President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is pushing for roads, bridges and other infrastructure projects that can withstand the effects of climate change, Malacañang said.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the President has been directing government agencies to adopt policies and projects that take into account the changing climate and the disasters it may bring.
“Actually, even before binabanggit namin sa inyo, sa ating mga kababayan na ngayon po ay tutok ang Pangulo kung paano rin natin mapapa-implement ang mga polisiya na naaayon po sa nararamdaman nating climate change,” Castro said.
She pointed to the Philippines’ recent membership in the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI), saying the group could help the country build infrastructure based on scientific data and current climate risks.
“Unang-una po, ano ang nais ng Pangulo? Ang mga bridges, ang mga roads ay dapat na isinasagawa na naaayon sa science at naaayon na po sa klima na maaari nating maranasan ngayon at sa mga susunod na taon,” Castro said.
President Marcos met with CDRI officials in New Delhi, India, on September 12 after the Philippines became the coalition’s 71st member and the second Southeast Asian country to join.
Castro also raised concerns over the use of substandard construction materials, saying authorities have arrested individuals allegedly involved in producing such materials, including steel and cement linked to infrastructure problems.
She said the issue was also discussed during a recent meeting of the Private Sector Advisory Council.
“Iyan po ang naging topic noong nakaraang linggo with PSAC, kung saan tinututulan na po na makapasok iyong mga ganitong klaseng investor na maaaring makapagdulot ng disgrasya sa ating mga kababayan,” she said.
Castro urged local government officials and contractors to carefully check construction projects and make sure they meet safety requirements.
“Maging maingat po tayo sa pagsasagawa ng mga imprastraktura. Siguraduhin din po natin na ang gagawin nating mga proyekto ay naaayon po sa requirements para matibay at para hindi magiging sanhi ng disgrasya para sa ating mga kababayan,” she said.IMT
