The entire province of Abra was declared under State of Calamity due to the massive damage brought by the magnitude 7.0 earthquake on Wednesday, July 28.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said the declaration of State of Calamity was formalized with the approval of resolution signed by the officials of the Abra Provincial Government on Thursday, July 28.
In a resolution shared by the NDRRMC to reporters, it stated that 80 percent of the population of Abra was severely affected by the earthquake and that both private and government infrastructures in the province were damaged.
"Such a disaster has destroyed power lines, sending Abra into a province-wide brownout and the destruction of houses, buildings and bridges has paralyzed the operation of business establishments likewise displacing a lot of Abranios as they stay out of their homes without food," the resolution read.
Based on the initial data of the NDRRMC
The damage assessment is still ongoing for the province.
The declaration of the State of Calamity in the entire province would pave the way for its 25 municipalities to mobilize all the resources and use their respective calamity fund to attend to the needs of their respective constituents.
The resolution of the Abra provincial council also authorized the use of five percent calamity reserve fund.