By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet
“Bumili na kayo ng balde para kapag umulan, makolekta na ninyo lahat [ang tubig].”
Amid the backlash dished out against President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. for this remark on super El Niño preparations that he made during a media conference, Malacañang underscored the seriousness of the President’s call for unified rainwater collection efforts.
In a briefing on Tuesday, Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro underscored that President Marcos Jr.’s messaging is consistent with the government’s call for nationwide water conservation efforts as the country braces for an extreme weather event.
Usec. Castro also called out those who ridiculed the President’s appeal to Filipinos, emphasizing how other countries are also preparing for the anticipated effects of super El Niño.
“Ang bawat mensahe, ang bawat suggestion, ang bawat mga binibigay na aral sa atin ng gobyerno at ng Pangulo—ito ay dapat na sineseryoso.”
She went on to cite that the water buckets remark stems from a practicality perspective, noting that it is a common household item that can be used to store water for periods at a time.
The National Water Resources Board (NWRB) likewise backed the Chief Executive’s plea, with Executive Director Dr. David Sevillo emphasizing that a collective effort would greatly help in managing water stored at impounding facilities such as dams.
Usec. Castro, a Malacañang official, also shared other initiatives that will be launched by the government to complement interventions on water security, such as cloud seeding operations, information campaigns on water filtration, and distribution of ChariTimba in affected areas, with the latter to be spearheaded by the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.
Earlier, PAGASA said that super El Niño would prevail from October 2026-March 2027, with the DOST adding that almost all provinces nationwide will experience the effects of this weather phenomenon.
The Malacañang official concluded with a jab at those who turn a blind eye to the situation, “Baka ang kailangan ngayon, ito ay patungkol sa mga obstructionist na walang makitang positibo sa mga ginagawa ng Pangulo. Kailangan po talaga natin ng balde-baldeng utak para po maintindihan niyo po kung ano ang plano ng Pangulo.” (with report from Clay Pardilla | PTV News)
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