Palace: Duterte to extend state of calamity in Philippines due to COVID-19 crisis

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

The state of calamity declared by the President in March is to expire this month.

“It’s on the desk of the President, probably signed by now, [and] on its way down to the Office of the Executive Secretary,”  Duterte’s spokesperson Harry Roque said in a televised briefing.

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 of a state of calamity 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.

The Philippines has so far reported 272,934 COVID-19 cases, including 207,858 recoveries and 4,732 deaths. — Virgil Lopez/RSJ, GMA News