Residents reel from the impact of Severe Tropical Storm Kristine in Barangays San Sebastian and Looc in Balete, Batangas, five days after massive flooding and landslides hit the area. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File

MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr on Friday assured that government is working to strengthen its response to calamities and disasters as the Philippines continues to experience extreme weather events due to climate change.

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In a vlog posted on All Saints Day, Marcos Jr noted that the recent Severe Tropical Storm Kristine dumped twice the volume of water released by Typhoon Ondoy back in 2009, affecting millions of Filipinos across many regions and causing billions worth of damages to the country’s agriculture and infrastructure.

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“Dahil nga ang panahon ay nagbabago na: ang tag-init ay sobrang init; ang tag-ulan grabe naman ang ulan, record-breaking rainfall, ika nga. Talagang extreme weather conditions. May mga lugar na hindi pa binabaha kahit kailan pero lumulubog na ngayon. Sa maikli at mabilis na panahon, tumataas kaagad ang tubig dahil sa bigat ng pagbuhos ng ulan,” the president said.

“At ang mga dating mga flood control systems ay na-overwhelm. Kung maalala ninyo ang Ondoy, ang bumagsak na ulan dito sa Kristine ay halos doble nung bumagsak nung Ondoy kaya’t na-overwhelm ang ating mga flood control," he added

Marcos said that with the Philippines considered high-risk for climate change, there is a need for government to improve efforts towards disaster risk reduction, and to build more disaster-resilient infrastructure.     

“Ang mabilis na pagresponde sa mga nasalanta ay mananatiling prayoridad natin. Kasama ang DSWD, DND, DPWH, DILG at iba pang mga ahensya ng pamahalaan, maaasahan ninyong pagtitibayin pa ang ating national at local disaster risk reduction at response,” he stressed.

“Bahagi na talaga ito ng pamumuhay natin. Itinuturing na high-risk ang ating bansa sa epekto ng climate change. Kaya kailangan natin maging magaling sa larangan na ito. Disaster risk reduction, both the public at saka private sector. Para naman mabawasan ang mga napapahamak sa mga ganitong uri ng sakuna,” he continued.

The chief of state emphasized the country has to amplify its efforts to prepare for the incoming effects of the climate change.

“Lalo pa natin pagbubutihin ang ating pagtugon sa hamon ng climate change,” Marcos vowed.

“Upang, una, [para] mabawasan ang kaswalidad sa bawat sakuna; pangalawa, upang mabawasan ang bilang ng mga tao at pamilyang naaapektuhan; at pangatlo, upang maprotektahan ang mga maliliit na komunidad at ang mga kabuhayan nila dito," he explained.

Marcos meanwhile said that the floodwaters in some areas in Naga City, which have been slow to recede, continue to hamper the government’s efforts to bring relief goods and assist residents affected by Kristine.

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“Ang naging problema talaga sa Bicol ay ang tagal bumaba ng tubig. Natagalan tayo na makapasok hangga’t nagkaroon tayo ng mga rubber boats dahil ‘yung truck hindi pa kaya pumasok. Iyong mga relief goods ‘pag dala ng mga tao sa evacuation center, ginawa namin rubber boat na ang ginamit namin,” he said.

The Philippine president meanwhile shrugged off comments about him going to the bailiwick of his former political rival, ex-Vice President Leni Robredo, saying that disaster knows no politics.

“May mga nagre-react dahil daw kahit balwarte ng ating katunggali noong eleksyon ay pinupuntahan ko. Eh nandoon ang bagyo. Ang bagyo hindi nangingilala ng eleksyon. Kaya kung saan na may problema, kung saan ang nangangailangan ng tulong ay doon tayo pupunta,” he said.

“Mga kababayan, hindi tayo titigil hangga’t hindi pa nakakabangon ang lahat. Walang pagod ang ating mga ahensya. Naririnig namin ang inyong saklolo at ginagawa namin ang lahat upang mailagay kayo sa mas mabuting kalagayan,” he continued.

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