State of calamity, in the context of disaster management in the Philippines, refers to a status that could be declared widespread within the country, or certain localities, in response to a destructive, natural, or man-made disaster. This measures allows the release of "calamity funds" allocated to local governments and control the pricing of basic commodities in the affected areas.[1]
Under the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010 (Republic Act 10121), a "state of calamity" is defined as "a condition involving mass casualty and/or major 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 natural or human-induced hazard".[1]
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) has the power to recommend to the President of the Philippines the declaration of a group of barangays, municipalities, cities, provinces, regions or the entire country under a state of calamity, and the lifting thereof, based on the criteria set by the NDRRMC. The President's declaration may warrant international humanitarian assistance as deemed necessary. A state of national calamity is effective until the President lifts it.[1]
State of calamity could also be declared or lifted by a local government unit's sanggunian or legislature, upon the recommendation of the local disaster risk reduction and management council (LDRRMC) concerned, based damage assessment and needs analysis.[1]
If a state of calamity is declared by the Philippine national government, the following measures will be imposed:[1]
The following is a list of state of national calamities declared by the president of the Philippines.
| State of calamity in response to | Declared | Declaring president | Basis | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Super Typhoon Durian (Reming) | Gloria Macapagal Arroyo | Proclamation No. 1185 | ||
| Typhoon Ketsana (Ondoy) and Super Typhoon Parma (Pepeng) | Proclamation No. 1898 | |||
| Tropical Storm Washi (Sendong) | Benigno Aquino III | Proclamation No. 303 | ||
| Super Typhoon Bopha (Pablo) | Proclamation No. 522 | |||
| Super Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) | Proclamation No. 682 | |||
| Typhoon Melor (Nona) | Proclamation No. 1186 | |||
| COVID-19 pandemic | Rodrigo Duterte | Proclamation No. 929 | The State of Calamity was initially declared for six months (from March 16, 2020) but was extended through September 12, 2021 with Proclamation No. 1021.[2] Proclamation No. 1218 subsequently extended the State of Calamity to September 12, 2022, "unless earlier lifted or extended as circumstances may warrant."[3] | |
| African swine fever outbreak | May 11, 2021 | Proclamation No. 1143 |