Historical Background

I. Birth of Disaster Response Management Division

The Disaster Response Management Division (DRMD) was a section called Disaster Response Section (DRS). It was only after the enactment of the Administrative Order 1, series of 2018 otherwise known as the Functional Structure of DSWD Field Offices that the Disaster Response Section was made into a separate Division. This step was in response to the increasing significant role in disaster management of DSWD.

Before the transition of DRS into a division, it was once merged with the Crisis Intervention Unit (CIU) and Ugnayang Pag-Asa Center of Field Office-NCR. Interventions to persons/families in crisis situation needing immediate social welfare development assistance including but not limited to indigent individuals/families, individuals/ families belonging, and other poor, marginalized and vulnerable/ disadvantage individuals were provided. DRS and CIU were under the supervision of the Division Chief of the Protective Service Unit. At that time, DRS and CIU were both mainly responsible in responding to disasters. Further, DRS, during that time, was represented by only one staff as the focal in disaster.

In 2007, the Disaster Response Section was separated from Crisis Intervention Unit due to the urgency to provide a more comprehensive delivery of services for disaster related concerns. During that time, the plantilla positions available for the said Section was composed of one social welfare officer III acting as the officer-in-charge (Permanent Position), one social welfare officer II (Permanent Position), and one administrative aide IV (Under Memorandum of Agreement). In 2011, additional one administrative aide IV position (Under Memorandum of Agreement) was added to the section.