Section 1. Declaration of Policy. — It is the policy of the State that;

1. Self-reliance shall be developed by promoting and encouraging the spirit of self-help and mutual assistance among the local officials and their constituents;

2. Each political and administrative subdivision of the country shall utilize all available resources in the area before asking for assistance from neighboring entities or higher authority;

3. The primary responsibility rests on the government agencies in the affected areas in coordination with the people themselves;

4. It shall be the responsibility of all government departments, bureaus, agencies and instrumentalities to have documented plans of their emergency functions and activities;

5. Planning and operation shall also be done on the barangay level in an inter-agency, multi-sectoral basis to optimize the utilization of resources;

6. On the absence of a duly constituted regional government, national government offices at the regional level shall be led and operationally controlled by the Regional Commissioner or by the official so designated by the President;

7. Responsibility for leadership rests on the Provincial Governor, City Mayors, and Municipal Mayors, (and Barangay Chairman), each according to his area of responsibility;

8. When an emergency affects an area covering several towns and cities, the city mayors and their personnel and facilities shall be placed under the operational control of the Provincial Governor for the duration of the emergency;

9. The national government exists to support the local government. In time of emergencies and according to their level of assignment, all national government offices in the field shall support the operations of the local government; and

10. To ensure that operational activities become automatic and second nature to all concerned, exercises and periodic drills shall be conducted at all levels, principally at the Barangays.