President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has signed into law a measure that empowers the government to declare a “State of Imminent Disaster” before an actual calamity strikes, in a bid to strengthen preparedness and minimize potential damage.
Republic Act No. 12287, or the Declaration of State of Imminent Disaster Act, was signed by Mr. Marcos last Sept. 12. The measure establishes a legal framework for declaring a state of imminent disaster, setting criteria for its declaration and lifting, and authorizing the use of resources for anticipatory action.
The law allows the President, upon the recommendation of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), to declare a State of Imminent Disaster over barangays, municipalities, cities, provinces, or regions forecast to be hit by a disaster.
Local chief executives may also issue similar declarations within their jurisdictions based on recommendations from regional disaster councils.
To justify a declaration, the NDRRMC or regional councils must conduct a pre-disaster risk assessment showing highly probable catastrophic impacts from a hazard, classified as severe, with a lead time of at least three days, extendable to five days, for government interventions.
Once declared, national and local disaster councils will be authorized to take preemptive actions such as mobilizing response teams, pre-positioning supplies, conducting forced or preemptive evacuations, and rolling out social protection programs for vulnerable communities.
Measures may also include protecting food supplies, safeguarding agricultural production, and ensuring public health and safety.
The law requires local governments to integrate anticipatory action measures into their regular disaster risk reduction and management programs, with funding drawn from local DRRM funds.
A state of imminent disaster may be lifted if updated assessments find that projected impacts are no longer likely.
The NDRRMC, chaired by the Department of National Defense, must issue implementing rules and guidelines within 60 days of the law’s signing.
