Disaster lecture

DISASTER MANAGEMENT

What is disaster management?

A disaster can be defined as any occurrence that cause damage, ecological disruption, loss of human life
deterioration of health and health services on a scale sufficient to warrant an extraordinary response
from outside the affected community or area. (WHO)

A disaster can be defined as an occurrence either nature or manmade that causes human suffering and
creates human needs that victims cannot alleviate without assistance.

Preparedness- Activities prior to a disaster.

Ex: preparedness plans, emergency exercises/trainings, warning system.

Response- activities during a disaster.

Ex: public warning systems, emergency operations, search and rescue

Recovery- activities following a disaster

Ex: temporary housing, claims processing and grants, long term medical care and counseling

Mitigation- activities that reduce the effects or disaster

Ex: building codes and zoning, vulnerability analyses, public education

What it involves?

Dealing with and avoiding both natural and man made disasters

Preparedness before disaster

Rebuilding and supporting society after natural disaster

Background

Enormous population pressures and urbanization

A flood, a drought or an earthquake millions of peoples are affected each time a disaster occurs

Large-scale displacement and the loss of life, loss of property and agricultural crops

The reasons for this are varied including:

An increasing population pressures in urban areas

An increase in the extent of encroachment into lands, river beds or drainage courses, low lying areas

Poor or ignored zoning laws and policies

Types of disaster

Natural disasters

Meteorological, topographical, environmental

Man-made disaster

Technological, industrial accidents, security related

Factors affecting disaster

Host factors

Age, immunization status, degree of mobility, emotional stability

Environmental factors

Physical factors, chemical factors, biological factors, social factors, psychological factors

Characteristics of disaster

Predictability, controllability, speed of onset, length of forewarning, duration of impact, scope and
intensity of impact

Phases of disaster

Pre-impact phase, impact phase, post- impact phase

Phases of disaster

Principles of disaster management

Disaster management is the responsibility of all spheres of government

Disaster management should use resources that exist for a day to day purpose

Organizations should function as an extension of their core business

Individuals are responsible for their own safety

Disaster management planning should focus on large scale events

DM planning should recognize the difference between incidents and disaster

DM planning must take account of the type of physical environment and the structure of the population

DM arrangements must recognize the involvement and potential role of non government agencies

Phases of disaster management

Disaster preparedness

Disaster impact

Disaster response

Rehabilitation

Disaster mitigation
Disaster preparedness

Preparedness should be in the form of money, manpower and materials

Evaluation from past experiences about risk

Location of disaster-prone areas

Organization of communication, information, and warning system

Ensuring co-ordination and response mechanism

Development of public education programme

Co-ordination with media

National and international relations

Keeping stock of foods drug and other essential commodities

Philippines Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (PDRRM)

The international agencies which provides humanitarian assistance to the disaster strike areas are
united nation agencies

Office for the co-ordination of humanitarian affair(OCHA)

World health organizations(WHO)

UNICEF

World food programme(WFP)

Food and Agricultural Organization(FAD)

Non-governmental organizations

Co-operative American relief every where (CARE)

International committee of red cross

Philippine red cross

Disaster impact

Search, rescue and first aid

Field care

Triage

Tagging

Identification of dead

Disaster response

Epidemiological surveillance and disease control

Vaccination

Nutrition

Rehabilitation phase

Water supply

Food safety

Basic sanitation and personal hygiene

Vector control

Disaster mitigation

This involves lessening the likely effects of emergencies

These include depending upon the disaster protection of vulnerable population and structure

Ex: improving structural qualities of schools houses and such other buildings so that medical casualties
can be minimized

Similarly ensuring the safety of health facilities and public health services including water supply and
sewerage system to reduce the cost of rehabilitation and reconstruction

This mitigation compliments the disaster preparedness and disaster response activities

Disaster effects

Death, disability, increase in communicable disease, psychological problems, food shortage,

socioeconomic losses, shortage of drugs and medical supplies, environmental disruption

Disaster recovery
Successful recovery preparation, be vigilant in health teaching, psychological support, referrals to
hospitals as needed, remain alert for environment health, nurse must be attentive to the danger

Areas of concern

Activating an early warning system network and its close monitoring

Mechanism for integrating the scientific technological and administrative agencies for effective disaster
management

