Imee calls for better disaster preparedness

CEBU, Philippines —  Senator Imee Marcos called for urgent action to improve disaster preparedness in the Philippines during her visit to Cebu yesterday. This as country faces a challenging week, with four typhoons --Marce, Nika, Ofel, and Pepito.

“Eto yung problema natin tuloy-tuloy ang bagyo, talagang ibang klase,” said Marcos, after her event called the Zumabarangayan, her zumba fitness birthday tour in Cebu yesterday.

Marcos said that amidst “weather jargons” which the people find difficult to comprehend, it is best for the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) to interpret weather in layman’s terms.

“Sinasabi ko na unang una ang PAGASA mag-isyu sila nang warning na naiintindihan nang mga tao kasi kung minsan kumplikado at masyadong highly-technical pati yung nga explanation nila red, orange warning hindi yan masyadong naintindihan nang tao. Sana mag layman’s language,” said Marcos, who danced the zumba together with over 300 zumba enthusiasts at the Banilad Sports Complex in Cebu City.

In a separate statement, Marcos said that this string of storms highlights the nation's ongoing struggle with severe weather and flooding, an issue she says demands immediate attention.

Marcos stressed the need for an immediate national climate strategy and stronger disaster preparedness, emphasizing the importance of improving infrastructure, particularly in high-risk areas, and called for developing green infrastructure solutions, such as reducing non-permeable surfaces, protecting wetlands, and improving mangrove forests.

Also, Marcos said that up to now we haven’t seen a national master plan from the Department of Public Works and Highways.

“They make a plan for Metro Manila and some of the towns. They forget Cebu that it also gets flooded. So, I think water would be a challenge for the next few decades and it is very clear na kapag walang ulan, lahat tayo walang tubig. Pero pag bumagyo, sobra-sobra naman yung tubig. Kaya talagang laging problema,” she said.

With this problem on hand, Marcos said that it’s about time for the government to have a Department of Water or, if that is too expensive, better to centralize.

“There are about 42 agencies sa water, ang gulo-gulo. Yung iba nag-invest pero hindi naman nag-invest sa pipes, so ayan ang problema kinukuha yung bulk water but they are not getting the pipes. So I think it’s about time we will take water seriously ang sabi nga sa Ilocos ‘God gave us water but he forgot to give the pipes’, we have to do it on our own,” she added. (CEBU NEWS)