MANILA – Placing the entire Luzon under a state of calamity will expedite rescue, relief and rehabilitation efforts in the areas ravaged by Typhoon Quinta, Super Typhoon Rolly and Typhoon Ulysses, an official said on Thursday.
"This can help hasten all the rescue, relief and rehabilitation efforts of all government and private sectors that have been assisting us and including international humanitarian assistance," National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) spokesperson Dr. Peter Paul Galvez said during an online press conference.
Galvez said the move will effectively control the prices of basic goods and commodities and allow local government units (LGUs) to use more of their funds for rehabilitation work.
President Rodrigo R. Duterte, in a taped speech Tuesday, said he signed the proposal of the NDRRMC to place Luzon under a state of calamity.
On Monday, the NDRRMC announced that it approved a resolution recommending to Duterte to put Luzon under a state of calamity due to the damage brought by the successive weather disturbances.
Malacañang released a copy of Proclamation No. 1051 on Wednesday night. Law enforcement agencies, with the support from the Armed Forces of the Philippines, are directed to undertake all necessary measures to ensure peace and order in the affected areas.
The state of calamity will remain in effect until lifted by the President.
Meanwhile, the Philippine National Police (PNP) has been relentless in driving efforts with non-government organizations and stakeholders to aid communities hardest hit by “Ulysses”.
PNP Chief, Gen. Debold Sinas, together with Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, Deputy Chief for Administration, and Lt. Gen. Cesar Hawthorne R. Binag, Deputy Chief for Operations, led Thursday’s send-off ceremony for six trucks of relief goods, held in front of the PNP National Headquarters in Camp Crame.
Sinas said the six trucks containing relief items would pass by the Police Regional Office 3 (Central Luzon) and join four other trucks of relief goods that would be led by regional director, Brig. Gen Valeriano de Leon. (PNA)
