in collaboration with local executives,   
community-based organizations, civil society organizations, and other non-governmental  
organizations for proper use and application. 
 
 
 
SEC. 41. Early Warning Mandate. - (a) The Department shall issue an integrated early 
warning alert for the impending occurrence of hazards that will enable the public to prepare in  
time and act appropriately to minimize potential harm or loss. 
 
(b) The Department at the national and local level shall use an integrated early warning  
system to ensure it is consistent and locally contextualized with the communication protocol 
and  
safe evacuation procedure of the affected communities. It shall work with other agencies or 
organizations on pre-crisis information mapping of the humanitarian needs of at-risk  
communities that will enhance the overall prepositioning of resources at the national and local  
level. 
 
(c) The Department shall require mobile phone service providers to send out alerts at  
regular intervals in the event of an impending natural hazard, in accordance with Republic Act  
No. 10639, otherwise known as "The Free Mobile Disaster Alerts Act". 
 
 
 
(d) The Department shall recognize and proactively support local or indigenous modes  
of early warning systems and allow open access to near real-time data from both local  
and international sources made available through various platforms such as websites, mobile  
apps, and social media to empower local communities and individuals. Any person who  
transmits early warning concerning the abovementioned phenomena by means of signs in 
designs, colors, lights, or sound shall do so in compliance with the methods recognized  
or approved by the Department. 
 
 
Article VIII 
HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE 
 
 
SEC. 42. Management of Humanitarian Assistance. - (a) The Department shall have  
the power to receive and manage humanitarian assistance from any person or entity, whether  
from local or international sources. 
 
 
 
(b) The importation by, and acceptance of humanitarian assistance donated to the 
Department, consisting of, among others, food, clothing, medical assistance, equipment, and  
materials for relief, recovery and other disaster management activities, are hereby authorized 
in accordance with Sections 120 and 121 of Republic Act No. 10863, otherwise known as the  


"Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA)", and the prevailing provisions of the General 
Appropriations Act covering national internal revenue taxes and import duties of national and  
local government agencies. 
 
 
SEC. 43. International Humanitarian Assistance. - The Department, in consultation  
with the Bureau of Immigration and the Bureau of Customs shall promulgate guidelines on 
international humanitarian assistance, including the initiation, entry, facilitation, transit,  
regulation and termination thereof, as well as those involving international disaster relief and  
personnel assisting international actors, visa waiver, recognition of foreign professional 
qualifications, entry of international disaster goods and equipment, and exemption from port  
duties, taxes, and restrictions. 
 
 
SEC. 44. Assessment of the Need for International Humanitarian Assistance. –   
(a) Immediately after the declaration of a state of calamity by the local Sanggunian  
of the relevant local government unit or by the Department, as the case may be, the  
Department  shall  determine  whether  domestic  capacities  are  likely  to  be sufficient  
to attend to the needs of affected persons for international humanitarian assistance. This 
determination may also be made, at the discretion of the President, prior to the onset  
of an imminent disaster. 
 
 
(b) In the event of a determination by the Department that domestic response capacities  
are not likely to be sufficient due to the impact of the disaster, the Department shall recommend  
to the President that a request be made for international humanitarian assistance. 
 
 
 
(c) A determination that domestic capacities are likely to be sufficient and that  
international humanitarian assistance is therefore unnecessary may be reviewed and rescinded 
by the Department, with the approval of the President, at any time, in light of prevailing 
circumstances and available information. 
 
 
SEC. 45. Humanitarian Assistance Action Center. - The Department shall create an  
inter-agency     one-stop     shop     mechanism     called    the  
 Humanitarian Assistance 
Action Center (HAAC) for the processing and release of entry and facilitation of goods, articles 
or equipment and services and international relief workers for the provision of international 
humanitarian assistance and the processing of necessary documents for assisting international  
actors. 
 
 
 
The Department shall lead and manage the HAAC, which shall be composed of the  
following: 
(a) 
Bureau of Customs; 
(b) 
Department of Foreign Affairs; 
(c) 
Department of Social Welfare and Development; 
(d) 
Department of Health; 
(e) 
Food and Drug Administration; 
(f) 
Department of Agriculture; 
(g) 
Department of Energy; 
(h) 
Department of National Defense; 
(i) 
Philippine National Police; 
(j) 
Philippine Coast Guard; 
(k) 
Department of Transportation; 
(l) 
Department of Environment and Natural Resources; and 


(m) 
Bureau of Immigration. 
 
 
 
SEC. 46. Request/or International Humanitarian Assistance. - (a) In cognizance of  
the urgency, criticality and intensity of an imminent risk, the Department shall issue a flash  
appeal to the family of nations, under regional and multilateral conventions, for assistance in 
preparedness, including preemptive measures, search, rescue, and retrieval, relief, recovery, 
and reconstruction. 
 
 
 
(b) The President may request international humanitarian assistance, upon the advice 
of the Secretary. Such request may be specifically directed to particular assisting international  
actors or may be a general request directed to the international community. 
 
 
SEC. 47. Regulation of Humanitarian Assistance. - (a) The Department shall ensure  
the efficient and effective monitoring of humanitarian assistance from domestic or international 
donors, establish and operate a platform, including an online platform, to facilitate, and provide  
public access to information on donations. 
 
