The Kalikasan People’s Network for the Environment has criticized President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for his response to the severe flooding affecting Metro Manila and nearby provinces.
In a press statement, the environmental group accused Marcos Jr. of deflecting responsibility away from his administration’s policies and onto the public and climate change.
The group argued that Marcos Jr.’s statement attributing the floods primarily to climate change and improper waste disposal by citizens misrepresents the situation.
“President Marcos Jr.’s disgusting attempt to deflect responsibility for this disaster is not just a betrayal but criminal negligence, putting countless Filipino lives at risk. The suffering of flood victims is a direct result of his actions,” said Jonila Castro, advocacy officer of the group.
Kalikasan emphasized that the government holds the primary responsibility for flood prevention and mitigation.
It cited recent reclamation projects in Manila Bay as major contributors to obstructing natural drainage systems and removing barriers against storm surges.
Castro said the floods affecting regions including Metro Manila, Rizal, Cavite, Bulacan, Pampanga, and Bataan are linked to the administration’s policies.
She criticized Marcos Jr.’s approval of reclamation activities and support for quarrying, deforestation, and logging in the Sierra Madre mountains, which she claimed have worsened flooding downstream.
In his State of the Nation Address, Marcos Jr. mentioned the completion of 5,500 flood prevention projects, with more underway, at a cost of an estimated P244 billion.
However, Kalikasan argued that these projects benefit foreign investors, developers, and politicians rather than serve as genuine measures to protect the public.
The group called for a thorough review of the infrastructure projects undertaken by the Marcos administration.
Castro condemned what she described as the President’s policies that prioritize corporate interests over public welfare.
Marcos Jr. stands exposed as not just ineffective, but actively harmful to the Filipino people. He must be held accountable for his crimes against the nation. The time for real change and justice for all victims of his destructive policies is now.
