Duterte likely to extend state of calamity amid COVID-19 crisis — Palace

President Rodrigo Duterte will likely extend the state of calamity in the country due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Malacañang said Monday.

“Most likely po, dahil habang wala pong bakuna, habang walang gamot sa COVID, patuloy po ang epekto ng pandemya,” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in a news conference.

Signed by Duterte on March 16, the declaration of state of calamity is effective for six months unless earlier lifted or extended by the President, according to Proclamation 929.

The declaration allowed the national government and the local government units ample latitude to utilize appropriate funds in their disaster preparedness and response efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19 and to continue to provide basic services to the affected population.

Law enforcement agencies were also directed to implement measures to ensure peace and order in affected areas, as may be necessary.

Duterte had also declared a state of public health emergency throughout the Philippines in order to facilitate measures to address the threat of the virus including mandatory reporting and quarantine as well as disease control and prevention. 

The state of public health emergency will remain in effect until lifted or withdrawn by the President. — Virgil Lopez/RSJ, GMA News