(Eagle News) — President Rodrigo Duterte has declared a state of calamity in Ormoc City and Kananga town in Leyte, the areas most affected by a 6.5-magnitude earthquake in Eastern Visayas in July.
Duterte made the declaration via Proclamation No. 283, which he signed on Aug. 7.
According to Duterte, the declaration of a state of calamity “will hasten the rescue, recovery, relief and rehabilitation efforts of the government and the private sector, including any international humanitarian assistance.”
He said the declaration will also, among others, enable the “control (of) prices of basic goods and commodities for the affected areas and afford the government ample latitude to utilize appropriate funds for rescue, recovery, relief and rehabilitation efforts..”
“All departments and other concerned government agencies, including the affected local government units, are hereby directed to implement and execute rescue, recovery, relief and rehabilitation work in accordance with pertinent operational plans and directives,” he said.
He also directed law enforcement agencies, “with support from the Armed Forces of the Philippines,” to “undertake all necessary measures to ensure peace and order in affected areas.”
