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

MARCOS

Dennis Datu

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/173070322160520241104-marcos-assistance-distribution-batangas-PCO00200.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left"><span id="isPasted" style="color:rgb(51, 51, 51);letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:left;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;white-space:pre-wrap;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;display:inline !important;float:none">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</span> </span></span></span></div><div><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday said the government&#x27;s response to those affected by deadly tropical storm Kristine was insufficient.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><br/></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">“I’ll tell you the truth, it&#x27;s never enough, it&#x27;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&#x27;s a terrible tragedy” Marcos said in a chance interview in Batangas, one of the provinces hit hardest by Kristine. </span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><br/></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">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.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><br/></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">The storm killed at least 150 people and left more than a dozen missing after it struck some of the country&#x27;s most populous areas.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><br/></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Marcos defended flood control projects from criticism that they failed to stop widespread flooding, particularly in the Bicol Region.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><br/></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">“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. </span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><br/></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">The President said he was ready to face any investigation on flood control projects. </span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><br/></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">“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. </span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><br/></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">“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. </span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><br/></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">The president noted that climate change significantly contributes to widespread flooding, as is happening in other countries.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><br/></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">“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.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><br/></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/world/2024/11/3/crowd-hurls-mud-insults-at-spanish-royals-pm-on-visit-to-flood-zone-2318">Crowd hurls mud, insults at Spanish royals, PM on visit to flood zone</a></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><br/></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">The president said the government would strengthen infrastructure to adapt to climate change.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><br/></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">“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.  </span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><br/></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><br/></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><strong>DAY OF MOURNING </strong></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><br/></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Government earlier declared Nov. 4, Monday as a day of national mourning for the victims of Kristine. </span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><br/></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">At the site of a landslide spawned by Kristine in Talisay, Batangas, Marcos distributed financial assistance to fishermen and farmers affected by Kristine. </span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><br/></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">He next visited the nearby town of Laurel, which was also severely impacted by the storm.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><br/></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">He promised that bridges and roads damaged by the storm would be rebuilt quickly.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><br/></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">“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. </span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><br/></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">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.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><br/></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">“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,&quot; Bruce said.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><br/></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">“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.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><br/></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">The president distributed construction materials to residents whose houses were destroyed.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><br/></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">“Nagpapasalamat ho ako na binigyan kami ng  yero, makakapagtayo ho uli kami, wala pa ho ako asawa, mga apo lang ho kasama,&quot; said Delia Caguitla whose house was swept away by the flood.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><br/></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/regions/2024/10/29/kristine-aftermath-purok-7-lemery-2232">LOOK: Picking up the pieces after storm Kristine&#x27;s wrath</a></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><br/></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">The families of the deceased also received financial assistance.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><br/></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">“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.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><br/></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">“Nagkaroon ng pag-asa gawa na matutulungan kami, unang-una sa pang panimula namin” she added.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><br/></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/11/4/marcos-admin-committed-to-strengthening-disaster-risk-reduction-response-efforts-1243">Marcos Jr says admin committed to strengthening disaster risk reduction, response efforts</a></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><br/></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Fishermen and farmers who lost their livelihoods received P10,000 each.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><br/></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Laurel, Agoncillo, Talisay, Lemery, Cuenca, and Balete towns each received financial assistance of P10 million from the President. </span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><br/></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">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. </span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><br/></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Another tropical storm, Marce, entered PAR on Monday. It could reach typhoon strength by Wednesday, the state weather bureau said.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><br/></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/11/4/marce-may-become-a-typhoon-when-it-reaches-northern-luzon-pagasa-1159">Marce may become a typhoon when it reaches northern Luzon: PAGASA</a></span></div><div><br/></div><div><br/></div>

<p>President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday said the government's response to those affected by deadly tropical storm Kristine was insufficient.</p>

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

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

Entertainment

News

Metro.Style

Lifestyle

Sports

More

Traffic

Manila

Horoscope

News

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

Dennis Datu,

ABS-CBN News

Published Nov 04, 2024 03:15 PM PHT

Read More:

ABSNews

ANC promo

weather

weather today

weather news

weather updates

weather latest

weather Philippines

habagat

floods

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.