Govt eyes partial lifting of state of calamity

The government is eyeing the partial lifting of the nationwide state of calamity that was declared last week in connection with the devastation caused by tropical storm "Ondoy" in Metro Manila and nearby provinces.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita on Wednesday said Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr., concurrent head of the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC), would recommend within 24 hours whether or not the declaration would be lifted entirely or partially.

“We shall await the recommendation of the chairman of NDCC… either to lift all together all over the country or lift it in some places that are obviously not anymore threatened by any forthcoming typhoon," Ermita said during his weekly press briefing in Malacañang.

Ermita was allaying fears that the state of calamity, declared last week by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo through Proclamation 1898, may last for a year.

Proclamation 1898 enables the government through the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to control the prices of basic commodities. It also allows local officials to tap their respective calamity funds.

According to Ermita, Teodoro would make the recommendation after consulting with the weather bureau on the effects of weather disturbances in the country. He said the declaration may be lifted first in the Visayas and Mindanao.

He assured that Malacañang would follow Teodoro’s recommendation.

Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera said the state of calamity could be lifted depending on the extent of damage to a certain area. She said some areas battered by Ondoy make take a year to fully recover.

"The concern here is that the [local government units] and the national government for that matter must be able to complete the rehabilitation," said Devanadera, a former mayor.

Mrs. Arroyo issued Proclamation 1898 last October 2 while the country was dealing with the aftermath of Ondoy, which unleashed last Sept. 26 a record rainfall in Metro Manila and nearby provinces, leaving close to 300 people dead and thousands affected.

Damages to agriculture and infrastructure caused by Ondoy have reached billions, prompting the country to seek help from the international community.

Ermita said the proclamation does not state that the state of calamity would last for a year.

“I prepared the proclamation but I didn't mention one year. There was none of that in the [proclamation]," he said.