‘State of Imminent Disaster’ bill OK’d in House

Upgrade to High-Speed Internet for only ₱1499/month!

Enjoy up to 100 Mbps fiber broadband, perfect for browsing, streaming, and gaming.

Visit Suniway.ph to learn

June 8, 2025 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — The House of Representatives approved on third and final reading on Wednesday a bill institutionalizing a criteria for the declaration of a state of imminent disaster and consequent government response mechanisms.

Speaker Martin Romualdez, principal author of House Bill 11430, said the proposed law aims to prevent the loss of lives, properties and livelihoods in the event of a disaster or a calamity, whether natural or man-made.

Various hazards, such as natural and human-induced disasters, epidemics, pandemics, other illnesses of public health concern and other events disrupting the normal functioning of communities, may cause the declaration of a state of imminent disaster.

HB 11430 authorizes the President to declare a State of Imminent Disaster over a cluster of barangays, municipalities, cities, provinces and regions using guidelines issued by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).

Local chief executives, through an executive order and upon the recommendation of the local DRRM council, may also declare a State of Imminent Disaster in their area of jurisdiction.

Local government units shall include planned interventions in their regular programs, plans, activities and budgets.

For national government agencies, implementation funding shall be charged against the National DRRM Fund.

The proposed law also penalizes neglect of duties leading to destruction, loss of lives, critical damage to facilities and misuse of funds; preventing the entry and distribution of relief goods in areas declared under a State of Imminent Disaster and buying from disaster relief agencies for consumption or resale of relief goods as well as misrepresenting the sources of relief aids.

The bill imposes a prison term of six years and one day to 12 years, or a fine of P50,000 to P500,000, or both on any person, corporation, partnership, association or any juridical entity that commits any of the prohibited acts.

The offender shall also be perpetually disqualified from public office if he is a public officer.

If it is a corporation, partnership, association or other juridical entity, the officers responsible for the violation shall suffer the penalty. Business permits or licenses may also be canceled.

The measure mandates the NDRRM to issue implementing rules and regulations, including operational guidelines and procedures. A congressional oversight committee is likewise created to oversee its implementation.