WHEREAS, the Philippines, due to its location and geographic landscape, is considered as one of the most prone countries in the world, experiencing an average of four disasters per year or a total of 373 disaster events triggered by natural hazards from 1905 to 2006;

WHEREAS, development efforts are disrupted by natural hazards since budgets intended for pursuing planned development are diverted to finance disaster response, rehabilitation and reconstruction endeavors;

WHEREAS, the country ™s vulnerability to natural hazards will continue to hinder socioeconomic development unless practical solutions are done to avert or minimize the potential damage of said hazards;

WHEREAS, the Medium-Term Philippine Development Plan identifies disaster mitigation as a priority thrust and this will be achieved, by among others, the integration of a disaster management strategy in the development planning process at all levels of governance;

WHEREAS, the development plans that Local Government Units (LGUs), especially provinces, regularly prepare can be an effective tool to reduce the country ™s vulnerability to natural hazards;

WHEREAS, introducing natural hazard risk analysis in planning will strengthen the ability of provinces to identify areas at risk to natural disasters;

WHEREAS, the NEDA Board-National Land Use Committee (NB-NLUC) has recognized the importance of mainstreaming Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) in subnational planning in line with Disaster Risk Management (DRM) Action Agenda;

WHEREAS, the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA), in line with its plan and policy formulation mandate and in response to the NB-NLUC ™s DRM Action Agenda, has developed the Guidelines on Mainstreaming Disaster Risk Reduction in Subnational Development and Land Use/Physical Planning (DRR Guidelines);

WHEREAS, the use of the DRR Guidelines by the LGUs is expected to effectively integrate DRR in its planning and reduce or prevent adverse effects of disasters in socio- economic development;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BENIGNO S. AQUINO III, President of the Republic of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby order:

SECTION 1. The Local Government Units (LGUs), particularly provinces, are directed to adopt and use the DRR Guidelines to enhance natural disaster risk reduction efforts in the local development planning process. To the extent possible, the disaster risk assessment methodology introduced in the DRR Guidelines shall be followed to ensure proper siting of development undertakings and to enable the identification of areas at risk to natural disaster and the appropriate mitigation measures.

SECTION 2. The NEDA is directed to conduct capability-building activities for planning offices at the local, regional and national levels towards the DRR Guidelines in the development usage of the process and to provide copies of the DRR Guidelines to the LGUs.

SECTION 3. All departments, agencies, bureaus and instrumentalities of the government are hereby directed to provide technical assistance as maybe necessary to support DRR-enhanced local planning.

SECTION 4. All executive issuances, rules and regulations or parts thereof, which are inconsistent with this Administrative Order are hereby repealed and/or modified accordingly.

SECTION 5. This Administrative Order shall take effect immediately.

(SGD.) BENIGNO S. AQUINO III
  President of the Philippines

By the President:

(SGD.) PAQUITO N. OCHOA JR.
  Executive Secretary