MANILA, Philippines – President Benigno Aquino III said the amount of rainfall brought by tropical storm Maring and the southwest monsoon was “unusual,” but that it provided the government with the force it needs to carry out its improvement plans.

“We were given more of an impetus to do what we have to do,” he told reporters on Wednesday, August 21 during his visit to an evacuation center in Mandaluyong City.

He cited a need to decrease death toll, to file cases against companies that build structures along waterways, and to demolish these structures. Public Works and Highways Secretary Rogelio Singson also said they are currently working to improve drainage systems and increase the capacity of waterways.

Aquino said he was pleased with the consolidation of rescue efforts, and the fact that no communities were isolated this time around unlike last year, when some affected areas were unreachable to rescuers.

He also said more illegal settlers are set to move out of danger areas next month.

Aquino personally distributed relief goods in 3 evacuation centers — two in Laguna and one in Mandaluyong — the day Maring left the country.

In De La Paz Elementary School, where over 328 families or 1,300 evacuees sought shelter, Aquino gave assurances the government would take care of them.

“The government is ready for calamities like this. Let’s not worry, we have a lot of resources to rebuild the damage at the soonest time,” he said.

He then visited the Mandaluyong Elementary school where 307 families and 1,631 were  brought to at the height of the Habagat rains Tuesday, August 20. At least 267 of the evacuees in this school are below 6 years old.

The President said 225,056 families or 1,065,353 people have been affected by the rains and floods nationwide. About 35,000 families are staying in evacuation centers across the country. – Rappler.com