A Malacañang official said on Tuesday that government plans to lift the declaration of a state of calamity as soon as life returns to normal in areas devastated by storms Ondoy and Pepeng.

Deputy Presidential Spokeswoman Lorelei Fajardo said the government is hoping for a swift return to normalcy especially after President Arroyo has mobilized all government agencies to intensify its relief and rehabilitation efforts in calamity areas.

The government will also wait for the assessment of the calamity areas from disaster relief officials and local government executives to determine if the state of calamity proclamation will be lifted, according to Fajardo.

“Definitely no,” Fajardo said in an interview, when asked if the government will exhaust the one-year time frame for the declaration of state of calamity.

“We want to bring back normalcy as soon as possible especially if it is causing alarm to businessmen,” she said, referring to the price ceiling imposed on food, medicines, and construction materials under a state of calamity.

Fajardo made the clarification after a fellow deputy spokesman, Anthony Golez claimed that usual period of state of calamity usually lasts for a year to two years.

“Golez just laid out the timeframe provided by law but it doesn’t mean the government will impose the state of calamity for one year,” she said.

But for as long there is a need for it, Fajardo said the government will not yet lift the state of calamity in the country.

Fajardo acknowledged though that there is no need to formally declare the lifting of state of calamity especially in provinces spared from the wrath of the two storms last week.

“Local government executives especially those not affected can lift the state of calamity on their own since our focus is the areas devastated by the recent storms,” she added.

Golez, in a news briefing in the Palace, said the government authorities are moving to prevent a "secondary catastrophe" related to food, health, and garbage concerns following the "orginal catastrophe" from storms Ondoy and Pepeng.

The President has asked concerned authorities to address the basic needs of the calamity victims, particularly food, shelter, and sanitation, according to Golez.

Last Friday, President Arroyo placed the country under a state of calamity to keep prices of basic commodities at current levels.