President Rodrigo Roa Duterte has declared a state of calamity in MIMAROPA, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Northern Mindanao, and CARAGA — the regions that were heavily battered by Typhoon Odette last week.
In his weekly address aired Tuesday, the President said the declaration was made in order to hasten relief and rehabilitation efforts of the national government in the typhoon-ravaged areas.
The decision was also recommended by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (NDRRMC).
"I have decided to declare a state of calamity. I will sign it now," Duterte said.
So far, the NDRRMC reported 156 deaths, 275 injured, and 37 missing persons.
In its latest update, the NDRRMC said only nine deaths have been validated, including two each in Guimaras and Bohol, and one each in Iloilo, Negros Occidental, Bukidnon, Misamis Occidental, and Misamis Oriental.
It also noted that the majority of the fatalities listed were from Bohol and Cebu province with 68 and 54, respectively.
Meanwhile, the NDRRMC said 275 people were reportedly injured in areas in Cebu, Bohol, Negros Oriental, Bukidnon, Misamis Oriental, and Butuan City. Two of the injuries have been validated.
