WHEREAS, the unprecedented rains and floods caused by typhoon œOndoy  (international codename: Ketsana) has brought incalculable devastations in the lives and properties of the Filipinos;

WHEREAS, while the relief efforts of the government and the private sector are ongoing and the victims are still in the process of getting back to their normal way of life, another typhoon named œPepeng  (international codename: Parma) is now bringing more rains and very strong winds, thereby threatening to wreak further havoc to the country;

WHEREAS, during this period of calamity, it is necessary that prices of basic goods (i.e., food, medicines, construction materials, etc.) be effectively controlled by the Department of Trade and Industry;

WHEREAS, it is imperative that a state of calamity be declared in the whole country to enhance all preparations for typhoon œPepeng , to hasten the rescue, relief and rehabilitation efforts of both the government and the private sector, and to effectively control the prices of basic goods;

WHEREAS, such declaration will further afford the local government units ample latitude to utilize their calamity fund for the rescue, relief and rehabilitation of their constituents;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GLORIA MACAPAGAL ARROYO, President of the Republic of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, hereby declare a state of national calamity in view of the tremendous damage to lives and properties and massive displacement caused by typhoon œOndoy  and in preparation for the impending hazards and devastations of typhoon œPepeng .

All departments and other government agencies concerned are hereby directed to implement and execute medical assistance, relief and rehabilitation work in accordance with existing operational plans and directives and orders issued in connection with the occurrence of calamities.

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

Done in the City of Manila, this 2^nd day of October, in the year of Our Lord, Two Thousand and Nine.

(Sgd.) GLORIA MACAPAGAL ARROYO

By the President:

(Sgd.) EDUARDO R. ERMITA

Executive Secretary