"Go ahead."

President Marcos is unfazed as he welcomed calls to investigate the government's flood control projects following the onslaught of Severe Tropical Storm Kristine that left several areas in the country flooded last month.

Marcos said this after Senator Imee Marcos demanded that the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and other relevant government agencies account for the P132-billion flood control projects for the Bicol region, one of the areas heavily hit by the storm.

In an interview in Laurel, Batangas, the President said he has no problem with possible investigations into the government's flood control projects and scrutinization of the proposed 2025 budget.

He, however, hoped people would understand that what the Philippines is facing is unprecedented.

"Oo, Sige! Wala akong problema (Go ahead. I don't have a problem with it). But also they have to realize there are two sides to this," Marcos said.

"May flood control tayo, hindi kaya. Hindi talaga kaya dahil sa buong kasaysayan ng Pilipinas wala pang ganito, ngayon lang natin haharapin ito (We have flood control but we're overwhelmed. This has not happened in our country's history. This is a first)," he added.

Marcos hoped people would also understand the science behind the recent weather events.

"Kaya dapat maunawaan talaga ng tao, hindi lamang yung budget kung hindi kung ano yung science (People should understand that it's not just about the budget but it's also the science). What's the science, follow the science. See what's happening," he said.

"Hindi lamang dito. Nakita niyo ba yung nangyari sa España? Doon din sa mga lugar na yun ay ngayon lang nangyari 'yan (It's not just here. Have you seen what happened in Spain? It also happened for the first time in those places)," he added, referring to the recent massive flooding in Spain's Valencia region that killed at least 217 people and a yet undetermined number still missing.

President Marcos reiterated that the rainfall amount that Typhoon Kristine brought was almost twice the amount that Typhoon Ondoy had in 2009, attributing this to climate change.

"Nagbago talaga ang panahon. Kaya yung climate change na aming pinag-uusapan ay talagang nakikita na natin. Unfortunately nararamdaman na talaga natin (The climate has really changed. Unfortunately, we're experiencing it now)," he said.

"Hindi na natin kailangang basahin pa yung mga report o study ng mga sayantipiko, alam na natin kung gaano kabigat ang magiging epekto ng climate change (We no longer have to read the scientists' reports or studies. We know how grave the effects of climate change is)," he added.

With this, President Marcos revealed that he has directed the DPWH, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), and other agencies to revise their flood control master plans to boost infrastructure capacity to handle increasing flood risks.

The President further stressed the importance of modern, climate-resilient designs for roads and bridges, ensuring these structures are safe, durable, and adaptable to the changing climate.