Palace hits VP over storm prep ‘lashing’

Malacañang on Wednesday criticized Vice President Sara Duterte’s remarks alleging the government’s “lack of preparation” contributed to the aftermath of tropical storm “Crising” and the southwest monsoon.

“First of all, the Vice President probably won’t really know what the administration is preparing for regarding typhoon Crising because she is not in the country and is on vacation in The Hague,” said Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro.

Castro pointed out that before President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. left for the United States, he had instructed all government agencies to prepare for “Crising” and other disasters. She added that agency heads had already reported the steps their offices undertook in response to the storm and flooding.

“We already reported yesterday on the actions and accomplishments of other concerned agencies such as the Department of Social Welfare and Development, (DSWD), Department of Transportation (DoTr); even the Philippine Coast Guard has also provided free rides, except for the DoTr which also provided free rides on the MRT, LRT, and that was a directive of President Marcos Jr. And that also includes the preparation itself for the food packs that we will give to our countrymen who were affected by typhoon ‘Crising,’” Castro said.

“So, again, the Vice President couldn’t help but criticize because she is not in the Philippines and she does not see what the government is doing for the people,” she added.

Castro also rebuked Duterte for mocking the President’s suggestion to gather rainwater for later agricultural reuse. The Vice President had earlier sarcastically suggested collecting rainwater and delivering it to Malacañang for the President to drink.

To recall, Marcos had tested the DSWD portable water filtration system on 18 July 2025, by sipping water collected from the DSWD facility’s roof, noting it had no odor.

Castro explained that reusing rainwater for various purposes is already mandated by law.

“Perhaps she is not aware of this law; it is not new, so it surprises us that the Vice President does not know the law regarding rainwater collectors — there is already a law, Republic Act Number 6716, and it was enacted on 17 March 1989 — An Act Providing for the Construction of Water Wells, Rainwater Collectors, Development of Springs and Rehabilitation of Existing Water Wells in All Barangays in the Philippines,” Castro said.