The Office of Civil Defense-Region VI (OCD-6) is awaiting data from the Malay municipal government before placing Boracay under a state of calamity.

OCD-6 Director Jose Roberto Nuñez said the local government must submit the data as soon as possible.

“We set a timeline and it should be submitted this week,” Nuñez said after the recent Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council-VI (RDRRMC-6) meeting in Iloilo City.

A state of calamity declaration must be declared before the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte can implement the planned tourism closure of the resort island on April 26.

However, Nuñez explained, the state of declaration must follow RA 10121, the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010, rules and regulations, which state a calamity must be caused by either natural disaster or by humans.

Nuñez said the Malay local government declared a state of calamity due to natural disaster last December, after Boracay was hit by flooding.

“That state of declaration order [does] not cover disaster caused by humans,” Nuñez added./WDJ