MANILA – President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. blamed climate change and trash for the flooding of the National Capital Region (NCR) this week.
According to the Chief Executive, improper waste disposal resulted in deep floodwaters during heavy rains of the southwest monsoon enhanced by tropical cyclone Carina.
“Mas marami tayong flood control ngayon kaysa noon pero climate change…this is what the effects of climate change are,” President Marcos said during his visit to flood-hit Malabon City.
He added: “Sana matuto naman ang tao. Huwag kayong nagtatapon ng basura dahil ‘yung basura, ‘yun ang nagbara doon sa mga pumps natin kaya hindi kasing effective.”
NCR and the provinces of Bataan, Bulacan, Batangas, and Cavite have been placed under a state of calamity due to massive flooding.
Meanwhile, President Marcos also said government agencies have to be proactive in alerting local government units when releasing excess water from dams amid heavy rainfall.
“May weakness tayo dun, dun sa communication, kapag magbubukas ng dam, pag aapaw, kailangan yung downstream communities alam nila,” Marcos said.
“And the LGUs (local government units)…you give them as much (time)…sasabihin tatlong oras [bago buksan ang dam],” the Chief Executive added.
Ipo and Binga dams in Bulacan and Benguet, respectively, opened their floodgates on Thursday while the Carina-enhanced Habagat was dumping rains in Metro Manila and in other parts of Luzon./PN
