By Brian Campued
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Thursday underscored the need for the government to shift its disaster response efforts into adaptation while ensuring that the recurring problems the country experiences every typhoon season are being addressed effectively.
The President made the comment after he presided over a meeting with members of the Cabinet and other concerned government officials at the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) headquarters in Quezon City, where they assessed the situation in various parts of the country amid widespread flooding and heavy rains caused by the enhanced southwest monsoon (habagat) and the recent spate of tropical cyclones.
Marcos stressed that the extreme weather events the country now experiences should not be viewed as “unusual,” as these conditions are the effect of climate change.
“Palitan na natin ang pag-iisip natin—hindi ito unusual, hindi ito emergency—ito ngayon talaga ang panahon… We are now having to think more of course mitigation, kung ano ‘yong mga puwedeng gawin para matulungan nga ‘yong mga naging biktima,” he said.
“Pero in the longer term, kailangan na kailangan na natin mag-isip tungkol sa adaptation—what do we have to do when it comes again because it will come again.”
The Chief Executive likewise assured that the country’s standard operating procedures, from rescue to relief operations, are in place and subject to improvements when the need arises.
“Kahit noong nasa U.S. pa ko, alam na namin kung ano ‘yong kailangang gawin. Tuloy-tuloy ang proseso ng pagbibigay ng relief at rescue, pagbubukas ng kalsada, tiyaking may kuryente ang mga ospital,” he said, citing his recent official visit to Washington, DC from July 20–22.
Marcos, however, raised health concerns due to overcrowding in evacuation centers—which pose higher risks for disease outbreaks.
“I was concerned about noong nakita ko sa evacuation center, napaka-congested… [Kapag] isa lang diyan ay nagkasakit, kakalat nang napakabilis niyan,” he said, citing his visit at an evacuation center in San Mateo, Rizal earlier in the day.
He then ordered concerned agencies to send medical teams and health professionals to various evacuation centers to prevent the possible outbreak of diseases among people taking shelter.
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