BERLIN – Even in his absence, President Aquino has assured Filipinos the government is on top of the situation in the face of devastation wrought by Tropical Storm Mario.
Metro Manila and many parts of Luzon were paralyzed Friday after a Mario-energized southwest monsoon flooded communities and farmlands.
Aquino said he had thought of cutting his trip short but was advised not to do so as the government relief and disaster response units were taking appropriate actions anyway.
He is expected to arrive in the United States today, primarily to address the summit on climate change hosted by the United Nations in New York.
He wrapped up his tour of Spain, Belgium, France and Germany yesterday, describing the mission as a success. He said he had brought forward directly to European leaders the various concerns of the Philippines.
But while he was away, torrential rain inundated many parts of the metropolis.
The President, speaking to reporters here Friday night (early morning yesterday in Manila), said he was getting regular updates from officials, particularly Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr., Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin and Science and Technology Secretary Mario Montejo.
“When I asked (Ochoa) specifically...‘Do I need to return home now?’ he said, ‘If everyone will move here there seems to be no reason to cancel this trip’,” Aquino said.
He said there were no reports so far of communities getting neglected, indicating that concerned officials were doing their jobs.
The President said he was confident he was getting the right information from his officials.
Aquino said he had even asked for Mario’s track so he could check on preparations of areas in its path.
He said various efforts by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council and the Department of Social Welfare and Development were being reported to him as many people would have to stay in evacuation centers and be provided with food packs.
“From the reports I gathered...they were prepared,” Aquino said, adding that he also got in touch with Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. to get additional inputs.
The President admitted getting worried when the red warning on rainfall was raised because that would entail evacuation of people in affected areas.
The President explained the government had implemented various programs and projects to prevent flooding, but these could not be finished in a short period of time, especially those being built for the long term.
Aquino said the administration had acknowledged the problem early on because of changing weather patterns caused by climate change.
He noted it would be all the more important for him to attend the climate summit because the country had become more vulnerable to natural disasters, as shown by the effects of Super Typhoon Yolanda last year.
In his visits to various countries, Aquino had been thanking foreign governments for their assistance in the aftermath of Yolanda.
He said Public Works and Highways Secretary Rogelio Singson is focusing on clearing esteros and waterways, and on facilitating new flood-control projects.
Around P351 billion is needed to finance a flood management master plan, Singson earlier said.
The measures include construction of dams, basin and river improvements, rehabilitation of pumping stations and additional drainage mains/box culverts, construction of road dikes and dredging work.
Singson stressed the importance of the project and warned that 50 percent of the country’s output would be significantly affected if a Yolanda-like typhoon hits Metro Manila and surrounding areas.
Singson also cited the need to relocate squatters to improve and recover the carrying capacities of Metro Manila’s waterways.
The President said the people must know that if given a choice, he would rather stay in the Philippines and be there to personally attend to the problems.
“We just have commitments and other meetings, especially on climate change and the investors that would come in,” Aquino said, noting the need to attract investors and generate employment for the people.