Duterte blames climate change for typhoons, flooding

MANILA, Philippines —  President Rodrigo Duterte on Sunday blamed climate change for the severe weather disturbances in the country causing massive flooding.

He issued the remark after Cagayan and Isabela were inundated by massive flooding brought by Typhoon Ulysses, the 21st cyclone to enter the Philippines this year.

“Ang problema ho talaga ngayon, whether we accept it or not, itong climate change. The warm climate that boils the Pacific Ocean, there’s a lot of water vapor going upstairs and accumulating into so much rain,” he said in a briefing in Cagayan.

During the East Asia Summit that Duterte attended over the weekend, he said he emphasized the need for countries to address climate change.

“I was very strong in my language about the people who contribute a lot in global warming and anong pinakita nila sa atin, tayo Philippines we only have a few factories running here,” he said.

“Pag bumagsak na, talagang babagsak. It does not only rain cats and dogs. it is really water pour over here,” Duterte added.

Typhoon Ulysses have so far claimed the lives of 67 people, 22 of which came from Cagayan Valley.

Duterte said food and clean potable water should be given to residents affected by the flooding.

JE