MABALACAT CITY -- These disasters are signs that the Lord is coming.

Thus said Mayor Cris Garbo as he enumerated to his fellow local officials and government workers natural disasters, the spread of deadly virus, and other events that transpired all over the world last month.

During Monday’s flag raising ceremony, Garbo, a member of a Christian community, said these may serve as wake up call to the people.

“I just want to remind [you] that a lot things happened this month of January but it has been declared that 2020 will be the greatest decade ever by the Lord and He wants us to feel that,” the mayor said.

Garbo mentioned the earthquakes and the bush fires that killed millions of animals and other species in Australia. He said this big fire will contribute to climate change.

The mayor also cited the 2019 novel coronavirus and the war of Iran with America where a civilian airline with more than 140 passengers became “collateral damage” and the eruption of Taal Volcano.

“With all of these things happening to us, we should hang on with our faith [to God]. We should pray that we in the City of Mabalacat and the whole province of Pampanga will not be seriously affected,” Garbo said.

The mayor at the same time bared the anti-drug campaign of the local government, in coordination with the barangay anti-drug abuse councils.

Garbo expressed hopes that Mabalacat will be included in the list of cities declared as free from illegal drugs by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.

The provinces of Bataan and Aurora were declared drug free, according to Garbo.

“I am hoping that here in Pampanga, we will be the second one to be drug free city,” he said.