Palace declares 1-year state of national calamity to speed up disaster response after 'Tino'

MANILA, November 10 ------ President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has recently declared a state of national calamity that will last for one year to hasten relief and rehabilitation after Typhoon Tino ravaged various parts of the country. "By virtue of the powers vested in me by the Constitution and existing laws, (I) do hereby declare a State of National Calamity for a period of one (1) year," said the President in Proclamation No. 1077.

The proclamation signed by the chief executive on Nov. 5 aims for a more coordinated delivery of assistance to areas affected by Tino. "All concerned agencies and instrumentalities of the National Government are hereby directed to continuously undertake urgent and critical disaster response to save lives, reduce health impacts, ensure public safety and meet the basic subsistence needs of the people affected, and to implement post-disaster recovery measures to restore normalcy, and improve facilities, livelihood and living conditions of disaster-stricken communities, in accordance with pertinent operational plans and directives," said the President.

The proclamation also authorizes national and local governments to release funds for rescue, recovery, and rehabilitation programs that will help the people affected and displaced by Tino. "All departments and other concerned government agencies are also hereby directed to coordinate with, and provide or augment the basic services and facilities of affected local government nits, and facilitate private sector and international assistance, as may be necessary, in accordance with laws, rules and regulations Law enforcement agencies, with support from the Armed Forces of the Philippines, are directed to undertake all necessary measures to ensure peace and order in affected areas, as may be necessary," said the President in the proclamation. "The State of National Calamity shall remain in force unless earlier lifted by the President.”

Tino ravaged a huge part of Visayas, Mindanao and Southern Luzon, causing extensive damage to the affected areas. At least 188 people died due to the storm.

Source: news.abs-cbn.com