Marcos says flood control in place, but ‘just overwhelmed’

FILE PHOTO: People cross a river next to a bridge that collapsed after the river overflowed due to heavy rains brought about by Severe Tropical Storm Kristine (international name: Trami) in Laurel, Batangas province, south of Manila, on October 25, 2024. – “The flood controls are there; they were just overwhelmed,”was the explanation offered by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. amid criticisms that followed massive floodings as consecutive typhoons lashed parts of the country recently. Marcos was in Batangas on Monday, November 4, 2024, and distributed aid to families, farmers, and fishermen affected by  (Photo by Ted ALJIBE / Agence France-Presse)

MANILA, Philippines — “The flood controls are there; they were just overwhelmed.”

This was the explanation offered by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. amid criticisms that followed massive floodings as consecutive typhoons lashed parts of the country recently.

Marcos was in Batangas on Monday and distributed aid to families, farmers, and fishermen affected by Severe Tropical Storm Kristine (international name: Trami).

READ: In Bicol, damage wrought by Kristine on agri, infra tops P6 billion

“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,” he said in mixed Filipino and English during an ambush interview.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said in its November 2 report that reported deaths from Kristine climbed to 146 – of which 20 were validated. The highest validated death count was in the Bicol Region at 15.

READ: NDRRMC: Reported deaths due to Kristine climb to 146

“Look at the statistics. During Typhoon Ondoy, the rainfall was over 400 centimeters. Here in Kristine, the rainfall was about 700 centimeters, almost double that of Ondoy,” Marcos also said.

“That’s why the flood control measures we implemented were for floods like during Ondoy. Before this, talk to the people in areas where the land has collapsed, thatonly happened now; it hasn’t happened before,” he added.