Philippine Coast Guard conduct a rescue operation, after Typhoon Vamco resulted in severe flooding, in the Cagayan Valley region in northeastern Philippines, November 13, 2020. Picture taken November 13, 2020. PHILIPPINE COAST GUARD/Handout via REUTERS
MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte defended the government’s response following the onslaught of Typhoon Ulysses amid criticisms that it was slow in providing assistance to those affected.
“Don’t believe in that. That’s garbage. Alam mo, lahat ng mga, the one in-charge sa mga yung preparations for emergency, long before dumating yung typhoon nakadeploy na ang mga tao dito,” Duterte told reporters in a chance interview in Camarines Sur following a situation briefing with local officials.
(Don’t believe in that. That’s garbage. You know, all those in-charge in preparations for an emergency, long before the typhoon, they have already deployed their respective personnel.)
He was asked if he thinks there was negligence on the part of the local government units in responding to the typhoon.
Further, Duterte said that government agencies had to first plan out how to spend public funds for disaster response.
“Lahat ng departamento may contingency plan yan sila. They have the money on ready. hindi pa kayo mag-appropriate, meron na silang pera, sinadya ko yan. so it’s a matter of assessment. you cannot go on spending spree without knowing what you are spending for,” the President said.
(All the departments have laid out their contingency plan. They have the money on ready. Even if there’s no planned appropriation yet for the response, they have the money already. I did that on purpose. So it’s a matter of assessment. You cannot go on spending spree without knowing what you are spending for.)
“You go right away and spend money, you land there with the Ombudsman. So, give them time to make the proper assessment. Saan ang bagal dito? Nandyan ang pagkain, the housing nandyan, they are ready to implement,” he added.
(You go right away and spend money, you land there with the Ombudsman. So, give them time to make the proper assessment. How can they say it’s slow? There’s food, housing, they are ready to implement.)