By Lyka Manalo, Danny J. Estacio, and Francis T. Wakefield Batangas City, Batangas — The provincial government is poised to declare a state of calamity in Batangas, following a week marked by damaging earthquakes and over 5,000 residents evacuated to safer ground just last Saturday. However, Vice Governor Sofronio Ona said that while the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP or Provincial Board) is set to convene today on the matter, the Board cannot move for the declaration of a state of calamity in the absence of a damage assessment report from the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO). “As per Lito Castro, (PDRRMO Head), bukas (Monday) pa sila magcoconvene ng meeting after flag raising ceremony (The PDRRMO head will convene tomorrow after the flag-raising ceremony)” said Ona. “Hintayin po namin ang communication nila sana naman may resolution na from PDRRMC (The Provincial Board will wait for communication from the PDRRMC and hope they come up with a resolution).” After a 5.5 magnitude earthquake hit Batangas province on Tuesday, Governor Hermilando Mandanas thru the office of the provincial administrator immediately sent a request letter to SP asking to approve a resolution declaring the province under the state of calamity. But last… Read full this story

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