Marcos says gov’t response to Kristine ‘never enough’, wishes ‘we could do more’

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.  leads the distribution of financial and shelter assistance to farmers, fisherfolk and families affected by Severe Tropical Storm Kristine in Laurel, Batangas. Presidential Communications Office 

MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday said the government's response to those affected by deadly tropical storm Kristine was insufficient.

“I’ll tell you the truth, it's never enough, it's never enough. I wish we could do more, we are doing everything that we can, but you know when you lost a life, you lost a life, what you can do about that? It's a terrible tragedy” Marcos said in a chance interview in Batangas, one of the provinces hit hardest by Kristine. 

Kristine rammed into the Philippines on October 24, forcing over half a million people to flee their homes, many of whom had to evacuate from flooding that some local government units said were unprecedented in their areas.

The storm killed at least 150 people and left more than a dozen missing after it struck some of the country's most populous areas.

Marcos defended flood control projects from criticism that they failed to stop widespread flooding, particularly in the Bicol Region.

“Andyan ang mga flood control, na-overwhelmed lang. Tingnan nyo ang statistics noong bagyong Ondoy, 400 cm ang bumagsak na tubig. Dito sa Kristine ang bumagsak na tubig is about 700 plus, halos doble ng Ondoy,” he said. 

The President said he was ready to face any investigation on flood control projects. 

“Oo sige, wala akong problema, but also, they have to realize there’s two sides of this. Sinasabi yung flood control, talagang na-overwhelmed yung flood control natin, may flood control tayo, hindi kaya, dahil sa buong kasaysayan ng Pilipinas wala pang ganito ngayon lang natin haharapin ito,” Marcos said. 

“Kaya dapat maunawaan talaga ng tao, hindi lang yung budget, kung hindi yung science, what is the science? Follow the science, see what is happening, tingnan nyo,” he added. 

The president noted that climate change significantly contributes to widespread flooding, as is happening in other countries.

“Tingnan nyo hindi lamang dito, nakita nyo ba yung nangyari sa España? Nakita nyo ba yung nangyayari sa iba’t ibang lugar, sa States? Yung mga nangyayari, ganyan din sa mga lugar na yun ay ngayon lang nangyari yun,” he said.

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The president said the government would strengthen infrastructure to adapt to climate change.

“Babaguhin natin ang mga design, papatibayin natin ang mga infrastructure, mga flood control, yung mga slope protection, pati yung mga tulay. Lahat yan kailangan natin, baguhin, tingnan natin ang mas magandang design,” he said.  

DAY OF MOURNING 

Government earlier declared Nov. 4, Monday as a day of national mourning for the victims of Kristine. 

At the site of a landslide spawned by Kristine in Talisay, Batangas, Marcos distributed financial assistance to fishermen and farmers affected by Kristine. 

He next visited the nearby town of Laurel, which was also severely impacted by the storm.

He promised that bridges and roads damaged by the storm would be rebuilt quickly.

“Ang plano ng DPWH para may dadaanan habang ginagawa, habang inaayos ‘yung tulay ninyo ay…sa tabi ng tulay, maglalagay po tayo ng spillway, para kahit papano may madaanan kayo hangga’t matapos namin ayusin ang tulay,” Marcos said in a speech. 

Laurel Mayor Lyndon Bruce said nearly half of the town was damaged by Kristineand they would need a significant amount of funding to recover from the tragedy.

“One billion mahigit po ang kailangan para maibalik po namin sa normal, pati po ang mga hanapbuhay ng aming mga kababayan na naapektuhan  ng bagyong Kristine. Medyo matagal pa po ito dahil ang problema namin dito yung mga bahay na natabunan," Bruce said.

“Ang panawagan po namin sa ating pamahalaan na sana po ay maiayos namin yung malalaking drainage na dinadaanan ng tubig papunta sa aming lawa,” the mayor added.

The president distributed construction materials to residents whose houses were destroyed.

“Nagpapasalamat ho ako na binigyan kami ng  yero, makakapagtayo ho uli kami, wala pa ho ako asawa, mga apo lang ho kasama," said Delia Caguitla whose house was swept away by the flood.

LOOK: Picking up the pieces after storm Kristine's wrath

The families of the deceased also received financial assistance.

“Sobrang hirap po kasi mawawalan ng kalinga sa mga anak ko, wala na ho na taong maghahanapbuhay, napagkukunan ng aming pang araw-araw,” said Ivy Masicat, who lost her husband.

“Nagkaroon ng pag-asa gawa na matutulungan kami, unang-una sa pang panimula namin” she added.

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Fishermen and farmers who lost their livelihoods received P10,000 each.

Laurel, Agoncillo, Talisay, Lemery, Cuenca, and Balete towns each received financial assistance of P10 million from the President. 

Authorities also had to conduct rescue and relief operations in response to super typhoon Leon, which entered the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) soon after Kristine. 

Another tropical storm, Marce, entered PAR on Monday. It could reach typhoon strength by Wednesday, the state weather bureau said.

Marce may become a typhoon when it reaches northern Luzon: PAGASA