Terrestrial communication links which collapse in the event of a rapid onset disaster

Vulnerability of critical infrastructure( power supply, communications, water supply, transport, ) to

disaster events

Funding: primacy of relief as disaster response

Preparedness and mitigation very often ignored

Lack of integrated efforts to collect and compile data, information and local knowledge on disaster
history and traditional response patterns

Need for standardized efforts in compiling and interpreting geo- spatial data, satellite imagery and early
warning signals

Weak areas continue to be forecasting modelling, risk prediction, simulation and scenario analysis

Absence of a national level, state level, and district level directory of experts and inventory of resources

Absence of a national disaster management plan and state of level and district level disaster
management plans

Sustainability efforts

Effective inter agency co-ordination and standard operating procedures for stakeholders groups,
especially critical first responders agencies

Emergency medicine, critical care medicine, triage, first aid

Dynamics of disaster

There is a high probability or a low probability for an event happening somewhere sometime soon

The unpredictability of disaster events and the high risk and vulnerability profile makes it imperative to
strengthen disaster preparedness, mitigation, and enforcement of guidelines, building codes and
restrictions on construction of buildings in flood -prone areas and storm surge prone coastal areas
Lesson learnt

Be prepared: preparedness and mitigation is bound to yield more effective returns than distributing
relief after a disaster

Create a culture of preparedness and prevention

Evolve a code of conduct for all stake-holders

Future direction

Encourage and consolidate knowledge networks

Mobilize and train disaster volunteers for more effective preparedness, mitigation and response

Increased capacity building leads to faster vulnerability reduction

Learn from best practices in disaster preparedness, mitigation and disaster response

Mobilizing stakeholder participation of self help groups, women’s group, youth group

Anticipatory governance: simulation exercise , mock drills and scenario analysis

Indigenous knowledge systems and coping practices

Living with risk: community based disaster risk management

Invest in preparedness

Investments in preparedness and prevention (mitigation) will yield sustainable results, rather than
spending money on relief after disaster

Most disasters predictable, especially in their seasonality and the disaster- prone areas which are
vulnerable

Communities must be involved in disaster preparedness

Future directions

Inclusive, participatory, gender sensitive, child friendly, eco-friendly and disabled friendly disaster
management

Technology driven but people owned

Knowledge management: documentation and dissemination of good practices

Public private partnership

The Philippine Disaster and Risk Profile
Concepts and Types of Disaster

• Natural
• Technological
• Internal
• External Disaster

Natural vs. Technological

Natural disaster also referred to as natural hazards are extreme, sudden events caused by environmental
factors such as storms, floods, droughts, fires, and heat waves. Natural disasters are now occurring with
increasing severity, scope and impact. When we explore natural disasters in the context of planetary
health, we are utilizing a systems-thinking approach to grasp the complexities and anthropogenic drivers
relating a given disaster to causes and effects.
Types of Natural Disaster

• Tornadoes and Severe Storms

• Hurricanes and Tropical Storms
• Floods
• Wildfires
• Earthquakes
• Drought

A technological disaster is a catastrophic event that is caused by either human error in controlling
technology or a malfunction of a technology system. Technology based disasters are as serious as natural
disasters. Sometimes, the disaster symptoms may gradually appear over a few years, but other impacts
may immediately disrupt society and business.
Types of Technological Disaster

• Industrial pollution
• Nuclear radiation
• Toxic wastes
• Dam failures
• Transport accidents
• Factory explosions
• Chemical spills

Internal vs. External Disaster

Internal disasters are events that occur within the walls of the hospital itself, such as an active shooter,
power outage, or radiation exposure. Internal Disaster means a disaster occurring within the facility that
materially affects the ability to provide patient care. Internal disasters include, but are not limited to, fires,
loss of electrical power, loss of heat, or loss of water/sewer services. An internal disaster may affect the
entire facility or only a portion of the facility.
Types of Internal Disaster

• Fires
• Utility failures
• Workplace violence
• Tornados, cyclones, hurricanes and other severe storms and flooding
• Explosions and bomb threats
• Radiation contamination
• Acts of terrorism and bioterrorism in the health care facility

