MANILA, Philippines – President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. signed Proclamation No. 57 on Tuesday, which extends the Philippines’ period of a state of calamity due to the ongoing battle against Covid-19 until December 31, 2022.
“Now, therefore, I Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by the Constitution and existing laws, do hereby further extend the declared State of Calamity throughout the Philippines effective 13 September 2022 to 31 December 2022, unless earlier lifted or extended as circumstances may warrant,” Marcos Jr. said.
The President said that the move, as recommended by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, gives way “for the national government and LGUs to continuously deliver Covid-19 related interventions, such as but not limited to Covid-19 vaccination program; utilize appropriate funds, including the Quick Response Fund, in their disaster preparedness and response efforts to contain the spread of Covid-19; monitor and control prices of basic necessities and prime commodities; and provide basic services to the affected populations.”
Before the official announcement, Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles said on Monday that the state of calamity may be extended for “possibly three months but only for the purpose of preserving the benefits under it such as but not limited to the indemnification, emergency procurement, special risk allowance for healthcare workers.”
Before stepping down as the Philippine President, former President Rodrigo Duterte has given the third extension for the period of state calamity until September 12, 2022, through Proclamation No. 1218.
Duterte first signed Proclamation No. 929 on March 16, 2020, declaring a state of calamity for a period of six months due to the worrying spread of the coronavirus in the country.
Based on the Department of Health Philippines’ Covid-19 Tracker, there are 25,262 active cases as of Sept. 12, 2022, and a total of 3,820,691 recovered cases since the pandemic began.
Sources: Philippine News Agency, DOH
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