WHEREAS, Proclamation No. 296 dated July 29, 1988, declared the first week of July of every year as Natural Disaster Consciousness Week aimed to increase the awareness of every Filipino to the ever threatening disasters for a better appreciation of the government ™s disaster preparedness programs;

WHEREAS, there is a need to lengthen the duration of the observance to one month, to include man-made disasters and other emergencies within its scope, to provide national government agencies and local government units ample time to implement their disaster awareness campaign with longer focus and on a comprehensive basis;

WHEREAS, it is also imperative to empower and reinforce the capacity of the Disaster Coordinating Councils at all levels to ensure a coherent, integrated, proficient and responsive emergency management system in the country;

WHEREAS, to achieve this desired result and effectively ensure the sustainability of the disaster management program of the government at the grassroots level, dedicated personnel from LGUs gave to be deputized or designated as focal points or conduits of the program in keeping with local autonomy;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH EJERCITO ESTRADA, President of the Republic of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby order:

SECTION 1. The whole month of July of every year is hereby declared as National Disaster Consciousness Month to be collectively observed by all Filipinos throughout the country through the conduct of fitting activities for the occasion.

SEC. 2. There is hereby implemented a Civil Defense Deputization Program at the local government level whereby dedicated personnel of LGUs are designated by the Chairman, National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC), as Civil Defense Deputized Coordinators (Tanggol Patrols), whose primary role is to initiate and coordinate programs, projects and activities on civil protection and disaster management through an integrated multi-sectoral approach. The Civil Defense Deputized Coordinators shall also serve as the Executive Officers of the Local Disaster Coordinating Councils.

SEC. 3. The National Disaster Coordinating Council, Regional Disaster Coordinating Council and the various local disaster coordinating councils shall ensure the implementation of all programs and activities under this Order, with the NDCC as the overall coordinator. Moreover, the NDCC is hereby authorized to call upon any department, agency, office and instrumentality for the necessary assistance in the discharge of its functions.

This Executive Order takes effect immediately.

DONE in the City of Manila, this 10th day of August in the year of our Lord, nineteen hundred and ninety-nine.

(SGD.) JOSEPH EJERCITO ESTRADA
President of the Philippines

By the President:

(SGD.) RONALDO B. ZAMORA
Executive Secretary