Malacañang has defended President Marcos Jr.’s advice for Filipinos to collect rainwater in buckets, saying the government was taking the threat of worsening El Niño seriously.
Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said Tuesday, Oct. 13, that the President was not joking when he made the suggestion during a media interview in Singapore.
“Hindi po ito biro. Siniseryoso ng Pangulo ang magaganap at nagaganap na at maaaring mag-worsen sa mga susunod na buwan,” Castro said.
The Palace press officer said the government would teach households how to filter collected rainwater for safe use. Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian was preparing an instructional video on water filtration, she added.
“Kung mag-iipon po kayo ng tubig, kapag pumatak ang ulan ay maaaring gamitin ito at ituturo po sa inyo iyong filtration,” she said, urging the public to take water conservation advice seriously.
Castro also criticized the President’s detractors, telling them to listen to the administration’s plans before dismissing his remarks.
“Sa mga obstructionists po itong sasabihin ko. Kailangan po talaga natin ng balde, baldeng utak. Para po maintindihan nyo po kung ano ang plano ng pangulo,” she said.IMT