Natural Disasters

• Geophysical
• Metrological
• Hydrological
• Climatological
• Biological

Geophysical hazards originate from internal earth processes. Examples are earthquakes, volcanic
activity and emission, and related geophysical processes such as mass movements, landslides, rockslides,
surface collapses and debris or mud flows.
Meteorological disasters are caused by extreme weather such as rain, drought, snow, extreme heat or
cold, ice, or wind. Violent, sudden and damaging alteration in the atmosphere associated with, created by,
or touching the earth’s atmosphere, particularly the weather-forming processes. Examples of weather
disasters embrace blizzard, cyclones, drought, hailstorms, heat waves, hurricanes, floods (caused by rain)
and tornadoes.
Hydrological disasters are a violent, sharp and harmful amendment either in quality of earth’s water or
in distribution or movement of water ashore below the surface or in atmosphere. A flood is associate
overflow of associate expanse of water that submerges land.
Climatological disasters as events that are brought about by drastic fluctuations of climate states and
variabilities. When those shifts and deviations go outside of the normal range, it becomes a cause for
concern. Weather can turn disastrous when it starts to go to an extreme and sometimes when it shifts to
that extreme very quickly.
Biological hazards are of organic origin or conveyed by biologic vectors, including pathogenic
microorganisms, toxins and bioactive substances. Examples are bacteria, viruses or parasites, as well as
venomous wildlife and insects, poisonous plants and mosquitoes carrying disease-causing agents. An
example of a biological hazard: A room, a bar, a classroom: how the coronavirus is spread through the air.
Man-made disaster

• Terrorism
• Technological
• Transitional human shelters
Terrorism is the use of force or violence against persons or property in violation of the criminal laws of
the United States for purposed of intimidation, coercion, or ransom. Terrorists often use threats to create
fear among the public to try to convince citizens that their government is powerless to prevent terrorism
and to get immediate publicity for their causes. Acts of terrorism range from threats of
terrorism,assassinations, kidnappings, hijackings, bomb scares and bombings, and cyber-attacks
(computer-based), to the use of chemical, biological and nuclear weapons.
Technological disasters are caused by events that can be intense and sudden. Examples include bridge
collapses, dam failures, and industrial, maritime, and aviation accidents. They also include more drawn-
out events resulting from breakdown in technology in which highly toxic substances are used or stored.
Such situations would include leaking toxic waste dumps, or accidents involving release of radiation.
Transitional shelters are a common issue in the aftermath of disasters. Worldwide, millions of houses are
damaged or destroyed by disasters every year. People are forced to leave their homes and seek refuge,
sometimes for short time and sometimes for a protracted period based on the nature of the disaster and the
extent of the damage done to the housing structures.
Phases of a Disaster

• Pre-disaster
• Warning
• Social and physical impact
• Emergency

Pre-disaster- before a disaster to reduce the potential for human, material or environment losses caused
by hazards and to ensure that these losses are minimized when the disaster actually strikes. Pre-disaster
recovery planning is an opportunity for communities to consider how they will manage important
recovery issues, like how to keep the government and essential services up and running, where to locate
temporary housing, how and where they will rebuild, and how to reestablish essential economic activity.
Communities can, and should, take steps before being impacted by a disaster to ensure that the aftermath
will not become a disastrous and chaotic situation in itself.
Warning- when warning is available, there’s a flurry of preparation. There may also be debate as to the
reality and magnitude of the threat. (This phase can last for a few minutes to a few days, depending on
circumstances. It doesn’t happen at all for earthquakes and other unanticipated impacts.)
Social and physical impact- people may experience shock and disbelief, fear and apprehension, anger,
and shame and guilt in the early days after an event, and over the longer term. Trauma and grief will put
personal, family and community relationships under pressure. The mental health impacts of disaster can
lead to an increase in problematic alcohol and drug use, self-harm, violence and abuse which may well act
as early warning signs. Whether or not they have experienced direct losses, the disaster may trigger post-
traumatic stress for people who have experienced previous trauma, including war service, previous
bushfires or house fires, and family loss.
Emergency- the premise behind the four phases of emergency management is to reduce the impact of
emergencies on individuals and communities through appropriate preparation and response.
Governments, schools, and other agencies are adopting emergency management plans that encompass
these four phases and ensure that they have comprehensive plans to address the impact of emergency
situations. A list of resources on planning and responding to emergency situations is provided at the
bottom of the page.
Trends and Patterns of Disaster
Isolation- separates sick people with a contagious disease from people who are not sick. Isolation and
quarantine help protect the public by preventing exposure to people who have or may have a contagious
disease.
Rescue phase usually lasts for the first 48to 72 hours after a disaster when the rate of survival of trapped
victims is high. Rescue operations continue for much longer duration, however, after the first 2 to 3 days,
the resources allocated for rescue are comparatively low since other priorities take over.
Remedy- activities follow an emergency or disaster and are generally designed to provide emergency
assistance for casualties (for example, search and rescue, emergency shelter, medical care, mass feeding).
Response activities are focused on the short-term need, but also seek to reduce the probability of
secondary damage resulting from the emergency situation (for example, shutting off contaminated water
supply resources or patrolling an area with high risk for looting or community violence).
Recovery- the recovery phase takes place after a disaster. This phase is the restoration of an organization
following any impacts from a disaster. By this time, the organization has achieved at least some degree of
physical, environmental, economic and social stability. The recovery phase of a disaster can last anywhere
from six months to a year (or even longer depending on the severity of the incident)

Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 201

Republic Act No. 10121- Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010.
PD 1566- series of 1978 disaster management centered only on the hazard and the impacts of a disaster. It
is assumed that disasters cannot be avoided.
RA 9729- Climate Change Act of 2009- was signed into law last October 23, 2009
Why do we need to have a new law?
PD 1556

• Assumes that disasters cannot be avoided

• Most plans were on the provision of relief goods & infra like file & flood control systems
(reactive)
• Government response was focused on disaster response

RA10121

• Transforms & reforms the way we deal with disaster

• That impact of disasters can be reduced by addressing the root cause of disaster risks
• From disaster response to risk reduction
• Emphasis on strengthening people’s capacity to absorb stress
• Proactive and developmental approach in managing disaster

RA 10121 or the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010 (DRRM ACT)
 • Is a new law which transforms the Philippine Disaster Management System from disaster relief
and response towards disaster risk reduction (DRR)
• Approved on May 27, 2010
• It repealed PD 1566 which enacted in 1978

An Act

• Strengthening the Philippine Disaster Management System

• Providing the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Framework and
• Institutionalizing the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Plan, appropriating
funds therefore and for other purposes

Risk Factors

• Hazards
• Exposures
• Vulnerabilities
• Capacities

1978- Presidential Decree 1566

1991- Local Government Autonomy
2007- Adoption of the Cluster Approach
2009- Climate Change Act
2010- Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council

• Department of National Defense (Chairperson)

• Department of Social Welfare and Development- V-chair for disaster response
• National Economic and Development Authority- V-chair for disaster rehabilitation and recovery
• Department of Science and Technology- V-chair for disaster prevention and mitigation
• Department of the Interior and Local Government- V-chair for disaster preparedness
• Office of Civil Defense (Secretariat)

How has the DRRM Structure changed?

PD 1566 RA 10121
OVERSEEING IMPLEMENTING
NDCC OCD (SECRETARIAT) NDRRMC OCD
REGIONAL DCC RDRRMC OCD REGIOONAL OFFICE
PROVINCIAL DCC PDRRMC PDRRMO
C/MDCC C/MDRRMC C/MDRRMCO
BDCC BDC BDRRC

The New DRRM Law

 1. NDCC can be National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management council of NDRRMC
2. Formulation of National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Framework and the National
Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Plan
3. Framework for Climate change adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction and Management
4. RDCC, PDCC, C/MDCC into Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Councils
5. OCD directors as chair of the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council with
Regional DSWD, DILG, DOST and NEDA as V-chairs except Mindanao where the Regional
Governor acts as Chair and OCD as secretariat of the RDMMC
6. BDCC integrated with the Barangay Development Council
7. Creation of the Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office
8. Accreditation, mobilization and protection of Disaster Volunteers & National Service reserve
Corps; CSO’s and the Private Sector.
9. Integration of Disaster Risk Reduction Education into school curricula & SK programs as well as
Mandatory Training for Public Sector employees.

Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office

NDRRMC – PDRRMC – MDRRMC – BDRRMC
Barangay Disaster Council- if the Barangay is affected
City of Municipal DRRMC – if two or more barangays are affected
Provincial DRRMC – if two or more cities/ municipalities are affected
Regional – if two or more provinces are affected
NDRRMC – if two or more regions are affected
Declaration of State of Calamity
1. The National Council shall recommend to the President of the Philippines the declaration of a
cluster of barangays, municipalities, cities, provinces, and regions under a state of calamity, and
the lifting thereof, based on the criteria set by the National Council.
2. The President’s declaration may warrant international humanitarian assistance as deemed
necessary.
3. The declaration and lifting of the state of calamity may also be issued by the local sanggunian
upon the recommendation of the LDRRM Council based on the results of the damage assessment
and needs analysis.

Prohibited Acts such as:

• Preventing the entry/distribution of relief goods and disaster teams/experts in disaster striken
areas
• Buying for consumption or resale from disaster relief agencies any relief goods, equipment or
other aid commodities intended for distribution to disaster affected communities
• Buying for consumption or resale from the recipient disaster affected person any relief goods,
equipment or other aid commodities received by them
 • Selling of relief goods, equipment or other aid commodities intended for distribution to disaster
victims
• Forcibly seizing of relief goods
• Diverting/Misdelivery of relief goods
• Repacking of relief goods, equipment and other aid
• Substitution of relief goods
• Illegal solicitation by persons/organizations
• Deliberate use of false or inflated data
• Tampering with or stealing hazard monitoring and disaster preparedness equipment and
paraphernalia

Penal Clause

• Violators of those prohibited acts shall suffer a fine of not less than P 50, 000.00 or any amount
not to exceed P 500,000.00 or imprisonment of not less than 6 years and 1 day or not more than
12 years of BOTH.

PHILIPPINE DISASTER RISK PROFILE

The Philippines is considered one of the most disaster-prone countries in the world. Its location makes it
vulnerable to a variety of natural disasters. Lying on the western rim of the pacific and along the circum-
pacific seismic belt, it is subject to storms, typhoons, earthquakes, floods, volcanic eruptions, droughts
and faces other natural hazards. Disasters are a serious threat to people and economic assets,
particularly in densely populated areas. At least 60 percent of the total land area of the country is
exposed to multiple hazards, and as a result 74 percent of its population is vulnerable.

With 268 recorded disaster events over the last three decades, the Philippines ranks 8th according to
World Bank’s Natural Disaster Hotspot list of countries most exposed to multiple hazards (Table 1).
Almost 30 percent of the disasters that occurred in Southeast Asia for the period 1990-2009 (Table 2)
occurred in the Philippines.

Historic Overview of Disasters

Earthquakes: The U.S. Geological Survey lists 168 significant (with a magnitude of 6.5+ on the Richter
scale) earthquakes in the Philippines since 1959, equivalent to an event every 2.5 years. The Philippine
Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) has recorded 12 destructive earthquakes in the last
40 years; the most damaging of which were the 1976 Mindanao Earthquake, which killed approximately
6,000 and caused about US $400 million (in present value) in damage, and the 1990 Central Luzon
Earthquake, which killed over 1,000 people and caused damages of about US $400 million (in present
value).

A comprehensive seismic hazard analysis for the Philippines has not been prepared. However, more
recent studies shows that accelerations in the Metro Manila area are about 0.4g, comparable to those in
San Francisco, Tokyo and other high-seismic areas.
Volcanoes: Out of 220 volcanoes in the archipelago, 22 are classified as active. The most active volcanoes
in the Philippines are Bulusan, Mayon, Canlaon and Taal. The most recent major eruption in the country
is the Mount Pinatubo eruption in June 1991. PHIVOLCS forecast of the event saved at least 5,000 lives
and US $250 million worth of property and infrastructure.

A review of historic record indicates that central and southern Luzon are likely to experience a significant
eruption about once every three years, with a major eruption perhaps every few decades. Mayon and
Taal are the most active of these volcanoes.

Tropical cyclones: The climate of the Philippines is tropical and is strongly affected by monsoon (rain-
bearing) winds, which blow from the southwest from approximately May to October and from the
northeast from November to February. From June to December, an average of twenty typhoons hits the
country accompanied by strong winds, intense rainfall and flooding. Five to seven of which are expected
to be destructive. Most storms come from the southeast, with their frequency generally increasing from
south to north. Luzon has significantly higher risk than the southern part of the country, where typhoons
are heaviest in Samar, Leyte, eastern Quezon Province and the Batanes Islands.

