STRATEGIES FOR SUCCESS IN DEVELOPING DISASTER LAW: PHILIPPINE EXPERIENCE

by:Atty. Priscilla P. Duque, MNSA

Assistant Civil Defense Executive Officer / Chief, Training DivisionOffice of Civil Defense, NDRRMC

3rd Session of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction

Side Event: How can Legislation Promote Disaster Risk Reduction at the

Community Level

Tuesday, May 10, 2011,13:15 -14:15 Room A-CCV

International Conference Centre Geneva17 rue de Varembe, Geneva, Switzerland

:The 7,107 island-country – THE PHILIPPINES – in the world map

Scope of Presentation

The Making of Republic Act 10121 dated May 27, 2010

- Background - The Building Blocks - Approaches / Strategies

Challenges

RA NO. 10121

• 21 years in the making

• 7 Congresses

• 4 Administration

• Signed into Law on May 27, 2010

• IRR signed by the DND Secretary & NDRRMC Chairperson on Sept. 17, 2010

Background

Republic Act No. 10121otherwise known as

“ An Act Strengthening the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management

System, Providing for the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Framework, Institutionalizing the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management

Plan, Appropriating Funds Therefor and for Other Purposes

RA No. 10121 SCOPE

Provision for the development of policies and plans and implementation of actions and measures pertaining to all aspects of DRRM (Prevention, Mitigation, Preparedness, Response, and Recovery and Rehabilitation), including-

- Governance

- Risk assessment and early warning

- Knowledge building and awareness raising

- Reducing underlying risk factors - Preparedness for effective response and early recovery

Building Blocks of Successful Legislative Reform in the

Philippines

The building blocks of successful legislative reform in PH

Presence of relevant DM/DRRM policy environment

• IDNDR• ISDR• 1998 GAA

’90’s

• ACDM• ARPDM

2003

Presence of relevant DM/DRRM policy environment

The building blocks of successful legislative reform in PH

Initiated in mid ‘04, mandate given 3 weeks before the December 26, 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami

Draft negotiated in ‘05 within 4 months Signed by Foreign Ministers of ASEAN

on 26 July 2005 in Vientiane, Lao PDR Ratified by all AMS as of September

17, 2009 Entry into force on December 24,

2009 The first ever HFA-related binding

instrument in the world

ASEAN Agreement on Disaster Management and Emergency Response (AADMER)

Presence of relevant DM/DRRM policy environment

The building blocks of successful legislative reform in PH

Planning Instruments

The building blocks of successful legislative reform in PH

NDCC’s Four-Point Plan of Action on Disaster Preparedness1. Upgrading the forecasting capability of warning agencies for hydro-

meteorological and seismological hazards through improved equipment and staff development as well as networking with foreign forecasting

institutions;2. Promoting an integrated and coherent strategic public information

campaign on disaster preparedness through the conduct of nationwide tsunami and earthquake drills; distribution of posters and flyers on natural hazards and other IEC through the tri-media;

3. Enhancing capabilities of Local Chief Executives (LCEs) and their respective Disaster Coordinating Councils (DCCs) in identified

vulnerable areas through the conduct of DM-related trainings, and

4. Strengthening mechanisms for government and private sector partnership in relief and rehabilitation.

Planning Instruments

The building blocks of successful legislative reform in PH

SNAP on DRR - Five Strategic Objectives

Planning Instruments

The building blocks of successful legislative reform in PH

SNAP Priority Programs and Projects – Eighteen (18)

1. Governance: Disaster Risk Management Act2. Multi-stakeholder Dialogues on Disaster Risk Reduction 3. Institutionalization of Disaster Management Office4. Enhancing Capacity Development for Local Disaster Risk

Reduction and Management Councils 5. Mainstreaming DRR into the Peace Process6. Mainstreaming DRR in Various Government Plans and

Programs7. Public-Private Partnership 8. Resource Mobilization9. Information and Database Generation

Planning Instruments

The building blocks of successful legislative reform in PH

SNAP Priority Programs and Projects10. Knowledge Management11. Supporting DRR Mainstreaming through Sectoral Approach12. Preparedness for Effective Disaster Response13. Information, Education and Communication (IEC) Campaign14. Institutional and Technical Capacity Building15. Education and Research16. Forecasting and Early Warning17. Risk Evaluation18. Development of Tools for Assessment and Monitoring of DRR Measures

Planning Instruments

The building blocks of successful legislative reform in PH

2009 TOPS (Typhoons Ondoy, Pepeng and Santi)

The building blocks of successful legislative reform in PH

Other building blocks of successful legislative reform in the Philippines:

Clear leadership and a common vision of DM/DRR as more of a development issue rather than just a humanitarian assistance issue;

Country’s geographical location that makes it vulnerable to natural hazards;

The growing complexity and intensity of disasters;

Multi-stakeholders participation in the drafting of the DRRM legislation: line ministries, local government, military, responder groups, Red Cross, humanitarian NGOs, people’s organisations, the private sector;

Active participation of the Chairman of the Philippine Red Cross and UNISDR DRR Champion of Asia Pacific, who were members of the 14th Congress, Senators Richard Gordon and Loren Legarda, respectively, and

Presence of a very active DRR National Platform that served as the focal point in the advocacy for the passage of RA 10121

Other building blocks of successful legislative reform in the Philippines:

Our Strategies and Approaches . . . .

Multi-stakeholder consultation workshops at national, sub-national and local government levels;

Engaging selected members of both Houses of Congress in DM/DRRM projects and activities, especially the Senate and House Committees on National Defense where the proposed legislation was initially filed;

Our Strategies and Approaches . . . . Focus- Group Discussions (FGD) on thematic areas

such as the following: - policies - institutional and operational arrangements - funding - volunteer management - training and education in DRR

Maximizing the presence of DRR and Climate Change Champions in Congress

Impact of RA 10121on the Promotion of DRR at the Community Level

Provided the impetus to pursue disaster risk reduction initiatives

Enhanced DRR mandate for LGUs Institutionalized community participation Clarity of roles / functions Defined resource / funding allocation Institutionalized DRRM System COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT

WALKING THE TALK . . . . . .

Our Major Challenges

- policy implementation - funding / resource mobilization - sustaining DRR achievements in various sectors - monitoring and evaluation

Addressing other perceived operational gaps - victims rights - protection of volunteers from liability - guiding principles & SOPs of emergency service sectors / clusters - COOP / BCP

Our Major Challenges

Harmonizing the implementation of the DRRM Act, Climate Change Adaptation Act and related

sectoral laws for effective governance

MARAMING SALAMAT ! ! !

NDRRMC Website: www.ndcc.gov.ph