Civil Protection, Disasters Prevention and Mitigation Law (Decree No. 777)

The Law aims to adopt mechanisms of prevention, mitigation and immediate response to natural and anthropogenic disasters (inclusive of climate change related disasters), designating a public service of civil protection to operate in these eventualities. For this purpose, the Law creates the 'Civil Protection, Disasters Prevention and Mitigation National System.' The System is composed of two institutional bodies: the National Commission for Civil Protection and Disaster Prevention and Mitigation and the Municipal and Community Commission for Civil Protection. In addition to ensuring the implementation of the Law, the System is charged with: (1) incorporating the prospective management of disasters into development plans; (2) mapping areas of risk; (3) raising public awareness of risks from catastrophic events; and (4) designing civil protection disaster response plans.