Presidential Communications Office
Citing the massive damage of the recent calamities to the country’s agriculture, infrastructure, and its people, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. disclosed on Monday that the government is already working on some climate change mitigation strategies to address the decades-long problem on flooding.
In an interview on the sidelines of the distribution of aid in Bulacan, President Marcos said the government has already a lot of strategies in place to address the effects of climate change as he emphasized that the national and the local governments are working hand in hand as far as climate change mitigation is concerned.
“Isa sa pinakamahirap na ipaliwanag dahil napakahirap, napakasakit pakinggan ay ito na, ganito na talaga ito. Hindi tayo babalik. Dahil sa climate change, hindi na talaga tayo babalik sa dati. Iyong mga inaasahan nating mga wet season, dry season mukhang hindi na masyadong applicable ‘yan ngayon dahil nga sa climate change,” the President said.
He said one of such measures is the construction of water impounding stations to control floodwaters from going downstream, a proposal also raised by Bulacan Governor Daniel Fernando during the situation briefing in Malolos City.
“Mabuti naman at mukha naming nagkakaunawaan both at the local level at saka sa national level tungkol sa maaaring gawin na proyekto para hindi na sana maulit ito, kung matapos natin ‘yung mga proposal na ganun,” Marcos said, referring to the proposed construction of an impounding system in Candaba, Pampanga, which was presented to him earlier during his visit to Pampanga.
Marcos stressed the need to implement some strategies and to understand how to address the problem to avoid massive flooding similar to Pampanga and Bulacan.
“Epekto ng climate change. Talagang kailangan natin pag-aralan at maunawaan kung ano ‘yung maaari natin gawin, dahil mahirap labanan ‘yung weather. Kailangan mag-adjust tayong lahat and we have to do many things,” President Marcos told reporters shortly after the situation briefing in Malolos City.
“At tiningnan namin kung anong sitwasyon. Talaga malaki masyado ang tubig. Lumalabas talaga ‘yung mga nagiging effect ng climate change,” he added.
The chief executive personally handed over financial and food assistance to flood victims in Pampanga and Bulacan on Monday. PND
