Existence of Public Calamity in Certain Provinces in Luzon and the Bicol Region

December 1, 1981

PROCLAMATION NO. 2141

DECLARING THE EXISTENCE OF A PUBLIC CALAMITY IN THE PROVINCES OF CAMARINES SUR, CAMARINES NORTE, ALBAY, CATANDUANES, SORSOGON, NUEVA ECIJA, QUEZON, AURORA, PANGASINAN, BULACAN, TARLAC, PAMPANGA, BENGUET, LA UNION, BATAAN, MARINDUQUE AND BATANGAS

WHEREAS, great damage and destruction of life and property were brought about by the recent typhoons "Yeyeng" and "Anding";

WHEREAS, to prevent excessive increase in the prices of prime commodities due to profiteering and hoarding by those who control and supply thereof, and to enable the government, as well as civic, relief and welfare agencies to carry out their functions, it is necessary that a state of public calamity be proclaimed in provinces thus far reported severely affected;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby proclaim that a state of public calamity exists in the provinces of Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, Albay, Catanduanes, Sorsogon, Nueva Ecija, Quezon, Aurora, Pangasinan, Bulacan, Tarlac, Pampanga, Benguet, La Union, Bataan, Marinduque and Batangas.

During the existence of the calamity it shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation in said provinces to sell offer for sale any foodstuff, building and construction materials and other prime necessities of life at prices exceeding those fixed or may be fixed by proper authorities and to aggravate the crisis by refusing, for the purpose of profiteering, to sell at the legal price, or by hiding, concealing or hoarding such foodstuff, building and construction materials and other prime commodities for the same purpose.

The Price Control Council, with the assistance of the Integrated National Police, shall enforce the provisions of Act 4164, particularly Section 3 thereof, in all affected areas. As such implementing agency, the Council is hereby empowered to order the seizure of any commodity, material or merchandise or prime necessity, sell to the public at the price authorized by Act No. 4164 and Republic Act No. 6361, and reimburse to the owner of the same its legal price.

In addition, the Ministry of Agriculture shall immediately distribute palay seeds at the subsidized price, or grant palay seed loans wherever necessary in order to enable farmers in the afflicted areas to replant.

The National Food Authority shall issue rice loans to farmers who may need the same, under easy terms of repayment.

The Ministry of Public Works and highways shall undertake the immediate repair/rehabilitation of all infrastructure damaged by the typhoons.

The Ministry of Transportation and Communications and the Ministry of National Defense shall endeavor to bring fuel supplies and basic commodities either by air transportation or by other means to such places in the afflicted provinces as are threatened by a supply shortage of these items.

The Ministry of Education shall make provisions for the late entrance of students coming from the afflicted areas covered by this proclamation.

All government agencies concerned are hereby directed to implement and execute rescue, relief and rehabilitation work in accordance with existing operational plans and the directive and orders I have issued in connection with calamities.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the Republic of the Philippines to be affixed. cd i

DONE in the City of Manila, this 1st day of December, in the year of Our Lord, Nineteen Hundred and Eighty-One.

Published in the Official Gazette, Vol. 77 No. 49, 6538-7 Supp., on December 7, 1981.