Marcos: Prioritize flood response, not Sona
President Marcos on Tuesday immediately suspended all preparations being made for his State of the Nation Address (Sona) on July 28 following reports that government workers were spotted installing tarpaulins for the event along some roads in Metro Manila.
Work in government offices and classes at all levels in both public and private schools have been suspended since Monday not only in the National Capital Region but also in nearby provinces due to widespread flooding caused by heavy rains brought by the southwest monsoon or “habagat” in the past days.
In a statement issued by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin on behalf of Mr. Marcos, who is in the United States for a three-day official visit, the President expressed dismay over the situation, emphasizing that all government efforts must now be directed toward flood response and relief operations.
“Let me be clear: all Sona-related preparations are hereby ordered immediately suspended. The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), along with all concerned agencies, must put full attention and exclusive focus on flood response and relief operations,” Bersamin said.
“The President’s directive is to focus all efforts on ensuring the safety and welfare of the Filipino people, especially during times of crisis. All government agencies are expected to act accordingly,” he added.
The statement was issued after Malacañang received reports that some DPWH personnel were seen installing tarpaulins announcing the President’s Sona on some Manila roads earlier on Tuesday.
Mr. Marcos will deliver his fourth Sona at the Batasang Pambansa Complex in Quezon City on July 28 as the first regular session of the 20th Congress opens.
Help on the way
In a recorded video message, the President assured those affected by the torrential rains and flooding that assistance is on the way as he also urged them to follow instructions from their respective local government units (LGUs) to stay safe.
“To my fellow Filipinos, before we left Manila to go to the United States for an official visit with the President of the United States, President Trump, I had already given instructions to all our agencies to prepare for the flooding caused by the heavy rains,” he said.
He also announced that relief goods are already being delivered and medical teams are on standby to provide aid to those in need.
“We are also making sure that transportation is available and of course, that there is an adequate supply of water and electricity—all of this is to meet the needs of those affected by the flooding and heavy rains,” Mr. Marcos said.
“My only request is that you please listen to the advisories issued by your LGU and the national government and kindly follow them so we can ensure that you are not put in danger,” he added.
More than 1.27 million Filipinos have been affected by the inclement weather across all 17 regions nationwide since July 16.
Most affected
A lot of the provinces in Luzon and Visayas, however, have been affected the most, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council’s (NDRRMC) latest report.
According to Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian, there are 490,418 affected families, with 14,191 of them temporarily staying at the around 500 evacuation centers nationwide.
The NDRRMC also reported that damage to agriculture has so far been estimated at P54 million, with the bulk or over P44 million reported in Mimaropa.
Estimates of infrastructure damage have risen to P413 million, including P299 million worth of destruction in the Ilocos Region and P112.8 million in Western Visayas.
