MANILA — For the first time in Philippine law, authorities are now legally empowered to act before calamities strike.
President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has signed Republic Act (RA) No. 12287, establishing the declaration of a “State of Imminent Disaster” as a formal tool to trigger early interventions against looming natural hazards.
The law, signed on September 12 and released Thursday, arms the President with authority to declare such a state over any affected area — whether a barangay, municipality, city, province, or region — upon the recommendation of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC). Local executives, from governors to mayors, are also empowered to issue similar declarations based on the advice of their regional disaster councils.
A “State of Imminent Disaster” may be raised once a pre-disaster risk assessment points to highly likely threats with potentially catastrophic consequences. The declaration must be issued at least three days ahead of an expected event, extendable up to five, to allow resources to be mobilized and coordinated responses to be mounted.
Through this early-warning mechanism, both national and local governments can issue advisories, mobilize rescue teams and volunteers, preposition relief goods, carry out preemptive evacuations, and extend social safety nets to vulnerable groups. Safeguards for food security, public health, and agriculture are also explicitly covered.
The law further mandates that if follow-up assessments confirm the hazards will not occur, the NDRRMC or local councils must immediately recommend the lifting of the declaration.
Local government units are likewise ordered to mainstream anticipatory actions into their disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM) plans and budgets. Meanwhile, the NDRRMC has 60 days to craft the implementing rules and regulations.
Lawmakers hailed the measure as a shift from a reactive to a preventive model of disaster governance. With the Philippines consistently among the world’s most disaster-prone countries — weathering an average of 20 cyclones yearly along with earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and floods — RA 12287 institutionalizes a long-missing legal framework for proactive preparedness./PN
