PRESIDENT Marcos Jr. has formally extended the period of state calamity throughout the Philippines due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) until December 31 this year.
Malacañang yesterday published in the Official Gazette a copy of Proclamation Order No. 57, which was signed on September 12, extending the “state of calamity throughout the Philippines effective 13 September 2022 to 31 December 2022, unless earlier lifted or extended as circumstances may warrant.”
The President enjoined all government agencies and local government units (LGUs) to continue rendering full assistance to and cooperation with each other and 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.
Marcos also directed all law enforcement agencies, with support from the Armed Forces of the Philippines, to continue undertaking all necessary measures to ensure peace and order in affected areas, as may be necessary.
The decision to extend the state of calamity stemmed from the recommendation of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) to enable the national government and LGUs to “continuously deliver COVID-19 related interventions, such as, but not limited to, COVID-19 vaccination program; utilize appropriate funds, including the Quick Response Fund, in their disaster preparedness and response efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19; monitor and control prices of basic necessities and prime commodities; and provide basic services to the affected populations.”
Former President Rodrigo Duterte initially declared a six-month nationwide state of calamity on March 16, 2020, through Proclamation No. 929, but later extended it to one year from September 13, 2020 to September 12, 2021, through Proclamation No. 1021.
It was extended a third time from September 13, 2021 to September 12, 2022, through Proclamation No. 1218.
The Department of Health yesterday reported 839 additional BA.5 cases of the Omicron subvariant, 11 additional BA.4 cases, one additional BA.2.75 cases, and one additional BA.2.12.1 cases.
The additional BA.5 cases were detected in all regions of the country, along with eight returning overseas Filipinos (ROF).
For the additional BA.4 cases, seven came from Soccsksargen, two from Bicol Region, one from Metro Manila, and one from Calabarzon.
The lone additional case of BA.2.75, meanwhile, came from the National Capital Region.
Finally, the single additional case of BA.2.12.1 involves an ROF.
The additional Omicron subvariant cases were detected from the 978 samples subjected to genome sequencing from September 9 to 12. — With Gerard Naval
