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State of National Calamity declared over PH

 

Aerial views of areas hard hit by Typhoon Haiyan show the extent of the destruction across the central Philippines, where emergency management officials say they fear as many as 10,000 people died just in the city of Tacloban in one of the most powerful storms recorded. Photo credits: AFP
Aerial views of areas hard hit by Typhoon Haiyan show the extent of the destruction across the central Philippines, where emergency management officials say they fear as many as 10,000 people died just in the city of Tacloban in one of the most powerful storms recorded. Photo credits: AFP

 

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.

In Daang Maharlika Highway going to downtown Tacloban Leyte. Photo credits: Robert Mano
In Daang Maharlika Highway going to downtown Tacloban Leyte. Photo credits: Robert Mano

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.

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Criselda Cabangon David, a happy mother of two kids, is a full-time Sociologist at the City Government of Lucena, Quezon Province. She is currently the Managing Editor of Ang Diaryo Natin Sunday News, a weekly local community newspaper in the Philippines and an active member of the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines.