Malacanan on Thursday, August 10, released Proclamation No. 283 and Administrative Order (AO) No. 5, signed by President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on August 7 and 8, respectively.
Proclamation No. 283 declares a state of calamity in Ormoc City and Kananga town in Leyte, which was hit by a magnitude 6.5 earthquake on July 6 of this year.
“(T)he declaration of a State of Calamity in the aforesaid areas will hasten the rescue, recovery, relief, and rehabilitation efforts of the government and private sector, including any international humanitarian assistance,” the Proclamation stated.
With this declaration, the government will be able to effectively control the prices of commodities and other basic goods and continue to provide basic services for the affected areas. It will likewise provide enough leeway for the government to use appropriate funds for rescue, recovery, relief, and rehabilitation efforts.
Meanwhile, all government agencies, including affected local government units, were directed to implement all rescue, recovery, relief, and rehabilitation works, and augment the basic services and facilities of affected localities, while the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) were tasked to maintain peace and order in the areas.
On the other hand, Administrative Order No. 5 established an inter-agency task force for the unified implementation and monitoring of rehabilitation and recovery programs in the Yolanda corridor (IATF-Yolanda).
It is co-chaired by the Cabinet Secretary, Presidential Assistant for the Visayas, and Presidential Assistant for Special Concerns, with members including the Secretaries of Agriculture, Budget, Education, Environment, Trade, Social Welfare, among others.
“The IATF-Yolanda shall serve as the overall and central coordination committee of all executive departments, agencies, bureaus, government-owned or -controlled corporations, and other instrumentalities (hereinafter collectively known as “Government Agencies”) in relation to the various aspects of implementation and monitoring of the rehabilitation and recovery programs in Yolanda-affected areas,” the AO stated.
Typhoon Yolanda caused widespread destruction of properties and loss of lives in Leyte and nearby provinces in 2013. Hence, “ensuring the timely and efficient completion of the various programs and projects is of paramount importance given that three (3) years have lapsed since the passing of Typhoon Yolanda”, the AO added. (PCO-Content)
