By Jelena Villorente

An announcement on May 30th, 2025 by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) officially marked the beginning of the Habagat season in the Philippines — and as of late, the inclement weather has been no less than unforgiving. 

Welcoming the country in its monthly downpours and obstinate winds, the southwest monsoon has become a painful trudge for the localities that the torrential storms have impacted. Notably, a severe tropical cyclone by the name of ‘Crising’ came and went through the country from July 17–19, bringing destruction in its wake and gradually developing as it moved across — and even as it exited the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR), its trail came forth to greatly exacerbate the inclement weather conditions brought about by Habagat.

From wrestling with knee-deep floods to battling torrential downpours, citizens of severely affected areas are continually confronted by the impacts of the monsoon. Looking from a larger viewpoint, however, the southwest winds already are an expected routine as the year bleeds into its latter half, and yet despite this well-known forecast, a bigger question looms — were cities truly unprepared for these seemingly anticipated conditions? Did we not have time to solve these problems even when we know this happens every year?

Soaking Shortcomings

With the Habagat season striding forward in its cold, soggy staples, it is only logical that these monsoons are already foreseen even before formal announcements. These winds most commonly arrive in May and subside after September, already putting into perspective the forecasts that are to arise throughout these dates.

Of course, given this, it must already be logical that local governments expect unideal weather to spring forth and gradually develop during this period — and yes, you would think they’d have ample time to prepare for what’s to come. Most especially when it comes to administrations having the same leader or executives for years, many would suppose these authorities would be well-familiar with the recurring destruction this annual season is capable of bringing, but reality begs to differ with the lack of their concrete agendas towards ample preparation — only contributing further to the havoc brought about by Habagat. 

Evidently, it is easy to fall victim to calamity when one is not aptly prepared, and when we’re talking about foreseen circumstances, there leaves little room for excuses. In the case of the metros, major hindrances continue to forge amidst these harsh conditions — and the hard pill to swallow? It’s that these shouldn’t have been problems to begin with if local authorities chose to arm the populace effectively.

One disastrous instance in particular occurred along Katipunan Avenue in Quezon City last July 19th, wherein a billboard and an accompanying concrete post toppled over the southbound lane. Three cars were crushed, traffic ensued, and the city was presented with yet another concern to deal with, even with other effects of Habagat still reigning in the atmosphere.

Alongside this, with nonstop rain causing floods to exacerbate and river lines to rise, students and employees moving about their days are severely affected as roads start to become impassable. This comes along with the class suspensions now beginning to file in, cascading like the raindrops and profoundly impeding the flow of education. 

To contextualize, class suspensions in the case of tropical cyclones and typhoons are announced in adherence to a system following PAGASA’s Tropical Cyclone Wind Signals. Signal No. 1 incurs suspensions for the Kindergarten levels, Signal No. 2 for Kindergarten, Elementary, and Junior High Schools, and Signal No. 3 or above for all levels and work. Orange and Red Rainfall Warnings also bring about suspensions for Kindergarten, Elementary, Junior High, and Senior High Schools. The Department of Education (DepEd) recently revised these guidelines in late 2024 given the continuous suspensions that occurred last year that were also due to extreme weather conditions. 

While this proceeding seems reasonable enough, a fissure in efficiency manifests itself in the timeliness of these announcements — especially when they are released while students may already be en route to, or in, school. This creates more difficulty for them to return to their homes at the abrupt cancellation of classes, especially for those who use public transportation or live in flood-prone areas.

There also isn’t overlooking those who suffered greatly in Crising’s lingering aftermath, with five individuals reported dead, five injured, and another seven missing as reported by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC). As a whole, however, these are merely a select, recognized few among the whole vulnerable population across the country — especially those situated around susceptible environments and who lack ample protection.

Recently, even after Crising’s recession came the emergence of three low-pressure areas (LPA) identified within the vicinity of the Philippines, the two of them later on developing into tropical storm Dante and tropical depression Emong — as well as the possibility of a continued buildup for the third LPA. These triple threats loom at the expense of the localities targeted by their trails, only further fortifying the ruin brought forth by Habagat.

Truly, these concerns, from struggling communities to irreparable wreckage, reflect not merely the impact of the southwest winds but also the lethargy exhibited by local governments in response to these recurring problems. Time and time again, these predicaments arise as the wet season commences every year — and yet, how much longer until proactive development starts to take place? Why do these mistakes continue to occur?

From frail platforms to false promises, disaster readiness still comes at the price of having to witness the fiasco before learning from them. Our own government promised a ‘disaster-resilient’ future, relying on partnerships and innovative responses for early warning systems and evacuation centers — but the current wreckage cries otherwise. Even in the past year, with the overlapping Habagat typhoons knocking communities down, government authorities failed to maximize our national capacity and address the devastation to the fullest extent possible, relying on short-term aid instead of a sustainable plan of action that now bleeds into today’s predicament.

Adding on to the lackluster effort, vulnerable citizens also experienced the absence of these officials during their time of need, choosing to leave the country to fend for itself while they audaciously take the opportunity to fly out on an escapade and escape their worries. Untimely vacations such as these are a mockery of the Philippines’ so-called ‘resilience’ — and in their unabashed acts of temerity in the face of calamity, it is easy for the population to point fingers. 

What this ultimately means for the Filipinos is a cul de sac, a dead end they’d have to climb over themselves because the people meant to guide them towards the safe end won’t willingly do so. Forsaken amidst plights, exposed communities are left to rely on their own capacities, on sporadic aid, on the hope that a miracle would save them — and with this, calamities merely turn into a survival of the fittest.

It is true that a solid point solidifies in the argument that weather cannot be controlled. Nobody can stop the monsoon, the rains, the winds, and the storms from hitting the country wherever and whenever they can. What can at least be done, however, is to alleviate its effects on vulnerable areas and populations, and operate proactively in perpetuating not the same mistakes — but optimized safety.

Pillars of Support

As the wet season persists, one thing is certain: problems will continue to arise and make their severe impacts, one way or another. Along with the winds and rain, it’s unfortunate that these issues can also be anticipated with the coming of every Habagat, threatening to impede livelihood when they shouldn’t be existing in the first place.

In the end, as overdue as it may seem to be, it is wise for authorities to deem this as a lesson to learn from onwards, and to prioritize the safety of citizens when circumstances can already be forecasted long before they arrive. Even with short-term solutions in effect, their band-aid impacts won’t surely compare to how long-term initiatives would benefit the populace on a broader scale.

Strategies that revolve around efficient drainage systems, fortified structures and buildings, spacious and accessible evacuation sites, and other projects may be undertaken by local governments in order to cushion the impact of tempestuous weather conditions. Calculated urban planning remains a crucial aspect in the realm of risk reduction and management, because without it, it is easy to expect a city’s decline — and a weakened support pillar against the harsh tropical climate.

As a whole, amidst the bleak season and its unwavering plow, what stands out in iridescent light is the lesson that comes from the shortcomings that failed to be settled as years passed. Braving the storm does not mean tolerating the damage and waiting for the season to pass — but fortifying the failing stronghold meant to keep the people safe and sound all throughout.