Flooding: Floods are usually triggered by typhoons, tropical depression and continuing heavy rains. They
are also triggered by man-made causes such as dam failures, blockage of water ways by garbage and
improper design of street drainage.

Exposure and Vulnerability

The average annual damage caused by disasters amounts to Pesos 19.7 billion in the past two decades,
equivalent to an average of 0.5 percent of GDP each year. In addition, agricultural damage is estimated at
Pesos 12 billion per annum, and an average of 1,008 people are killed annually by natural disasters.
Typhoons are the most frequent and the most damaging of all natural disasters in the Philippines. The
poor are the most vulnerable to the damage caused by natural disasters as they are the ones left
homeless and whose livelihoods are destroyed by the vagaries of the weather. Since almost one-third of
the country’s employment is based on agriculture, natural disasters have contributed to the increasing
incidence of poverty, especially in the rural areas.

In urban areas, those living in calamity-prone areas such as riverbanks and estuaries are vulnerable to
natural and man-made disasters. Those in flood-prone areas, along the coast and on steep slopes in
upland areas are also at risk. Natural disasters increase their vulnerability and perpetuate deprivation
and marginalization.

The scale and significance of disasters is illustrated by the impact on lives and livelihoods illustrated in
Table 3 below. As a result of 121 disasters that struck the country from 2000 to 2008, more than 36
million people were affected, 8,177 lives were lost, 374,798 became homeless and 6,261 were injured.

Determinants of Vulnerability to Natural Disasters in the Philippines

Urbanization: Rapid urbanization in the country has led to urban squalor and the proliferation of
unplanned, informal and overcrowded settlements, often in hazard-prone areas. As of 2002, the country
had about 1.2 million families of informal settlers who were vulnerable to typhoons and flooding.
Demographic growth and urbanization have also affected provision of basic services, resulting in
deteriorating solid waste management and siltation of rivers and drainage channels. These poor urban
practices are aggravating flooding in urban areas for the past years and are expected to make the
situation more severe in the future.

Environmental degradation: Environmental degradation has hugely contributed to increasing natural

disaster occurrence in the Philippines. Demographic growth and poor land-use planning have led to the
massive depletion of natural resources and destruction of the environment. Flash flooding, landslides
and drought have increased in the past two decades as a result of declining forest cover. Certain areas
that have substantially lost their forest cover are also more exposed to typhoons.

Climate change: Risks from global climate change are further exacerbating the country’s vulnerability to
natural hazards. In the last 15 years alone, the country has recorded the strongest typhoon, the most
destructive typhoons, the deadliest storm and the typhoon with the highest 24-hour rainfall. These
climate trends seem to fit the scientific evidence that rising sea surface temperatures enhance the
destructiveness of tropical cyclones. The Philippines is expected to experience substantial rise in sea
levels, making 70 percent of the 1,500 municipalities located along the coast vulnerable to this
phenomenon. The country is also witnessing longer episodes of drought or El Niño, causing a large drop
in the volume of agricultural production and sharp declines in GDP.

The mandate for overall policy and coordination of disaster risk management (DRM) efforts in the
Philippines is enshrined in Presidential Decree Nos. 1 (1972) and 1566 (1978), which led to the creation
of the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC). These laws: (a) adopt a Comprehensive Disaster
Management Framework that divides DRM into four phases: mitigation, preparedness, response and
rehabilitation; (b) call for the preparation of a National Calamity and Disaster Preparedness Plan; and (c)
allow for the utilization of the Calamity Fund for activities related to DRM.

The NDCC is an inter-agency council responsible for disaster preparedness, prevention and mitigation. It
is chaired by the Secretary of National Defense with the heads of 18 departments as members. In the
discharge of its functions, the NDCC utilizes the facilities and services of the Office of Civil Defence as its
operating arm. It serves as the President’s adviser on disaster preparedness programs, disaster
operations and rehabilitation efforts undertaken by the government and the private sector. NDCC is a
policy and coordinating agency and does not implement activities related to DRM. It operates through
member agencies and its local networks (i.e., the regional and local disaster coordinating councils),
which are responsible for planning, implementing, funding and carrying out specific activities related to
DRM. The NDCC adopted a Disaster Management Framework to address the different stages of disaster
management.