Local chief executives may now declare a State of Imminent Disaster and implement anticipatory measures ahead of a predicted calamity, thanks to a law signed recently by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.
Signed into law on Sept. 12, 2025, Republic Act 12287 or the Declaration of State of Imminent Disaster Act, introduces the concept of “Anticipatory Action,” a proactive approach that allows authorities to reduce the impact of a forecasted hazard prior to its occurrence or even before its most acute effects are felt.
It allows the President to issue the declaration covering barangays, municipalities, cities, provinces or regions upon the recommendation of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).
On the other hand, mayors and governors may likewise issue a declaration in their jurisdictions based on advice from regional DRRM Councils.
The law covers a wide range of hazards, including hydrometeorological, geological, and climatic threats such as floods, typhoons, droughts, and storm surges — events that can be modeled and predicted with sufficient lead time.
The declaration will be anchored on a pre-disaster risk assessment showing highly probable hazards with projected catastrophic impacts, classified as severe, and with at least a three-day lead time —extendable to five days— for authorities to mobilize resources.
The NDRRMC or the RDRRMCs shall conduct a pre-disaster risk assessment in anticipation of the “highly probable disaster with projected catastrophic impacts,” which shall serve as the basis for the declaration.
Among those to be considered in the declaration are the adverse effect of the highly probable disaster on the population, particularly vulnerable groups of the community, and on significant sectors such as, but not limited to, agricultural, business, and industrial sectors; and the local risk profiles, institutional capacities, and potential for occurrence of cascading hazards.
Once declared, national and local governments may carry out anticipatory measures such as public advisories, prepositioning of relief items, mobilization of response teams and volunteers, pre-emptive evacuations, and social protection for vulnerable sectors.
The law also covers actions to safeguard agriculture, food supply, public health, and safety.
If subsequent risk assessments show that projected impacts will not materialize, the NDRRMC or local DRRM councils shall recommend the immediate lifting of the declaration.
To finance its implementation, national government agencies are obliged to allocate portions of their budgets for anticipatory measures, with the National DRRM Fund as another source.
Local governments are also mandated to integrate anticipatory action measures into their Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) Plans, funded by their Local DRRM Funds and unspent Special Trust Funds.
If the predicted hazard does not occur, unused funds will revert to the Special Trust Fund for LGUs or to the National Treasury for agencies.
Relief goods already procured must be also stored by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) or the concerned local social welfare offices.
RA 12287 also penalizes the malicious spread of false disaster information and the manipulation of assessment reports to justify an improper declaration of a state of imminent disaster with offenders facing fines between P50,000 to P500,000; imprisonment of six to 12 years; and perpetual disqualification from public office if they are government officials.
It likewise directs the creation of a Congressional Oversight Committee composed of members from both houses of Congress to monitor the law’s implementation.
Implementing rules and regulations of the new law will be drafted by the NDRRMC within 60 days.
The Philippines is one of the world’s most disaster-prone countries, with an average of 20 tropical cyclones entering its area of responsibility each year, along with risks from earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and flooding.
Catanduanes, in particular, is hit by a super typhoon at least once every five years, with the most recent one being “Pepito” which devastated the northern towns in November last year.
Just 48 hours before the howler made landfall, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations activated its Anticipatory Action Protocols in coordination with Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Offices (MDRRMOs) and Municipal Agriculture Offices (MAOs).
It provided multi-purpose cash aid to over 2,813 individuals in Virac, San Andres, Bato, Baras, Pandan, San Miguel, and Gigmoto, with each beneficiary receiving P3,300 to help them better prepare for the typhoon’s impact.
As part of the proactive measures, 238 wooden fishing bancas from five fisherfolk organizations were secured, ensuring the protection of vital livelihood.
Known for its resiliency in the face of calamities, Catandunganons have been aware of anticipatory measures since 2019 when the Philippine Red Cross responded ahead of typhoon “Tisoy” by providing cash assistance to selected farmers in the pre-harvesting of abaca in their plantations.
In December 2022, the UNICEF and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) conducted a simulation exercise with the Bato LGU to create deeper awareness and test its operationalization before the projected landfall of a Category 3 typhoon.
This was followed by another SIMEX on November 2023, this time in Virac, with both exercises aimed at strengthening coordination and execution among stakeholders and improving existing mechanisms to ensure that the objectives of the child-centered anticipatory actions were met.
During the exercise, activities are gradually rolled out when certain criteria are met based on the trigger model developed.
This includes a forecast of a Signal Number 4 or 5 typhoon within seven to four days before landfall (the readiness trigger) and if the predicted number of damaged houses falls within a specific range three days before landfall (the activation trigger).
For example, under child protection activities, child protection help desks will be set up at key locations when the readiness trigger is activated with child protection focal points available and ready to respond at the selected evacuation centers.
For the cash transfer, a series of text messages are cascaded among agencies and municipal links until beneficiaries – those belonging to the 4Ps of DSWD – are informed, and the cash is released to their 4Ps Landbank card 72 hours before the typhoon makes landfall.
If this anticipatory action framework is implemented, 1,200 pesos, funded by the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), will be given to each beneficiary.
Just last February 26, 2025, an After-Action Review of the Anticipatory Action for Typhoon Pepito was held by FAO together with MDRRMOs and MAOs from the 11 towns.
Focus Group Discussions examined community conditions before, during, and after the CERF-AA intervention, highlighting the anticipatory actions taken by the associations before STS Pepito’s landfall and their post-typhoon recovery efforts.
Findings revealed that fisherfolk in Cabcab, San Andres adopted anticipatory strategies, while those in Baldoc and Marambong, Pandan focused on rapid response activities.
The discussions provided substantial data and valuable insights into the effectiveness of early action initiatives in protecting fishing boats and gear.
The Impact Analysis and After-Action Review provided critical learnings on the effectiveness of anticipatory action in reducing the storm’s impact on fishing livelihoods, helping to inform and strengthen future disaster preparedness efforts for vulnerable communities. (with a report from PNA)