Will last for a year more as pandemic persistsPresident Rodrigo Duterte has extended the declaration of a state of calamity for one more year due to the lingering coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic. Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines National President and Quirino Gov. Dax Cua said extending the state of calamity would enable LGUs to sustain efforts to contain the pandemic. The extension will allow the LGUs to draw from the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Quick Reaction Fund to finance appropriate local response measures, Cua said. He said the circumstances that led to the declaration of a state of calamity on March 16 still existed.

Source: Manila Times September 18, 2020 16:30 UTC