Malacañang mulls extension of state of calamity

Malacañang on Thursday, August 11, has announced that President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. will likely take into account the health professionals’ advice on whether to extend or not the country’s current state of calamity caused by the Covid-19 outbreak.

Just one month remains until the state of calamity proclamation given by Marcos’ predecessor, former President Rodrigo Duterte, expires, according to press secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles.

At a Palace press conference, she stated, “It will rely on the [Department of Health] DOH’s suggestion, but we will make the announcement when the time comes.

In March 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) proclaimed the Covid-19 outbreak a worldwide pandemic.
On March 16, 2020, Duterte announced Proclamation 929, declaring a state of calamity across the nation for six months as a result of COVID-19.

Later, he issued Proclamation No. 1021 to extend the duration of the state of calamity from September 13, 2020, to September 12, 2021, for a period of one year.

Following a spike in daily Covid-19 infections, the former president issued Proclamation No. 1218 to extend the state of calamity for a third time.

Until September 12, 2022, Proclamation No. 1218 will be in effect, “unless earlier lifted or prolonged as circumstances may allow.”

Marcos stated in his first State of the Nation Address on July 25 that he would no longer proclaim stringent lockdowns despite a surge in Covid-19 cases.

To meet its goal of giving at least 23 million Covid-19 booster doses during his first 100 days in office, he wants the government to step up its Covid-19 immunization and booster drive.

Alert Level 1 is in effect for Metro Manila and the rest of the nation until August 15.

The number of new Covid-19 infections reported by the DOH on Wednesday rose to 3,181 across the country.