MANILA – With confirmed cases of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) rising, President Rodrigo Duterte placed the Philippines under a state of calamity.
In Proclamation 929 he signed on Monday but released only last night, the state of calamity will run for a period of six months “unless earlier lifted or extended as circumstances may warrant.”
“Despite government interventions, the number of cases of COVID-19 continues to rise,” the Proclamation stated.
Latest data from the Department of Health (DOH) yesterday afternoon showed a total of 187 confirmed cases of COVID-19, with 12 casualties and four recovered patients.
A state of calamity means the national and local governments can access their quick response funds to address the needs of the public and enhance disaster preparedness efforts against the disease.
On Monday, the President also placed the entire Luzon Island under an “enhanced community quarantine” starting 12 midnight of Tuesday until April 12, 2020 unless earlier lifted or extended.
All government agencies and local government units are also enjoined to render full assistance to and cooperation with each other in mobilizing the necessary resources to undertake critical, urgent and appropriate disaster response aid and measures in a timely manner to curtail and eliminate COVID-19.
Duterte also ordered law enforcement agencies, with support from the Armed Forces of the Philippines, to undertake all the necessary measures to ensure peace and order.
The Chief Executive directed Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, Health secretary Francisco Duque III and all other concerned heads of departments to issue guidelines governing the implementation of the enhanced community quarantine in Luzon.
Apart from the state of calamity declaration, President Duterte also issued Memorandum Circular No. 77 mandating price control on basic necessities and medicine.
COVID-19 is a disease caused by the coronavirus called SARS-coV 2, which is related to the virus which causes Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome but is not as deadly, with the fatality rate standing at around three percent./PN
