government agencies including the recently issued Recommendations from CEDAW Committee last July of 2016, as follows: “(a) Consistently prioritize the protection of women’s rights, in particular protection from gender-based violence, in situation analyses, needs assessments and interventions relating to disaster risk reduction, preparedness and response to natural disasters, as well as in the mitigation of the negative impacts of climate change; (b) Ensure the full and meaningful participation of women, including those who face multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination, in designing, implementing and monitoring relevant legal and policy frameworks; (c) Regularly assess the effectiveness of relevant legal and policy frameworks in protecting women‟s rights with clear baselines and measurable indicators, and provide information on the achievements made in the next periodic report” 85. Table 1 Selected National and Sectoral Policies of the Philippines for the Provision of Humanitarian Assistance and Protection Services Sectors Disaster Philippine Laws and Policies Republic Act 10121 or the ‘Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act’ (PDRRMA) of 2010: An act to strengthen the Philippine disaster risk reduction and management system, and promoting the institutionalization of its framework and plan. Under this law the NDRRMC is mandated to uphold people’s rights to life and property by: “addressing the root causes of vulnerabilities to disasters, strengthening the country's institutIonal capacity for disaster risk reduction and management and building the resilience of local communnities to disasters including climate change impacts”86; “adheres to and adopt the universal norms, princlples. and standards of humanitarian assistance and the global efforts on risk reduction as concrete expression of the country's commitment to overcome human sufferings due to recurring disasters”87; “incorporates internationally accepted principles of disaster risk management in the creation and implementation of national, regional and local sustainable development and poverty reduction strategies, policies, plans and budgets”88; “develop and strengthen the capacitles of vulnerable and marginalized groups to mitigate, prepare for, respond to, and recover from the effects of disasters”89; and other comprehensive, all-hazards, multi-sectoral, inter-agency and communitybased approach to disaster risk reduction and management to ensure the safety and resiliency of the nation90. In addition, this law spells out the roles of members of the NDRRMC91 as well as their counterpart at the regional, provincial, city, and municipal levels 92. During Disaster Response, the overall agency responsible is the DSWD. While the Disaster Rehabilitation and Recovery is headed byt the NEDA 93. The law provides Local Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (LDRRMO) in every province, city, and municipality; also BDRRMO a Barangay level which shall be responsible for setting the direction, development, implementation and coordination of disaster risk management programs within their territorial jurisdiction 94. One mandate of the BDRRMC – an act that shall be authorize by the LDRRMC – is that “the punong barangay shall facilitate and ensure the participation of at least two (2) CSO representatives from existing and active community-based people's organizations representing the most vulnerable and marginalized groups in the barangay”95. 85 See: Committee Recommendations on CEDAW for the 7th & 8th Philippine Report. 86 Republic Act 101211 or the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010, Section 2 (a) 87 Ibid. Section 2 (b) 88 Ibid. Section 2 (c) 89 Ibid. Section 2 (n) 90 Ibid. Section 6 (a) 91 Ibid. Section 5 (a-jj) 92 Ibid. Section 12 (a) 93 See: The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Plan (NDRRMP) 2011‐2028 of the Philippines 94 See: Republic Act 101211, Section 12 (a) 95 Ibid, Section 12 (c)(25)(d) 11