History of disaster management in the Philippines

This is how disaster management in our country has progressed through the years.

Commonwealth toPost-Commonwealth Era During the Commonwealth days, two (2) executive orders were issued by the late President Manuel L. Quezon, namely, Executive Order 335 and 337. Executive Order 335 created the Civilian Emergency Administration (CEA), which was tasked primarily through the National Emergency Commission (NEC) to formulate and execute policies and plans for the protection and welfare of the civilian population under extraordinary and emergency conditions.

The NEC, which was established to administer the CEA, was composed of the following official members:

1. Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC) Manager
2. Director of Publicity and Propaganda
3. Food Administrator
4. Industrial Production Administration
5. National Welfare Warden
6. Director of Communications
7. Fuel and Transportation Administration
8. Other officials as may be appointed from time to time

Local emergency committees from the provincial, city and municipal levels were likewise organized.

The organization and training of volunteer guards and air-raid protection units were given much emphasis by the government during that time with the issuance of Executive Order 337 which empowered the volunteer guards to assist the maintenance of peace and order in the locality, to safeguard public utilities and to provide assistance and aid to the people during natural or man-made disasters.

Japanese occupation

During the Japanese occupation, the puppet government under President Jose P. Laurel issued Executive Order 36, which created the Civilian Protection Service (CPS), which was empowered to formulate and execute plans and policies for the protection of civilian population during air raids and other national emergencies. Members of the local protection committees included the highest local official of the Treasurer’s Office, Justice, Engineer’s Office, Schools, Health and the Police.

1954 to 1968

Our experience during World War II, the country’s vulnerability to all types of disasters particularly typhoons and floods, and the nuclear arms race of the three superpowers in the 1950s, prompted the government to promulgate a law—Republic Act 1190, or the Civil Defense Act of 1954.

Under this law, a National Civil Defense Administration (NCDA) was established which was tasked primarily to provide protection and welfare to the civilian population during war or other national emergencies of equally grave character. To support the NCDA in carrying out its mission, R.A. 1190 also provided for the establishment of civil defense councils at the national and local levels, namely: the National Civil Defense Council (NCDC) and the provincial, city and municipal civil defense councils, respectively:

The NCDC was composed of the following:

• NCDC Administrator-Chairman
o Chairman, Committee on National Defense and Security of both Houses of Congress-Member
o Chief, Philippine Constabulary-Member
o Commissioner of Social Welfare-Member
o Manager, Philippine National Red Cross-Member
• Manager, Philippine National Development Company-Member
• Manager, Price Stabilization Council-Member

On the other hand, the organization of the local civil defense council was not specifically provided for in the locality but designated the Provincial Governor, City and Municipal Mayor as the Provincial, City and Municipal Civil Defense Director, respectively.

The municipalities and cities, which were directly under the supervision of the Provincial Civil Defense Director relative to civil defense services, were the main basic operating units for the purpose.

The operating services of the national and civil defense organizations were as follows:

Warden Service;
Police Service;
Fire Service;
Health Service;
Rescue and Engineering Service;
Emergency Welfare Service;
Transportation Service;
Communication Service;
Evacuation Service;
Air-raid Warning Service; and
Auxiliary Service.

Formulation of the Disaster and Calamities Plan (1970)

On October 19, 1970, as an aftermath of Typhoon Sening, which ravaged the Bicol Region, the flooding of Metro Manila for almost three months, a Disaster and Calamities Plan prepared by an Inter-Departmental Planning Group on Disasters and Calamities, was approved by the President. The Plan has provided, among others, the creation of a National Disaster Control Center, which was composed of the following:

• Secretary of National Defense-Chairman
• Executive Secretary-Overall Coordinator
• Secretary of Health-Members
• Secretary of Public Works and Communications-Members
• Secretary of Agriculture and Natural Resources-Members
• Secretary of Commerce and Industry-Members
• Secretary of Education-Members
• Secretary of Community Devt.-Members

Birth of Office of Civil Defense (1973)

NCDA was abolished and transferred its functions and personnel and those of the NDCC to a newly-created agency—the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), which was entrusted the mission of ensuring the protection and welfare of the people during disasters or emergencies. Under Letter of Implementation No. 19, Series of 1972, the missions and functions of OCD are enumerated.

Presidential Decree 1566 and the formal establishment of the NDCC, RDCC and Local DCCs (1978)

On June 11, 1978, PD 1566 was issued to strengthen the Philippine disaster control capability and to establish a community disaster preparedness program nationwide.

Among the salient provisions of the Decree are the following:

1. State policy on self-reliance among local officials and their constituents in responding to disasters or emergencies;
2. Organization of disaster coordinating councils from the national down to the municipal level;
3. Statement of duties and responsibilities of the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC), RDCCs and LDCCs;
4. Preparation of the National Calamities and Disaster Preparedness Plan (NCDPP) by OCD and implementing plans by NDCC member-agencies;
5. Conduct of periodic drills and exercises; and
6. Authority for government units to program their funds for disaster preparedness activities in addition to the 2 percent calamity fund as provided for in PD 474 (amended by R.A. 8185).

The National Disaster Control Center, which was created on October 19, 1970, is the forerunner of the National Disaster Coordinating Council created under PD 1566. It serves as the highest policy-making body for disasters in the country and includes almost all Department Secretaries as members. The original composition of the NDCC included all the most important ministries.

The disaster coordinating councils (DCCs) from the regional, provincial, city and municipal level, on the other hand, are composed of representatives of national government agencies operating at these levels and local officials concerned. –Courtesy of NDCC