"Hindi kayo namin nakakalimutan (We have not forgotten about you)."

This was President Marcos' assurance to the people of Naga when he visited them following the onslaught of Severe Tropical Storm Kristine, saying the government is ready to assist them as they recover from the typhoon's effects.

Marcos said this as he visited the evacuees temporarily staying at the Naga City Hall on Saturday morning, Oct. 26.

In his remarks, the President said he visited the evacuees to ensure they were in good condition after recognizing that their houses were probably still submerged in floodwater.

"Dumaan lang po ako para makita na yung mga dala namin na tulong... at pinuntahan ko lang para makita ko na maayos naman ang pag-alaga sa inyo (We're here to see that you got the assistance we brought and to check if you're being taken care of)," he said.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), led by Secretary Rex Gatchalian, has distributed P56.5 million worth of family food packs as an immediate response to families affected by Typhoon Kristine in the Bicol Region.

In addition, President Marcos said the DSWD has also provided cash assistance to the evacuees.

Despite this, the President said the government would continue supporting those affected by the weather disturbance even after they have left the evacuation centers.

"Bibigyan pa rin namin kayo ng mga food pack dahil sa pag-uwi ninyo baka hindi pa kayo magluto, hindi pa – nawala yung mga ibang gamit ninyo (We will continue providing you with food packs because when you get home you might not be able to cook as some of your belongings may be gone)," he said.

Marcos then encouraged the evacuees to immediately inform the government of whatever else they needed.

"Asahan ninyo basta’t nandito ang pamahalaan tuloy-tuloy ang aming pagtulong sa inyo. Sabihan niyo lang (Rest assured that we will continue helping you as long as we're here. Just say so)," he said.

In a media interview, President Marcos said systems are in place to help the typhoon victims but cited challenges in delivering aid to them.

"Iyong problema namin dito, marami pang area na baha pa rin. Hindi pa rin mapasok, na kahit na yung malalaking truck hindi pa rin kayang pasukin (Our problem is there are still many flooded areas. Even the big trucks cannot enter)," he said.

"It’s getting better but there really still are areas na kahit anong gawin namin hindi maipasok (that we cannot enter no matter what we do)," he added.

Before his visit, President Marcos inspected rice fields submerged in floodwaters in Barangay Causip, Bula, Camarines Sur.

He likewise turned over financial assistance from the Office of the President (OP) worth P30 million to the Naga City government and P50 million to the government of Albay.

Flood control

In a situation briefing on the effects of Severe Tropical Storm Kristine on the region, the President stressed the importance of focusing on flood control infrastructure.

"Now we have to focus specifically on flood control because... sobra na talaga yung tubig, eh. hindi na talaga kaya. May flood control naman tayo, eh. Pero hindi kaya yung ganito kadaming tubig (There was too much water that we couldn't handle it anymore. We have flood control but they can't handle too much water)," he said in Naga.

"Walang forecast na ganito, eh. Ito climate change talaga ito (There wasn't a forecast for this. This is really because of climate change). This is all new so we have to come up with also new solutions," he added.

On Oct. 22, Severe Tropical Storm Kristine dumped two months' worth of rain — an unprecedented 500 millimeters (1.64 feet) — in just 24 hours, resulting in landslides and widespread flooding. Bicol was among the hardest hit regions, with several residential areas and agricultural lands submerged, affecting over 1.8 million people or 384,436 families.

In Naga City, floodwaters have inundated much of the town proper and several residential areas. In Albay, lahar flows have been reported in Barangay Masarawag in Guinobatan and Barangay Binitayan in Daraga.

In a media interview, President Marcos said a similar occurrence might happen because of climate change.

"So, this is the new situation that we have to deal with. Kaya’t harapin na natin at gawan na natin ng paraan (So let's face it and do something about it)," he said.

Marcos then floated the idea of revisiting the Bicol River Basin Development Program (BRBDP), a major regional development program of the first Marcos administration in the region in the 1970s, which was abolished in 1990.

The BDBDP comprises numerous economic, community, and infrastructure developments in the region. President Marcos said he would like to focus on the flood control aspect of the project for now.

"So, that is what we are going to be working on. And hopefully, within the next two years masimulan na itong project na ito (we can start this project)," he said.

According to Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Manuel Bonoan,  the Bicol River Basic Flood Control Project was already updated  in July and the Korean Eximbank has committed to funding it.

"There is already a commitment from the Korean Eximbank so we have to complete now the detailed engineering design by towards the end of 2025 or late 2026, we will be able, probably, to implement na the civil works," he told President Marcos.