President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. on Wednesday placed four regions under a state of calamity following the onslaught of "Paeng", a severe tropical storm that has so far killed at least 121 people and displaced millions of residents.

The President on Wednesday signed Proclamation no. 84, declaring a state of calamity in Regions 4-A (Calabarzon), 5 (Bicol Region), 6 (Western Visayas), and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

The proclamation triggers a price freeze in the regions and allows local government units to access their emergency funds.

Marcos earlier rejected the recommendation of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council to declare a year-long nationwide state of calamity due to the severe impact of Paeng on various parts of the country.

Under the proclamation, which copy was obtained from the Official Gazette, Marcos directed all concerned government departments and agencies to continue the implementation of rescue, relief, and rehabilitation measures in areas battered by "Paeng."

"All departments and other concerned government agencies are also directed to coordinate with the LGUs to provide or augment the basic services and facilities of affected areas," read the proclamation signed for the President by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin.

According to the issuance, the President may include other areas in the declaration of a state of calamity if warranted, taking into consideration the continuing damage assessment in affected areas based on NDRRMC's recommendation and the conditions provided by law.

Severely impacted

The President noted that more than 1.4 of the population in the said regions was severely impacted by the natural disaster.

"The declaration of a State of Calamity will, among others: hasten the rescue, recovery, relief, and rehabilitation efforts of the government and the private sector; and effectively control the prices of basic necessities and price commodities," the proclamation read.

It added that the issuance will provide the national government and LGUs ample latitude to utilize appropriate funds for rescue, recovery, relief and rehabilitation efforts and for the continuous provision of basic services to the affected populations in accordance with the law.

The Chief Executive said the State of Calamity shall remain in force and effect for a period of six months unless it is earlier lifted.

Earlier this week, Marcos visited Noveleta town in Cavite and Datu Odin Sinsuat town in Maguindanao del Norte to personally check the situation of displaced individuals taking shelter in evacuation centers.

He also led the distribution of relief packs in the said areas and urged local executives to set bureaucratic processes aside to expedite the release of the much-needed aid.

He specifically pointed out the process where typhoon victims are still required to secure a stub before they can receive a food pack — which he said is being implemented by some localities to ensure that individuals will not get more than what was allotted to them.

More efficient

In a situation briefing in Maguindanao province on Tuesday, Marcos said the standard operating procedure must be "more efficient" to ensure the immediate release of aid to displaced individuals.

"We will have to improve the SOP," he said. "Ano kung mag-doble? Bigay niyo na lahat. Just give everything. Yayaman ba ang tao na merong naka-doble siya ng food pack? Hindi yayaman," he said.

"There is no such thing as sobra na relief goods. No such thing. Kung ano ang meron tayo, ibigay natin kaagad. It doesn't matter kung may papel, huwag niyo nang papirmahan. Basta bigay na.Walang kakainin yang mga iyan. That is something that we can improve on," he added.

The storm hit the country a month after the inflation rate here reached its highest after four years at 6.9 percent.

Paeng exited the Philippine Area of Responsibility on 31 October and was seen moving toward southern China, according to the country's weather bureau Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration.

As "Paeng" leaves PAR, tropical storm "Queenie" followed and brought rains in parts of Mindanao.

On Tuesday afternoon, "Queenie" weakened into a low-pressure area, and brought rains over Caraga and Davao Oriental, according to PAGASA.

No food shortage

The Department of Trade and Industry on Wednesday assured that supplies of basic necessities and prime commodities are intact in "Paeng"-hit provinces that are currently under a state of calamity.

As chairman of the National Price Coordinating Council, the DTI made sure that they are coordinating with the Philippine Chamber of Food Manufacturers, composed of manufacturers and retailers of basic necessities and prime commodities, to guarantee timely and constant replenishment of goods, particularly in the typhoon-affected areas.

Further, the DTI said they are continuously conducting intensified monitoring of prices and supply of these commodities and ensuring the submission of daily situational monitoring reports from its provincial and regional offices, days after the onslaught of "Paeng."

"The prices and supply of basic necessities and prime commodities are generally stable based on the latest nationwide situational report. We remind businesses and traders to comply with the price freeze on basic necessities in areas under a state of calamity," Trade Secretary Fred Pascual said.

Under Republic Act 7581, or the Price Act, as amended, prices of basic necessities are automatically frozen at their prevailing prices for sixty (60) days once a State of Calamity is declared in an area unless sooner lifted by the President.

The DTI monitors necessity products under its purviews such as canned fish, locally manufactured instant noodles, bottled water, bread, processed milk, coffee, candles, laundry soap, detergent and salt.

No wasted goods

The Department of Social Welfare and Development assured the public that there will be no more wastage of food packs for survivors of calamities, after audit reports that relief goods last year were wasted, others left to spoil and others destroyed by pests or insects.

According to DSWD Undersecretary for special projects, Edu Punay, the agency assistance was enough for victims by Severe Tropical Storm "Paeng."

It was also learned that Secretary Erwin Tulfo already ordered their staff to closely monitor the distribution of both food and nonfood relief goods.

It was also learned that in the department's audit report last year, the Commission on Audit said that thousands of relief packs for victims of typhoon "Ulysses," which hits on November 2020, have been destroyed by pests and some have expired.

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