(File photo)

MANILA, (PIA) -- President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Saturday floated the need to review the government's standard operating procedures (SOPs) to prevent the loss of lives during disaster events.

Pres. Marcos presided over the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council Full Council Meeting for Severe Tropical Storm Paeng, which as of press time, has claimed the lives of at least 40 persons and left some 10 individuals missing in the province of Maguindanao due to severe flash flooding and landslides.

The Chief Executive said government could have done better for Maguindanao amid the onslaught of 'Paeng.'

“We could've done better in Maguindanao in terms of preparing… We were not able to anticipate na ganoon ang magiging laki ng tubig kaya hindi natin na-warningan yung mga tao to get out of the way there (We were not able to anticipate that the water level will be that high so we were unable to warn the people to get out of the way there).”

"Why did we have no advance warning that flooding in Maguindanao was going to be like this?" the President asked Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Secretary Renato Solidum, whose agency is on top of providing science-based warnings related to natural hazards like typhoons.

In response, Sec. Solidum told the President that "concerned agencies" earlier issued rainfall forecast in the Mindanao area that could cause flooding.

"It was emphasized that there were rainfall due to the low pressure.. 'yung kaulapan will cause heavy rains (the cloud formation will cause heavy rains)," Solidum said.

Marcos then emphasized that all national agencies should coordinate with local government units in order to benefit from their shared data.

"We have to already look at it kasi ang daming casualties... It will be important to ask, to look back and see why this happened na hindi natin naagapan ito (we were unable to pre-empt this)," Marcos said.

To recall, the DOST is the lead agency for Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, one of the four key thematic areas of the Philippines' National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Plan that focuses on avoiding hazards and mitigating their potential impacts by reducing vulnerabilities and exposure and enhancing capacities of communities.

For his part, NDRRMC Executive Director Raymundo Ferrer said what happened in Maguindana was "unprecedented" due to the "unsual" rainfall.

"Kaya lang po, 'yung nangyari sa Maguindanao medyo unprecedented po 'yun Mr. President, kasi malayo naman po sila sa dadaanan ng bagyo pero meron pong unusual rainfall doon for two days hanggang lumambot po 'yung lupa doon sa mga coastal area at nagkaroon po ng landslide at doon po tayo nagkaroon ng maraming casualties sir."

Ferrer also recommended the declaration of a national state of calamity for one year due to the "effects, damage and projected impacts" by Severe Tropical Storm Paeng for a period of one (1) year, unless earlier lifted.

Likewise, the official recommended for the government to accept offers of international assistance based on needs. (PIA-NCR)