 
 
The Department shall include in the Implementing Rules and Regulations of this Act 
guidelines and accountabilities on the receipt, management, distribution, accounting, and 
reporting of all humanitarian assistance, whether in cash or in kind, consistent with the rules 
on the use of foreign and local aid during calamities and disasters issued by the COA and other  
relevant government agencies. 
 
 
SEC. 48. Humanitarian Relief for Human-Induced Disasters. -The Secretary of the 
Department of Disaster Resilience shall have the authority to provide humanitarian relief in the 
consequence management of human-induced emergencies such as acts of terrorism, 
insurgency, fire, and other related human-induced disasters. 
 
Article IX 
OFFER AND FACILITATION OF HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE 
TO FOREIGN STATES 
 
 
SEC. 49. Offer and Facilitation of International Humanitarian Assistance to Foreign 
States. – In the event of a disaster occurring in a foreign State for which international  
humanitarian assistance is required, the Department, in coordination with the DFA, may offer, 
facilitate, provide, and deploy international humanitarian assistance to said foreign State, which  
shall be subject to guidelines to be promulgated by the Department for the purpose. 
 
 
SEC. 50. Accreditation. - The Department, in coordination with relevant government 
agencies and organizations, shall provide and facilitate the necessary training and accreditation  
to the respective government personnel to be deployed for such offer, facilitation and provision  
of international humanitarian assistance to a foreign State. 
 
Article X 
DECLARATION OF STATE OF CALAMITY 
 
 
SEC. 51. Declaration of State of Calamity. - The Department shall recommend  
to the President the declaration of a state of calamity, whether in whole or part of an area, in 
case of an extraordinary disaster wherein the repercussions on public safety and welfare are 


serious  
and far-reaching. 
 
 
 
SEC. 52. Conditions for the Declaration of a State of Calamity. - The President shall  
declare a state of calamity when all of the following requisites are present:  
(a) 
There is a grave, unforeseen, or sudden occurrence which demands immediate 
action; 
(b) 
The occurrence was caused by a natural disaster; 
(c) 
The occurrence is likely to cause a threat to life and/or danger to property; and  
(d) 
The declaration of a state of calamity shall cover a limited period only. 
 
 
SEC. 53. Mandatory and Remedial Measures. - The declaration of a state of calamity  
allow the immediate implementation of any or all of the following remedial measures: 
 
(a) 
Imposition of price ceiling on basic necessities and prime commodities by the 
President upon the recommendation of the implementing agency as provided for under 
Republic Act No. 7581, otherwise known as the "Price Act", or the National Price 
Coordinating Council; 
 
(b) 
Monitoring, prevention and control by the Local Price Coordination Council of 
overpricing or profiteering and hoarding of prime commodities, medicines and 
petroleum products; 
 
(c) 
Grant of tax credits or exemptions by the BIR, upon the recommendation of the 
President or the Department; and 
 
(d) 
Use of alternative methods of procurement under Article XVI of Republic Act 
(RA) No. 9184, otherwise known as the "Government Procurement Reform Act", its 
implementing rules and regulations (IRR) and other issuances of the Government 
Procurement Policy Board by the Department, LGUs or the relevant government 
instrumentalities in relation to the urgent procurement of emergency works, goods and 
services to effectively respond to, quickly respond to disasters, and build forward better. 
 
 
Article XI 
RECOVERY 
 
 
SEC. 54. Standards for Recovery. - The Department shall observe internationally  
accepted standards for recovery, planning, programming and implementation of the recovery  
process. Towards this end, the Department shall:  
 
(a) 
Improve the community's physical, social and economic resilience, consistent 
with the principle of "building forward better";  
(b) 
Use locally driven centrally supported processes based on legal mandates with 
supplementary capacity support when requested; 
(c) 
Redirect development outside danger zones to minimize loss of lives and 
structures  
resulting from typhoons, flooding, landslides, and other hazards; 
(d) 
Employ outcome-driven planning and implementation; 
(e) 
Maximize use of private-public sector partnership where possible; 


(f) 
Consider local conditions such as culture, security situation and existing 
capacities 
of communities in identifying programs and projects; 
(g) 
Ensure access to public transport, physical and mental health services, markets,  
schools, sustainable livelihoods, and other public services in planning for settlement  
areas; and 
(h) 
Ensure restoration of peace and order and recovery of government functions. 
                                                                        
 
Article XII 
FUNDS AND RESOURCES 
 
 
SEC. 55. Fund Regulations. - The DBM and COA shall establish rules and regulations  
to ensure that funds required for disaster response, recovery, and rehabilitation are available  
and/or released efficiently and expeditiously through innovative budgeting and auditing 
mechanisms. 
 
 
SEC. 56. Local Disaster Resilience Fund and Local Disaster Contingency Fund. – 
LGUs shall annually set aside not less five percent (5%) of their local budget, to constitute a 
Local Disaster Resilience Fund (LDRF). The LGU shall use its LDRF to maintain and operate 
its LDRO to maintain the officers, employees and staff of the LDRO, and to implement plans,  
programs and activities under its LDRP. Thirty percent (30%) of the LDRF shall be set aside 
as Local Disaster Contingency Fund (LDCF) which shall be used for disaster response and 
quick recovery measures. 
 
