Please cooperate with rescuers, Aquino appeals to affected families

President Benigno Aquino. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – President Benigno Aquino III Tuesday called for people to cooperate with government agencies implementing evacuation in order to lessen risk to rescuers who will need to save them later on.

He said in a press briefing after meeting with heads of government agencies that the government does not have “infinite capabilities” and people should cooperate so as not to “put in danger the rescuers.”

Large parts of Metro Manila were flooded due to continuous rains brought by southwest monsoon. Aquino said that the soil was already oversaturated and cannot absorb the water being dumped by rains.

Despite repeated warnings, some residents had refused to leave their residences before the full onslaught of the floods.

“It does not seem acceptable that every rainy season it’s the same situation over and over again,” Aquino said. He had already ordered that logging and mining activities should be guarded.

He emphasized that infrastructure was really needed to mitigate the effects of flood waters.

“We need to put up structural interventions,” but these need to go through approvals and bidding process. It’s not something that can be just bought and then set up, Aquino said.