Metro Manila now under a state of calamity—here's what it means
Metro Manila has been put in a state of calamity due to the floods and rainfall brought by Typhoon Carina (international name Gaemi) and the southwest monsoon.
Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Benjamin Abalos made the announcement after convening with the Metro Manila Council on July 24. The 12 mayors who were present agreed to the declaration.
Several parts of Metro Manila have been flooded due to the rainfall including Quezon City, Manila, Marikina, Malabon, and Navotas.
Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte said that the city's 154 evacuation centers are now occupied by 22,000 evacuees as 80 out of its 143 barangays are flooded.
Navotas Mayor Ray Tianco told reporters that 80% of the city is submerged.
Classes at all levels and work in government offices have been suspended due to the typhoon and southwest monsoon.
As of 5 p.m. the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration declared Carina a super typhoon. It also raised a red warning level in Metro Manila, Rizal, Bataan, Zambales, Bulacan, and Pampanga. This means about 30-65 millimeters of rain per hour.
Malacañang has also suspended classes at all levels and work in government offices in NCR, Regions II, and IV-A on July 25 to aid the rescue, recovery, relief, and rehabilitation efforts of the government.
Agencies that deliver basic and health services, disaster/calamity response, and other vital services shall continue operations.
What does 'state of calamity' mean?
State of Calamity is described by Republic Act 10121, or the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010, as a condition involving mass casualty and/or damages to property, disruption of means of livelihoods, roads and normal way of life of people in the affected areas as a result of the occurrence of a natural or human-induced hazard.
The National Council recommends to the country's president the declaration of a state of calamity. A local government can also declare this in its jurisdiction.
When an area is under a state of calamity, it imposes a price ceiling on basic necessities and prime commodities, monitors, programs funds for the repair and safety of public facilities, grants no-interest loans by government financing or lending institutions to affected sectors of the population through cooperatives or organizations, and monitors and prevents overpricing of prime commodities, medicines, and petroleum products.
Importation and donation of food, clothing, medicine, and equipment for relief and recovery will also be authorized.
The state of calamity declaration also allows local governments to release calamity funds for response and relief operations.