The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) successfully concluded the initial rollout of the 2024 National Disaster Response Plan (NDRP) on May 30, 2025 in Quezon City. The five-day activity, held from May 26 to 30, marks a critical milestone in advancing the Philippines’ efforts to strengthen disaster preparedness and build more adaptive, resilient communities.

The rollout convened OCD Regional Offices and DSWD Field Offices to deepen their understanding of the NDRP’s operational framework. The sessions covered multi-hazard response strategies including hydrometeorological events, earthquakes, tsunamis, and consequence management for terrorism-related incidents. Participants also reviewed updated cluster coordination mechanisms and operational guidelines.

Experts from key government agencies leading the Disaster Response and Early Recovery Clusters provided technical inputs. These included representatives from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Department of Health (DOH), Department of Education (DepEd), Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Philippine National Police (PNP), Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), and the Philippine Information Agency (PIA).

During the closing ceremony, DSWD Disaster Response Management Group (DRMG) Undersecretary Diana Rose S. Cajipe, MD FPOGS delivered her guidance and ways forward. She emphasized that disaster response is a shared responsibility and urged national response clusters to exercise proactive leadership in guiding their regional counterparts. She also encouraged the crafting and updating of Regional Disaster Response Plans (RDRPs) to ensure localized and responsive strategies. The Department aligns its NDRP to rapid and sustained delivery of services to the poor and vulnerable sector. 

To formally conclude the event, OCD Administrator Undersecretary Ariel F. Nepomuceno, represented by Deputy Administrator for Operations Assistant Secretary Cesar M. Idio, extended his sincere appreciation to all participants, partners, and facilitators for their commitment and active engagement throughout the rollout.

The NDRP serves as a strategic guide for all agencies and networks involved in disaster response. It establishes a unified framework for coordinated action during emergencies while allowing flexibility to adapt to specific regional contexts. 

This aligns with the directives of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and the instruction of DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian, particularly the Buong Bansa Handa Program, a nationwide commitment towards the safety, dignity, and welfare of Filipinos before, during, and after disasters. The successful rollout reaffirms the government’s commitment to a whole-of-government and whole-of-nation approach in disaster risk reduction and response—strengthening national readiness, local capacities, and inter-agency coordination in the face of increasing disaster risks.