MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday said the massive flooding in parts of the country was caused not only by issues involving flood-control projects but also by the heavy rain brought by recent weather disturbances.
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| Photo screenshot from RTVM YouTube video. |
Speaking after a situation briefing with Central Luzon officials in San Fernando, Pampanga, Marcos said the volume of rain had overwhelmed the country’s flood-control and management programs.
“Talagang ramdam na ramdam na napakabigat ang ulan. Napakarami ang bumagsak na tubig kaya na-overwhelm lahat ng ating mga flood control, management programs.
“Kailangan nating maunawaaan na hindi lang dahil sa problema ng flood control projects kung hindi pati na sa lakas ng ulan na hindi pa natin nakita sa kasaysayan ng Pilipinas. Eto ang naging resulta ng climate change. Kailangan maunawaan din ng tao na ang climate change ay talagang nandito na.”
Marcos said the government’s immediate priority would be to repair facilities and infrastructure damaged by the flooding.
He also acknowledged that some flood-control projects, particularly in Bulacan, had not been completed.
The President said the government was also pursuing medium- and long-term solutions to address recurring flooding in affected areas.
These include the construction of river dams in Nueva Ecija and a proposed dike road that could extend to Pilar, Bataan.
“We have other projects in the pipeline. One long-term plan involves constructing a dike road – we are looking at a route extending all the way to Pilar, Bataan. That is the long-term plan. We are currently studying it,” Marcos said.
“The route spans about a hundred kilometers, so it will take some time, but the study is already underway,” he added.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development reported that 1.01 million people in Pampanga alone were affected by the enhanced southwest monsoon and tropical cyclones Luis, Maymay and Neneng.
Marcos said the government would pursue immediate, medium-term and long-term measures as flooding continued to affect parts of Central Luzon.
— The Summit Express
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