President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is urging the government to rethink its approach to disaster response, not as seasonal emergencies, but as a permanent threat that demands long-term adaptation, as the country continues to recover from the damage caused by typhoons and southwest monsoon.
In a statement following an emergency meeting with the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) on Thursday, President Marcos warned that the country can no longer afford to be surprised by extreme weather events.
“Let’s stop thinking, ‘what if there’s a storm?’ We know it’s coming. That is the fact of climate change,” he said.
Mr. Marcos’ remarks came after he visited two evacuation centers in Rizal province, where he observed both effective government response and urgent vulnerabilities.
Relief and rescue operations were prompt, he said, but overcrowded shelters raised alarms over potential disease outbreaks.
“One person gets sick in there, and the illness will spread like wildfire,” he warned.
To address this, the President ordered that every evacuation site be equipped with medical teams from both local and national government agencies.
“Our national duty is to ensure there’s enough medicine and medical equipment on the ground.”
But it was his focus on the future, and what lies beyond temporary relief, that signaled a change in tone.
“We can’t treat every typhoon like it’s a surprise disaster anymore. This is our climate now,” President Marcos said.
The government, he added, must think in terms of adaptation: making evacuation centers, health services, education, and infrastructure resilient enough to withstand repeat weather events.
Moreover, he lamented that frequent school suspensions have put Filipino students at a disadvantage, saying the government is exploring alternative learning methods.
“Our children are falling behind. They’ve already lost so much during the pandemic, and now storms are keeping them from school again,” the president said.
He also shared that even while he was overseas during the onset of recent storms, contingency plans were already being activated, showcasing what he described as institutionalized protocols that must now be expanded and made semi-permanent.
According to current forecasts, the Philippines may see 10 to 15 typhoons this year.
“We’ve already had three. That means we’re likely to face at least a dozen more. And next year will be no different,” he said.
The president’s message was clear: disaster preparedness must evolve into a way of life.
“This is not just about relief anymore. This is about how we live now,” he stated.
As climate change intensifies and the line between dry and wet seasons blurs, President Marcos is pushing for a national strategy that prepares every community, not just for the next storm, but for a future where storms are constant.
“In the longer term, we need to think about adaptation. What do we have to do when it comes again because it will come again,” he stated.
