MANILA, PHILIPPINES – A “State of National Calamity” have been declared by President Benigno Aquino III on the Philippines on Monday due to the immense damage wrought by super typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) in Visayas.
“… by virtue of the powers vested in me by the Constitution and by law, do hereby declare a State of National Calamity,” so declared Aquino in Proclamation No. 682.
According to the President, such reasons for the announcement was the “widespread death, destruction and incalculable damage in several areas, including the Samar provinces, Leyte, Cebu, Iloilo, Capiz, Aklan and Palawan” by Yolanda, the strongest and possibly the deadlines in history to hit the country.
According to lates reports received by the government, Yolanda is the strongest typhoon recorded in history that has reportedly killed over 10,000 people and affected 9.5 million others in the country, displacing people and damaging the infrastructure.
Under said announcement, the government will control the prices of basic goods and commodities in the affected areas.
“… this declaration will, among others, effectively control the prices of basic goods and commodities for the affected areas and afford government ample latitude to utilize appropriate funds for rescue, recovery, relief, and rehabilitation efforts of, and to continue to provide basic services to, affected populations, in accordance with law,” it said.
Under the proclamation, the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines was tasked to “undertake all necessary measures” to ensure peace and order in the areas devastated by the typhoon.
Reports of several incidents of looting in Eastern Visayas, particularly in Tacloban City took place as hungry residents desperately look for food following the devastation of the typhoon.
Also, some accounts that the city (Tacloban) is in a “horrid landscape of smashed buildings and completely defoliated trees, with widespread looting and unclaimed bodies decaying in the open air.”
Under the proclamation, the state of national calamity will remain in effect “until lifted” by the president itself.
