Yesterday, I had the time to do a research about two of our possible clients on the Philippines and found a very interesting document. The document is called “The Philippine Disaster Management Story, Issue and Challenges”. In this document the NDCC and PHIVOLCS is described as the following.

National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC)

The NDCC member-agencies are responsible for carrying out their respective tasks and responsibilities in disaster management including preparedness, mitigation, response and rehabilitation. Unlike other departmental coordinating bodies, the NDCC does not have its own regular budget. It operates through the member-agencies and its local networks, which are the regional and local disaster coordinating councils. The members of the Council are:

  • Secretary of National Defense (Chairman)
  • Secretary of Public Works and Highways
  • Secretary of Transportation and Communications
  • Secretary of Science and Technology
  • Secretary of Social Welfare and Development
  • Secretary of Agriculture
  • Secretary of Education, Culture and Sports
  • Secretary of Finance
  • Secretary of Labor and Employment
  • Secretary of Trade and Industry
  • Secretary of Interior and Local Government
  • Secretary of Health
  • Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources
  • Secretary of Tourism
  • Secretary of Budget and Management
  • Secretary of Justice
  • Director, Philippine Information Agency
  • Secretary-General, Philippine National Red Cross
  • National Housing Authority
  • Chief of Staff, Armed Forces of the Philippines
  • Director-General, National Economic Development Authority (NEDA)
  • Presidential Executive Secretary, and
  • Administrator, Office of Civil Defense (Member and Executive Officer).

At the national level, the NDCC advises the President on efforts in disaster management undertaken by the government and the private sector, thereby serving as the highest policy-making body on disaster management. The OCD serves as its operating arm, supporting discharge of its functions. The NDCC is replicated at the regional and local levels, and these bodies function substantially like the NDCC, operating and utilizing resources at their respective levels.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS)

PHIVOLCS issues advisories on earthquakes, volcanic activities and tsunamis to concerned agencies and the general public. It identifies appropriate evacuation sites in coordination with concerned agencies as well as organizes Disaster Control Group and Reaction Teams in the commission proper and in its field stations.