Disaster Management Policies in the Philippines

Presidential Decree 1566

• Strengthened the Philippine disaster control capability
• Established the national program on community disaster preparedness
• Created the National Disaster Coordinating Council in 1978
• Important for disaster mitigation and preparedness
• Immediate release of calamity funds to local governments
• Local governments can use 70% of calamity funds for risk reduction and 30% for quick response (compared to the previous 100% for quick response)

Republic Act No. 10121 (DRRM Act)

• Increased the role of provinces, cities, and municipalities in disaster resilience
• Institutionalized measures for reducing disaster risks
• Enhanced disaster preparedness and response capabilities
• Aims to strengthen the capacity of the national government and local government units (LGUs)
• Seeks to build disaster resilience in communities
• Institutionalizes arrangements for reducing disaster risks, including projected climate risks
• Enhances disaster preparedness and response capabilities at all levels

Fire Prevention

• Proclamation 115-A and 360 of 1986 declared March as Fire Prevention Month

Basic Concept of Disaster and Disaster Risk

• The Philippines experiences deadly natural disasters due to its location in the Pacific Ring of Fire
• Disasters cause sudden harm, injury, destruction, and devastation
• Disasters often involve both life and property
• Disasters arise from exposure to hazards, vulnerability,and insufficient coping mechanisms
• Impacts may include loss of life, injury, disease, and negative effects on human well-being, damaged property, loss of services, social and economic disruptions, environmental degradation

Classifications of Disasters

• Natural Disasters: Caused by natural forces (earthquakes, typhoons, volcanic eruptions, hurricanes, fires, tornados, extreme temperatures)
• Man-made Disasters: Caused by human actions

Risk vs Disaster Risk

• Risk: Combination of probability and negative consequences of an event
• Disaster Risk: Potential losses in lives, health, livelihoods ,assets, services in a specific time period
• Disaster risk is the outcome of the possible damage caused by hazards

DRR (Disaster Risk Reduction)

• Aims to reduce damage from hazards like earthquakes, floods, droughts, cyclones using preventive measures
• Focuses on risk reduction

DRRM (Disaster Risk Reduction Management)

• Applies DRR policies and strategies to prevent new disaster risks
• Reduces existing risks, managing residual risk

UNISDR (United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction)

• Coordinates efforts to reduce disaster losses
• Aims to achieve reduction in disaster losses
• Important for sustainability
• Sets objectives, including climate change adaptation and investment for DRRM in buildings, schools and hospitals

Importance of DRRM in the Philippines

• The Philippines is vulnerable to numerous geological and hydrometeorological hazards
• The Philippines is developing, meaning resources for disaster response may be constrained

Explore the key legislation in the Philippines that impacts disaster management and preparedness. This quiz covers Presidential Decree 1566 and Republic Act No. 10121, focusing on their roles in strengthening local and national disaster response and mitigation efforts. Test your knowledge on these important policies and their implications for community resilience.