COVID-19 state of calamity extension up to DOH – Palace

MANILA, Philippines — The decision on whether to extend the COVID-19 state of calamity would hinge on the recommendation of the Department of Health (DOH), Malacañang said yesterday.

“It will depend on the recommendation of the DOH. But we will make the announcement when the time comes,” Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles said at a press briefing.

The nationwide state of calamity will lapse on Sept. 12.

In 2020, former president Rodrigo Duterte signed Proclamation No. 929, placing the entire country under state of calamity for six months beginning March 16 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The status was extended for a year until Sept. 12, 2021 through Proclamation No. 1021. The status was extended further until Sept. 12 this year via Proclamation No. 1218.

The state of calamity period was extended to enable the government to continue its pandemic mitigation efforts and its vaccination program and to use appropriate funds, including the Quick Response Fund, to contain the spread of the virus, control the prices of goods and provide services to the affected population.

The government has launched the PinasLakas campaign, which aims to administer COVID-19 boosters to 23.8 million persons within the first 100 days of President Marcos’ administration.