A proposed legislation titled “Declaration of State of Imminent Disaster Act” has been filed in the Senate, which aims to set the criteria allowing the implementation of proactive measures before natural calamities strike.
Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada introduced the measure under Senate Bill No. 2643. It intends to establish an improved system based on risk assessments from agencies such as the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).
The proposal seeks to institutionalize practical measures before the onset of environmental hazards, shifting the focus from reactive to proactive disaster response, boosting the resilience of communities in the process amid the increasing threats of climate change.
“This measure introduces the concept of ‘anticipatory action’ to reduce the impacts of a forecast hazard before it occurs, or before its most acute impacts are felt to mitigate its impact on people, animals, and properties that are likely to be affected,” Estrada said.
The senator highlighted how a Pre-Disaster Risk Assessment (PDRA) could have significantly mitigated the damage from Typhoon Odette in December 2021.
Under the bill, the President, provincial governors, and mayors will have the authority to declare a State of Imminent Disaster based on recommendations from the NDRRMC or their local counterparts (LDRRMC).
This declaration can be made for a range of hazards, including natural disasters, epidemics, pandemics, public health emergencies, and other events that disrupt community functioning.
The bill mandates that local government units (LGUs) allocate 70 percent of their LDRRM Plans’ budget to anticipatory actions, ensuring immediate disbursement upon the declaration of a State of Imminent Disaster.
Any unused funds from LGUs will be transferred to a special trust fund, while unused national government funds will revert to the National Treasury once the declaration is lifted.
