Presidential Proclamation Authorizes Emergency Powers Following Typhoon Tino’s Devastation

MANILA, Philippines — In a decisive move to mobilize resources and expedite recovery, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has officially declared a one-year State of National Calamity across the entire archipelago. This sweeping proclamation comes in the wake of the catastrophic destruction wrought by Typhoon Tino (international name: Kalmaegi) and in urgent preparation for the ongoing threat posed by Super Typhoon Uwan (Fung-wong), currently battering the country’s main island of Luzon.

The declaration, formalized under Proclamation No. 155, was issued upon the recommendation of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC). Its scope is unprecedentedly broad, intended not only to address the immediate aftermath of Tino but also to cover “all natural calamities occurring within one year from Nov. 7, 2025,” unless rescinded earlier by the President.

Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro, who concurrently chairs the NDRRMC, outlined the rationale in a memorandum dated November 8. The year-long proclamation underscores the Philippines’ vulnerability to climate change and aims to establish a continuous, high-readiness mechanism for disaster response throughout the peak typhoon season and beyond.

💰 Enabling Emergency Financial and Economic Measures

The State of National Calamity triggers several critical governmental powers designed to stabilize the affected areas and protect consumers from exploitation.

Immediate Price Control and Protection

One of the most immediate and significant effects of the declaration is the mandatory imposition of a price freeze on all basic necessities and prime commodities nationwide. This measure is crucial in preventing opportunistic behaviors such as overpricing, profiteering, and hoarding of essential goods, medicines, and petroleum products during a crisis. The price freeze ensures that vulnerable populations, already struggling with displacement and loss, are not subjected to economic gouging. Furthermore, the declaration authorizes the granting of no-interest calamity loans to assist affected individuals and businesses in regaining their footing.

Unlocking Vital Public Funds

The proclamation provides both national and local governments with the necessary wide latitude in utilizing appropriate funds, most notably the crucial Calamity and Quick Response Funds (QRF). These emergency funds are essential for immediate action, enabling faster procurement of relief supplies, deployment of rescue teams, and initiation of recovery projects without the bureaucratic delays typical of ordinary budget cycles. This financial flexibility is key to accelerating the pace of rescue, recovery, relief, and rehabilitation efforts by both the government and the private sector, and facilitating the efficient distribution of international humanitarian assistance.

💔 The Grim Toll of Typhoon Tino: A Humanitarian Crisis

The severity of the presidential action is fully justified by the grim statistics emerging from the regions devastated by Typhoon Tino. The latest report from the NDRRMC paints a harrowing picture of loss and widespread suffering.

Massive Fatalities: Tino has been officially designated the deadliest tropical cyclone to strike the Philippines this year, leaving at least 224 people dead. The hardest-hit area is Cebu province, which alone accounts for 158 of the confirmed fatalities.
Missing and Injured: The casualty figures are expected to rise, with at least 109 individuals still reported missing. A further 526 people have sustained injuries.
Widespread Impact: The typhoon affected more than 3.5 million Filipinos across eight regions of the country, crippling infrastructure and livelihoods.
Economic Damage: Running estimates of the damage cost to infrastructure and agriculture already stand at an alarming P219 million, a figure that is likely to climb as more detailed assessments are completed.

Infrastructure Paralysis

The devastation has been compounded by severe and prolonged utility outages. Due to the continuous inclement weather and the sheer force of Tino, the majority of utility lines remain unrestored. Out of 165 cities and municipalities that suffered power cuts, 104 (or 63 percent) still had no electricity as of the latest report. Critically, none of the 11 localities whose public water supply was halted had yet seen restoration, leaving survivors pleading for basic necessities .

🧭 Presidential Directives: From Rescue to Restoration

In conjunction with the calamity declaration, President Marcos Jr. issued a stern directive to all government agencies, emphasizing a two-pronged strategy: urgent response and sustained recovery.

Phase 1: Urgent Response

Agencies were ordered to “continuously undertake urgent and critical disaster response to save lives, reduce health impacts, ensure public safety and meet the basic subsistence needs of the people affected.” This phase demands immediate coordination, deployment of medical and search-and-rescue teams, and the prompt distribution of food, water, and shelter materials.

Phase 2: Post-Disaster Recovery

The President also mandated the implementation of long-term post-disaster recovery measures. These are aimed at restoring normalcy, and improv[ing] facilities, livelihood, and living conditions of disaster-stricken communities. This crucial phase includes rebuilding infrastructure, restoring essential services, and developing sustainable livelihood programs to prevent communities from falling back into poverty traps after the disaster.

National government agencies are specifically tasked with providing or augmenting the basic services and facilities of affected local government units (LGUs). They must also actively facilitate and streamline the deployment of assistance from the private sector and international partners, ensuring maximum efficiency in the relief chain.

The year-long State of National Calamity serves as a stark acknowledgment of the magnitude of the disaster caused by Tino and the impending threat of Super Typhoon Uwan. It is a necessary legal and fiscal framework designed to cut through bureaucratic red tape and channel the nation’s collective effort toward survival, recovery, and resilience in the face of escalating climate risks.