Marcos orders swift response to flooding, severe weather

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Thursday ordered the deployment of the search, rescue, and retrieval teams from the uniformed services in the country to families in severely flooded areas.

In a virtual press briefing on Thursday, Palace Press Officer Atty. Claire Castro said Marcos issued a series of urgent directives when he convened the member agencies of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) in a situation briefing at the Office of the Civil Defense headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City, as monsoon rains and successive weather systems continue to impact large parts of the country.

Marcos directed the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine National Police, Philippine Coast Guard, and Bureau of Fire Protection to assist the NDRRMC. 

In a separate ambush interview at Camp Aguinaldo, AFP spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla the military has deployed around 12,643 personnel has deployed approximately 12,643 personnel who are ready to support disaster response operations.

“On top of all of the equipment, we have specialized units that could leapfrog to areas where these are needed,” Padilla added, emphasizing that these personnel are highly trained and fully equipped for humanitarian assistance and disaster response (HADR) missions.

Meanwhile, Philippine Air Force Public Affairs Assistant Chief Major Joseph Richard Calma said the military has 40 air assets placed on standby, ready for deployment if needed.

On the other hand, Marcos tasked the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to ensure a timely distribution of family food packs and essential relief goods before, during, and after the storms.

Road-clearing operations are currently underway, led by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), to reopen major roads and ensure accessibility.

To address long-term issues, Marcos instructed agencies to sustain flood control operations, including running pumping stations and floodgates at full capacity and clearing obstructed waterways. 

He also called for the updating of flood control and drainage master plans for Metro Manila, 18 major river basins, and other high-risk areas, in coordination with DPWH and MMDA.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) are also ordered to ensure price stability by conducting increased market monitoring and preventing hoarding or price manipulation, especially in areas declared under a state of calamity.

The President also urged the public to follow advisories from local government units and to take precautions against rainy season illnesses such as leptospirosis and dengue.

Large parts of Luzon and portions of the Visayas remain submerged due to continuous heavy rainfall brought by Typhoon Emong (Co-May), Tropical Storm Dante (Francisco), and the intensified southwest monsoon or habagat.