Nothing contained in this Act shall prevent LGUs from providing additional funding or 
allocating additional resources for disaster resilience activities, plans and programs within their 
jurisdiction. 
 
 
SEC. 57. Supplemental LDRF. - The Department may allocate and disburse funds to 
supplement an LGU's LDRF based on parameters and requirements indicated in the IRR. In 
determining such parameters and requirements, the IRR shall aim to provide supplemental 
funds to LGUs with low income and/or high exposure to natural hazards. Supplemental LDRFs 
shall, as much as possible, fill gaps or shortages in LGU resources to ensure that LGUs can 
implement disaster resilience measures such as, among others, implementing their LDRP or 
Provincial LDRP, establishing their LDROs or PDROs, obtaining and/or maintaining the 
necessary equipment and staff in their LDROs or PDROs, and implementing the NDRF and 
the NDRPIP at the local levels. 
 
 
SEC. 58. National Disaster Resilience Fund. - The National Disaster Risk Reduction 
and Management Fund (NDRRM Fund) created under Section 22 of Republic Act  
No. 10121, otherwise known as the "Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act  
of 2010", appropriated under the annual General Appropriations Act is hereby renamed as the  
National Disaster Resilience Fund (NDRF) and shall be managed and controlled by the 
Department. The NDRF shall be used for disaster risk reduction or mitigation, prevention, and 
preparedness activities such as training of personnel, procurement of equipment, and capital 
expenditures. It can also be utilized for relief, recovery, reconstruction, and other work or  
services in connection with natural or human-induced calamities which may occur during the  
budget year or those that occurred in the past two (2) years from the budget year. 
 
 


 
Thirty percent (30%) of the amount appropriated for the NDRF shall be allocated  
as Quick Response Fund (QRF) or stand-by fund and shall also be under the management and  
control of the Department. The QRF shall be used for relief and recovery programs to quickly  
normalize the situation and living conditions of people in communities or areas stricken by  
disasters, calamities, epidemics, or complex emergencies, and other related programs, projects  
and activities formulated at the national level. 
 
 
SEC. 59. People's Survival Fund. -The Secretary of the Department shall be a member  
of the People's Survival Fund Board mandated to manage and administer the People's  
Survival Fund created under Republic Act No. 10174, otherwise known as the "Climate 
Change Act of 2009", and facilitate its utilization by LGUs, through ROs, to implement climate 
change adaptation projects of LGUs, and equip vulnerable LGU communities against the 
impacts of climate change. 
 
 
SEC. 60. Multi-Donor Trust Fund. - The Department shall create and manage, together  
with the Bureau of Treasury, a Multi-Donor Trust Fund for the processing, releasing and  
accounting of money and other similar resources intended for disaster assistance. The  
Department shall establish a system to ensure transparency in the management and use of the  
Multi-Donor Trust Fund. 
 
 
 
SEC. 61. Donations Management. - The Department shall have the power to receive 
and manage donations from any person or entity, whether from local or international sources.  
 
 
The importation by, and donation to, the Department of, among others, food, clothing,  
medical assistance, equipment, and materials for relief, recovery and other disaster 
management activities are hereby authorized in accordance with Sections 120 and 121 of 
Republic Act No. 10863, otherwise known as the "Customs Modernization and Tariff Act 
(CMTA)", and the prevailing provisions of the General Appropriations Act covering national 
internal revenue taxes and import duties of national and local government agencies. 
 
 
SEC. 62. Regulation of Donations. - The Department shall establish and operate a 
platform, including an online platform, to facilitate, monitor, and provide public access to  
information on donations. To ensure complete accounting and reporting of donations,  
the Department shall formulate and issue rules and guidelines for the receipt, management and  
accounting of donations, which are consistent with the rules on the use of foreign and local aid  
during calamities and disasters issued by COA and other relevant government agencies. 
 
 
Article XIII 
SPECIAL RULES ON BORROWING, TAXES, 
ECOZONES AND PROCUREMENT 
 
 
SEC.  63. Rules on Borrowing. - The LGUs shall coordinate with the DOF, Bangko  
Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), and other relevant agencies to access foreign loans to implement  
disaster prevention, mitigation, early recovery, and rehabilitation measures at the provincial, 
city, or municipal level. 
 
 
SEC. 64. Special Rules on Tax and Duties. - To facilitate prompt and efficient response  
to, and/or recovery from disasters, the following shall be granted special exemptions from  
existing taxation laws, rules, and regulations: 


(a) 
Foreign disaster assistance or international donations coursed through the 
Department shall be exempted from taxes and import duties; 
(b) 
Local disaster assistance shall be exempted from donor's tax and allowing the 
treatment of donations as a deductible expense for local disaster assistance coursed· through 
the Department; 
(c) 
Goods or services donated from abroad coursed through the Department shall be 
exempted from the value added tax 01AT); and 
(d) 
Aid or assistance rendered by members of the private sector or their investments 
in disaster resilience and climate change adaptation measures for their residence, communities 
or businesses. 
 
 
LGUs may also implement local tax rules which would grant disaster victims 
reasonable reduction, exemption, or deferment of local taxes or other types of tax assessments; 
or take other· necessary action at the local level to provide tax relief to disaster victims. 
 
