MANILA, Philippines — House of Representatives Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez has appealed to the public to observe waste protocols and heed their respective local government unit’s (LGU) advice to avoid flooding as the country gears for the wet season.
In a statement after a high-level meeting with government officials on Tuesday aimed at mitigating the effects of the rainy season, Romualdez also asked LGUs to properly enforce the rules on garbage disposal.
According to the Speaker, it is important to prevent flooding as it can have a negative impact on the economy — from small businesses to even national supply chains — and may result “in lost productivity, property damage, and significant recovery costs.”
“Dapat naman po sumunod tayo sa mga protocols dito sa paglilinis at pagtatapon ng basura dahil napaka importante po na maayos ang ating mga areas kung saan tayo nakatira para maganda ang daloy ng tubig pag malakas ang ulan,” Speaker Romualdez said.
(We should follow protocols in cleaning our surroundings and waste disposal because it is very important to have the areas where we live are kept in good order so that rainwater flows properly during the monsoon season.)
“Together, we can build a more resilient Philippines capable of withstanding the challenges posed by natural calamities,” he added.
Romualdez announced on Monday that he will be having a high-level meeting to discuss flood preparations, given the looming threat of La Niña.
READ: Romualdez will meet with gov’t agencies on La Niña preparations
Among the officials present in the meeting were:
- Public Works and Highways Secretary Manuel Bonoan
- Science and Technology Secretary Renato Solidum, Jr.
- Environment Secretary Maria Antonio Yulo Loyzaga
- Metro Manila Development Authority General Manager Procopio Lipana
- Interior and Local Government Undersecretary Lord Villanueva
Romualdez said the meeting was called following President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.’s directive to “undertake preventive measures to safeguard our communities and ensure the safety of our people from the threat of floods.”
“We are here with you, tell us what you need to ensure we are sufficiently prepared for La Niña. We are here to support you,” Romualdez told the government agencies’ officials during the meeting.
“We pledged all-out support of the House to all the concerned departments and agencies to ensure anti-flood initiatives, including dredging activities, are properly implemented promptly,” he added.
Romualdez said that it is important that the government and private sector partners act quickly as Solidum warned that warm waters brought by the El Niño phenomenon are now near the Philippines — which are conducive to the creation of rain clouds and eventually, low pressure areas.
“We urge all stakeholders, including national and local government agencies, the private sector, and our communities, to actively participate in these initiatives,” Romualdez noted.
According to state weather bureau Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa), the Philippines is still experiencing a weakened El Niño — a condition where the average sea surface temperatures (SSTs) increase in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific, resulting in warmer weather.
However, Pagasa said there is a 60 percent chance that La Niña — the opposite of El Niño, where SSTs get cooler — would persist from June to August 2024.
“Pre-developing La Niña, historically, is characterized by below normal rainfall. Therefore, the possibility of a slight delay on the onset of the rainy season is likely with the combined effects of the ongoing El Niño,” Pagasa said on its website.
La Niña is also expected to cause more rains and cyclones, especially during the end of 2024.