President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla are on board a chopper to conduct an aerial inspection of storm-affected areas in Batangas, Cavite and Laguna. (Photo from the Presidential Communications Office’ Facebook page)
MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. admitted that the government’s response to Severe Tropical Storm Kristine was “never enough” and wished they “could do more.”
“I’ll tell you the truth. It’s never enough. It’s never enough. I wish we could do more,” he replied when asked in an ambush interview if he was satisfied with the government’s response to the people affected by the calamity.
READ: NDRRMC: Reported deaths due to Kristine climb to 146
“We’re doing everything that we can, but… You know, when you lose a life, you lose a life. What can you do about that? It’s a terrible tragedy,” he also said.
Marcos also confessed that the flood control system in areas affected by Kristine was overwhelmed, thus causing severe flooding.
“Maraming nagsasabi, nababasa ko sa dyaryo, naririnig ko sa radyo, telebisyon, ‘Nasaan ang mga flood control? Nandyan ang mga flood control, na-overwhelm lang,” he said in the same ambush interview.
(Many people are saying, I read in the newspaper, I hear on the radio, television, ‘Where are the flood controls?’ The flood controls are there; they were just overwhelmed.)
But he also said that he is okay with the suggested investigation on these projects.
“Oo, Sige! Wala akong problema,” Marcos said.
(Yes, okay! I have no problem.)
“But also they have to realize there are two sides to this. Sinasabi yung flood control—talagang na-overwhelm ang flood control natin. May flood control tayo, hindi kaya,” he revealed.
(They say that the flood control was really overwhelmed. We have flood control, but it’s not enough.)
The number of reported deaths due to Kristine rose to 146, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said on November 2.
In its 8 a.m. situational report, the NDRRMC also said 20 deaths were validated, and Region 5 logged the highest tally with 15 validated fatalities.