The country lies between two of the world’s major tectonic plates:

This results to an average of 16 perceptible earthquakes in a year and an average of 3-5 non perceptible earthquakes in a year.

the country has 220 volcanoes, 22 of which are considered active and destructive and out of these 5 are being monitored.

The Philippines is also located along the typhoon belt on the North Pacific Basin in the Pacific where 75% of the typhoons originate.

There are 10 to 20 typhoons passing through the country, 5-7 of which can be destructive (NDCC 2008).

As a consequence of extreme rainfall events, flash floods, flooding and landslides have become more prevalent since 2000. On average, 20 cyclones cross the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) with about 8-9 making landfall each year.

are natural processes or phenomena occurring in the biosphere that may constitute a damaging event. It can be classified by origin: geographical, hydro-meteorological and biological

Natural earth processes or phenomena in the biosphere, which include geological, neo-tectonic, geophysical, geomorphological, geotechnical and hydro-geological nature. Examples: earthquakes, tsunamis; volcanic activity and emissions; mass movements i.e. landslides, rockslides, rockfall, liquefaction, submarine slides; subsidence, surface collapse, geological fault activity.

Natural processes or phenomena of atmospheric, hydrological or oceanographic nature, Examples: floods, debris and mud flows; tropical cyclone, storm surge, thunder/hailstorms, rain and wind storms blizzards and other severe storms; drought, desertification, wild land fires, heat waves, sand or dust storms; permafrost, snow avalanches.

Processes of organic or those conveyed by biological vectors, including exposure to pathogenic micro-organism, toxins and bioactive substances. Examples: outbreak of epidemics diseases, plant or animal contagion and extensive infestations.

Danger originating from technological or industrial accidents, dangerous procedures, infrastructures failures or certain human activities, which may cause the loss of life or injury, property damage, social and economic disruption or environmental degradation.

Examples: Industrial pollution, nuclear activities and radioactivity

Toxic wastes, dam failures, transport, industrial technological accidents (explosions, fires, spills)

processes induced by human behavior and activities (sometimes combined with natural hazards) that damage the natural resource base or adversely alter natural processes or ecosystems.

(Examples: Land degradation, deforestation, desertification, wild land fires, loss of biodiversity

Land, water and air pollution, climate change, sea level rise, ozone depletion)