Bohol declares state of calamity

A state of calamity has been declared in the province of Bohol on Friday morning due to the low supply of electricity and water.

The declaration made by the Provincial Board came after a magnitude 6.5 temblor hit nearby Leyte province last Thursday, July 6.

"Nakita natin sa NDCC (National Disaster Coordinating Council) memorandum order No. 4 series of 1998, nakasaad dun ang criteria sa pagdeklara ng state of calamity ng mga LGU. Number 1 disruption of electricity, number 2, disruption of potable water system, number 3 disruption of communication system, and number 4 disruption of other related systems," said Majority Floor Leader Atty. Tomas Abapo.

"May resolution din ang provincial lawmakers ng Bohol kung saan nag-request sila kay Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte at national government agencies na isama ang Bohol in subsidizing costs for the power requirement from generation to transmission to distribution para hindi mabibigatan ang mga konsumedor," he added.

More than one week after the temblor struck, the province is still experiencing long period of power outages due to the damage to a geothermal plant in Leyte, which is the source of electricity for Bohol.

The Bohol Energy Development Advisory Group said in a statement that everything is being done to bring the power supply to normal level. — BAP, GMA News