 
SEC. 65. Customs Duties and Tariffs on Donations. -The BOC shall create rules which 
would, among others, hasten the processing and release of donated goods and equipment to 
disaster victims and/or affected areas pursuant to Sections 120 and 121 of Republic Act  
No. 10863, otherwise known as the "Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA)". 
 
 
SEC. 66. Economic Recovery and Development of Disaster-Prone Areas. - (a) The 
Department, in coordination with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and other 
relevant agencies, shall create and provide policies, programs, and projects, such as, business 
tax relief and subsidies, to encourage business investments, and to stimulate economic 
activities in affected or disaster-prone areas. 
 
 
(b) The Department, in the collaboration with the relevant LGUs and other 
stakeholders, shall likewise establish dual purpose structures in disaster affected areas, such as, 
among others, community agricultural centers, classrooms, and water harvesting tanks to 
develop and promote investments in affected or disaster-prone areas. 
 
 
SEC. 67. Procurement. - The Department, ROs, or LGUs may resort to any of the 
Alternative Methods of Procurement provided in RA No. 9184, including Negotiated 
Procurement (Emergency Cases) under Section 53(b) of RA No. 9184, in any of the following 
instances: 
 
a) 
In case of imminent danger to life or property during a state of calamity;  
b) 
When time is of the essence arising from natural or man-made calamities; and  
c) 
Other causes where immediate action is: 
i.  To prevent damage to or loss of life or property, or 
ii.  Restore vital public services, infrastructure facilities and other public   
utilities.  
 
Furthermore, the Department, ROs, or LGUs may use Shopping under Section 52(a) of 
RA No. 9184, when there is an unforeseen contingency requiring immediate purchase. 
 
SEC. 68. Alternative Modes of Procurement. - The Department, ROs, or LGUs may  
resort to any of the Alternative Methods of Procurement provided in RAN o. 9184, including 
but not limited to, Shopping and Negotiated Procurement (Emergency Cases) under Sections 
52(a) and 53(b) of RA No. 9184. 


 
The Department, ROs, or LGUs may also use Framework Agreements in accordance 
with the rules and regulations of the GPPB. 
 
SEC. 69. Special Rules on Procurement for Reconstruction and Rehabilitation of 
Affected Areas. - (a) The GPPB shall create special rules on procurement for services, goods,  
and materials to be used for reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts in case of a natural disaster 
including, but not limited to, the construction of post-disaster shelters and provision of service  
contracts, to ensure the procurement of quality-oriented goods, materials, and equipment and 
to guarantee effective, efficient, and speedy procurement to achieve the goals of this Act. 
 
(b) In case of procurement of services, goods, or materials for reconstruction and 
rehabilitation efforts, whether from local or international sources, the Department and the  
relevant government agencies shall provide less bureaucratic restrictions, or exemption from, 
or reduction of, customs duties. 
 
SEC. 70. Procurement from Qualified Suppliers or Contractors. - The Department  
shall have the power to procure goods and services from either local or foreign suppliers or  
contractors for purposes of implementing programs, projects, and activities related to disaster  
resilience and disaster management in accordance with RA No. 9184, its IRR and other 
issuances of the GPPB.  
 
SEC. 71. Framework Agreements. - The Department shall have authority to enter into 
Framework Agreements for the purpose of, among others, establishing a logistics system for 
the efficient and prompt distribution of goods, equipment or other materials required for 
disaster response and management; securing food, medicines, fuel, or other supplies from 
groceries, pharmacies, gas stations or other sources in the event of a disaster in a specific area; 
ensuring an alternative source of power or water from private utilities in the event of a disaster 
in a specific area; or arranging the immediate supply of other goods, services or equipment  
necessary for disaster response and management. The conditions, limitations and parameters  
of contracts or arrangements authorized under this section shall be provided in RA No. 9184 
and its 2016 IRR. 
 
SEC. 72.  Other Procurement Rules and Policies. - In view of the urgency and avoid 
unnecessary delays to procure goods, services, and implement projects for the purpose of  
providing responsive, effective, and efficient rescue, recovery, relief, and rehabilitation efforts  
for, and to continue the provision of basic services to, disaster victims or disaster affected areas,  
the GPPB shall issue appropriate resolutions, orders, and policies to effectively implement the 
provisions of this Act. 
 
 
Article XIV 
DISASTER RISK TRANSFER AND INSURANCE 
 
 
 
SEC.  73. Mandated Insurance Coverage. - To attain disaster resilience and achieve  
the purposes of this Act, the Department shall have the discretion and authority to require 
government agencies, government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs), or LGUs to  
insure their assets and/or properties such as, among others, vessels, vehicles, equipment, 
machineries, permanent buildings, properties stored  therein, or properties in transit  


against insurable risks and pay the premiums therefor, to compensate the Government,  
GOCC or LGU, as applicable, for any damage to, or loss of, properties due to a natural  
disaster. 
 
 
Article XV 
YOUTH ASSISTANCE AND PARTICIPATION 
 
 
SEC. 74. Youth Organizations. - The Department, with the assistance of the  
National Youth Commission (NYC), shall create policies, projects, and programs that address  
the special needs of the youth for disaster preparedness and management which shall include,  
among others: 
 
(a) Supporting youth-oriented pre- and post-disaster activities; 
(b) Conducting disaster risk training and management programs involving the 
youth; Coordinating with the Department of Education to create school 
curricula or programs that educate and train children on disaster risk awareness 
and disaster preparedness; 
(c) Mobilizing youth organizations; and 
(d) Encouraging the participation of the youth, through the barangay youth 
representative and the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) to participate in disaster 
resilience and disaster management activities. 
 
