Palace hits critics of Marcos balde advice: They need buckets of brains

MANILA, Philippines — Palace Press Officer Claire Castro on Tuesday said those criticizing President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s advice for the public to buy buckets and collect water ahead of Super El Niño should instead buy themselves “buckets and buckets of brains” to understand Marcos’ plan.

These scathing remarks came amid backlash to the President’s remarks during an interview in Singapore over the weekend, where he urged Filipinos to prepare buckets and other containers to collect rainwater as the government drew up measures to address possible water shortages.

READ: Marcos urges Filipinos to collect rainwater ahead of Super El Niño

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One of them is Vice President Sara Duterte, who said the public can no longer expect anything from Marcos.

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“Hindi po ito pagkaniya-kaniya. Kung ito lang po ang nadinig na patungkol sa balde, ang mas maganda po, umupo sila at makinig. Sit down and listen kung ano ang sinasabi ng Pangulo,” Castro said at a briefing.

(This is not about everyone fending for themselves. If all they heard was the part about buckets, then it would be better for them to sit down and listen. Sit down and listen to what the President is saying.)

“Bakit iyong balde lang ang kanilang nakita at nadinig? Baka ang kailangan natin ngayon—hindi sa lahat ha, hindi ko po nila lahat. Ito ay patungkol sa mga obstructionists na walang makitang positibo sa mga ginagawa ng Pangulo. Sa mga obstructionists po itong sasabihin ko. Kailangan po talaga natin ng balde-baldeng utak para maintindihan ninyo po kung ano ang plano ng Pangulo,” she continued.

(Why did they only notice and hear the part about the buckets? Perhaps what we need now—and I’m not referring to everyone, I’m not referring to all of them—is for those who see nothing positive in what thePresident is doing. I am referring to these obstructionists. We really need buckets and buckets of brains for you to understand the President’s plan.)

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Castro said Marcos has just presided over a meeting with the El Niño Task Force, where the water filtration system was one of the main topics. She said the Social Welfare Secretary will also produce a video about it for your instruction.

The President is also taking seriously the expected Super El Niño so every discussion, message, suggestion, and lesson regarding this must be taken seriously, she said.

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“Lahat po tayo ay kailangang magmasid, maging mapanuri, huwag puro negatibo dahil kapag kayo negatibo, hindi po kayo matututo. So, kaya nga sabihin natin sa mga obstructionists, kung puwede lang bumili ng baldeng utak para maibigay sa inyo,” said the Palace official.

(We all need to observe and be discerning. Don’t focus only on the negative, because if you are negative, you will not learn. So, as we tell the obstructionists, if only we could buy buckets of brains to give you.)

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In an interview with local media in Singapore on Sunday, Marcos said the government would launch an information campaign teaching households how to collect, filter, and treat rainwater to make it safe for use. /jpv