Philippine President Benigno Aquino has signed an executive order overhauling the country’s rules on closing government offices and schools during natural disasters.

Signed on January 11, Executive Order No. 66, a copy of which was obtained by IRIN, gives local authorities the power to decide to immediately cancel classes and work if they feel danger is imminent, even if the state weather forecaster has not yet raised storm alert warnings.

However, in cases where the president himself decides to declare a “state of calamity”, classes in both public and private schools, as well as work in government offices, can be suspended in areas affected by disasters other than storms, such as floods, earthquakes, tsunamis or massive fires.

“This executive order is an assertion of the state’s declared policy to institutionalize measures that will ensure that the general public, including students and state workers, will be safe from hazards and their lives and limbs will be safeguarded,” Aquino’s chief aide, Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa, said.

It was also a recognition “of the local risk patterns across the country aimed at boosting disaster risk reduction and management through decentralized powers, responsibilities and resources at the regional and local levels”, he said.

Approximately 20 typhoons hit the archipelago nation annually, triggering floods and deadly landslides.

Read more of the story here at the IRIN news service:
PHILIPPINES: New emergency powers aim to cut casualties