NEDA: Place 4 regions under state of calamity

THE National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) has recommended to President Rodrigo Duterte to place Regions 1, 2, 3 and the Cordillera Administrative Region under a state of calamity for a maximum of one year to impose price ceilings and price controls and catch profiteers and hoarders in the wake of Typhoon Ompong.

In a news briefing on Friday at its head office in Pasig City, NEDA Undersecretary for Regional Development Adoracion Navarro said the recommendation was a result of closeddoor meetings with the Department of Trade and Industry and the National Price Coordination Council.

Navarro added that the duration of the state of calamity period could be shorter if the situation in the regions normalizes and damaged structures and farms are restored.

The Department of Agriculture has estimated that damage to crops alone brought by the typhoon would reach P14 billion.

“The NDRRMC (National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council) will follow up with the OP (Office of the President),” Navarro said, referring to the NEDA recommendation.

She said once a state of calamity was declared in the affected regions, the government could expedite disbursement of a nearly $500-million loan from the World Bank ( WB).

Navarro clarified that the WB decided to lend the Philippines $497.5 million, not $500 million as announced in other newspapers.

“According to the Department of Finance, we can disburse the loans in 48 hours. It can be activated and used anytime within that period, she said

What is more important in a state of calamity declaration, according to Navarro, is that the government can impose price ceilings and prosecute hoarders and profiteers.

NEDA Director General Ernesto Pernia said there is already a law that prosecutes profiteers and hoarders and it just needs to be implemented.

Pernia added that the DTI would be the one to impose the price ceilings and would also be the lead agency when the state of calamity is declared.