Roque confident Duterte will place Luzon under state of calamity

Palace spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. on Tuesday expressed confidence that President Rodrigo Duterte will place Luzon under state of calamity to aid communities hit by typhoons in the past two months.

Roque said the President had already received the recommendation of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) to issue such a declaration.

“Antayin po natin ang desisyon pero sigurado naman po ako na ‘yung mga lugar na talagang matinding naapektuhan ng mga bagyo na sunud-sunod ay maipapasailalim naman po iyan sa state of calamity,” the Palace official said at a news conference in Cagayan province, which was hit by massive flooding after Typhoon Ulysses lashed Luzon last week.

A declaration of state of calamity will allow local government units (LGUs) to utilize appropriate funds for disaster relief. This will also empower the government to control prices of basic necessities and prime commodities.

Duterte has also moved for the creation of the Build Back Better Task Force to speed up the rehabilitation of typhoon-ravaged areas. An executive order detailing the objectives and functions of the task force is expected to be signed by the President within the week.

The President has also approved the augmentation of the calamity funds for severely affected LGUs, according to his former top aide Senator Christopher “Bong” Go. -MDM, GMA News