‘Balde ng utak’: Palace hits critics

After drawing criticism for advising Filipinos to buy buckets to store water ahead of the looming Super El Niño, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has urged the public to conserve water and collect rainwater as the government steps up preparations for the climate phenomenon.

During a Palace press briefing Tuesday, Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro defended the President’s advice, saying the government was taking the threat seriously and coordinating preparations through the El Niño Task Force.

“When the President talks about buckets, where else are we supposed to store water? The Philippines is not the only country collecting and storing water. This is not about everyone fending for themselves. If all they heard was the President talking about buckets, they should sit down and listen,” Castro said in Filipino.

She described collecting rainwater in buckets as a practical measure to help households prepare for potential water shortages.

“Listen to what the President is saying. Why did they focus only on the buckets? Perhaps what we need now — and I am not referring to everyone — is to address those obstructionists who cannot see anything positive in what the President is doing. To these obstructionists, let me say this: We really need buckets — buckets of brains — for you to understand the President’s plan,” Castro said.

She added that Social Welfare and Development Secretary Rex Gatchalian would produce an instructional video demonstrating how to filter collected rainwater for appropriate use.

Castro urged the public to pay attention to the government’s preparations and remain open to practical solutions.

“Everyone needs to observe and be discerning instead of focusing only on the negative. If you are always negative, you will not learn. That is why I say to the obstructionists: If only we could buy buckets of brains (balde ng utak) to give you,” she said.