IN ALBAY: Bichara declares state of calamity

LEGAZPI CITY – Albay Gov. Al Francis Bichara declared the province of Albay under a state of calamity on Tuesday, Mar. 17.

Bichara’s declaration came after the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Albay led by Vice Gov. Grex Lagman, passed Resolution No. 00357-2020 “Declaring the Entire Province of Albay Under a ‘State of Calamity’ Due to Coronavirus Disease.”

The declaration of a state of calamity, Bichara said, will help local government units, including barangay councils, to use calamity funds to help people affected by government quarantine measures.

Meanwhile, Lagman said all local sanggunians in the 15 towns and 3 cities can declare a state of calamity in a regular or special session. “This is to authorize the local chief executives of said LGU to access the calamity and or quick response funds,” he said.

Lagman added that “if calling a regular or special session for this purpose is impractical or if a quorum cannot be mustered because sanggunian members are on self-quarantine, the declaration of PRRD placing the entire Luzon island under Enhanced Community Quarantine is enough legal basis for the mayors to access the calamity and/or quick response funds.”