President Rodrigo Duterte declared a state of calamity over the entire Luzon after powerful typhoons Rolly and Ulysses hit Luzon in consecutive weeks.
Duterte confirmed his decision during a briefing on Tuesday night, saying he already signed the papers placing Luzon under a state of calamity on Monday.
“It was also agreed during the meeting to convene a technical working group of the joint prevention, mitigation, and preparedness clusters of the NDRRMC to assess the current dam management,” he added.
NDRRMC chairperson and Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana directed the weather bureau PAGASA to revisit its historical data to intensify storm warnings beforehand.
During the meeting, Lorenzana discussed various issues with concerned agencies, such as assistance to affected farmers and fisherfolks, road clearing, shelter requirements, and other recovery operations.
Duterte declares state of calamity over Luzon
Under a state of calamity, businesses would not be allowed to increase the prices of basic commodities, as stated in Republic Act 7581.
Section 6 of the Price Act said that “if the prevailing price of any basic necessity is excessive or unreasonable, the implementing agency may recommend to the President the imposition of a price ceiling for the sale of the basic necessity at a price other than its prevailing price.”
The President has also moved to create the Build Back Better Task Force to speed up typhoon-hit communities’ rehabilitation.
Meanwhile, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go said on Monday that Duterte approved the recommendation to augment the calamity funds of local government units severely affected by the recent strong typhoons.
In the previous weeks, three strong storms battered Luzon, killing dozens of individuals and destroying thousands of homes.