DRRM Workers. During a recognition ceremony for disaster resilience champions, OCD Administrator and NDRRMC Executive Director Harold Cabreros highlights the importance of the proposed Magna Carta for Public Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) Workers in supporting the country’s disaster responders. (Photo: JAKA/PIA-10)
TheMonitorMindanaoToday.com | OCD backs bill seeking to professionalize DRRM sector
By: Irene Joy B. Dayo
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (PIA) — The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) is pushing for the passage of the proposed Magna Carta for Public Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Workers that seeks to institutionalize the rights, welfare, and professional development and well-being of responders.
OCD Administrator and National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) Executive Director Harold Cabreros underscored the need for the legislation during a recognition ceremony for disaster resilience champions in Northern Mindanao in mid-December.
“The passage of this Magna Carta will ensure that we, who protect communities, are in turn protected and empowered. Ang inyong sakripisyo at paglilingkod para sa kapakanan at kaligtasan ng sambayanan sa oras ng kapahamakan ay hindi lamang dapat kilalanin sa pamamagitan ng parangal. Higit sa lahat, dapat din maisaalang-alang ang inyong kapakanan at pang-matagalang seguridad. Patuloy na magiging bahagi ito ng ating adbukasiya bilang pagkilala sa bawat DRRM workers ng ating bansa,” he said.
(The passage of this Magna Carta will ensure that we, who protect communities, are in turn protected and empowered. Your sacrifice and service for the welfare and safety of the people in times of disaster should not only be recognized through awards. Above all, your well-being and long-term security must also be prioritized. This will continue to be a part of our advocacy as a tribute to every DRRM worker in our country.)
The proposed Magna Carta is expected to bridge the gaps in DRRM personnel compensation and employment conditions through a set of benefits, including mandatory hazard and subsistence allowances for workers deployed in high-risk operations such as search, rescue, and retrieval.
The bill also provides for security of tenure, particularly for disaster officers currently engaged under Job Order (JO) or Contract of Service (COS) arrangements, to protect them from termination without due process.
In addition, the measure mandates insurance and health coverage for work-related injuries, illness, and disability, recognizing the risks associated with disaster response. It also aims to standardize qualifications and establish a framework for career progression in the DRRM sector.
Provisions for government-funded legal assistance are included for personnel who may face cases arising from actions taken in the performance of official duties during emergencies.
As of late 2025, versions of the proposed Magna Carta are undergoing committee deliberations in both the House of Representatives and the Senate.
Cabreros said support from local chief executives and the public is needed to encourage lawmakers to prioritize the measure’s passage.
He added that the proposed law aligns with the government’s PREPARE agenda by strengthening institutional support for disaster workers and ensuring continuity of DRRM operations. (IJBD/PIA-10)
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