Renaming the National Disaster Consciousness Month to National Disaster Resilience Month and Shifting Its Focus from Disaster Awareness Building to Disaster Resilience

June 28, 2017

EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 29

RENAMING THE NATIONAL DISASTER CONSCIOUSNESS MONTH TO NATIONAL DISASTER RESILIENCE MONTH AND SHIFTING ITS FOCUS FROM DISASTER AWARENESS BUILDING TO DISASTER RESILIENCE

WHEREAS, Executive Order No. 137 (s. 1999) mandates the observance of National Disaster Consciousness Month (NDCM) during the month of July of every year and the implementation of a Civil Defense Deputization Program at the local government level;

WHEREAS, the purpose of the NDCM is to provide national government agencies and local government units ample time to implement their disaster awareness campaigns with longer focus and on a comprehensive basis;

WHEREAS, the objective of the Civil Defense Deputization Program is to designate Civil Defense Deputized Coordinators (Tanggol Patrols) whose primary role is to initiate and coordinate programs, projects and activities on civil protection and disaster management;

WHEREAS, government efforts and previous emergencies, hazards, and disasters have increased the awareness of the public on the importance of disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM);

WHEREAS, there is a need to promote the significance of disaster resilience which pertains to the ability of individuals, communities, organizations, and states to adapt to and recover from the effects of hazards and disasters through effective risk management; SAaTHc

WHEREAS, Republic Act (RA) No. 10121 or the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010 mandates the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) to develop a National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Framework (NDRRMF) which shall provide for a comprehensive, all-hazards, multi-sectoral, inter-agency and community-based approach to DRRM;

WHEREAS, the approved NDRRMF envisions "safer, adaptive and disaster-resilient Filipino communities towards sustainable development" and conveys a paradigm shift from a reactive to a proactive approach to increase people's resilience and decrease their vulnerabilities;

WHEREAS, RA No. 10121 provides for the establishment of Local DRRM Offices and Barangay DRRM Committees which shall be responsible for setting the direction, development, implementation and coordination of disaster risk management programs within their territorial jurisdiction;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, RODRIGO ROA DUTERTE, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by the Constitution and existing laws, do hereby order:

SECTION 1. Title. — The NDCM shall be renamed as National Disaster Resilience Month (NDRM) to be observed for the whole month of July of every year.

SECTION 2. Disaster Resilience. — The NDRM shall be collectively observed by all Filipinos throughout the country through the conduct of activities relative to building disaster resilience covering the four thematic areas of disasters, namely, disaster prevention and mitigation, disaster preparedness, disaster response, and disaster rehabilitation and recovery.

SECTION 3. Lead Agencies. — The NDRRMC shall take the lead in the preparation, coordination, organization and implementation of the programs and activities under this Order. The Regional DRRM Councils, Local DRRM Councils and Barangay DRRM Committees shall ensure the implementation of all programs and activities. Moreover, the NDRRMC is hereby authorized to call upon any department, agency, office and instrumentality, including the private sector and civil service organizations, for the necessary assistance in the discharge of its functions. cSATDC

SECTION 4. Separability. — If any section or part of this Order is held unconstitutional or invalid, the other sections or provisions not otherwise affected shall remain in full force and effect.

SECTION 5. Repealing Clause. — Executive Order No. 137 (s. 1999) and all orders, rules and regulations, issuances or any part thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Executive Order are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.

SECTION 6. Effectivity. — This Order shall take effect immediately upon publication in a newspaper of general circulation.

DONE in the City of Manila, this 28th day of June, in the year of Our Lord, Two Thousand and Seventeen.

 

Published in the Official Gazette, Vol. 113, No. 28, p. 4996 on July 10, 2017.