 The journey of the Department of Disaster Resilience actually

began with the SUNSET REVIEW of NDRRM Act of 2010

mandated by the RA 10121. This began in earnest in 2015 until
2016. This was the basis for the initial draft. Then in two
consecutive SONAs in 2017 and 2018, the bill gained traction.
And the new Speaker PGMA saw to it that the House draft
would be approved.

 The DDR bill is now ready for plenary deliberations. The

Committees on Government Reorganization chaired by
Camiguin Rep XJ Romualdo and National Defense and
Security chaired by Pangasinan Rep. Amado Espino approved
the House substitute bill on July 25 in the presence of the
Speaker GMA. In the following day, the funding provisions were
subsequently approved by Committee on Appropriations.
The TWG started work on 34 Bills and 4
House Resolutions on Aug 30, 2017;

It engaged stakeholders in 6 TWG

meetings, 3 Committee hearings, 2
writeshops and 11 regional
consultations with 1000 ++ LGUs and
their LDRRMOs.
It shall be the primary government agency responsible,
accountable and liable for leading, managing, and organizing
the NATIONAL EFFORT to prevent, reduce disaster risk, prepare for
and respond to disasters, and recover, 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 and
anticipatory adaptation strategies, measures, techniques, and
options, and augment the capacity of local governments units in
the implementation of disaster risk reduction and management
and climate change action plan, programs, projects, and
activities, in collaboration with relevant national government
agencies and other stakeholders.
a). RA 10121 essentially organized the local effort and recognized the
primacy of LGUs in DRR. However, given the increasing intensity and
complexity of disaster risks (aggravated by rapid urbanization), local
capacity is being overwhelmed. This was the lesson from Yolanda
(Haiyan). Under 10121, the NATIONAL EFFORT was assigned essentially to
coordinated actions of operating leads under the 4 thematic clusters
(DOST for risk reduction, DILG for preparedness, DSWD for response and
NEDA for reconstruction) with OCD was the nerve center.

Thus, the DDR is being organized to unify the national effort while
giving a SURGE CAPACITY to boost LGU for catastrophic risks esp during
the golden hour when lives can still be saved and damages reduced
through external intervention.
In the case of Yolanda, it came later with food riots as a
companion risk for the first time in recent history of disaster response.
Moreover, DDR will assume the principal and automatic responsibility for
immediately leading the reconstruction instead of organizing task forces
(OPARR for Yolanda) or Commissions (BCARE for Reming).
b). The organizational design of DDR originally proposed in Aug 2016
under HB 6075 to include both resiliency (risk reduction and
reconstruction) and response (preparedness, rescue and relief) was
actually ahead of the organizational evolution of FEMA which now
includes Resiliency Unit organizationally located at par with the original
emergency response of FEMA

c). The DDR shall have full control of the NATIONAL CALAMITY FUND and
all QRF (quick response funds) will be centrally managed esp for the
legislated allocated for electricity rehabilitation. This is in contrast to the
current setup where there is a QRF for DPWH, DSWD, DOH and DA.

For example, it will be now the DDR who will procure, repack,
preposition and distribute relief goods based on LGU requests and its
own PDRA/PDNA. This will entail that the DDR will have to set up their
logistical system including warehouses and delivery assets.
 Under the bill, OCD shall serve as the CORE ORGANIZATION of the
proposed department to be headed by a Secretary and supported
by Undersecretaries, Assistant Secretaries and Directors. Even,
before RA 10121 OCD has already handled preparedness and
response activities.
 Thus, OCD has the institutional memory and competency in
administering DRRM given its actual functions and years of continuous
practice. Thus, thru these years OCD developed pool of technicians,
professionals and experts in the field DRRM project management and
implementation.

 The creation of such Department would fulfill the directive of the

President for a unity of command, science-based approach and full-
time focus for natural hazards and even human-induced disasters.
 The disaster risk reduction and management functions, assets, and funds
and personnel of the Office of Civil Defense performing such functions
are transferred to the Department.
 Climate Change Office of the Climate Change Commission,
 Geo-Hazard Assessment and Engineering Geology Section of the Mines of the
Geosciences Bureau,
 the Health Emergency Management Bureau of the Department of Health,
 and the Disaster Response Assistance and Management Bureau of the DSWD
are abolished and their powers, functions, and personnel are hereby transferred
to the Department. Further, Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) is transferred to the
Department while the PAGASA and the PHIVOLCS are hereby attached to the
Department.

