Malacañang prioritizes preventing typhoon-caused floods

With the country now experiencing a break from tropical cyclones, Malacañang is prioritizing preventing post-typhoon floods like those that hit Central Luzon late September. Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said this even as she pointed out the government will continue to provide relief for those who still could not go home. “Ngayon ang concern is how to avert something like previous floods from happening again," she said on government-run dzRB radio. She said Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson has been “actively coordinating" with local government units that have sought help in dredging. Valte said Singson’s concern involves the illegal fish pens in some areas, which only the local government units’ executives can remove. “We are doing our part as best as we can to cooperate with LGUs kung paano mabawasan ang panganib na magkaroon ng ganoong kalalang baha at biglaan," she said. In late September, floods hit several areas in Central Luzon, including Bulacan, Tarlac and Pampanga, after tropical cyclone “Pedring" (Nesat) lashed Luzon. After “Pedring," “Quiel" (Nalgae) also pounded the Northern Luzon area. Some residents blamed the management of major dams for releasing water without informing them. Meanwhile, Valte said the government will continue to help those still in evacuation centers even after “Pedring," “Quiel" and tropical cyclone “Ramon" (Banyan) had left. She also maintained there is no need to import rice despite the damage caused by recent tropical cyclones. “May mag-a-adjust sa target in the sense na napakaganda ng ani in the first and second quarters kahit tinamaan tayo sa third, sabi ni Sec. Alcala mag-plateau sa fourth quarter," she said. When asked if this means the country need not import rice on account of the damage from “Pedring" and “Quiel," she said, “so far wala pa naman." The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council had estimated the damage to agriculture from "Pedring" at P12.786 billion. — ELR, GMA News