Malacañang has defended President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s call for Filipinos to collect and store water in buckets as preparation for the possible worsening of El Niño in the coming months.
The Palace response followed criticism from some netizens who questioned the suggestion, saying it appeared unserious and placed the responsibility for preparing for El Niño on individual households.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said Marcos was serious about preparing for the possible worsening effects of the weather phenomenon.
Castro also emphasized that the president’s remarks should not be viewed as focusing solely on the purchase or use of buckets.
She said the suggestion was part of broader preparations, including teaching the public how to collect and properly store rainwater for later use.
Castro criticized those she described as “obstructionists” who, she said, focused on the negative aspects of the president’s initiatives. She also responded to critics with a remark that they might need a “bucket of brains” to understand the government’s plan.
Meanwhile, Department of Social Welfare and Development Secretary Rex Gatchalian is preparing a video tutorial to teach the public how to carry out water filtration, Castro said.
The planned instructional video is intended to demonstrate the filtration process as part of the government’s preparations for the potential effects of El Niño.
The Palace maintained that the president’s recommendation should be understood within the broader context of water conservation and preparedness rather than as a standalone measure.
The government’s preparations, as described by Castro, include public education on rainwater storage and water filtration.
The Palace statement came amid online criticism of Marcos’ bucket recommendation. However, the supplied report did not provide further details on the timeline for the video tutorial or additional measures planned by the government.
Castro reiterated that the administration was taking the potential effects of El Niño seriously and was preparing the public for possible challenges in the coming months.
