Gov’t committed to using modern technology to protect lives from future disasters
Gov’t committed to using modern technology to protect lives from future disasters
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00:00Flooding, especially at a level at which the country recently experienced, will always put lives and property in peril.
00:07That's why it is a perennial problem that the government, most especially the president, wants resolved once and for all.
00:14Again, Alan Francisco has the full details.
00:19The safety of Filipinos is the government's priority.
00:22President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. emphasized this during a sectoral meeting at Malacanang,
00:28which focused on the government's response to flooding.
00:31According to President Marcos, he has instructed government agencies to ensure
00:36the public receives warnings and alerts on approaching typhoons early.
00:40This includes clear instructions on where to evacuate, where to temporarily stay, and how to seek help.
00:47President Marcos added the government is committed to using modern technology to protect lives in future disasters.
00:53Meanwhile, during a briefing, Department of Public Works and Highways, or DPWH, Secretary Manuel Bonoan
01:00stated the government's flood programs have been effective in reducing flooding, particularly in Metro Manila.
01:06For me, I think, well, it helped a lot, actually.
01:10It helped a lot, the initial flood control programs that have been implemented over the years.
01:16We cannot say that it was all in vain.
01:18And this is evident enough, that what we were saying before,
01:25the floodwaters stayed in Metro Manila for more than two weeks.
01:30Now, with some of the flood control projects that were implemented over the years,
01:37engineering interventions and other projects that were implemented,
01:44we can see that the floodwaters have receded quite faster than before.
01:50Secretary Bonoan assured the funds used for infrastructure have helped mitigate flooding not only in Metro Manila,
01:56but also in other parts of the country.
01:59Immediate, we need it now, immediate protection of low-lying areas through flood control projects all over the country.
02:07Because the river basin program is holistic, but it may take a little time
02:13to implement all the components of the river basin program.
02:17This statement was supported by MMDA Chairman Romando Artes.
02:21Regarding if the money was wasted, I don't think so.
02:24Because there are also areas that used to be flooded, like Vista Royal in Quezon City and LGB.
02:33In those mountains, the water almost reached the people there.
02:38But in Baguio-Carina, there is no flood in the subdivisions there.
02:45That is because of the flood control measures and projects implemented by DPWH,
02:51particularly in Marikina River and Pasig River.
02:55Artes also denied rumors circulating on social media about the agency allegedly having a budget of over P700 billion pesos
03:03for flood control in the past two years.
03:05So the P787.6 billion is fake news.
03:11In fact, in the history of MMDA, we are already 49 years.
03:18Maybe our total budget in those 49 years is not yet P87 billion.
03:26So it is wrong to spread on social media that MMDA has a budget of P787.6 billion pesos for flood control projects in the past two years.
03:39During the sectoral meeting, Secretary Bonoan reported to the President
03:43the completion of over 5,000 projects since the administration began from July 2022 to May 2024.
03:51And I also informed the President that continuing with the flood control projects all over the country,
03:57we are going to continue to implement more than 5,000 flood control projects.
04:04In particular, for Metro Manila, the DPWH has implemented the Pasig-Marikina Flood Control Management System.
04:11Alan Francisco, from the National TV Network, for a new and better Philippines.