Aquino says he is responsible for how government works in preparing for Typhoon ‘Ruby’

President Benigno Simeon Aquino III delivers his speech during United Nation Climate Change Summit held at the UN Headquarters here on Tuesday (September 23). (Photo by Ryan Lim / Malacanang Photo Bureau)

MANILA — In the midst of preparations being made to brace for the impact of super typhoon ‘Ruby’, President Benigno S. Aquino III said Friday he is ultimately responsible for how the government works and he want to impress on everyone that it is not just a matter of doing something but rather doing the right thing.

Responding to comments on how he led Thursday’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) meeting, President Aquino quipped that his Cabinet secretaries have to endure “a thesis-like defense presentation” whenever he asks them questions.

“But at the end of the day, I really want to be able to say to myself when I look in the mirror, that we have done everything that was humanly possible to address whatever was issued to us,” he said during the 28th Annual Bulong Pulungan Christmas Party and Forum held at the Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila in Pasay City.

“And I impress on all the members of this government, and not just in the Executive, that we do bear a responsibility to everybody and we should not have a period where we are regretting that we could have done something and we didn’t choose to do so.

So, perhaps that is my way of making sure that everybody is doing the utmost in their respective roles,” he said.

President Aquino on Thursday afternoon presided over a meeting in Camp Aquinaldo to coordinate government efforts to mitigate the impact of Typhoon ‘Ruby,’ which is expected to hit Eastern Visayas on Saturday afternoon.

During the Bulong Pulungan, President Aquino also expressed his satisfaction with the presentation made by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) during the NDRRMC meeting.

“We had to learn about the science of all of this. We had to be clarified as to the precise meaning of all of the phrases and words and the jargon that was being thrown about in the hope of being able to direct the necessary actions in a more precise manner. So I was very happy with the DOST presentation,” he said.

He said he was also satisfied with the respective presentations of the Department of Public Works and Highways, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine National Police, and the Department of Energy.