Marcos backs probe of flood-control projects

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.—Screengrabbed from Bongbong Marcos’ Facebook live

MANILA, Philippines — President Marcos on Monday expressed support for the planned scrutiny of flood-control projects following the massive flooding in many areas of Luzon due to the series of cyclones that hit the country in the past months.

In an interview with reporters, the President, however, said that corruption in public works projects was not the only problem but also science, referring to the more destructive natural disasters brought about by climate change.

“They also have to realize there are two sides to this. Our flood control was overwhelmed; we have flood control, but it couldn’t handle it … because in the entire history of the Philippines, nothing like this has happened. We’re only facing this now,” he said.

READ: Marcos vows to further improve DRR efforts after widespread flooding

“So people need to understand, not just [about] the budget, but also the science—what’s the science, follow the science, see what’s happening,” he added.

P110-M cash aid

The President made the statement on the sidelines of his visit to flood-hit towns in Batangas province, where he led the distribution of up to P110 million in cash aid to farmers and fisherfolk, including shelter assistance to survivors of Severe Tropical Storm “Kristine” (international name: Trami).

Six Batangas towns—Talisay, Laurel, Agoncillo, Cuenca, Lemery, and Balete—each received P10 million from the Department of Social Welfare and Development, while 4,378 beneficiaries from Agoncillo, Laurel, and Talisay also received cash aid from the Office of the President.

Marcos said people are now feeling first-hand the effects of climate change through the more destructive weather patterns, as he expressed exasperation over the 139 persons killed by flooding and landslides from the onslaught of Kristine.

“I wish we could do more. We are 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 said.

According to Marcos, the effects of climate change are felt not only in the Philippines but in other parts of the world.

‘Overwhelmed projects’

He defended the agencies amid criticisms that the government’s flood-control projects, wherein billions of pesos have been poured over the years, had failed.

“Many are saying—I read it in the newspapers, I hear it on the radio and television—where are the flood controls? The flood controls are there, but they were overwhelmed,” he said.

He said the government is now looking to modify the designs of public infrastructure such as bridges, flood control, and slope protection projects to make them withstand the more destructive storms hitting the country.

“So we’re going to change the designs, strengthen the infrastructure, flood control, slope protection, even the bridges—all of those need to be updated. Let’s look for a better design,” he said.

He cited the amount of rainfall dumped by Kristine, which is supposedly almost double that of the rain volume poured by Typhoon “Ondoy” (international name: Ketsana) in 2009.

“Look at the statistics: during Typhoon Ondoy, over 400 centimeters of rain fell. With Kristine, it was about 700-plus, almost double that of Ondoy,” he said.

He stressed the design of existing public infrastructure was for floods suited only for the level of less impact.

Senate President Francis Escudero, meanwhile, said “a spirited debate” was expected on flood control during the Senate plenary debates on the proposed 2025 budget of P6.352 trillion as he called for a “climate-adapted and climate-resilient” annual general appropriations act. —with a report from Tina G. Santos