August 22, 2019

S.B. NO. 205: DISASTER RESILIENCE ACT

OF 2019
S.B. NO. 205: DISASTER RESILIENCE ACT OF 2019: creates an empowered, highly specialized and
responsive Department of Disaster Resilience with clear unity of command and primarily responsible in
ensuring safe, adaptive and disaster-resilient communities. The department shall concentrate on three
key result areas, namely: disaster risk reduction, disaster preparedness and response, and recovery and
building forward better. It shall be headed by a Secretary and assisted by four Undersecretaries. This bill
seeks to establish a clear system of responsibility for disaster preparedness and response in all levels of
the government, given the increasing number and devastation brought about by various disasters. It shall
operate through a whole-of-society approach. The existing DRRM offices will be renamed as Local
Disaster Resilience Offices. The DDR is empowered to call upon all relevant government instrumentalities
for assistance. A Disaster Resilience Fund will also be established to finance DDR’s operations, disaster
risk reduction, disaster preparedness, response, recovery, rehabilitation and building forward better
programs, projects and activities formulated in the national level.

Rules on hiring will be exempted from the personnel services cap to ensure adequate human resources,
such as highly skilled technical experts (DRRM specialists, scientists, environmental and/or urban
planners, civil and/or structural engineers, etc.).

The National Disaster Operations Center will also be established, with its corresponding Alternative
Command and Control Centers. A Disaster Resilience Research and Training Institute will also be
created to provide training and to collect, consolidate, manage and share knowledge and information
resources to boost disaster resilience.

o  Kailangan na po talaga nating i-scale up ang preparedness to resiliency against disasters.

Napapanahon na din na talagang magkaroon ng sariling departamento na nakatutok talaga dito sa mga
ganitong pangyayari.
o  Madalas pong tamaan ng bagyo, lindol at iba pang kalamidad ang ating bansa. Kung may iisang
ahensya po na nakatutok dito, mas maayos, mabilis at maaasahan ang serbisyong maibibigay ng
gobyerno para rumesponde at ihanda ang bansa sa ganitong mga hindi inaasahang pangyayari. Ilagay
natin sa isang departamento lang ang lahat ng mga may kaugnayang ahensya, katulad ng Office of Civil
Defense, PAGASA, PHILVOCS, etc. 
o  Sa pagpapatayo ng departamentong ito, mas magiging mabilis ang pagtugon ng pamahalaan, mas
maiibsan ang masamang epekto ng kalamidad at mas mabilis makakabangon ang ating mga kababayan.

 Kailangan ding magpatayo ng mga safe, permanent at dedicated na mga evacuation centers sa
mga piling lugar. Kailangang kumpleto ito sa mga emergency packs, katulad ng mga tubig,
flashlights, gamot, kumot, bigas, de lata, atbp.