 
SEC. 75. Youth Oriented Disaster-Related Programs, Policies, and Projects. - (a) The 
Department, with the assistance of the National Youth Commission, shall provide training on,  
and implement, response and rehabilitation programs for the youth, including mental health 
and psycho-social services. 
 
 
(b) The Department, in collaboration with the Department of Education (DepEd),  
the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and other relevant  
agencies, shall integrate disaster risk and disaster resilience education in the school  
curriculum. 
 
 
SEC. 76. Comprehensive Emergency Program for Children, Pregnant and Lactating 
Mothers. - The Department shall establish and implement a comprehensive emergency 
program to provide emergency relief and protection to children, and pregnant and lactating 
mothers in the event of a natural disaster. 
 
  
Article XVI 
PROHIBITED ACTS AND PENALTIES 
 
 
SEC. 77. Prohibited Acts. - Any public official, private person, group or corporation  
who commits any of the following prohibited acts shall be held liable and be subjected to  
the criminal and administrative penalties as provided for in Section 78 of this Act, without 
prejudice to the imposition of other criminal, civil and administrative liabilities under existing 
laws. 
 
(a) 
Prohibited Acts of Public Officials. The following acts, if committed by public officials 
without justifiable cause, shall be considered as gross neglect of duty: 


1) 
Dereliction of duty which leads to destruction, loss of lives, critical damage of 
facilities and misuse of funds; 
2) 
Failure to enforce laws, standards, or regulations such as the National Building 
Code, Solid Waste Management Act, Water Code, and other relevant laws, 
thereby increasing the risk of disasters or adversely affecting of disaster 
resilience; 
3) 
Failure to expeditiously act on reported violations; 
4) 
Failure to create LDRO(s) or PDRO(s) and appoint a permanent Local or 
Provincial Disaster Resilience Officer within six (6) months from the approval of 
this Act; and Failure to prepare and implement an LDRP or PDRP, as applicable 
or a contingency plan for hazards frequently occurring within their jurisdiction. 
 
(b) 
Prohibited Acts of Public Officials and Private Persons or Institutions. 
1) Delaying without justifiable cause the delivery of aid commodities, their improper 
handling or storage, resulting to damage or spoilage; 
2) Withholding the distribution of relief goods due to (a) political or partisan 
considerations; (b) discrimination based on race, ethnicity, religion, or gender; and 
(c) other similar circumstances; 
3) Preventing the entry and distribution of relief goods in disaster-stricken areas, 
including appropriate technology, tools, equipment, accessories, disaster teams or 
experts; 
4) Buying, for consumption or resale, from disaster relief agencies any relief goods, 
equipment or other and commodities which are intended for distribution to disaster 
affected communities; 
5) Buying, for consumption or resale, from the disaster affected persons any relief 
goods, equipment or other aid commodities received by them; 
6) Selling of relief goods, equipment or other aid commodities which are intended for 
distribution to disaster victims; 
7) Forcibly seizing relief goods, equipment or other aid commodities intended for or 
consigned to a specific group of victims or relief agency; 
8) Diverting or misdelivering relief goods, equipment or other aid commodities to 
persons other than the rightful recipient or consignee; 
9) Accepting, possessing, using or disposing relief goods, equipment or other aid 
commodities intended for or consigned to other rightful recipient or consignee; 
10) Misrepresenting the source of relief goods, equipment or other aid commodities by: 
i. 
Either covering, replacing or defacing the labels of the containers to make 
it appear that the goods, equipment or other aid commodities came from 
another agency or person; 
ii. 
Repacking the goods, equipment or other aid commodities into containers 
with different markings to make it appear that the goods came from another 
agency or persons or was released upon the instance of a particular agency 
or person; 
iii. 
Making false verbal claim that the goods, equipment or other and 
commodity in its untampered original containers actually came from 
another agency or person or was released upon the instance of a particular 
agency or person; 
11) Substituting or replacing relief goods, equipment or other aid commodities with 
the same items or inferior or cheaper quality; 
12) Illegal soliciting of relief goods, equipment or other aid commodities by persons 
or organizations representing others as defined in the standards and guidelines set 


by this Act's IRR; 
13) Deliberately using false or inflated data in support of the request for funding, relief 
goods, equipment or other aid commodities for emergency assistance or other 
projects; and 
14) Tampering with or stealing hazard monitoring and disaster preparedness 
equipment and paraphernalia. 
 
 
SEC. 78. Penalties. - Any individual, corporation, partnership, association or other 
juridical entity that commits any of the prohibited acts in the preceding Section shall be made 
liable for the following: 
(a) 
A fine of not less than One hundred thousand pesos (PhP 100,000.00) or not to 
exceed Five hundred thousand pesos (PhP 500,000.00), or imprisonment of not less 
than six (6) months and one (1) day nor more than twelve (12) years, or both, at the 
discretion of the court, including perpetual disqualification from public office if the 
offender is a public officer, and confiscation or forfeiture in favor of the government of 
the objects and the instrumentalities used in committing any of herein prohibited acts. 
 
