Marcos on tropical cyclones: It's climate change, new reality we should face

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Monday said there is no template to follow when dealing with tropical cyclones. 

In an ambush interview, Marcos gave a statement on the weather disturbances that are about to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility this week. 

“We don’t have a textbook to follow. We don’t have a template to follow. It is climate change, and it is the new reality that we are having to face,” Marcos said. 

“I don’t remember -- I’ve been around for a long time – I don’t remember seeing these many – sunod-sunod —of this strength,” he added. 

Marcos made an assurance that the government was monitoring the situation. 

“Maaari ‘yung isang malakas tapos may susunod na isa, may hangin nang kaunti. Pero hindi ‘yung sunod- sunod na malakas. At saka sunod-sunod, hindi man lang tayo pinagbigyan ng isang linggo,” Marcos said. 

“So, this is what we are monitoring now. We’re trying to see what the damages are, that we have to go in already,” he added. 

Marcos called on the public to listen to the local government and the authorities “who tell you what to do.”

“As long as – as soon as the national government can come in, we will come in,” Marcos said.

“Your local government is there – is ready to be the first responders as they always are, and the national government will come in as soon as we can. In fact, we’re already there and they are just waiting for the storm to allow them to get to work,” he added.

So far, Signal No. 3 was hoisted over eight areas in Luzon as Typhoon Nika (international name: Toraji) weakened into a severe tropical storm, weather bureau PAGASA said. 

According to the 8 p.m. PAGASA tropical cyclone bulletin, Severe Tropical Storm Nika has maximum sustained winds of 110 km/h near the center and gustiness of up to 185 kph.—LDF, GMA Integrated News