Local chief executives should assess their disaster preparedness and mitigation strategies to handle increasingly severe weather disturbances caused by climate change.
“Kailangan ay gagawin natin ang lahat upang mabigyan ng proteksyon ang ating mga constituent dito sa mga bagong pangyayari,” President Marcos said during the 2025 League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) General Assembly Wednesday at the Manila Hotel.
“Hindi naman natin masasabi na iyong nakaraan na anim na bagyo na dumaan sa Pilipinas sa 23 araw ay hindi natin masasabi na hindi mauulit ‘yan kaya’t kailangan na natin paghandaan,” he said.
The President stated that everyone must analyze the problem, learn from the country’s past disaster experiences, and adjust the response and mitigation measures.
He noted that typhoons are now more frequent and devastating, making areas that previously did not experience flooding and landslides vulnerable.
“Kailangan na natin tingnan ano ang naging problema sa mga nakaraan dahil ang mga nangyayari, ang panahon ngayon, ang weather ngayon ay hindi na natin maasahan ‘yung mga dating ginagawa natin,” the President said.
“Kailangan natin tanggapin na ang weather ngayon ay hindi kagaya ng panahon (noon)– ang mga bagyo ngayon hindi kagaya ng bagyo noon. Sila ay mas malakas at mas madalas.”
The President encouraged mayors to engage the public as they cannot address challenges alone. That is why the national government has adopted a whole-of-government approach, he said.
The government later expanded the strategy into a whole-of-society approach that involved the private sector, businesses, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and civil society.
The President also highlighted the efforts under the Kalinga at Inisyatiba Para sa Malinis na Bayan, or KALINISAN sa Bagong Pilipinas Program.
Last year, 22,200 barangays participated in regular cleanup activities, demonstrating a collaborative effort to create a healthier and more dignified nation. | PND