Its name and acronym may be lengthy, but it plays a major role in keeping the country safe from disasters and ensuring quick recovery afterwards.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) is the agency tasked to prepare for, and respond to, natural calamities, like typhoons and earthquakes. It also monitors human-induced emergencies, such as armed conflicts and maritime accidents.

The NDRRMC uses strategies to mitigate the impact of disasters and increase the resiliency of both the national government and local government units (LGUs) in the face of disasters.

As a policy-making body, it is assigned to formulate a national disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM) framework that provides for a “comprehensive, all hazards, multi-sectoral, inter-agency and community-based approach to disaster risk reduction and management,” according to Republic Act 10121, NDRRMC’s enabling law.

The DRRM framework it created in June 2011 is integrated into a National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Plan, which is implemented by the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), under the Department of National Defense (DND). It covers 4 DRRM aspects, namely: prevention and mitigation, preparedness, response, and rehabilitation and recovery. (READ: RA 10121: The PH’s disaster management law is up for review)

The Secretary of the Department of National Defense (DND) chairs the NDRRMC, with the administrator of the DND Office of Civil Defense (OCD) as executive director.

Each DRRM aspect is assigned to a vice chairperson, as follows:

• Vice Chairperson for Preparedness – Secretary, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG)
• Vice Chairperson for Response – Secretary, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)
• Vice Chairperson for Prevention and Mitigation – Secretary, Department of Science and Technology (DOST)
• Vice Chairperson for Rehabilitation and Recovery – Director-General, National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA)

Read more about the NDRRMC and the roles of key officials in the infographics below.

The Cabinet members below are also part of the NDRRMC:

• Executive Secretary, Office of the President
• Secretary, Department of Agriculture (DA)
• Secretary, Department of Budget and Management (DBM)
• Secretary, Department of Education (DepEd)
• Secretary, Department of Energy (DOE)
• Secretary, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)
• Secretary, Department of Finance (DOF)
• Secretary, Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA)
• Secretary, Department of Health (DOH)
• Secretary, Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT)
• Secretary, Department of Justice (DOJ)
• Secretary, Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)
• Secretary, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)
• Secretary, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)
• Secretary, Department of Transportation (DOTr)
• Secretary, Department of Tourism (DOT)
• Press Secretary (now the Secretary, Presidential Communications Operations Office or PCOO)

The DOTr and the DICT were included in the council in July 2017 via Executive Order Number 32, following the reorganization of the now-defunct Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC).

The NDRRMC is also composed of the following:

• Secretary, Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP)
• Chairperson, Commission on Higher Education (CHED)
• Chairperson, Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC)
• Chief of Staff, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP)
• Chief, Philippine National Police (PNP)
• Secretary-General, Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC)
• Commissioner, National Anti-Poverty Commission – Victims of Disasters and Calamities Sector (NAPC-VDC)
• Chairperson, National Commission on the Role of Filipino Women (now the Philippine Commission on Women or PCW)
• Executive Director, Climate Change Office of the Climate Change Commission (CCC)
• President, Government Service Insurance System (GSIS)
• President, Social Security System (SSS)
• President, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth)
• President, Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP)
• President, League of Provinces of the Philippines (LPP)
• President, League of Cities of the Philippines (LCP)
• President, League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP)
• President, Liga ng mga Barangay (LMB)
• Four (4) representatives from civil society organizations (CSO)
• One (1) representative from the private sector

On April 30, 2023, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed Executive Order No. 24, creating the Disaster Response and Crisis Management Task Force (DRCMTF). 

According to the executive order, the DRCMTF “focuses only on disaster preparedness and response, and with a clear unity of command to lead the government’s efforts in confronting the challenges brought about by natural disasters, using evidence-driven and science-based approach in crisis-management.”

The task force will oversee and coordinate the “preparation, coordination, monitoring, and evaluation of DRRM plans, programs, projects, and activities on disaster preparedness and response.”

The newly formed task force is also tasked with establishing a calibrated national disaster mobilization system, including a “pre-disaster risk assessment as a decision-making tool, in coordination with relevant agencies.”  

The DRCMTF will also collaborate with “relevant government agencies and local governments,” and engage the assistance of “consultants, exports, and professional advisors” when necessary.

The task force can also “convene the members of the NDRRMC” to declare or lift a state of calamity and to approve disbursements from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund. 

Section 4 of the executive order allows the DRCMTF to “organize Quick Response Groups” which can be deployed “during or in anticipation of the imminent impact of a disaster.”

The DRCMTF will be composed of members from the following agencies:

• Office of the Executive Secretary
• Department of National Defense
• Department of the Interior and Local Government
• Department of Social Welfare and Development
• Department of Health
• Department of Trade and Industry
• Department of Science and Technology
• Department of Public Works and Highways
• Department of Transportation
• Office of Civil Defense (OCD)

According to the executive order, the funding for the creation of DRCMTF will be taken from existing appropriations of member agencies and other funding sources identified by the Department of Budget and Management.

– with additional research by Lorenz Pasion/Rappler.com

Sources: gov.ph, ndrrmc.gov.ph

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