Malacañang lifted on Saturday the state of calamity in the Visayas and Mindanao but stressed that it will remain in effect in Luzon, possibly until the end of the year due to massive destruction in the area due to widespread flooding and landslides.

Press Secretary Cerge Remonde announced over government-run radio station DZRB that President Arroyo lifted the state of calamity in the Visayas and Mindanao effective Saturday.

This, he said, was upon the recommendations of Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, Defense Secretary and National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) Chairman Gilbert Teodoro, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Peter Favila, and Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap following a meeting in Malacañang last Friday.

“This decision is based on the obvious absence of bad weather in those regions, as well as the President’s determination that it is no longer necessary to maintain price ceilings nationwide in order to ensure the effectiveness of price ceilings for the protection of calamity victims in Luzon,” Remonde announced.

“The state of calamity will remain in place for the time being for the rest of Luzon as it is still subject to the problems brought about by typhoon ‘Pepeng’,” he said.

Remonde stressed that the state of calamity in Luzon is “subject to constant review by the President based on weather developments, the stability of price ceilings, the speed of rehabilitation efforts, and other changes in conditions on the ground.”

“May I remind everyone again that whereas the state of calamity has a nominal term of one year, the price ceilings are fixed for a period not more than 60 days only,” he said.

Remonde said the state of calamity in Luzon “is not going to last a year,” adding that it may take only up to December if typhoons will spare Luzon. There are still six tropical cyclones expected to enter the country until the end of the year.

Prices of basic commodities will also be continuously monitored by the DTI and DA despite the lifting of state of calamity in the Visayas and Mindanao, he said.

Remonde likewise expressed hope that the lifting of the state of calamity in the Visayas and Mindanao will “not only clarify matters” but also give a reassurance that there is no hidden agenda behind the Chief Executive’s declaration of a state of calamity.