Abstract: The study attempted to ascertain the extent of capability of the higher education institutions (HEIs) as providers of local training and volunteer support on disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM) through the National Service Reserve Corps (NSRC) under the National Service Training Program (NSTP) as mandated by Republic Act (RA) No. 9163 (The NSTP Act of 2001) and RA 10121 (The Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (PDRRM) Framework Act) and consistent with the Local Government Academy (LGA) Research Engagement and Advocacy Program (REAP) of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) thrust of determining schemes and strategies on DRRM and Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) across the country. This nation-wide survey purported to empirically strengths and weaknesses of the institutions of higher learning in providing baseline data in the formulation of strategic capacity development plan to upscale the operation of the HEI-DRRM training organizations in extending volunteer support to local government units (LGUs). In more specific terms, this investigation sought to address the fundamental research question: How do the NSRC Units as DRRM training organizations operate in terms of: DRR prioritization; risk assessment, monitoring and warning; knowledge and education; underlying risk factors; preparedness and response; evaluation of local-level government initiatives; cross-cutting issues; and administrative concerns? This research endeavored to measure progress in implementing disaster prevention and mitigation measures consistent with the end in view of establishing a national framework for school-based disaster management unit to intensify participation of the higher education institutions (HEIs) through the National Service Reserve Corps (NSRC). A total of 94 public and private HEIs from the different regions of the country were made part of the study. These HEIs are member-institutions of the Philippine Society of NSTP Educators and Implementers, Incorporated (PSNEI), a national network of NSTP and NSRC implementers in the country. In summary, the HEIs across the country registered moderate extent insofar as management capacity along the 7 seven thematic areas are concerned. Further, when responses are grouped into public or private HEIs, there is no significant difference on their extent of management capacities when compared statistically while there is significant difference in the measures when the HEIs are grouped by region. Various emerging and constraining factors were identified alongside with the local training and volunteer support capacities of the two groups of respondents

Key words: disaster risk reduction training and volunteer management capacity, national service reserve corps, higher educational institutions, Philippines