Declare state of calamity in 4 regions, Duterte asked

MANILA, Philippines — The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) is recommending the declaration of a state of calamity in four regions battered by Typhoon Ompong, according to the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA).

At a briefing yesterday, NEDA Undersecretary Adoracion Navarro said the NDRRMC agreed during a special meeting on Thursday that conditions necessary for the declaration of a state of calamity in Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon and the Cordillera Administrative Region are present.

The NDRRMC said 20 percent of the population were affected, 40 percent of livelihood destroyed, major roads were rendered impassable and there was significant damage to agriculture as well as difficulty in restoring water and power supplies.

Navarro said the NDRRMC was expected to submit a resolution recommending the calamity declaration to the Office of the President yesterday.

With the declaration, the government can impose a price ceiling on prime commodities and order a crackdown on profiteers and hoarders. Concerned agencies can also tap existing and new funding sources for rehabilitation efforts.

Navarro said a total of P1.19 billion is still available for rehabilitation works under this year’s national budget.

Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia said the government would prioritize the use of available funds.

The NDRRMC said the declaration of a state of calamity could also address bureaucratic delays in securing foreign funding if needed.

A potential external funding source is the $497.5-million credit line from the World Bank, which would require an official declaration to be activated.

“We want to be ready to tap the World Bank fund because there is a bureaucratic lag between initiating action, accessing it and the release of the funds,” Pernia said.