Duterte places Ormoc City, Kananga town under state of calamity

Cracks caused by the magnitude 6.5 earthquake on Thursday, July 6, 2017, are visible in Barangay Tongonan, Ormoc City in Leyte. On the background are steams coming from the geothermal power plants ran by the Energy Development Corp. (Photo courtesy of CATHY IG-AGAO PANGANIBAN)

President Duterte has placed Ormoc City and Kananga town in Leyte under a state of calamity a month after they were hit by a 6.5 magnitude earthquake.

Mr. Duterte signed Proclamation 238 on the state of emergency declaration on August 7, upon the recommendation of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.

The quake, which struck on July 6, killed two people and injured scores of others. It also caused buildings to collapse and displaced thousands of families.

“The declaration of a state of calamity in the aforesaid areas will hasten the rescue, recovery, relief, and rehabilitation efforts of the government and the private sector, including any international humanitarian assistance,” the proclamation stated.

The state of emergency declaration would also control the prices of basic goods and commodities in the affected areas and give the government the latitude to use funds for the rescue, recovery, relief, and rehabilitation efforts.

Government agencies and departments were directed to implement the relief and rehabilitation efforts, and coordinate with and augment the basic services and facilities of the affected local government units.

Law enforcement agencies, with help from the military, were tasked to maintain peace and order in the affected areas.

The state of calamity will remain in force until the President lifts it.