Ramos declares calamity

Ramos declares calamity

MANILA (Reuter): Philippine President Fidel Ramos yesterday declared a state of calamity in the flood-ravaged provinces of Kalinga and Apayao in the northern Philippines, the presidential palace said in a statement.

Ramos approved the release of one million pesos (US$38,500) in emergency aid for each of the two provinces, the statement said.

Continuous rains had pounded the northern part of the Philippines, causing floods which also hit other provinces.

Ramos earlier approved eight million pesos ($308,000) for the relief and rehabilitation of flooded areas in Cagayan and Isabela, also in the northern Philippines.