President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. visits flood victims in evacuation centers in Bula town and Naga City in Camarines Sur in this file photo taken on October 26, 2024. As of Saturday morning, or five days since torrential rains spawned by Severe Tropical Storm Kristine (international name: Trami) began flooding the province, most of the villages in Camarines Sur remain submerged in floodwater.| PHOTO: Screengrabbed from Bongbong Marcos’ Facebook live
MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., in observance of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day, called on the public to pray for their departed loved ones and include those affected by recent storms Kristine and Leon.
Marcos also said that immediate response for the victims will remain a priority of the government.
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“Many of our fellow citizens face severe challenges due to the recent storms. So this Undas, aside from praying for our departed loved ones, let us also include in our prayers the victims and those affected by the disasters,” said Marcos in his PBBM vlog.
He also emphasized the devastating effects of climate change that are being experienced in the country, such as extreme heat, record-breaking rainfall, and flooding in areas that never used to experience floods.
“Kasama ang DSWD [Department of Social Welfare and Development], DND [Department of National Defense], DPWH [Department of Public Works and Highways], DILG [Department of the Interior and Local Government] at iba pang mga ahensya ng pamahalaan, maaasahan ninyong pagtitibayin pa ang ating national at local disaster risk reduction at response,” he said.
(Our government departments and other agencies are here to intensify our responses to local disasters and risk reduction.)
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Kristine exited the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) last October 25, but left damage to infrastructure and agriculture and caused widespread flooding and loss of lives.
Meanwhile, Leon left PAR morning of November 1 and is no longer directly affecting any part of the country.
Both storms flooded most of provinces in Luzon and Visayas, displacing many families.