Moving Forward

As the Vice – Chair in Response Cluster for the Metro Manila Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (MMDRRMC), FO-NCR acts as the lead agency in providing relief and rehabilitation assistance to Local Government Units and other intermediaries in compliance with the Republic Act 10121 or the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010 within National Capital Region.

As the representative division of FO-NCR in relation to disasters, the Disaster Response Management Division is responsible and is mandated thru RA 10121 to activate and put in action the four (4) pillars of Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Framework as member agencies in Prevention and Mitigation, Preparedness, and Recovery and Rehabilitation and as the vice-chairperson in Response while employing and institutionalizing the Cluster Approach as introduced by the UN-Humanitarian Agencies.

During disaster response operations, FO-NCR, is responsible in monitoring and providing immediate response to the needs of the disaster-affected population. FONCR shall provide augmentation support to disaster-affected Local Government Units (LGUs) and assist LGUs in disaster relief operations whenever necessary.

Further, following the Cluster Approach, FO-NCR, leads three (3) clusters under the Disaster Response Pillar to wit: Food and Non-Food Items, Camp Coordination and Camp Management, and Internally Displaced Person Protection. Thus, continuous provision of augmentation assistance to the 17 LGUs in NCR is being provided. It is also concerned with ensuring the availability of safe, secure, and accessible evacuation camps for the disaster-affected population. Moreover, it aims to safeguard the protection of IDPs within the evacuation camps to ensure that their dignity as human beings is intact and all their rights are protected and secured.

With the intensifying concern on the BIG ONE or the 7.2 Magnitude Earthquake that is likely to hit the National Capital Region and other hazards, the FO-NCR thru the Disaster Response Management Division, is initiating the forging of Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for the prepositioning and repacking hub of food and non-food items within the seventeen (17) LGUs and other institutions in National Capital Region. The DRMD is also prioritizing the provision of technical assistance thru capacity building to equip FO-NCR staff as well as other partner stakeholders with the necessary knowledge and skills to fulfil their functions in providing assistance to the communities during emergency response operations.

Furthermore, with the number of incidents, especially, fire, and other man-made or natural hazards that transpire in NCR, and to discourage continuous dependency and dole out, the Department thru DRMD implements Cash for Work Program. DRMD recognizes CFW as a developmental approach to welfare as disaster-affected beneficiaries are directly involved in a community endeavor and their efforts are maximized their contributions to rehabilitation efforts. CFW projects are also identified as a preventive and mitigation activity to lessen the impact as well as risk of the population of and to disasters, respectively.

The Disaster Response Management Division highlights stronger coordination with the 17 Local Government Units and other partner stakeholders within NCR, providing them with effective and efficient resource augmentation and technical assistance.