Enhancing Disaster Legislation: Philippine Insights

1. 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 Geneva 17 rue de Varembe, Geneva, Switzerland STRATEGIES FOR SUCCESS IN DEVELOPING DISASTER LAW: PHILIPPINE EXPERIENCE by: Atty. Priscilla P. Duque, MNSA Assistant Civil Defense Executive Officer / Chief, Training Division Office of Civil Defense, NDRRMC

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

3. Scope of Presentation The Making of Republic Act 10121 dated May 27, 2010 - Background - The Building Blocks - Approaches / Strategies Challenges

4. Background 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

5. Republic Act No. 10121 otherwise 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

6. 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

7. Building Blocks of Successful Legislative Reform in the Philippines

8. The building blocks of successful legislative reform in PH Presence of relevant DM/DRRM policy environment • ACDM • ARPDM • 2003 • IDNDR • ISDR • 1998 • GAA • ’90’s

9. The building blocks of successful legislative reform in PH • Presence of relevant DM/DRRM policy environment

10. The building blocks of successful legislative reform in PH • Presence of relevant DM/DRRM policy environment ASEAN Agreement on Disaster Management and Emergency Response (AADMER) 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

11. Planning Instruments The building blocks of successful legislative reform in PH

12. NDCC’s Four-Point Plan of Action on Disaster Preparedness 1. 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; The building blocks of successful legislative reform in PH • Planning Instruments • 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.

13. SNAP on DRR - Five Strategic Objectives The building blocks of successful legislative reform in PH • Planning Instruments

14. SNAP Priority Programs and Projects – Eighteen (18) 1. Governance: Disaster Risk Management Act 2. Multi-stakeholder Dialogues on Disaster Risk Reduction 3. Institutionalization of Disaster Management Office 4. Enhancing Capacity Development for Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Councils 5. Mainstreaming DRR into the Peace Process 6. Mainstreaming DRR in Various Government Plans and Programs 7. Public-Private Partnership 8. Resource Mobilization 9. Information and Database Generation The building blocks of successful legislative reform in PH • Planning Instruments

15. SNAP Priority Programs and Projects 10. Knowledge Management 11. Supporting DRR Mainstreaming through Sectoral Approach 12. Preparedness for Effective Disaster Response 13. Information, Education and Communication (IEC) Campaign 14. Institutional and Technical Capacity Building 15. Education and Research 16. Forecasting and Early Warning 17. Risk Evaluation 18. Development of Tools for Assessment and Monitoring of DRR Measures The building blocks of successful legislative reform in PH • Planning Instruments

16. The building blocks of successful legislative reform in PH 2009 TOPS (Typhoons Ondoy, Pepeng and Santi) 'PEPENG' 'ONDOY' 'SANTI'

17. 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;

18. 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:

19. 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;

20. 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

21. 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

22. WALKING THE TALK . . . . . . Our Major Challenges - policy implementation - funding / resource mobilization - sustaining DRR achievements in various sectors - monitoring and evaluation

23. 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

24. MARAMING SALAMAT ! ! ! NDRRMC Website: www.ndcc.gov.ph