MALACAÑANG

Manila

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES

PROCLAMATION NO. 523

DECLARING THE EXISTENCE OF A STATE OF CALAMITY (MAN-MADE) IN THE PROVINCE OF BASILAN

WHEREAS

, on February 21, 1993, Proclamation No. 143, was issued declaring the existence of a state of calamity in the province of Basilan;

WHEREAS

, the Secretary of National Defense and Chairman of the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) recommends the declaration of a state of calamity in the province of Basilan in continuation of the Proclamation issued in 1993;

WHEREAS

, there is an urgent need for the declaration of a state of calamity in the area since the armed-conflict thereat are forcing the residents to flee for their safety for fear of being caught in the cross-fire between the government troops and the Abu Sayaff group;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, FIDEL V. RAMOS

, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby declare that a state of public calamity exists in the province of Basilan.

All departments and other government agencies concerned are hereby directed to implement and execute relief and rehabilitation work in accordance with existing operational plans, directives and orders issued in connection with 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 25th day of January in the year of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and ninety five.

(Sgd.)

FIDEL V. RAMOS

By the President:

(Sgd.)

TEOFISTO T. GUINGONA, JR.