(b) 
If the offender is a corporation, partnership or association, or other juridical 
entity, the penalty shall be imposed upon the officer or officers of the corporation, 
partnership, association or entity responsible for the violation without prejudice to the 
cancellation or revocation of the license or accreditation issued to these entities by any 
licensing or accredited body of the government. If such offender is an alien, he or she 
shall, in addition to the penalties prescribed in this Act, be deported without further 
proceedings after service of the sentence. 
 
(c) 
If the offender is a public officer, the offense shall also be punishable by 
administrative suspension of six (6) months and one (1) day to one (1) year for the first 
offense, and dismissal from the service for the second offense. The penalty of dismissal 
shall carry with it the cancellation of eligibility to or forfeiture of retirement benefits, 
perpetual disqualification from holding public office and disqualification from taking 
civil service examinations. 
 
 
Acts committed in violation of this Section shall be without prejudice to the imposition  
of other criminal, civil and administrative liabilities under other existing laws. 
 
SEC. 79. Liability for Unlawful Performance of Duties and State Liability in Case of  
Defense Litigation. - In case a lawsuit is filed against an officer or employee of the Department  
as a result of the performance of official duties, and such performance was found to be lawful,  
the officer shall or employee shall be reimbursed by the Department for reasonable costs of  
litigation. For this purpose, the Department is authorized to procure the applicable liability  
insurance for its officers and employees. 
 
SEC. 80. Disciplinary Powers of the President. - The President, upon the  
recommendation of the Department Secretary, shall impose administrative sanctions against  
local chief executives and barangay officials for willful or negligent acts performed in the 
implementation of, or compliance with, this Act and its IRR or relating to their official 
functions which adversely affect disaster resilience projects such as delayed issuance of permits 
or failure to implement local ordinances. 
 
 


Article XVII 
SPECIAL COURTS AND INJUNCTIONS 
 
 
SEC. 81. Special Courts on Disaster Resilience Matters. - To ensure the prompt and 
expeditious resolution of disputes relating to disaster response, recovery or rehabilitation 
measures, the Supreme Court shall establish special courts to hear, try, and decide cases arising  
from the following, among others: 
 
(a) 
Implementation of the government's policies, plans, programs, projects and 
budge related to the NDRPIP, LDRP, PDRP, other disaster resilience activities, 
or pursuant to the provisions of this Act; 
(b) 
Construction of new settlements, or relocation of informal settlers or settlements, 
to promote disaster resilience; 
(c) 
Expropriation, eminent domain, or right-of-way issues relating to the 
implementation of disaster resilience projects; 
(d) 
Failure to comply with standards for disaster preparedness and continuity 
planning, including, but not limited to infrastructure standards and designs; 
(e) 
Declaration of state of calamity under Article X of this Act; 
(f) 
Imposition of tax, customs duties, or the implementation of tax relief, 
exemptions, reductions and other tax or customs rules and regulations in relation 
to donations, disaster assistance, or other tax policies implemented by the BIR 
or BOC pursuant to the provision of this Act; 
(g) 
Commission of prohibited acts under Article XVI of this Act; 
(h) 
Disputes involving donations, relief goods, or contracts executed or implemented 
pursuant to the provisions of this Act; and 
(i) 
Other matters relating to achieving the purposes of this Act which the Supreme 
Court may determine as falling under the jurisdiction of the special courts created 
pursuant to this Section. 
 
 
SEC. 82. Dispute Resolution Mechanisms. - The Department shall establish a  
Disaster Resolution Board which shall resolve disputes involving administrative matters 
related to: 
(a) 
Accreditation or denial of accreditation of disaster resilience training 
institutions, trainers, instructors, donors, volunteers, and Assisting Domestic or 
International Actors; 
(b) 
Decisions of the ROs; 
(c) 
Contracts entered into by the Department or any of its agents pursuant to the 
provisions of this Act; and  
(d) 
Other administrative matters or issues as may be determined by the Department. 
 
The composition, structure, and other organizational matters related to the DRB shall 
be defined and provided in the IRR of this Act. 
 
 
SEC. 83. Special Prosecutors. - The Ombudsman shall designate special prosecutors to 
handle and prosecute violations of this Act involving publi9 officials and employees. 
 
 
SEC. 84. Imposition of Temporary Restraining Order. - No Court, except the  
Supreme Court, shall have the powers to issue an injunction or a temporary restraining order  
against any action taken or projects implemented by the Department or its agents pursuant to 
this Act. 


                                                                          
 
Article XVIII 
FINAL PROVISIONS 
 
SEC. 85. Transfer. – a)   The disaster risk reduction and management powers, 
functions, assets, personnel, fund and appropriations 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. The existing organizational and administrative systems 
and processes of the OCD, as transferred, shall serve as the core organization of the 
Department. 
 
b) The applicable powers, functions, funds and appropriations of the Disaster  
Response Assistance and Management Bureau and the National Resource and 
Logistics Management Bureau under the DSWD, are hereby transferred to the 
Department. 
 
c) 
The NDRRMC is hereby abolished. The DILG, DND, DSWD, and other relevant 
government instrumentalities, including the AFP, BFP, PNP, PCG, and OCD, 
shall continue to perform their functions related to the consequence management 
of human-induced disasters, as provided for by existing laws. 
 
