PRRD most likely to extend nat’l state of calamity: Palace

FILE: President Rodrigo Roa Duterte talks to the people after holding a meeting with the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) core members at the Malago Clubhouse in Malacañang on September 7, 2020. KARL NORMAN ALONZO/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

MANILA – President Rodrigo Roa Duterte will “most likely” extend the declaration of national state of calamity in the country due to coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic, Malacañang said Monday.

In a press briefing, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said Duterte will likely extend Proclamation 929 that placed the entire Philippines under a state of calamity for six months, considering that there is still no available vaccine against the disease.

The proclamation was issued last March 16 and set to expire on September 16.

“Most likely po [it will be extended], dahil habang wala pong bakuna, habang walang gamot sa Covid, patuloy po ang epekto ng pandemya (Most likely it will be extended because while there is still no vaccine, while there is still no cure for Covid, the effects of the pandemic will linger),” Roque said.

The Philippines is placed under a state of calamity for six months, “unless earlier lifted or extended as circumstances may warrant,” according to the proclamation.

Under the presidential proclamation, all government agencies and LGUs are mandated to mobilize the necessary resources to “undertake critical, urgent and appropriate disaster response aid and measures in a timely manner to curtail and eliminate the threat of Covid-19”.

The Department of Health (DOH) on Monday reported 4,699 new Covid-19 infections, raising the country’s overall tally to 265,888 with only 53,754 active cases.