President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. has extended the period of state calamity throughout the Philippines due to the COVID-19 pandemic until 31 December 2022.
Through Proclamation No. 57, Marcos Jr. extended the declaration of State of Calamity in the country effective 13 September 2022 to 31 December 2022.
"Now, therefore, I Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., President of the Philippines, by the virtue of the powers vested in me by the Constitution and existing laws, do hereby further extend the declared State of Calamity throughout the Philippines effective 13 September 2022 to 31 December 2022, unless earlier lifted or extended as circumstances may warrant," Marcos stated in the proclamation.
The chief executive instructed government agencies and local government units to continue rendering full assistance to and cooperation with each other.
He asked them to 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.
Marcos Jr. also directed all law enforcement agencies, with the support of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, to continue undertaking all necessary measures to ensure peace and order in affected areas, as may be necessary.
The President signed the proclamation following the recommendation of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council to further extend the declared state of calamity "in order for the national government and LGUs to continuously deliver COVID-19-related interventions."
Among these interventions are the COVID-19 vaccination program; utilization of appropriate funds including the Quick Response Fund in disaster preparedness and response efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19; monitoring and controlling prices of basic necessities and prime commodities; and provision of basic services to affected populations.
On 16 March 2020, former President Rodrigo Duterte signed Proclamation No. 929 declaring a state of calamity throughout the country for a period of six months due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The former chief executive later extended the period of state calamity for one year from 13 September 2020 to 12 September 2021 through Proclamation No. 1021.
He extended the state of calamity declaration for a third time until 12 September 2022 through Proclamation No. 1218.
Earlier, Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles said the state of calamity may be extended for "possibly three months but only for the purpose of preserving the benefits under it, such as but not limited to the indemnification, emergency procurement, special risk allowance for healthcare workers."
