MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte has placed the entire Philippines under a state of calamity due to the African swine fever (ASF) outbreak.
Proclamation No. 1143 was signed on Monday.
The nationwide state of calamity will be for one year “unless earlier lifted or extended as circumstances may warrant.”
All government agencies and local government units were enjoined to render full assistance to and cooperation with each other and mobilize necessary resources to undertake critical, urgent and appropriate measures in a timely manner to curtail the further spread of ASF.
The supply deficit in pork products and high retail prices must also be addressed, stressed Duterte.
The overall goal is the rehabilitation of the local hog industry and ensure food security.
“There is an urgent need to address the continued spread of ASF and its adverse impacts to jumpstart the rehabilitation of the local hog industry, and to ensure the availability, adequacy and affordability of pork products,” according to Duterte.
Senators have been urging President Duterte for the declaration of a state of calamity as early as March.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said President Duterte also signed Executive Order No. 133 which increased the minimum access volume (MAV) pork imports to 254,210 metric tons for 2021 from the previous 54,210 MT.
“Iyang executive order ay bahagi po ng kompromiso sa panig ng ehekutibo at Senado pagdating sa usaping MAV,” Roque said in his virtual presser from Davao City on Tuesday./PN
