With the Philippines being on the typhoon path, Vice President and presidential candidate Leni Robredo batted for “sturdy, typhoon-resilient” public infrastructures, especially evacuation centers.
Robredo made the observation during the signing of a covenant with community leaders in Borongan, Eastern Samar.
“Your province and the entire Samar Island are just like Bicol. We are always being hit by typhoons so we need to look for permanent solution, “Robredo told local officials led by Eastern Samar Gov. Ben Evardone.
Robredo said places that lie on the typhoon’s regular path should embrace “permanent solutions” like building resiliency.
She said not only government buildings must be erected to withstand powerful typhoons, but also schools and houses.
Robredo said adaptation measures should cover agriculture, including the selection of crops that are resistant to the impact of climate change.
Former Rep. Teddy Baguilat, who is running for senator under the Leni-Kiko banner, noted that the Vice President is the only candidate with a firm grasp of how disaster resilience, response, and mitigation should be undertaken.
“She is a boots-on-the-ground person. Others merely read about global warming from teleprompters. VP is a first responder to the damage it (typhoon) is doing,” Baguilat stressed.
“This experience of seeing the effects of climate change first hand, plus the mastery of the policies involved, and of the programs required, make her the perfect leader to preside over a nation of 110 million that is one of the most disaster-prone (countries) in the world,” he added.