MANILA – The Humanitarian Country Team (HCT) in the Philippines welcomes the signing of Republic Act No. 12287, also known as “An Act Establishing a Mechanism on The Declaration Of State Of Imminent Disaster”. RA 12287 is a landmark piece of legislation and the first in the world that institutionalizes anticipatory measures, empowering national and local authorities to take early action to protect lives and livelihoods before a disaster strikes.
Anticipatory actions are proactive measures that can prevent or reduce the impact of hazards, such as climate-related events, before they fully unfold. It involves using early warnings and forecasts to deploy humanitarian assistance before the peak impacts which helps to save lives and livelihoods and protect development gains.
We commend the Government of the Philippines for its leadership in institutionalizing anticipatory action. We also recognize the Anticipatory Action Technical Working Group (AATWG), the Policy, Financing and Institutionalization Technical Sub-working Group (PFI TSG) co-led by World Food Programme, for their significant technical support and for providing a platform for learning and exchange across multiple anticipatory action initiatives.
The HCT recognizes RA 12287 as a significant policy that strengthens the Philippines’ disaster risk reduction and response system. It aligns with the HCT’s commitment to localization, resilience, and inclusive humanitarian action. The law empowers local government units (LGUs) and communities to act before a disaster. The HCT supports the integration of anticipatory action into local disaster risk reduction and management plans to reinforce preparedness at the community level, and advocates for an all-hazards approach.
The HCT stands ready to continue working in close collaboration with the AATWG, National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), LGUs, local NGOs and civil society organizations, the private sector and other stakeholders to ensure effective implementation of the law. This includes the development of implementing rules and regulations and investing in capacity-building initiatives.
The Philippines HCT, under the leadership of the UN Resident Coordinator, Arnaud Peral, ensures that humanitarian action by its members is well coordinated, principled, timely, and effective. The HCT comprises UNs agencies, international NGOs, local NGO networks, the Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation (PDRF) with observers from the Red Cross and Red Crescent movement and donor governments. The HCT acts in support of and in coordination with national and local authorities with the objective of ensuring that inter-agency humanitarian action alleviates human suffering and protects the lives, livelihoods and dignity of people in need.
