President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. acknowledged the limitations of the government’s disaster response following the recent typhoons that hit the country, which left at least 150 people dead across the Philippines.
“I’ll tell you the truth—it’s never enough. I wish we could do more,” President Marcos said in a media interview in Batangas.
“We’re doing everything we can, but when you lose a life, you lose a life. It’s a terrible tragedy, and nothing can change that,” he added.
With Typhoons ‘Kristine’ and ‘Leon’ impacting vulnerable regions, President Marcos emphasized the need for immediate aid and rescue efforts while also highlighting the importance of long-term climate resilience.
He pointed to the intensifying storms and unpredictable rainfall patterns as indicators that the country needs to prepare for increasingly severe climate impacts.
“People can see it now, even feel it. Unfortunately, we’re beyond just reading studies. The effects of climate change are happening before our eyes,” he remarked.
The typhoon brought record-breaking rainfall that overwhelmed existing flood controls, triggering landslides and widespread flooding, including in areas previously unaffected by such extreme conditions.
Mr. Marcos emphasized the need for infrastructure capable of handling these new climate challenges, acknowledging that current disaster response measures, while necessary, may not be enough for the future.
