President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has expressed strong disapproval toward local government officials who maintain a "chill" approach during disaster situations, emphasizing that public service requires serious commitment especially during emergencies.
Presidential Displeasure with Local Leadership
During a situation briefing at the PSC Command Operations Center on Monday, November 10, 2025, President Marcos Jr. made his position clear through Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro. "The President does not want the leadership to be just taking it easy," Castro stated in a press conference. "The work should be for the people because they rely on the government, especially in this kind of situation."
The official reinforced the President's stance, adding that "You can't say it's always just taking it easy. It should be work, not a vacation." This criticism came in response to Isabela Governor Rodolfo Albano's earlier comments urging constituents to "chill" while criticizing weather bureau forecasts for causing unnecessary panic before Super Typhoon Uwan made landfall.
Typhoon Impact and Government Response
The Philippines has been battered by successive typhoons, with Typhoon Tino leaving over 200 dead in the Visayas region, while Super Typhoon Uwan claimed 18 lives in southern and northern Luzon as of Tuesday, November 11.
The Department of the Interior and Local Government has already launched an investigation into several local government executives who were absent from their respective areas when Typhoon Tino struck the country. This probe highlights the ongoing concerns about local government accountability during natural disasters.
Preemptive Measures Save Lives
Despite the criticism of some local officials, President Marcos Jr. expressed satisfaction with the preemptive measures implemented by government agencies. The Office of Civil Defense reported that these preparations made a significant difference in reducing casualties.
"Disasters and calamities sometimes cannot be avoided and happen even when we don't want them to," Castro explained. "So the preparations shown by the agencies that save people from danger are seen by the President as the good work our agencies are doing."
The numbers demonstrate the scale of these efforts: approximately 290,000 families or 898,000 individuals were preemptively evacuated before Typhoon Tino's onslaught, while 499,000 families or 1.7 million individuals heeded evacuation calls before Super Typhoon Uwan hit.
Castro emphasized that "Because of the preemptive measures carried out by our agency, and under the orders of President Marcos Jr., our efforts to rescue our fellow citizens have become much greater." This coordinated approach between national and local governments, when properly executed, has proven crucial in mitigating the devastating impact of these natural disasters on Filipino communities.
