This measures allows the release of "calamity funds" allocated to local governments and control the pricing of basic commodities in the affected areas.
[1] Under the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010 (Republic Act 10121), a "state of calamity" is defined as "a condition involving mass casualty and/or major damages to property, disruption of means of livelihoods, roads and normal way of life of people in the affected areas as a result of the occurrence of natural or human-induced hazard".
[1] The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) has the power to recommend to the President of the Philippines the declaration of a group of barangays, municipalities, cities, provinces, regions or the entire country under a state of calamity, and the lifting thereof, based on the criteria set by the NDRRMC.
[1] State of calamity could also be declared or lifted by a local government unit's sanggunian or legislature, upon the recommendation of the local disaster risk reduction and management council (LDRRMC) concerned, based damage assessment and needs analysis.
Notes This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain: "Briefer: State of Calamity".