Floods in the Philippines: A Recurring Crisis
Flooding has been a persistent disaster in the Philippines, long before storm Ondoy in 2009 and the recent southwest monsoon rains submerged Metro Manila and parts of Luzon. The devastating impact of these floods, which last only days, leaves behind unforgettable damage—thousands of lives lost, destroyed properties, and billions in economic losses.
Last week, the southwest monsoon, locally called habagat, intensified by several storms, unleashed heavy rains that flooded Luzon, Metro Manila, and even reached the Visayas and Mindanao. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council reported that Tropical Cyclones Crising, Dante, and Emong, combined with the monsoon, caused 31 deaths.
Economic Toll and Urgent Solutions
Agricultural damages hit P1.6 billion, affecting countless farmers and fisherfolk, while infrastructure losses surpassed P7.1 billion—Central Luzon alone accounted for P3.7 billion. City planner Paulo Alcazaren emphasized the urgent need for the government to update land use plans to include flood mitigation strategies. He suggested incorporating retention lakes in subdivisions and large cisterns in malls to temporarily store rainwater before releasing it into drainage systems.
Alcazaren also highlighted relocating informal settlers from waterways and adopting a broader regional approach to address the sources of flooding. He urged authorities to acquire more land for parks with ample greenery, which can absorb rainwater better than paved areas.
Annual Threats from Tropical Cyclones
Flooding remains a critical issue in the Philippines, a country hit by an average of 20 tropical cyclones yearly, with eight to nine making landfall and causing widespread destruction.
Historical Floods That Shaped the Nation
Since the 1970s, the Philippines has endured some of its worst floods. The so-called “Great Luzon Flood” saw typhoon Gloring deliver nonstop rain for six weeks, resulting in 656 deaths and P2 billion in damages. During this time, 90 percent of Metro Manila was submerged, forcing residents to seek refuge on rooftops amid scarce food and water.
In November of that decade, Typhoon Uring devastated Leyte, especially Ormoc City, with flash floods that killed nearly 5,000 people and caused P1 billion in damage. Water levels peaked at seven feet within hours.
Other Deadly Flood Events
In September 1998, tropical cyclones Gading, Iliang, and Lolen led to massive flooding across Luzon, killing 481 people and flooding almost 1,000 barangays in 104 towns. Around 18,000 hectares of rice fields were severely damaged.
Typhoon Reming triggered deadly mudslides in Bicol, where lahar and rocks from Mayon Volcano buried villages, killing over 700 and causing P5 billion in losses.
Typhoon Frank flooded the Visayas and Luzon, killing nearly 1,000 people and causing P13.32 billion in damage. Iloilo City was particularly hard hit, with 80 percent submerged.
Recent Storms and Their Impact
In 2009, Tropical Storm Ondoy dumped a month’s worth of rain in six hours, killing nearly 500 and causing P11.1 billion in damages in Metro Manila and Luzon. Later that year, Typhoon Sendong struck Mindanao, causing rivers to overflow and killing 1,268 people, with damages reaching P12 billion.
August 2013 saw the southwest monsoon, intensified by Tropical Storm Maring, bring heavier rains than Ondoy—600 mm in 24 hours—resulting in 27 deaths and P689 million damage.
Typhoon Yolanda caused a storm surge that submerged parts of the Visayas, affecting 14 million people, killing 6,340, and damaging P95.4 billion worth of property.
Typhoon Ulysses brought some of the worst floods in Cagayan Valley, killing 101 and causing P20 billion in damages just before Christmas.
Storms Kristine and Leon damaged the Bicol Region, Calabarzon, and Batanes, killing 160 and leaving P17.6 billion in losses last year.
Practical Steps to Reduce Flood Risks
Alcazaren recommends year-round cleaning of drainage systems to prevent clogging. He also advocates planting more trees in urban areas, streets, and vacant lots to absorb rainwater. Buildings should incorporate rainwater storage, and new parking areas should use permeable paving to reduce runoff.
He also supports building detention cisterns like those in Bonifacio Global City to temporarily hold stormwater and reduce flooding.
For more news and updates on flooding in the Philippines, visit Filipinokami.com.
