The Roxas City Council in Capiz province has declared the entire city under a state of calamity following days of heavy rains and widespread flooding caused by Tropical Storm Ramil (international name: Fengshen).
The declaration was issued through Resolution No. 263-2025, approved during a special session on October 19, 2025, led by Vice Mayor Teresa Almalbis and attended by a majority of council members.
The resolution cited the storm’s heavy rains on Oct. 18, which triggered severe flooding in several barangays, damaged properties, agricultural areas, and infrastructure, and forced the evacuation of affected residents.
Earlier, the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council had passed Resolution No. 15, series of 2025, recommending a state of calamity due to the storm’s widespread damage.
The Rapid Disaster Assessment and Needs Analysis report detailed Ramil’s impact, noting destroyed homes, lost livelihoods, and damaged public facilities and roads, which hampered mobility and local operations.
Under Section 52(b) of Republic Act 7160, or the Local Government Code of 1991, local governments can declare a state of calamity to release emergency funds, impose price controls on basic goods, and expedite relief and recovery efforts. /mcm