Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act signed into law
Outgoing Philippine President Gloria Macapagl-Arroyo has signed into law RA 10121 otherwise known as the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act. The law which was a result of the Disaster Risk Reduction Management Master Plan in Metro Manila, specifically of the Legal and Institutional Focus Group shifts the focus from disaster response and recovery towards disaster risk reduction, preparedness, and mitigation.
Under the bill, the policy-making functions of the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) will be transferred to a new agency the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council. The new National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority, which will be under the Office of the President, will replace the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) which served as the secretariat.
Salient points of the law are the new mechanisms for release of calamity funds to local governments for use in disaster risk reduction, mitigation, and preparedness instead of just disaster response, and granting of no-interest loans by government financial institutions to disaster stricken areas placed under a state of calamity.
Signed version of the law can be seen here.
Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act signed into law
