The Palace on Tuesday said that everyone, ordinary Filipinos included, must abide by laws imposed by the government in order to prevent extensive damage to private property during typhoons and monsoons.
According to the press, Pampanga locals have expressed anger at Governor Lilia Pineda’s statement encouraging them to pray and devise their own ways to cope with the negative impacts of calamities instead of relying on the local government for their safety.
In response, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the Palace respects Pineda’s message and that suggesting prayer might be of help was not so egregious in the face of an uncontrollable factor such as climate change.
Castro added that helping one’s community was also necessary under grievous circumstances, especially when there are individuals who violate the law at the expense of their own safety.
“Well, igagalang po natin kung anong mensahe mismo ni Governor Pineda dahil siya po ang nakakaramdam nito. Wala naman po sigurong masama kung talagang sama-sama rin tayong mananalangin dahil sabi nga po natin isa sa mga dahilan ng ganitong klaseng unos ay climate change—isa lamang ito; maraming factors,” she said.
“At kailangan din po talaga lahat tayo ay nagtutulung-tulungan. Hindi po magagampanan ng gobyerno ang mailigtas kayong lahat kung ang iba nating mga kababayan ay sumusuway sa batas,” she added, clarifying that constituents who build their homes in “No Build Zones” are putting themselves in danger.
The Palace official said that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. simply wants all stakeholders—the local government units (LGUs) and locals alike—to adhere to the law, as doing so would reduce the gravity of problems that may arise when calamities strike.
“So, ang nais ng Pangulo lahat po tayo ay tumupad sa batas. Kapag tumupad naman tayo sa batas mas madali magagawaan ng paraan kung anuman ang magiging issue dahil sabay-sabay tayong nagtutulung-tulungan,” she said.
Furthermore, Castro said she does not wish to speak for the President on the matter of policing public officials’ statements, asserting the delivery of their sentiments should be left to their own discretion.
She did concede that LGUs should ensure that laws are obeyed by their constituents, to save them from preventable crises, such as the collapse of homes erected in hazard-prone areas.
“But still, kailangan po nating ipatupad, muli, kailangang ipatupad din ng LGUs, ang namumuno sa LGU, ipatupad ang batas dahil wala din naman pong magkakaroon ng problema sa mga naganap na pagguho ng bahay, kung lahat naman po din ng liderato sa LGUs ay tumutupad at nagpapatupad ng batas,” she stressed.
Castro assured, however, that no Filipino will be left behind.
“Muli, sa ating mga kababayan, ang mensahe po ng Pangulo, hindi po kayo maiiwan, lahat po kayo ay sama-sama po tayong babangon at mararamdaman ang ginhawa. Siguro ang kailangan lang po talaga natin ay magtulungan at hindi rin po kakayanin ng gobyerno,” she said.
In an interview on Monday, Governor Pineda urged Kapampangans to pray and plan for calamities.
She said that only God can stop such calamities, and urged her constituents to heed advisories and warnings.
