As victims of typhoon-prone Philippines’ worst floods in 50 years clean up and rebuild, its disaster-risk management is back under the spotlight

By Alixandra Caole Vila

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There has been an increase in flooding in the Philippines in recent years due to the growing intensity of the tropical cyclones that batter the country each year, experts say. It has become a “new normal” despite the country having risk management plans in place.

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An economic development specialist at the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), Vega says the encroachment of informal settlers and clogging of sewers with uncontrolled waste exacerbates Marikina’s flooding problems.

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“Many flood-control programmes have been put in place,” he says. “In 2012, the NEDA board approved the Flood Management Master Plan for Metro Manila and surrounding areas. But flooding remains a perennial problem and many cities continue to suffer from severe inundation.”

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Because the intensity of tropical cyclones is increasing, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration, which provides public weather forecasts and advisories, revised the system for storm warnings in 2015.

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