PNoy declares state of national calamity due to destruction from Yolanda

(Updated 8:10 p.m.) President Benigno Aquino III on Monday declared a state of national calamity following the devastation caused by super typhoon Yolanda in the Philippines.

Aquino made the announcement during a televised message on Monday night, a day after coming back from his visit to typhoon-hit Tacloban.

"Idinedeklara po natin ang state of national calamity upang mapabilis ang mga pagkilos ng pamahalaan para sa pagsagip, paghahatid ng tulong, at rehabilitasyon ng mga probinsyang sinalanta ni Yolanda," he said.

The President signed Proclamation 682 declaring the state of national calamity on Monday.

The last time Aquino declared a state of national calamity was in 2012, when Typhoon Pablo ravaged the Philippines.

Section 3 of Republic Act 10121 or the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010 defines a state of calamity as “ a condition involving mass casualty and/or major damages to property, disruption of means of livelihoods, roads and normal way of life of people in the affected areas as a result of the occurrence of natural or human-induced hazard.”

On the other hand, Section 17 says that the following shall be implemented with the declaration of a state of calamity:

- imposition of price ceiling on basic necessities and prime commodities

- monitoring, prevention and control by the Local Price Coordination Council of overpricing/profiteering and hoarding of prime commodities, medicines and petroleum products;

- programming/reprogramming of funds for the repair and safety upgrading of public infrastructures and facilities; and

- granting of no-interest loans by government financing or lending institutions to the most affected section of the population through cooperatives or people’s organizations.

Aquino, however, said the proclamation will not only control the price of products and services but will also prevent hoarding and overpricing.

According to Proclamation 628, "the state of national calamity shall remain in force and effect until lifted by the President."

He also signed Memorandum Circular No. 56 directing all department secretaries and heads of agencies, bureaus, or offices of the government n the localities affected by Yolanda to "ensure the delivery of basic services and assistance."

But aside from this, the President said they have approved the release of P1.1 billion in additional Quick Response Funds for the Department of Social Welfare and Development and Department of Public Works and Highways.  

He also said P18.7 billion in Calamity Funds, Contingency Funds, and savings can be used to rehabilitate the affected areas.

On the other hand, he said 22 countries have pledged to help the Philippines in various ways. Among them: the US, Japan, Indonesia, England, Singapore, New Zealand, and Hungary.

"Tumutulong na rin po sa iba't ibang paraan ang pribadong sektor upang ibangon ang mga nasalanta, gaya ng sa pagbabalik ng daloy ng komunikasyon at krudo sa mga apektadong lugar," he said.



Relief efforts

During his speech, Aquino praised PAGASA, Phivolcs, the Mines and Geosciences Bureau and the Department of Science and Technology for their accurate warnings during the onslaught of Yolanda.

"Ito ang nagbigay-daan para sa iniuulat na mababang casualty count mula sa ilang mga probinsyang dinaanan din ng bagyo, tulad ng Oriental at Occidental Mindoro, Negros Occidental, Palawan, Aklan at Romblon, kung saan maagang nakapaghanda ang lokal na pamahalaan," he said.

But despite the warnings, the President admitted that the damage brought by Yolanda was significant, especially to Leyte and Samar, where he said government efforts are focused on.

"Bagaman nakapagtala ng mababang casualty count sa maraming mga probinsyang dinaanan ni Yolanda, sa mga lugar naman na tila naembudo ang mga storm surge, talaga naman pong malaki ang pinsalang nasaksihan natin," he said.

Aquino likewise appealed for understanding if relief efforts are hampered, given the limited power source and communication lines in the affected areas.

"May ilang lokal na pamahalaan, sa lakas ng delubyo, na bumigay din dahil kabilang sa mga nasalanta ang kanilang mga tauhan at opisyal. Isipin po ninyo, bumalik tayo sa situwasyon kung saan pasa-pasa ang impormasyon—walang TV, cellphone, o internet; sarado ang mga tindahan; hindi naging madali ang pag-oorganisa ng relief efforts. Naging ugat po ito ng kaguluhan sa ilang mga lugar," he said.

The President said the national government is doing everything it can to help ease the situation, specifically citing the efforts of the DPWH to clear the roads and the DOTC to ensure the delivery of relief goods to affected areas.  

He said three repacking centers have been producing 55,000 family food packs every day while more water purification facilities are also set to arrive for the victims.

Aquino also said 800 soldiers and policemen have been deployed to Tacloban to restore order.

"Sa mga darating na araw, maaasahan ninyo, lalo pang papaspas ang ayuda," he said.

"Ang panawagan ko po: Ang pagiging kalmado, pagdarasal, pakikisama, at pakikipagtulungan ang magpapabangon sa atin mula sa sakunang ito. Muli’t muli nating ipinapakita kung bakit nananatiling nakatindig at taas noo ang ating lahi; ipakita natin ang puso ng Pilipinong hinding-hindi kailanman mapapaluhod ng anumang bagyo," he added.


Solons file resolution

Several congressmen, some from the the typhoon-hit province of Leyte, earlier called on Malacañang to declare a National State of Calamity.

House Resolution No. 445 was signed by Leyte representatives Martin Romualdez, Lucy Torres Gomez, Sergio Apostol, Andres Salvacion, and Jose Carlos Cari, as well as by members of the Independent bloc at the House, including Pampanga Rep Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and son Camarines Sur Rep Diosdado Arroyo, Buhay Rep Lito Atienza, ABAKADA Rep Jonathan dela Cruz, La Union Rep Victor Ortega, Surigao del Sur Rep Philip Pichay, Cavite Rep Lani Mercado-Revilla, Quezon Rep Aleta Suarez, Navotas Rep Toby Tiangco, and Bohol Rep Arthur Yap.

“The Presidential Proclamation is needed to control the prices of basic necessities and prime commodities, granting of non interest loans to the victims, automatic appropriation for calamity fund, authorizing importation of rice under the Agricultural Tariffication Act among others,” the resolution said.

Romualdez also said that he had every confidence that the people of Leyte can recover from the typhoon.

“Of course, without the doubt, tindog Tacloban. We will rise again,” Romualdez said, referring to the Visayan word meaning to stand, or to rise up.

Romualdez also made a reference to the famous landing of General Douglas MacArthur back in the province of Leyte during World War II.

“Just as MacArthur said nung dumating siya, diba? ‘I shall return.’ We shall return, Leyte and Western Visayas, we shall return,” Romualdez said in a press conference in Brgy. Valenzuela in Makati City, where his wife organized relief operations. "We all know we will bring back our lives to normal after this typhoon which hit most of the provinces in Visayas," he added. — Kimberly Jane Tan and Patricia Denise Chiu/BM/ELR, GMA News