The Department of Health (DOH) has advisable to the Office of the President (OP) an additional extension of the state of calamity within the Philippines as a result of COVID-19, DOH officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire introduced Tuesday.
In a press convention, Vergeire stated the DOH submitted a memorandum to the OP to delay the state of calamity as its declaration is ready to run out on December 31, 2022.
“We already submitted our memo for the President, requesting the extension of the state of calamity in consideration of the fact that the CDC bill was not enacted on time,” she stated, referring to the proposed measure creating the nation’s very personal Center for Disease Prevention and Control.
Vergeire stated they’d a gathering with the OP, along with different involved companies corresponding to these belonging to the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF), on December 23 to clarify to them why the DOH is looking for for an extension.
“We are just waiting for the official response of the Office of the President in terms of this memo that we have submitted to them, but we are all aware of the timeline on the 31st,” Vergeire stated.
President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos prolonged the state of calamity within the nation as a result of COVID-19 till 12 months finish following a suggestion from the National Disaster Risk-Reduction and Management Council.
Former President Rodrigo Duterte positioned the nation below state of calamity till September 12, 2022.
The state of calamity all through the nation is required “in order for the national government and the local government units to continuously deliver COVID-19-related interventions such as but not limited to COVID-19 vaccination program; utilize appropriate funds, including the Quick Response Fund, in their disaster preparedness, and response efforts to contain the spread of the COVID-19; monitor and control prices of basic necessities and prime commodities; and provide basic services to the affected population,” based on Duterte’s proclamation. —KBK, GMA Integrated News
