The decision to extend the state of calamity declaration due to the Covid-19 pandemic is for the Department of Health (DOH) to make, the Malacañang Palace said on Thursday, 11 August.
At a Palace briefing, Press Secretary Trixie Cruz Angeles said President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. would heed the DOH’s advice concerning the existing state of calamity throughout the country.
“It will depend on the recommendation of the DOH, but we will make the announcement when the time comes,” she told reporters.
The state of calamity imposed by former President Rodrigo Duterte would expire on 12 September 2022.
On 16 March 2020, Duterte issued Proclamation No. 929 declaring a state of calamity throughout the Philippines due to rising cases of Covid-19 for six months.
He then extended a state of calamity for one year amid a continued spike of Covid-19 cases on 13 September 2020.
For the second time, Duterte extended the validity of the state of calamity for one more year or until 12 September 2022.
As of 10 August, at least 3,813,952 Covid-19 cases have been detected in the Philippines, according to DOH data.
Meanwhile, 71,898,721 individuals have been vaccinated against coronavirus in the country.