26/08/2026
๐ฏ๐บ๐บ๐ช๐ช๐ถ๐ท๐ฌ: ๐น๐ฌ๐บ๐ฐ๐ณ๐ฐ๐ฌ๐ต๐ช๐ฌ ๐๐ ๐ท๐น๐ฌ๐ท๐จ๐น๐ฌ๐ซ๐ต๐ฌ๐บ๐บ?
The Habagat, or southwest monsoon, continues to bring heavy rain and thunderstorms to different areas of the Philippines, especially in western regions. According to PAGASA, heavy and continuous rainfall has caused flooding and rain-induced landslides in vulnerable areas. This seasonal weather affected the daily lives of many Filipinos. Classes, work, transportation, and other activities have also been disrupted. Some communities have also had to change their routines and plans because of the weather.
Each year, as the rainy season arrives, there comes a familiar routine where many Filipinos experience the need to receive weather reports, prepare for potential suspensions, and alter our plans due to rain that disrupts our school and personal routines, among others. This is what we are accustomed to doing in such situations, relying on resilience to cope with the effects rather than preparing for them beforehand. But when faced with the same predicament repeatedly, are we learning to prepare more, or simply learning how to cope?
Filipinos are resilient, and this is certainly an asset to possess. Resilience helps people adapt and cope when things become difficult. However, being able to recover does not mean that we should always have to depend on resilience whenever the same hazards return. It should help us face these situations, not make up for the lack of proper preparation, communication, and response.
That is why preparation before a disaster happens matters. Having emergency supplies at home is not enough. It is important to be aware of the dangers that surround us, know the meaning of the warnings, and be ready with our plans before things get dangerous. As part of the DOST-PAGASAโs 2026 Typhoon and Flood Awareness Week, science-based preparedness, early warning systems, and community actions were identified as important tools in disaster risk reduction. Being prepared gives us something to rely on before we have to depend on resilience.
Preparation also involves communication. Warnings will be helpful if they are received, understood, and acted upon. In cases of bad weather, timely information helps families, communities, and institutions plan ahead of time. It is not enough to give people information; they should also know what to do with it.
The response to the hazard is equally significant. After the hazard occurs, preparation should be accompanied by appropriate measures for coordination and assistance. Everyone has a role in responding to hazards, but institutions also need to establish systems to help people respond effectively during sudden circumstances.
There are also limitations to preparation. Although we can prepare ourselves before a typhoon, we donโt have control over what the weather will bring. The location of the community itself also makes a big difference. Despite the risks, we need to focus on the areas we can still address.
Every challenge we face can teach us something. After the rain, instead of simply moving on, we can look back and ask what worked, what did not, and what we could have done differently next time. Were the warnings sufficient? Did people have enough time to prepare? Did the response work? Asking these questions can help us improve instead of simply getting used to the same problems.
We should never come to accept disruptions as inevitable. Flooding on a regular basis, school suspensions, and disruptions to our daily lives can make us believe they are just something we have to live with. We should never forget that there are still things we can do about them.
Typhoons will happen again, and rain will keep putting us to the test in terms of how well-prepared we are. While we cannot change the weather, we can certainly improve our pre-, during, and post-weather preparation. Our resilience will always be a great aid in facing tough conditions, but we do not want it to bear the burden of insufficient preparation. If resilience helps us get through disasters, then preparedness should help us face them before they happenโmaking preparedness the resilience we canโt afford to lack.
Article Writer โ๏ธ: Heaven Blythe M. Reyes (HSSCC Journalism Committee)
๐จ: Daphne Perez (HSSCC Multimedia Committee)
