Locals describe difficulties as floods impact millions in Philippines

Several residents in Bulacan Province, the Philippines said they were experiencing the most severe flood of their life in interviews with China Global Television Network (CGTN) on Friday.

The Philippines has been continuously affected by Typhoon Gaemi, Typhoon Prapiroon and the southwest monsoon since July 11, the Philippines National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) stated on Saturday.

Rolando Garcia, a local shop owner, attributed the severe flooding in Bulacan to continuous rains and water from the upstream.

"It has been raining the past few days, and they released water from the dam. That's why the water levels rose very fast," he said.

As of Saturday, the floods have affected more than 3.36 million people across the country, killing residents and destroying houses.

By Friday, Typhoon Gaemi caused at least 33 deaths in the Philippines, with three people still missing. Metro Manila officials declared a state of calamity in the capital region on July 24.

"Almost hip-high floodwater penetrated and destroyed my house, which was made of plywood and was too thin, so it was easily washed away. We were rescued by a boat when the water was up to my neck. I have lived here most of my life and this is the first time I have experienced such deep flooding," said Gregorio de Rios, a local resident.

Carolina Garcia Borja, another local resident who has been relocated to a relief camp, said she lost almost all her possession in the flood.

"The water flooded my house up to my chest, and all my appliances, cupboards and chairs were swept away. I'm grateful because we have a bed and food here, which is a big help for us. We appreciate this treatment," she said.

In addition to evacuation operations, local authorities have been providing supplies for affected residents to tide over the difficulties.

"If you combine the rain volume and high tides, this is the highest flooding we have experienced here in the town of Guiguinto. Our ongoing rescue operations are spearheaded by Mayor Agatha Paula Cruz. We are distributing relief materials to the most-affected villages, such as Ilang-ilang, Poblacion and Sta. We will continue to do this until we have provided assistance to the families affected by severe flooding in their communities," said Edward John S. Mendoza, municipal social welfare development officer of Guiguinto, Bulacan.

"We are distributing relief items to the victims of the flood. The impact of Typhoon Gaemi and the southwest monsoon on our village and the entire province of Bulacan was that in just three days, almost 70 percent of the houses were flooded, and now the water is slowly receding. We are considering efforts to address flooding in our community in the future," said Manny Hoson, village chieftain of Guiguinto.

Locals describe difficulties as floods impact millions in Philippines

Locals describe difficulties as floods impact millions in Philippines

Long-standing challenges in Mexico's automotive industry have been exacerbated with the implementation of the U.S. tariff on imported cars, which took effect Thursday, fueling uncertainty and job losses.

Last month, U.S. President Donald Trump announced a 25 percent tariff on all imported automobiles.

Ciudad Juarez, one of Mexico's largest trade ports and a key manufacturing hub, is now facing even greater challenges as rising trade protectionism deepens existing pressures.

At a medal parts manufacturing factory that has been in operation for over 30 years, the workforce has drastically reduced from 60 workers to just 25 due to uncertainty about the future.

Even before the U.S. tariffs on imported cars took effect, mounting pressure had already begun to ripple through the industry, prompting many companies to suspend investment and procurement plans.

"Some 95 percent of the products exported from Chihuahua, where Ciudad Juarez is located, are industrial manufactured goods. We have held multiple meetings to discuss solutions. In fact, over the past year and a half, more than 55,000 factory workers here in the city have lost their jobs," said the owner of the factory.

The automotive industry is a key pillar of Mexico's economy, generating nearly 100 billion U.S. dollars in output. The auto parts assembly industry alone provides over 900,000 jobs for the country, while automotive assembly companies create 175,000 jobs.

According to statistics from the Mexican Association of Automotive Dealers (AMDA), over 40 percent of the components used by American auto manufacturers are imported from Mexico. Last year, Mexico produced four million cars, approximately three million of which were exported to the U.S.

Industry insiders indicate that due to the high degree of interdependence in the sector between the U.S. and Mexico, along with a shortage of skilled labor, the U.S. goal of bringing automotive manufacturing back to its shores through tariffs is unlikely to be realized in the short term.

Moreover, the established industrial chain in Mexico faces the risk of being disrupted, which will ultimately have repercussions on consumer spending and further exacerbate inflation in the long run.

"Young people from the U.S. are no longer willing to work in the manufacturing sector. I believe there will be no growth in the relocation of automotive parts and vehicles factories in the short term," said Guillermo Rosales Zarate, ADMA's executive president.

"Personally, I hope this avalanche of tariffs doesn't continue; otherwise, it will lead to more significant issues affecting the U.S. economy. If these tariffs remain in place long-term, it will be the American people who suffer the most," said Ricardo Ramos, a professor with the Autonomous University of Ciudad Juarez.

U.S. automotive tariffs deepen industry pressures, halt investments in Mexico