Policy: National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Plan (NDRRMP) 2011-2028

Related Laws: RA 10121 also known as the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and
Management Act of 2010

Introduction

Our country is usually devastated by calamities due to its geographic location

along the Pacific typhoon belt and along the Pacific ring of fire. This explains the
occurrences of earthquakes, tsunamis, typhoons and tropical storms in the country. An
average of twenty (20) typhoons visited the country every year and five of these are
known to be destructive.

The AFP’s mission pertaining to the topic is to conduct Humanitarian Assistance

and Disaster Response (HADR) operations in support to NDRMMC and other agencies
to mitigate the effects of natural and man-made disasters. I was assigned for almost 7
years in the Bicol region who is known to be a disaster-prone area. I have some first-hand
experience during Mayon volcano preemptive evacuation in 2009 and several responses
both proactive and reactive activities in the occurrence of typhoons. My former unit covers
the whole area of Albay and I could testify on how their zero-casualty policy became
resilient as what it is now implemented today. I even attended Disaster Preparedness
Trainor’s Seminar last 2009 which was facilitated by the Office of Civil Defense (OCD)
Region 5. Hence, if I need to analyze any policy, HADR would be on the top of my list.

The Importance of Policy Analysis

To advance in the field of public management, learning policy analysis is a must.

According to (Bardach, 1996), policy analysis is more of an art than science since it is
more on intuition than a method. Therefore, this would require constant study and practice
to be developed. A policy is a set of actions taken by a government to control the system,
to help solve problems within it or caused by it, or to help obtain benefits from it (Cochran
et.al, 2010). Analyzing policies helps to estimate the possible consequences of the
proposed or implemented policies. It involves a comprehensive and systematic process
of evaluation to identify the best strategy needed for the future and to be able to efficiently
sustain or develop any existing policies.

Republic Act 10121 ''Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of
2010"

Previously, our Government’s focused is only on disaster response alone but with
the enactment of RA 10121 also known as the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and
Management Act of 2010, the disasters response evolved into an integrated approach by
looking at all aspects to reduce disaster risk. It acknowledges the need to “adopt a
disaster risk reduction and management approach that is holistic, comprehensive,
integrated, and proactive in lessening the socio-economic and environmental impacts of
disasters including climate change and promote the involvement and participation of all
sectors and all stakeholders concerned, at all levels, especially the local community” (RA
10121, Section 2, Paragraph D).

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Plan (NDRRMP) 2011-2028

Public policy analysis uses information and available data to come up with a more
accurate estimate of its outcome. The following are based on the stages of the policy
process (Cochran et al., 2010, p. 9) to properly evaluate and analyze the National Disaster
Risk Reduction and Management Plan (NDRRMP) 2011-2028 which is basically a
roadmap towards sustainable development:

1. Problem Definition - Our country is usually devastated by calamities due to

its geographic location along the Pacific typhoon belt and along the Pacific ring of fire.
This explains the occurrences of earthquakes, tsunamis, typhoons and tropical storms in
the country. An average of twenty (20) typhoons visited the country every year and five
of these are known to be destructive. With that, the Philippines ranked third in the most
disaster-prone countries in the world according to the 2016 World Risk Report published
by the United Nations University Institute of Environment and Human Security (UNU-
EHS).

2. Policy Demands – Due to the normal occurrence of the calamities in the

country, as early as 1978 the Government already issued a Presidential Decree No. 1566
also known as “Strengthening the Philippine Disaster Control Capability and Establishing
the National Program on Community Disaster Preparedness” that resulted to the
establishment of National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) as the body who will
formulate policies pertaining to disaster-related concerns.

3. Agenda Formation - Recognizing the vulnerability of our country on

climate change, on 27 July 2009 the government enacted Republic Act No. 9729, an act
mainstreaming climate change into government policy formulations, establishing the
framework strategy and program on climate change, creating for this purpose the climate
change commission, and for other purposes. However, its goal of integrating the
programs and initiatives of disaster risk reduction and climate change did not truly
materialize, maybe due to the change of Administration from Arroyo to Aquino that
demands a policy to be called as his own legacy.

4. Policy Adoption - the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management

Plan (NDRRMP) 2011-2028 was formulated through a multi-stakeholder consultative
process of the Technical Management Group composed of the representatives of national
government and line agencies, leagues of local government units, civil society
organizations and regional DRRM Councils. The Republic Act 10121, Section 2E, stated
that the state shall “Develop, promote, and implement a comprehensive National Disaster
Risk Reduction and Management Plan (NDRRMP) that aims to strengthen the capacity
of the national government and the local government units (LGUs), together with partner
stakeholders, to build the disaster resilience of communities, and' to institutionalize
arrangements and measures for reducing disaster risks, including projected climate risks,
and enhancing disaster preparedness and response capabilities at all levels.”

5. Policy Implementation Outputs - There are four priority areas under the
NDRRM Plan that corresponds to the following four thematic areas: Disaster Prevention
and Mitigation; Disaster Preparedness; Disaster Response; and Rehabilitation and
Recovery. The National Disaster Response Plan also adopted the Cluster Approach
aimed in harmonizing the efforts of the international humanitarian agencies of the UN with
the identified agencies of the Philippine National Government in providing assistance
during disasters. The eight clusters, namely: 1) Food and Non-food items; 2)
Health/WASH; 3) Camp Coordination, Management, and Protection; 4) Logistics; 5)
Emergency Telecommunications; 6) Education; 7) Search, rescue, and retrieval; and 8)
Management of the Dead and Missing (MDM) which is DND-AFP is the Cluster
Head/Lead for the SRR Cluster.

