President Rodrigo Duterte will extend the declaration of a state of calamity in the Philippines, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque confirmed.
Duterte placed the country in a state of calamity last March with a validity of up to 6 months.
The Palace has yet to release a document on the extension, but Roque said that Duterte already expressed his decision on the matter.
“Yes, definitely it will be extended. It’s in the desk of the President, probably signed by now,” Roque said.
Under the state of calamity, authorities can better respond the pandemic, said Roque. Police and the military have more powers to maintain peace and order under the state of calamity.
Two laws namely the ‘Bayanihan to Heal As One’ and the ‘Bayanihan to Recover As One’ were passed.
