Disaster Management and Environmental Legislation Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms, concepts, legal frameworks, and components of disaster management and environmental legislation.

Disaster Management

The systematic process of preparing for, responding to, and recovering from natural or human-made disasters to reduce harmful effects on people, property, and the environment through planning, coordination, and resource management.

Risk Assessment

The identification of hazards, vulnerabilities, and potential impacts.

Early Warning Systems

Systems that monitor hazards and communicate hazard information to the public.

Emergency Response Planning

The establishment of procedures for coordination and communication during an emergency.

Capacity Building

Training communities and responders so they are prepared to act during disasters.

Resource Mobilization

The allocation of funds, personnel, and materials for emergency use.

Disaster Management Cycle

A continuous process that guides disaster-related actions before, during, and after disasters, where recovery eventually leads back to planning and prevention.

Mitigation

Actions taken before disasters to reduce or remove disaster risks, such as flood control systems, building codes, and reforestation.

Preparedness

Measures that make people and communities ready for a possible disaster, including drills, education campaigns, and early warning systems.

Response

The phase of the disaster management cycle that occurs during a disaster, when calamity strikes.

Recovery

Long-term efforts to restore normal life and rebuild communities after a disaster, including psychosocial support and stronger reconstruction.

Community-Based Approach

An approach that involves communities in disaster management and environmental protection because these efforts are most effective with community participation.

Local Government Units

Local authorities that implement disaster risk reduction programs, enforce environmental laws, and conduct preparedness drills and education.

RA 10121

The Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010, which provides the legal framework for mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery, emphasizing community and government coordination.

NDRRMC

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, strengthened under RA 10121.

Sustainable Development

Development that supports growth without destroying nature and helps pass on a healthy and safe environment to future generations.

Disaster

A sudden, calamitous event causing serious damage to communities, lives, and the environment.

Natural Disaster

A calamitous occurrence generated by natural phenomena that produces great loss of human life or destruction of the natural environment, private property, or public infrastructure.

Human-made Disaster

An event resulting from human intent, negligence, or error that can cause significant loss of life and property and negatively affect mental, physical, and social well-being.

Human-Induced Disaster

An event caused by human actions that negatively affects people and the environment.

Environmental Legislation

A body of transnational and national regulations and guidelines designed to support sustainable resource use and protect human health and ecosystems from environmental damage.

Sustainable Use of Natural Resources

Using natural resources in a way that supports present needs without destroying the resources needed by future generations.

Environmental Degradation

Environmental damage caused by human activities that weakens protective functions and increases disaster risk.

Biodiversity

The variety of living organisms and natural habitats protected by environmental laws, including animals, plants, forests, wetlands, and marine ecosystems.

Ecosystem Services

Benefits that ecosystems provide to people, such as rainwater absorption by forests and watersheds and storm surge protection by mangroves.

PD 1586

The Environmental Impact Statement System law, which requires environmental assessment for projects that may significantly affect the environment.

Environmental Compliance Certificate

A required authorization connected with PD 1586 for covered projects or businesses to help ensure that construction and infrastructure do not harm nature.

Cease and Desist Order

An order that may stop the operation of a project operating without an Environmental Compliance Certificate.

Environmental Management

The process of planning and implementing policies to protect and sustainably use environmental resources while balancing human needs with nature's capacity.

Sustainability

The objective of ensuring that natural resources remain available for present and future generations.

Environmental Planning

Assessing environmental impact before projects are approved.

Resource Management

Managing renewable and nonrenewable resources wisely.

Pollution Prevention

Using cleaner production methods and technologies to prevent pollution.

Compliance

Following environmental laws, regulations, and policies.

Waste Management

The use of recycling, composting, and waste reduction strategies as part of environmental management.

Reduce

Avoiding unnecessary waste, such as by avoiding single-use plastics.

Reuse

Using an item multiple times, such as using containers and bottles repeatedly.

Recycle

Processing old materials such as paper, plastic, and metal into new products.

Pollution Control

The objective of reducing emissions, waste, and contamination of air, water, and soil.

Prevention of Environmental Damage

The principle that preventing environmental harm is easier and cheaper than repairing it later.

Adaptation

Adjusting to climate impacts, such as building flood-resilient houses or using drought-resistant crops.

Climate Mitigation

Reducing the causes of climate change, such as by planting trees, using renewable energy, or conserving electricity.

Natural Environment

Everything that exists in nature and is not created by humans, including land, air, water, forests, mountains, rivers, oceans, and biodiversity.

Human-made or Modified Environment

Areas or systems created or changed by humans to meet their needs, such as cities, roads, farms, factories, and dams.

Ecosystem-Based Risk Reduction

The use and protection of healthy ecosystems as natural defenses that reduce the impact of disasters.

Environmental Accountability

The assignment of rules, responsibilities, penalties, and enforcement mechanisms to individuals, companies, and government entities that cause environmental harm or violate regulations.

RA 9003

The Ecological Solid Waste Management Act, covering proper waste disposal, waste segregation, recycling, and prohibition of open dumping.

RA 9275

The Philippine Clean Water Act, which protects waters through proper sewage management and prohibits dumping dirty chemical waste into rivers and seas.

RA 8749

The Philippine Clean Air Act, which focuses on reducing air pollution from vehicles and factories and prohibits waste burning.