President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. declared November 4 this year as a national day of mourning in honor of the lives lost and families affected by Severe Tropical Storm “Kristine” – one of the deadliest storms to hit the country this year.
Through Proclamation No. 728, the President ordered the Philippine flag to be flown at half-staff nationwide and at all Philippine government posts abroad.
“The entire nation is requested to offer prayers for the eternal repose of the souls of the victims,” Mr. Marcos said.
The day of mourning calls for prayers and solemn remembrance of the storm’s victims as the nation stands in solidarity with the bereaved families and communities grappling with the tragedy.
The combined effects of “Kristine” and Super Typhoon “Leon” affected over 2.17 million families or 8.53 million individuals nationwide, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said on Saturday.
The NDRRMC said most of the affected were in Bicol Region with 3,027,690 individuals, followed by Central Luzon with 1,092,915 and Calabarzon with 1,014,810.
A total of 178,747 houses were damaged, of which 164,146 were partially damaged and 14,601 were totally damaged.
Damage to infrastructure stood at P7.35 billion while damage to agriculture amounted to P4.43 billion.
As this developed, a lawmaker from Bicol proposed the enactment of a law that will make it easier and quicker for the government to prevent drastic price increases during times of calamity.
Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Raymund Villafuerte said House Bill 7977 aims to empower the Price Coordinating Council (PCC) or any of its member-agencies to expand their own the list of food and non-food items to be covered by a price freeze whenever any natural disaster or calamity calls for it.
Editor’s Note: This is an updated article. Originally posted with the headline “Marcos declares November 4 as day of mourning for ‘Kristine’ victims.”
