There is no holiday break for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. as he is on top of the situation caused by floods from the southwest monsoon, Malacañang said on Monday.
In a video message, Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary and Palace press officer Claire Castro said Marcos is monitoring the situation even on August 31, National Heroes’ Day and is coordinating with key government officials for disaster response.
“Minomonitor ng Pangulo ang lagay ng panahon. Sa paglakas muli ng ulan itong gabi ng Biyernes at Sabado, ang mga miyembro ng gabinete ay muling nag-update sa Pangulo at inutos ng Pangulo na dapat na lahat ng apektadong lugar at apektadong mga residente, siguraduhin hindi\ magugutom at kumpleto pati ang non-food kits,” she said.
Castro added: “Sa mga ganitong klaseng sitwasyon, hindi kailangang utusan pa ng Pangulo ang mga nasabing miyembro ng gabinete dahil alam nila kung ano ang nais ng Pangulo, mabilis na aksyon. Walang holiday-holiday sa Pangulo.”
The President will lead a disaster response meeting in Central Luzon and Metro Manila within the day, along with key government officials.
Marcos was bashed on social media over the weekend over videos and photos of him singing at First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos’ birthday celebration despite foul weather.
Meanwhile, the Palace also expressed concern over the theft of pumping station equipment in Metro Manila, which caused the failure of operations of several pumping stations.
“Dahil sa mga ninakaw na mahahalagang piyesa ng pumping stations hindi sila gagana. Gagastos tayo ulit para sa mga replacement na ito. Paano kung walang makuha agad na replacement? Hindi agad maiaayos ang mga ito na magdudulot na naman ng mabagal na paghupa ng baha,” Castro said.
She stressed: “Huwag tayo maging makasarili. Buhay, kalusugan, at ari-arian ang maaapektuhan dahil sa mga pagnanakaw na ito. Huwag ninyong isabotahe ang mga proyekto ng Pangulo. Magtulungan po tayo.”
Castro warned those behind the sabotage that the long arm of the law will catch up with them.
“Papanagutin po namin kayo dahil buhay at kabuhayan ang maaaring maapektuhan ng inyong mga makasariling gawain,” she added.