Manila: Philippine President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos on Wednesday placed four regions of the Southeast Asian country under a state of calamity due to the severe tropical storm Nalgene.
Marcos signed the document to put Calabarzon, Bicol Region, Western Visayas, and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) under a six-month state of calamity, where more than 1.4 million people were adversely affected by Nalgae over the weekend.
He said the declaration of a calamity state will hasten the government and private sector’s rescue, recovery, relief, and rehabilitation efforts and help effectively control the prices of basic necessities and prime commodities.
Nalgae, one of the most destructive cyclones that battered the Philippines, triggered flash floods and landslides in many parts of the country. The government has tallied at least 132 deaths as of Monday.
Marcos also stressed he might include other areas in the declaration of a state of calamity if warranted, taking into consideration the continuing damage assessment in affected areas and based on the recommendation of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.
Nalgae is the 16th tropical cyclone to lash the Philippines this yea
