President Duterte is “most likely” to extend the state of calamity in the country due to lingering coronavirus pandemic, Malacañang said Monday.

The six-month calamity declaration, signed by the President last March 16 through Proclamation No. 929, is set to expire this month.

“Most likely po dahil habang wala pang bakuna sa COVID, habang walang gamot sa COVID, patuloy ang epekto ng pandemya (Most likely, he will because while there is no COVID vaccine yet, no cure for COVID, the effect of the pandemic continues),” Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said during televised press briefing Monday.

Roque, however, could not yet say when the proclamation will be extended by the President.

“Pero ang sabi ko nga kanina, most likely habang wala pang bakuna, magpapatuloy pa rin po ang state of health emergency dahil wala pa ring lunas sa pandemyang ito (But like I said, it most likely since there is no vaccine yet. The state of health emergency will continue because there is no cure to this pandemic yet),” he said.

More than 261,000 people have been infected with the coronavirus in the country as of September 13.

The death toll has reached 4,371 while the recoveries soared to 207,568.

While scientific studies recently showed the flattening of the curve, the government has appealed to the public to continue to observe health protocols such as wearing of masks, washing hands frequently, and observing safe distancing from others, to avoid infection.

The public has been advised to stay vigilant and not be complacent to further slow down the spread of the virus.

In Proclamation No. 929 issued last March, President Duterte has declared a state of calamity in the country for the next six months amid the sharp increase in coronavirus cases in the country.

It is valid for six months unless earlier lifted or extended as circumstances may warrant.

When the proclamation was issued back in March, the country had 187 cases coronavirus.

An Enhanced Community Quarantine was also first imposed throughout Luzon in midMarch to curb the outbreak.

Under the calamity declaration, the President mobilized government agencies and local government units “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.”

“All government agencies, with the support of 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,” the proclamation read.