 
 
The Department shall, by virtue of this Act, be subrogated to all the rights and assume 
all  the liabilities of the agencies transferred under this Act, and all their funds, records, 
property, assets, equipment, and such personnel as necessary, including unexpended 
appropriations or allocations. All contracts and liabilities of the said agencies are hereby 
transferred to and assumed by the Department and shall be acted upon in accordance with the 
Auditing Code and other pertinent laws, rules, and regulations. 
 
SEC. 86. Coordination and Convergence with the Climate Change Commission. - 
The Department, and the Climate Change Commission, pursuant to its mandate under Republic  
Act No. 9729, as amended, shall establish, and implement a convergence mechanism to 
facilitate coordination on the following areas: 
 
a) Conduct of current and future climate and disaster risk assessment as basis for  
sustainable development and resilient investment planning and programming at the 
national, sectorial, and local levels. 
 
b) Establishment of a National Integrated Climate and Disaster Risk Information  
System, a singular platform for integrating and sharing climate and disaster risk 
information. 
 
c) Development and implementation of capacity-building and technical assistance 
programs for local government units and stakeholders on climate change adaptation  
and disaster risk reduction. 
 
d) Monitoring and evaluation of progress of implementation of national, sectorial, and  
local plans and programs on climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction;  
and 
 


e)  Development of knowledge exchange platforms and implementation of 
information, education, and communication program, including good practices on 
Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction. 
 
SEC. 87. Transitory Provision. - The transfer of functions, assets, funds, equipment, 
properties, transactions, and personnel of the affected and transferred agencies, and the 
formulation of the internal organic structure, staffing pattern, operating system, and revised 
budget of the Department, shall be completed within two (2) years from the effectivity of this  
Act, during which time the existing personnel shall continue to assume their posts in holdover 
capacities until new appointments are issued: Provided, That, after the abolition of the agencies  
as specified in Section 85 of this Act, the Department, in coordination with the DBM,  
shall evaluate, abolish old and/or create new positions. 
 
SEC. 88. Interdepartmental Relations and Coordination. - The  DDR  shall continuously 
call upon the following departments: (a) DOST for the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical 
and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) and Philippine Institute of Volcanology 
and Seismology (PHIVOLCS); (b) DENR for the Geohazard Assessment and Engineering, 
Geology Section of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB); (c) DOH for the  
Health Emergency Management Bureau (HEMB); and (d) DILG for the Bureau of Fire and 
Protection: Provided, That DDR and these departments shall establish systems and protocols 
for fostering interdepartmental relations and close coordination, through sustained sharing of 
data, information technology, facilities, and other resources critical to the DDR, among others: 
Provided, further, That the said agencies will cooperate fully with the DDR, in anticipation of,  
during and as necessary in the determination of the DDR Secretary, and perform agency 
mandates in close coordination with DDR as circumstances warrant in the aftermath of 
emergencies and disasters: Provided, finally, That PAGASA, PHIVOLCS and the Geohazards  
Unit of the MGB shall provide staff augmentation to DDR Operations Center as the need arises. 
 
SEC. 89. Transfer of Resources. -· The transfer of powers and functions of agencies  
listed in Section 85 shall include the corresponding funds and appropriations, plantilla 
positions, records, equipment, facilities, and properties of such agencies, subject to the power 
of the Department to reorganize or reallocate the resources and positions from such agencies, 
as may be necessary to attain the objectives of this Act. 
 
SEC. 90.  Program Management Office/or the Earthquake Resiliency of the Greater  
Metro Manila Area. - The Program Management Office for the Earthquake Resiliency  
of the Greater Metro Manila Area (PMOERG), as created pursuant to Executive Order  
No. 52, s. 2018, shall be transferred to the Department under the supervision and control of the 
Secretary and shall continue to exercise its mandated functions. 
 
SEC. 91. Post-Disaster Shelters. - The Department shall establish a post-disaster shelter 
recovery policy framework for low-income or informal settler families, with the assistance of  
the appropriate housing agencies and the concerned LGUs. It shall, among others, determine 
the appropriate shelter modalities depending on the following post-disaster phases: emergency, 
temporary or transitional, and permanent. The Department shall likewise identify, assess, and 
designate safe zones where the appropriate shelters shall be built. 
 
SEC. 92. Cultural Heritage. - To protect, preserve, and promote the nation's historical  
and cultural heritage, the Department shall assist the appropriate cultural agencies and the 
appropriate LGUs to give priority protection and restoration to all national cultural treasures or 


national historical landmarks, sites, or monuments in post-disaster recovery or rehabilitation 
measures. 
 
SEC. 93. Indigenous People. - (a) The Department shall, with the assistance of the 
National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) and the concerned LGUs, devise and 
implement mechanisms that foster social protection for indigenous communities that are 
vulnerable to the effects of natural disasters. 
 
(b) The Department shall ensure respect for, and protection of, the traditional resource 
right of the Indigenous Cultural Communities or Indigenous Peoples (ICCs or IPs) to their 
ancestral domains and recognize the customary laws and traditional resource use and 
management, knowledge, and practices in ancestral domains. 
 
