Malacañang said the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) would investigate the possible environmental causes behind the unprecedented flooding that hit several parts of the Visayas and Mindanao in the aftermath of Typhoon “Tino.”
In a press briefing Thursday, Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary Claire Castro said that while President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has yet to issue a formal directive to the agency, it is expected to act in line with the administration’s environmental protection policies.
She pointed out the flooding may not have been caused solely by natural forces but also by human activities such as deforestation, quarrying, and unregulated development.
“If that is what is being observed, then the DENR leadership should definitely look into it—whether the flooding was not merely an act of God but also the result of negligence and the abuse of our natural resources,” Castro said.
“With that kind of situation, there is no need for the President to explicitly order it because the DENR already knows the President’s stance and directives when it comes to these kinds of calamities,” she added.
Castro said Mr. Marcos has ordered all concerned agencies to respond without delay and ensure that relief and assistance reach affected residents as soon as possible.
Meanwhile, Gov. Pamela Baricuatro is demanding accountability from officials and contractors involved in more than P26 billion worth of flood control projects that failed to protect Cebu from “Tino.
The governor said she intends to raise the matter directly with the President, who is expected to visit Cebu today to personally survey the damage and extend national government support.
“We will discuss with President Marcos regarding the P26 billion [in flood control] funds. It’s not enough that Cebuanos are resilient. Justice has to be also looked into,” Baricuatro said in a mix of English and Cebuano.
For its part, the Gabriela Women’s Party called for an urgent and independent investigation into the flooding disaster in Cebu, which it said was “the deadly consequences of corruption, environmental neglect, and unbridled corporate greed.”
“The Gabriela Women’s Party sympathizes with all those affected by the typhoon and severe flooding in Cebu. We are united in all measures for immediate assistance, ensuring safety and recovery along with the call for investigation and accountability,” the group said in a statement.
Gabriela pointed out that upland flooding and mudslides may be linked to forest denudation, while billions of pesos in flood control projects appear to have failed.
On Wednesday, the Palace admitted the need to review the implementation of over 500 flood control projects in Cebu to ensure their effectiveness and the proper use of government funds.
Castro said that from 2016 to 2022 alone, around 343 flood control projects were implemented, with two of them being “terminated.”
She noted that under the Marcos administration, there were around 168 flood mitigation projects, with 55 still ongoing.
