President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is considering placing the Philippines under a state of calamity upon the recommendation of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) due to Severe Tropical Storm "Paeng".
Marcos raised the idea after virtually presiding over an NDRRMC meeting on Saturday, Oct. 29, when he was informed about the onslaught of STS "Paeng", which battered many parts of the country, and left at least 45 people dead.
Based on NDRRMC's recommendation, the President is keen on declaring a "national state of calamity due to the effects, damage and projected impacts by Severe Tropical Storm Paeng for a period of one year, unless earlier lifted" as well as to "accept offers of international assistance based on needs."
"Sabagay maraming regions ang affected (Well, many regions are affected). That already justifies for state of calamity," Marcos said.
"Let me wait for your resolution, tingnan ko (Let's see)," he said.
But for now, the President said, the Bicol Region and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARRM) are the regions that are "going to really (be) put under state of calamity."
Marcos also ordered Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Bejamin "Benhur" Abalos Jr. to help BARMM officials access their calamity fund.
"We can facilitate yung kanilang pag download ng calamity funds kung sakali mang kailangan (the downloading of their calamity funds if they need it), para (so) they have everything they need," he said.