Habagat 2012? Aquino spokeswoman needs another name for monsoon rains

Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—One of President Benigno Aquino’s spokespersons, Abigail Valte, was stumped Saturday by what to call the torrential monsoon rains that caused massive floods and cut a wide swath of destruction in Metro Manila as well as in Central and Southern Luzon.

While explaining on state-run radio the government’s priorities with respect to the thousands of families huddled in evacuation centers, Valte stopped midway in the interview, apparently at a loss for words.

“It’s very difficult when we don’t have a name for it. We’ve started calling it “Habagat 2012,” but then again…” she said, trailing off. “Please bear with me, I find it difficult [to elaborate] when there’s no name.”

Habagat is the Filipino term for the southwest monsoon, which was enhanced by the recent passage of two storms, and dumped torrential rains over Luzon for about two weeks, finally coming to a head last Tuesday.

The “storm” with no name has left more than 60 people dead and P1 billion in damage to  agriculture in one region alone, officials said.

Valte said that the government would focus on providing relief to flood victims now sheltered in public schools or gyms in the capital and various places in Central and Southern Luzon before planning their resettlement.

“After the relief, evacuation and resettlement phase, then we can evaluate what is needed to adopt medium or long-term solutions,” she replied when asked what instructions President Aquino has so far given Vice President Jejomar Binay, who is his so-called housing czar.

Besides, she said, the President had earlier ordered the release of P10 billion for the relocation of informal settlers or squatters from “dangerous areas’’ to safer places.

And before undertaking the mega-bucks infrastructure projects to finally address the perennial flooding problem, the should fix the potholes first, she said.

“Now that the floods are subsiding, the public is complaining about the potholes. So we’re asking the help of concerned citizens that if you spot potholes, take pictures and send them to us via Twitter,” Valte said.

The Presidential Communication Development and Strategic Planning Office teamed up with the Department of Public Works and Highways to receive complaints about potholes on national roads, and dispatch personnel to patch them up.

Twitter users can tag PCDSPO’s official Twitter account, @PCDSPO, and use the hashtag #lubak2normal.

Valte also warned the public against hoarding and businessmen against unduly raising prices of commodities. She said Department of Energy officials have given assurances that there is sufficient of the cooking gas.

“If you go to the supermarkets and hoard noodles, others will think there’s a shortage and they’ll scramble to buy these products. We don’t have a supply shortage of the basic commodities,” she said.