Vice President Jejomar C. Binay led relief operations in the province of Rizal Friday for victims of floods caused by the monsoon rains and typhoon Maring.

            The Vice President led the distribution of 1,000 bags of relief goods for each of the towns of Angono, Cainta and Antipolo.

            Binay also led in the distribution of relief goods in Bulacan and Tarlac Thursday.

            One thousand bags of relief goods were each distributed in Balagtas, Bulakan, Marilao and Meycauyan in Bulacan; while 600 bags were each given in Tarlac City and Concepcion in Tarlac.

            The Office of the Vice President previously deployed relief teams in Montalban, Rizal; Paranaque City; Obando, Bulacan; and the Sto. Domingo Church and Sta. Mesa in Quezon City.

            One thousand bags were each released to victims in Montalban, Paranaque, and Obando, while 500 bags were released to the victims in Sta. Mesa, and to evacuees camped in the Sto. Domingo Church.

            Binay, who chairs the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council, said climate change rather than garbage was more likely the cause of the floods that submerged most of Metro Manila.

            “Ito pong pangyayari natin sa Maring ay hindi naman po masyado sa basura. Ang talagang pangunahing dahilan ay climate change. ’Yon pong inulan natin (noong nakaraang mga araw) ay ulan po (na katumbas) sa isang buwan po ’yan kaya kung titignan po ninyo, ang baha ay kabi-kabila,” he said.

            He added that government should also be more driven to institute mechanisms that will minimize flooding and help in coping with the effects of climate change.

            “In the face of climate change, the need to protect the environment through a planned, rationalized, and equitable use of the land has seen increasing importance. That is why we in the housing sector are pushing for local government units to implement their respective Comprehensive Land Use Plans,” the housing czar said.