6. Policy Evaluation – According to the 2013 DILG Preparedness Assessment

Report, there is much to be desired in terms of coordination between national government
agencies, LGUs, civil society organizations, volunteers and the private sector. In the
current DRRM structure, authority is shared while responsibility is dispersed, and
resources are scattered, that resulted in difficulty to effectively operate in any disaster
management activities. The (Senate Economic Planning Office {SEPO}, 2017) on their
evaluation of National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Plan recommended that
there are still much to be done in the government’s effort in reducing and managing
disaster risks, and (SEPO, 2017) highlighted the following challenges:

a. Weak coordination and collaboration among stakeholders.

b. Lack of capacity of line agencies and LGUs to perform DRRM
functions.
c. Less priority is given to DRRM activities.
d. Weak implementation of laws and policies.
e. The lack of and difficulty in accessing DRRM data/information.
f. The post-disaster focuses on disaster funds.
g. Monitoring of disaster fund expenditures.
h. Slow disbursement of disaster funds.
i. Difficulty in tracking foreign disaster assistance.

7. Problem Redefinition - Congress should review the content of RA No.

10121. Section 27 of the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010
states that the Congressional Oversight Committee shall conduct a sunset review which
is a systematic evaluation by the Congressional Oversight Committee of the
accomplishments and impact, as well as the performance and organizational structure of
its implementing agencies, for purposes of determining remedial legislation.
 Table 1.1 Concepts in Analysis of National Disaster Risk Reduction and
Management Plan (NDRRMP) Cochran et al., 2010, p. 13)

Concept Definition Illustration

Activation of National Disaster
Risk Reduction and Management
Council (NDRRMC), a body that is
empowered with policy-making,
coordination, integration,
supervision, monitoring and
Implementation evaluation functions for the Number of DRRM-related
protection and welfare of the Programs, Projects, and
people during disasters or Activities by Department
emergencies that serves as the
top coordinator of all disaster
management of the country. (RA
10121)
Local Government Units Disaster
Number of Local DRRM-
Risk Reduction and Management
Outputs related Programs, Projects,
Plan (LDRRMP) aligned with
and Activities
NDRRMP
Disaster-resilient communities
that are psychologically sound, The ranking of our country
Impact (Outcomes) safe, secure, and protected from in the World Risk Index is
the effects of disasters. going down.

A community that is well-informed,

Nr of training and public
trained and prepared in terms of
information conducted in
Direct disaster prevention and mitigation,
the preparation of any
preparedness, response, and
calamity.
recovery.
Nr of countries/private
Appreciation and support of
Indirect institutions that are
neighboring countries in Disaster
(Externalities) supporting the country in
Risk and Reduction Management.
event of a calamity.
Lesser number of
The occurrence of natural or man-
Intended casualties incurred in the
made calamities.
event of any disasters.
Any event of terrorism in the Nr of terrorist activities not
Unintended
country. prevented.
Changes in the casualties
Annual NDRRM Review and
Short-term incurred in the event of any
Assessment
calamities.
Review and Evaluation of NDRRM Major changes in the
Long Term Plan at the end of the term of any activities in terms of
Administration disaster prevention and
 mitigation, preparedness,
response, and recovery.
Sunset Review after five (5) years
Congressional Oversight
of implementation or as the need
Committee to have a
arises to assess the effectivity,
systematic evaluation for
Policy Evaluation performance and organizational
the accomplishments and
structure of its
impact of this NDRRM
implementing agencies.
Plan.
NDRRMC through OCD to have Number of equipment and
an annual report to the Office of number of trained
Empirical Dimension
the President, Senate and House personnel for disaster
of Representatives. response
Involvement of Non-
Number of community
Normative Governmental Organizations
volunteers in the event of
Dimension (NGOs) in Disaster Risk and
disasters
Reduction Management
RA 10121 requires the allocated
departments/agencies and LGUs
for the submission to NDRRMC on
Amount of Calamity and
Cost-benefit their monthly statements on the
Quick Response Fund
Analysis utilization of DRRM funds for the
allocated to NDRRMC.
alignment of programs, projects
and activities vis a vis their
expenses.
Almost nine times increased in
Number of sustainable
calamity funds From PHP 4.4B in
priority or flagship projects
2009 to PHP 38.9B in 2016 and
Direct with high impact on
QRF from PHP653 Million in 2009
Disaster Risk and
to around PHP 6.2 Billion in 2016.
Reduction Management.
(Domingo, 2017).
Nr of recovery and
rehabilitation projects
Indirect Foreign aid for disaster recovery
through the financial
(Externalities) and rehabilitation.
support given by foreign
countries.
Conclusion

According to Dwight D. Eisenhower, “In preparing for battle I have always found
that plans are useless, but planning is indispensable.” The National Disaster Risk
Reduction and Management Plan through its framework envisions a country of “safer,
adaptive and disaster resilient Filipino communities toward sustainable development.”
Indeed, it is a good and responsive long-term plan but without the active involvement of
the national government, local government units (LGUs) and all stakeholders from being
reactive to proactive this plan will be all useless. However, in times of disasters to mitigate
its effect, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Plan 2011-2028 will
always be extremely necessary and important.

References

Bardach E. (1996). The Eight-Step Path of Policy Analysis (A Handbook for Practice).
Berkeley Academic Press: Berkeley, CA.

Cochran, C. E., Meyer, L. C., Carr, T. R., Cayer, N. J., McKenzie, M. J., & Peck,L. R.
(2012). American Public Policy: An Introduction (10th Edition).

Domingo, Sonny N. (2016, December). An Assessment of the Sectoral and Institutional

Implementation of the NDRRMP. Philippine Institute for Development Studies.

National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC). (2010, November 27). Implementing

Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 10121.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Plan (NDRRMP) 2011-2028.

Republic Act 10121, Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010.

Senate Economic Planning Office {SEPO}. (2017, May). Senate of the Philippines “A
Policy Brief”.