DAVAO CITY –— President Rodrigo Duterte has placed the country under the state of calamity for six (6) months.
The declaration states:
” Proclamation No. 922, s. 2020, was issued declaring a State of Public Health Emergency throughout the Philippines due to Corona Virus Disease 2019 (Covid-19), enjoining all government agencies and local government units (LGUs) to render full assistance and cooperation and mobilize the necessary resources to undertake critical, urgent, and appropriate response and measures in a timely manner to curtail and eliminate the threat of Covid-19;
WHEREAS, the Code Alert System of COVID-19 was raised to Code Red Sublevel Two (2) in accordance with the recommendation of the Department of Health (DOH) and the Inter-Agency Task Force for Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF);
WHEREAS, pursuant to Republic Act No. 10121, or the “Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010,” the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council has recommended the declaration of a State of Calamity throughout the Philippines; and
WHEREAS, such declaration will, among others, afford the National Government, as well as LGUs, ample latitude to utilize appropriate funds, including the Quick Response Fund, in their disaster preparedness and response efforts to contain the spread of Covid-19 and to continue to provide basic services to the affected population;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, RODRIGO ROA DUTERTE, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by the Constitution and existing laws, do hereby proclaim as follows:
SECTION 1: There is hereby declared a State of Calamity throughout the Philippines for a period of six (6) months, unless earlier lifted or extended as circumstances may warrant.
SECTION 2: There is hereby imposed an Enhanced Community Quarantine throughout Luzon beginning 12 midnight tonight until 12 April 2020, unless earlier lifted or extended as circumstances may warrant.
SECTION 3: All government agencies and LGUs are enjoined to render 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.
SECTION 4: All law enforcement agencies, with the support from the Armed Forces of the Philippines, are hereby directed to undertake all necessary measures to ensure peace and order in affected areas, as may be necessary.
SECTION 5: The Executive Secretary, the Secretary of Health, and all other concerned heads of departments, are directed to issue guidelines governing the implementation of the Enhanced Community Quarantine throughout Luzon.
The declaration was signed on March 16, 2020 but was made available to the media afternoon on March 17.
