MALACAÑANG

MANILA

PROCLAMATION NO. 785

DECLARING THE EXISTENCE OF A STATE OF CALAMITY (MAN-MADE) IN THE PROVINCES OF COTABATO AND SULTAN KUDARAT

WHEREAS

, the Secretary of National Defense as Chairman of the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) recommends the declaration of a state of calamity in the Provinces of Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat in view of the armed attacks and atrocities perpetrated by MILF forces and other lawless elements in the said provinces;

WHEREAS

, there is an urgent need for the declaration of a state of calamity in the areas to enable the local government units to use their Calamity Funds for relief and other emergency requirements of the affected constituents;

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 calamity exists in the Provinces of Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat.

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. cdtai