 
(c) In ancestral domains which are disaster-prone, the Department, with the assistance 
of the NCIP and applicable LGUs, shall create an Ancestral Domain Disaster Management and 
Resiliency Plan. It shall likewise properly communicate and explain information on disaster 
risks in ancestral domains with the concerned ICCs or IPs and, as much as possible, engage 
such ICCs or IPs in jointly formulating a disaster resiliency plan for their ancestral domain. 
 
SEC. 94. Livelihood. - The Department shall, with the assistance of the relevant 
government agencies, such as the DTI and Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), 
establish policies and programs to restore and/or generate livelihood in areas affected by natural 
disasters. 
SEC. 95. Structural Audit of Government Buildings. - The Department, with the 
assistance of the DPWH and other relevant government agencies and stakeholders, shall ensure  
and conduct structural audit, as often as necessary, on government buildings, especially those 
located in congested and disaster-prone areas, to ensure structural integrity and disaster risk of  
urban buildings and to prevent the loss of life and property in the event of an anticipated natural 
disaster. 
 
SEC. 96. Magna Carta Benefits. - Qualified employees of the Department including  
those of its attached agencies, shall be covered by and entitled to the benefits under Republic 
Act No. 8439, otherwise known as the "Magna Carta for Scientists, Engineers, Researchers and 
other Science and Technology Personnel in the Government"; and Republic Act No. 7305, 
otherwise known as the "Magna Carta of Public Health Workers"; and Republic Act No. 9433, 
otherwise known as the "Magna Carta for Public Social Workers". 
 
SEC. 97. Hazard Pay. - Qualified personnel of the Department and the local disaster 
resilience offices are entitled to receive hazard pay, subject to existing policies and guidelines. 
 
SEC. 98. Separation Benefits of Officials and Employees of Affected Agencies. -  
Public sector employees who have been displaced or separated from the service pursuant to 
reorganization under this Act shall be entitled to separation pay, retirement and other benefits  
in accordance with Republic Act No. 6656 or the Government Reorganization Law, and other 
laws, and rules and regulations issued by the Civil Service Commission on government 
reorganization. 
 
In no case shall there be any diminution of benefits under the separation plan until the 
full implementation of this Act. 
 


Employees who shall be displaced or separated as a result of the implementation of this 
Act shall be given preference for appointment in the Department and in other government 
agencies if they meet the qualification requirements of the positions. 
 
No new employees shall be considered for appointment until all incumbent employees  
have been placed. The placement of an incumbent employee to a higher position which  
constitutes a promotion shall not be allowed until all incumbent employees have been placed 
to comparable positions for which they are considered. 
 
SEC. 99. Appropriations. - The amount necessary for the initial implementation of  
this Act shall be taken from the current fiscal year's appropriations of all agencies herein  
absorbed, and transferred to the Department. Thereafter, the amounts necessary for the 
operation of the Department and the implementation of this Act shall be included in the annual 
General Appropriations Act. 
 
SEC. 100. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Department, DBM, GPPB,  
DND, DOF, DILG, DOST, NEDA, DSWD, CSC, and the Career Executive Service Board  
(CESB), the House and Senate Committees on Government Reorganization, and 
representatives from relevant government agencies, academe, business sector, non-government 
organizations, and civil society organizations shall prepare and issue the implementing rules 
and regulations (IRR) to implement this Act within ninety (90) days from its effectivity. 
 
SEC. 101.  Joint Congressional Oversight Committee on Disaster Resilience. – There  
shall be created a Joint Congressional Oversight Committee on Disaster Resilience to monitor  
the implementation of this Act. The Committee shall be composed of six (6) members of the  
House of Representatives and six (6) members of the Senate to be designated by the Speaker 
of the House of Representatives and the President of the Senate, respectively: Provided, That 
two (2) members of the House of Representatives and two (2) Senators shall come from the 
Minority of their respective houses of Congress. The Committee shall be jointly chaired by a 
Member of the House of Representatives and a Senator designated by the Speaker of the House 
of Representatives and the President of the Senate, respectively. 
 
The Joint Congressional Oversight Committee on Disaster Resilience shall be assisted 
by a secretariat to be composed by personnel under secondment from the Senate and the House 
of Representatives and may retain consultants. 
 
SEC. 102. Mandatory Review. - Within five (5) years after the effectivity of this Act, 
or as the need arises, the Congressional Oversight Committee shall conduct a systematic 
evaluation of the accomplishments and impacts of this Act, as well as the performance, and 
organizational structure of the Department, for purposes of determining remedial legislation. 
 
SEC. 103. Interpretation. - Any doubt in the interpretation of any provision of this Act  
shall be resolved in favor of a liberal interpretation that will fulfill the objectives of this Act,  
especially in relation to the provision of effective, efficient and timely disaster response, 
rehabilitation and recovery. 
 
SEC. 104. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act shall be declared 
unconstitutional or invalid, the other provisions or parts thereof not otherwise affected shall  
remain in full force and effect. 
 


SEC. 105. Repealing Clause. - The provisions of Republic Act No. 10121, otherwise  
known as the "Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010"; Republic 
Act No. 7160, otherwise known as the "Local Government Code of 1991"; Republic Act No. 
7916, otherwise known as "The Special Economic Zone Act of 1995"; and all other laws, 
decrees, executive orders, proclamations, and other executive issuances, which are not 
consistent with or contrary to the provisions of this Act, are hereby repealed or amended. 
 
SEC.106. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication 
in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
 
Approved,