Vice President Leni Robredo on Sunday batted for the “periodic assessment” of the country’s state of calamity status due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Robredo, a leader of the opposition, could not help but wonder why President Duterte extended the national state of calamity until September 12, 2021.

“Sana ano na lang, parang may periodic sana na pag-assess kung kinakailangan pa (I hope there will periodic assessment if it is still needed),” she said on her radio show.

“Kasi gusto bang sabihin na ganoon katagal iyong emergency situation natin? Kasi kung ganoon katagal, parang nakakatakot para sa atin. (Does this mean our emergency situation will last that long? Because if it will take long, it is scary for us),” Robredo added.

Duterte signed Proclamation No. 1021 last Sept. 16 after the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (NDRMM) recommended the extension of declared state of calamity throughout the country.

A state of calamity allows the national and local governments to use Quick Response Funds and control prices of basic goods.

The Chief Executive first declared a national state of calamity on March 17 in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Robredo said she was expecting Duterte to extend the March declaration given the urgent need to response to the crisis.

“Kasi iyong pagdedesisyon, mas mabilisan eh, dahil nasa krisis nga tayo. Pero hindi ko lang alam kung ano iyong basehan na hanggang 2021. (The decision-making is faster because we are in a crisis. But I don’t know what’s the basis it is extended until 2021),” she said.

”Sa akin, kung 2021 kailangan pa, i-extend na lang.  Pero nakakabuti lagi kapag, alam mo iyon, mayroong periodic assessment, parang naa-assess natin iyong pangangailangan, nasaan na tayo ngayon. Tayo naman kung kinakailangan, supportive naman tayo lagi. (For me, if it will be still needed in 2021, let’s just extend it. But it will be good if we will be able to assess our needs and current situation. We will always be supportive if it is needed),” she added.