Aquino declares state of national calamity

QUEZON CITY, Dec. 8 — President Benigno S. Aquino III declared on Saturday a state of national calamity due to the damage brought about by Typhoon Pablo.

In Proclamation 522 signed on December 7, Aquino cited the devastating rains, floods and flashfloods and landslides caused by Typhoon “Pablo” (international name: Bopha) which have brought death, destruction, and incalculable damage to the lives and properties of Filipinos in Provinces of Compostela Valley, Davao Oriental and Davao del Norte in Region XI; Surigao del Sur in CARAGA Region; Lanao del Norte, Misamis Oriental and Cagayan de Oro City in Region X; Siquijor in Region VII; and, Palawan in Region IV-B.

The declaration of a state of national calamity “will hasten the rescue, relief and rehabilitation efforts of the government and the private sector, including any international humanitarian assistance. It will also effectively control the prices of basic goods and commodities for the affected areas,” Aquino said in the proclamation.

The declaration also necessitates that the mechanisms for international humanitarian assistance are implemented pursuant to Republic Act No. 10121, otherwise known as the “Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010.

Local government units are also given ample latitude to utilize their respective calamity funds for the rescue, relief and rehabilitation of their constituents

The President also ordered all departments and other concerned government agencies to implement and execute medical assistance, relief and rehabilitation work in accordance with existing operational plans and directives and orders issued in connection with the occurrence of calamities.

Typhoon Pablo which hit southern Philippines Tuesday, Dec. 4 left more than 400 people dead and a hundred more missing, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said on Friday.(PIA News Desk)