Domus sua cuique est tutissimum refegium : an examination of the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010 and its related laws vis-Ã -vis the Japanese model of disaster management in light of the Philippine experience during typhoon Yolanda with the goal of creating a safer refuge for the Filipinos

By its geographical location, the Philippines is exposed to different types of disasters. Natural disasters like typhoons, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions are typical in the Philippines. Annually, about 20-30 typhoons/ tropical cyclones visit the Philippines. Despite the regular occurrence of typhoons in the Philippines, the casualty rates remain high each time a typhoon would visit the country. In 2010, lawmakers decided to institutionalize disaster risk reduction and management by enacting Republic Act No. 10121, also known as the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010. However, in 2013, the Philippines was visited by one of the strongest typhoons in Philippine history. It claimed thousand of lives and millions of pesos worth of properties and infrastructures. It left the country devastated. Having the figures at hand, it makes the review of the law imperative. The goal has always been to preserve the lives of Filipinos by creating disaster prevention and mitigation programs, by building disaster resilient structures, by upholding human dignity in times of disasters, and by rebuilding disaster-stricken communities. To achieve their desired goals for this thesis, the authors went to Tacloban City, one of the most severely affected cities during Typhoon Yolanda. They gathered first hand stories about the residents’ experiences when the typhoon ravaged the city. The authors also compared the Philippine model of disaster management with the Japanese model of disaster management with the hope that the Philippine model could embody the efficiency of the Japanese model. While the Philippine model of disaster management may have its share of shortcomings, it is still a significant piece of legislation that serves as the corner stone of disaster management in the country. With this start, lives could be saved, human dignity upheld, and properties preserved. While natural disasters are inevitable, there are ways to mitigate and avoid their cruel effects