Beyond Ressilience

The combined effects of the enhanced southwest monsoon (habagat) and tropical cyclones Luis and Maymay brought more than a week of persistent rains across Metro Manila and several parts of the country, causing widespread flooding in low-lying communities. Familiar scenes once again filled our screens and social media feeds: families carrying belongings to safety, residents seeking shelter in evacuation centers, commuters stranded by impassable roads and motorists navigating streets submerged by floodwaters.

Then, as often happens, life will slowly return to normal. But I sincerely hope this time, we do more than just that.

PAGASA reported that parts of Luzon received nearly a month’s worth of rainfall in just nine days. In Benguet, rainfall even exceeded the province’s normal August average within that short period. Climate change is not just a concern discussed in conferences and policy papers. We see it unfolding in our communities, schools, roads and homes. But not everything should be blamed on nature.

As of Aug. 12, the Office of Civil Defense reported that around 385,000 families or 1.31 million people had been affected across 10 regions. Infrastructure damage reached P1.12 billion. Hundreds of homes were damaged while thousands sought temporary shelter in evacuation centers. The Department of Education reported that 3,924 classrooms sustained damage, including 751 that were totally destroyed. These are not mere figures in a report – they are disrupted lives, lost income, interrupted education and shattered peace of mind.

The situation brings us to a question that many Filipinos have been repeatedly asking for: what happened to the billions spent on flood control? This is not an unfair question. It is a necessary one.

The Filipino taxpayer fulfills his obligation every day. Taxes are deducted from salaries. Businesses pay their dues. Consumers pay taxes whenever they buy goods and services. In return, government is expected to protect communities and build infrastructure that works.

When the same areas continue to flood despite years of flood control projects, studies and improvement programs, questions naturally arise about what has worked, what has not and what still needs to be done.

The frustration today is deeper because this is not a new problem. This had been the same conversation for decades. Flood control projects have received funding under different administrations. Yet many Filipinos continue to suffer the same situation every rainy season.

Calls for a full accounting of flood control funds deserve our support. People have every right to know where projects were built, how much was spent and whether they delivered what was promised. Every peso comes from taxpayers. Every project should stand up to public scrutiny.

Accountability should not begin and end with hearings or press briefings. If mistakes were made, they should be corrected. If funds were misused, those responsible should answer for them. That is how public trust is built.

I also find myself thinking about how often we return to the phrase “Filipino resilience.”

For years, we wore it as a badge of honor. It reflected our ability to endure, adapt and help one another through difficult times. Those qualities remain among our greatest strengths and are worth celebrating. But resilience, by itself, is not a flood control plan.

Every flood reminds us of the quiet heroism of ordinary Filipinos. Parents do whatever they can to keep their children safe. Neighbors look after one another. Linemen, service crews, local officials and volunteers work long hours so communities can get back on their feet. These stories, while they inspire us, should also challenge us.

We cannot be satisfied with simply getting through one flood after another. The real goal is to make sure fewer families have to go through the same hardship the next time the rain comes. That is what progress should look like.

As a senior citizen, I have witnessed many storms – both literal and political. I have also seen how quickly public attention shifts once the skies clear and daily life resumes. Yet flooding remains a recurring challenge for many communities. That is why the conversation should continue long after the waters have receded.

Flood management cannot be limited to rescue operations, relief goods and evacuation centers. These are essential and often lifesaving, but they are only part of the response. Equal attention must be given to long-term solutions that strengthen infrastructure, protect the environment and reduce future risks.

What we need is a sustained national commitment that extends beyond election cycles and focuses on lasting results for the generations that will inherit the communities we build today.

We do not have to look far for examples of what can work. Singapore has spent years investing in drainage and water management. Japan has built systems that help protect communities from even the worst storms while making sure those systems are maintained. South Korea showed that restoring rivers and waterways can reduce flooding while making cities more livable.

The lesson is not that these countries are wealthier or luckier. The lesson is that they stayed focused. They planned for the long term and stuck with it. We can do the same.

The priorities are not difficult to identify. Flood control projects must be transparent. Rivers and drainage systems must be maintained regularly, not only after they overflow. Watersheds and forests must be protected. National agencies and local governments must work from the same plan instead of pursuing separate solutions.

None of this will make headlines overnight. Good maintenance rarely does. But some of the most important public works are the ones people barely notice because they quietly do their job.

That, after all, is the goal. Success should not be measured by the number of rescue boats deployed after a storm. It should be measured by the number of families who never need rescuing in the first place.

As the waters recede once again, we owe it to affected families, displaced workers, students returning to damaged classrooms and taxpayers who continue to do their part to keep this conversation going.

Resilience will always be part of who we are. But for the sake of our children and grandchildren, we should aim for something more: communities that are safer, better prepared and less vulnerable each time the rain comes. That will require accountability, competence and the discipline to stay the course long after the floodwaters are gone.