 The abolition, transfer and attachment of other related government

agencies in the new Department of Disaster Resilience is a vital step to
make the department fully capable in performing its DRRM functions.
This will resolve recurring bureaucratic issues and challenges in the
implementation of DRRM, and this will enhance systematic integration
of functions, implementation of PAPs, resource and information sharing.
 BFP (DILG) HEMS (DOH) and DREAM B (DSWD). It may noted that the Fire
Administration is now under FEMA in the USA's disaster response structure.
Watching CNN lately, one can immediately see most nation-states employ
the firemen as responders to various disasters as floods, forest fires,
earthquakes. Moreso, they also assist in risk reduction through building
inspection, disruption of water services post-disasters is usually met through
the use of fire trucks for delivery of water to affected populations and
evacuated families.

 The inclusion of BFP with its 22,000 well-trained manpower is critical to the
capacity of DDR in providing immediate incremental capacity to LGUs and
for surge capacity given their regional and national organization with
stations, personnel and assets in 1,400 LGUs. The DDR will provide continuous
training and skills upgrading to BFP on search and rescue and on
management of dead and missing persons esp. in disasters involving
collapsed structures.

 PHIVOLCS and PAGASA (DOST) and Geohazards Unit of MGB provide both
warning on disaster preparedness and also provide science for disaster risk
reduction as inputs to CLUPs, DRRMP and LCCAP. They are also critical
inputs to reconstruction planning for building better forward.
 The proposed bill retained the presence of the National Council and
expanded its membership as policy advisory board of the Department.

 It also created a Multi-Stakeholders’ Convergence Unit who shall assist

the Department to align Disaster Resilience efforts of the private sector,
CSOs, academe, and other stakeholders with the Department by
assisting, coordinating, or providing services that strengthen public-
private cooperation and coordination in disaster resilience.

 The expansion and enhancement of the NDRRMC in the proposed bill

will empower the institutional platform to leverage multi-disciplinary
and multi-sectoral convergence and collaboration among the
government, the private sector, civil society organizations, and non-
government organizations to promote coherence and further
development of local and national strategies, legal frameworks,
programs, regulations and institutional arrangement.
 The bill allows for proper funding scheme to attain disaster
resilience both from the national and local government bodies.

 The new National Disaster Resilience Fund, formerly known as

National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund, was
proportioned into 80/20. Simply put, 20% of the NDRF can be used
for quick response or stand-by fund while the remaining 80% can
be utilized for climate change adaptation, disaster risk and
vulnerability reduction and mitigation, disaster risk transfer, disaster
preparedness, recovery, and rehabilitation.

 Also, the bill proposes to create a Disaster Resilience Support Fund

(DRSF) for 3rd – 6th class provinces and municipalities to be
exclusively used to support programs, projects, and activities for
climate change adaptation, disaster risk prevention and
mitigation, disaster risk transfer, and disaster preparedness.
 The bill also provides a 5-year window for LGUs that exempts
their increased PS for DRRMOs will be exempted from the
computation of the PS ceiling under RA 7160.

 House Bill stipulated the continuity of Appropriations for the

unutilized balances from the National Disaster Resilience Fund
and the Disaster Resilience Support Fund which shall remain
available for release and obligation beyond the period
provided by the General Appropriations Act for the purpose.

 Finally, the Local Disaster Resilience Fund was increased from at

least 5% to at least 7% of the estimate from regular sources of
local government units implement programs, projects, and
activities in their Local Disaster Resilience Plans.

 The 20 percent of which shall be allocated for quick response or

stand-by fund while 80% of the LDRF allocated for programs,
projects, and activities for climate change adaptation, disaster
risk and vulnerability reduction and mitigation, disaster risk
transfer, disaster preparedness, recovery, and rehabilitation.
 Based on the 2019 NEP, the budget of government
agencies absorbed by DDR would amount to P31bn.
Together with the NDRRMF of P20bn, the DRR would
have an existing funding based of P50.1bn.

It was estimated that aside from the existing

budgets, the DDR would require an initial P10bn,
For one, based on the new mandates, OCD
would require P1bn for the created offices
especially regional field offices excluding capital
outlay.
nongrangasa.lccad@gmail.com
lccad.org@gmail.com