President Rodrigo Roa Duterte talks to the people after holding a meeting with the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) core members at the Malacañang Palace on September 7, 2021. KING RODRIGUEZ/ PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday extended the state of calamity placed over the Philippines due to COVID-19 for one more year.
In his Proclamation No. 1218, Duterte extended the state of calamity “for a period of one year, effective 13 September 2021 to 12 September 2022, unless earlier lifted or extended as circumstances may warrant.”
“This declaration will, among others, effectively afford the national government as well local government units (LGUs) ample latitude to continue to implement the 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,” Duterte said.
He added this will allow the government to “monitor and control prices of basic necessities and prime commodities, and provide basic services to the affected populations.”
The President ordered all government agencies and local government units to mobilize resources “to undertake critical, urgent, and appropriate disaster response aid and measures in a timeline manner to curtail and eliminate the threat of COVID-19.”
Law enforcement agencies, with the support of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, were also directed to continue implementing measures “to ensure peace and order.”
The proclamation was issued as the country continued to battle the virus, particularly the Delta variant that has led to a spike in the number of COVID-19 cases.
On Friday alone, the Philippines recorded 17,964 new infections bringing the total active caseload to over 175,000.
It was in March 2020 when the President, through Proclamation 929, placed the entire country under a state of calamity due to the virus outbreak.
RELATED STORY:
LCP asks Palace to extend state of calamity to aid LGUs vs pandemic