Duterte extends state of calamity in PH for one more year

by Krissy Aguilar, Philippine Daily Inquirer, 18 Sep 2020

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte has extended the state of calamity placed over the entire Philippines for one more year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In his Proclamation No. 1021, Duterte extended the state of calamity “for a period of one year, effective 13 September 2020 to 12 September 2021, unless earlier lifted or extended as circumstances may warrant.”

Duterte directed all government agencies and local government units to cooperate and mobilize resources “to undertake critical, urgent, and appropriate disaster response aid and measures in a timeline manner to curtail and eliminate the threat of COVID-19.”

Law enforcement agencies, with the support of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, were also directed to continue implementing measures “to ensure peace and order.”

It was in March when the President, through Proclamation 929, placed the entire country under a state of calamity due to the virus outbreak. https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1243774/duterte-philippines-now-under-state-of-calamity-due-to-covid-19

This measure allowed local government units to access their quick response funds to respond to the health crisis.

As of Friday, the Philippines recorded 279,526 COVID-19 cases with 4,830 deaths and 208,790 recoveries.