Latest news with #DepartmentofPublicWorksandHighways
GMA Network
19 hours ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
Marcos: SONA preps amid bad weather an 'unfortunate misjudgment'
President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. has deemed as an ''unfortunate misjudgment'' the move of the Department of Public Works and Highways to continue the preparations for his fourth State of the Nation Address next week. ''Hindi na nasabi, baha na nga bakit pa kayo maglalagay diyan? Paubaya niyo na muna yan, ayusin niyo muna 'yung ating response sa Crising... that is an unfortunate misjudgement on their part... I trust that it would not happen anymore,'' Marcos told Philippine reporters in Washington D.C. (It was not mentioned, there's flood, why would you still put that up? Focus first on our response with Crising... that is an unfortunate misjudgment on their part... I trust that it would not happen anymore.) The President, who was dismayed by the act, said the action was ''highly inappropriate.'' Earlier, Marcos directed that all SONA-related preparations should be halted, noting that the DPWH and other concerned agencies must focus on flood response and relief operations for those affected by the torrential rains and floods. This as DPWH personnel had installed tarpaulins of the President for his upcoming SONA despite heavy rains and floods across the metro. — Anna Felicia Bajo/RSJ, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
20 hours ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
Amid Habagat floods, group calls for probe into flood control projects
Amid severe flooding brought on by the triple threat of Crising, the Habagat and low presure areas, Aksyon Klima Pilipinas (AKP) has called on a "legislative inquiry into the status and implementation of flood control projects throughout the country, and their effectiveness in mitigating flooding in their respective areas." "These inquiries must be conducted in good faith and require responses from all implementing actors, such as the Department of Public Works and Highways and concerned local government units, with the ultimate goal of holding them accountable for any wrongdoings and identifying how to resolve the flooding problem," AKP added. In a statement, the country's largest network of civil service organizations for climate action listed its four-point appeal, which also includes "a multi sectoral review of existing flood management master plans" to be led by the National and LocaL Disaster Risk Reduction Management Councils and a "stronger implementation of national and local laws and policies for the protection, conservation, and restoration" of natural habitats including forests, mangroves and "avoiding mining and quarrying activities in areas that can lead to worse flooding." AKP also demanded the enactment of the Climate Accountability Bill (CLIMA), "which would establish a framework to enhance corporate accountability for potential human rights violations caused by pollutive actions." While acknowledging that the climate crisis is worsening, with temperatures breaching the 1.5C limit last year, AKP said full blame cannot be put on climate change. "As a country that is visited by monsoons and experiences an average of 20 storms every year, there is no reason that communities should repeatedly see their streets submerged in floods time and again. There is no reason for families to keep worrying about their safety from such disasters that prevent them from meeting their socioeconomic needs," it said. More than 1.4M people have been affected by Crising, rains brought by Habitat, and a low pressure area, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said Wednesday. The death toll due to Crising, the Southwest Monsoon or Habagat, and the LPA increased from six to seven. According to the MMDA Tuesday, more than 500 flood incidents were reported in Metro Manila alone. Meanwhile, the Department of Transportation has called out the MRT Line 7 project contractors and the Skyway management over issues that allegedly contribute to the flooding in their concerned areas. — LA, GMA integrated News
Filipino Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- Filipino Times
Marcos orders suspension of SONA preparations to focus on flood response
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered an immediate halt to all State of the Nation Address (SONA) preparations after reports surfaced of government personnel installing materials in public areas despite severe flooding affecting many communities. Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, in a statement Tuesday, said the President expressed dismay over the reports and directed the Department of Public Works and Highways and all concerned agencies to devote full attention to flood response and relief efforts. 'Let me be clear: all SONA-related preparations are hereby ordered immediately suspended,' Bersamin said. Even while on an official visit to the United States, Marcos instructed all agencies to prioritize the safety and welfare of affected Filipinos above ceremonial events. Malacañang has also suspended government work and classes across Metro Manila and 10 provinces due to the enhanced southwest monsoon that continues to cause widespread flooding.
GMA Network
2 days ago
- Climate
- GMA Network
Marcos orders suspension of all SONA preps
President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. is "dismayed" over reports that government personnel are putting up materials for the upcoming State of the Nation Address (SONA) in public areas despite communities battling the onslaught of the Southwest Monsoon or Habagat. In a statement issued Tuesday, the Office of the Executive Secretary announced that all SONA-related preparations are immediately suspended. Marcos is set to have his fourth SONA next week, July 28. The Department of Public Works and Highways, together with other concerned agencies, must instead focus on flood response and relief operations, according to the OES. The OES said Marcos has directed that all efforts should be focused on ensuring the safety and welfare of the public, adding that all government agencies must act accordingly. The Southwest Monsoon or Habagat continues to bring cloudy skies and torrential rains over most parts of the country, particularly in Luzon area. PAGASA had said Metro Manila, CALABARZON, Zambales, Bataan, Pampanga, Bulacan, and Occidental Mindoro will have monsoon rains with the possibility that floods or landslides will occur due to moderate to heavy with at times intense rains. The President had instructed concerned government agencies to ensure the safety of the people amid the floods in Metro Manila and several other provinces and to deliver assistance to flood victims quickly. —VAL, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
4 days ago
- Climate
- GMA Network
5 national roads still impassable due to Crising, Habagat
Five national roads are still impassable due to the effects of Severe Tropical Storm Crising and the Southwest Monsoon (Habagat), the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said Sunday. Speaking on Super Radyo dzBB, DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan said most of the impassable road sections are in the Cordillera Administrative Region. This includes Kennon Road that links Baguio City to Rosario, Pangasinan, where a boulder rolled down a mountain, killing a pet dog before smashing a parked car. 'More or less, mula July 17 hanggang kahapon, ang report sa atin ay 13 national roads were rendered unpassable, walo na ang cleared kahapon,' Bonoan said. (From July 17 to yesterday, 13 national roads were reported impassable, and eight have since been cleared.) 'Hindi naman gaano malalaki 'yung sira na sinabi sa akin (the damage was not that serious). I am hoping that by today or tomorrow, passable na ang mga kalsada,' he added. No bridges were reported damaged due to the inclement weather, Bonoan said. Meanwhile, the Manila North Road and Cagayan Valley Road are now passable. In a separate dzBB interview, Batanes Governor Ronald Aguto Jr. said Crising did not have a significant effect on the country's northernmost province. 'Walang masyadong ulan dito noong bagyong Crising. Nakahanda naman ang lahat kaya walang kailangang i-preemptive evacuate,' Aguto said. (There was little rain here during Crising. Everyone was prepared, so there was no need for any preemptive evacuation.) Currently, Aguto said the weather in Batanes is calm. 'Kalmado na ang panahon dito. Medyo maulap nang kaunti pero sa awa ng Diyos, maganda na ang panahon,' he said. (The weather here is now calm. It's still a bit cloudy, but by God's grace, the weather has improved.) The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council earlier reported that three people died while another three were injured due to the effects of Crising and the Habagat. The report also showed that a total of 370,289 individuals, or 120,008 families, were affected by Crising, which exited the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Saturday. — RF, GMA Integrated News
