by: Rhianne Jessica Lao
Copyedited by: Orange Zyrille Alcaraz
Publication by: Yelena Fabricante

A house built on mud will always look fine until the rain arrives.

In the Philippines, July marks the peak of the Habagat season, the endless rain and harsh winds knocking on the doorstep, like expected guests, turning the streets into rivers of promises unkept once they enter.

In the previous week alone, the Habagat was intensified by three consecutive weather disturbances, causing widespread flooding across the country, including Metro Manila.

The relentless weather submerged communities, disrupted livelihoods, and reportedly took 30 lives, exposing yet again the nation’s deep vulnerability to disasters.

Metro Manila, the bustling capital of the Philippines that serves as the center of culture, trade, and education, is one of the most naturally flood-prone areas due to its geographical location. Given its significance, one would expect a robust and effective flood mitigation system to be reinforced, yet it remains one of the most visibly and severely affected areas whenever a calamity strikes. According to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), over ₱349.4 billion, nearly a third of the national infrastructure budget, has been allocated to flood control, as noted by economist Jan Carlo “JC”

Punongbayan. Still, drainage systems overflow with every rainfall, urban planning prioritizes commercial interests instead of climate realities, and waste management barely keeps pace with the daily surge of plastic and neglect. Billions have been poured into “solutions,” yet not a single drop seems to have reached the ground.

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary, Manuel Bonoan, even admits that Metro Manila’s drainage system could no longer allow flood waters to flow to pumping stations due to the build-up of silt. What exists is not a long-term resolution, but a patchwork to ignore the inevitable consequences. As long as no action is put into the words on paper or pledges, we will continue to drown not just in water, but in failure.

“Ang hagupit ng La Niña at mga matinding pag-ulan naman ang ating binabantayan at pinaghahandaan. Mahigit 5,500 flood control project ang natapos na at marami pang iba ang kasalukuyang ginagawa sa buong bansa,” these were the words uttered by President Bongbong Marcos Jr. in his last State of the Nation Address (SONA) last July 24, 2024. Entering this season, however, shows us that these claims were just a front, as they remain largely ineffective. Every submerged barangay is a reflection of these delayed infrastructure projects, bloated budgets, and a political culture addicted to short-term spectacle.

While climate change and the onslaught of these natural disasters may be beyond our control, preparedness is not. We have known for decades that the storms will come. What we haven’t done is learn from them. Instead of proactive planning, we rely on reactive gestures. And as always, it is the poor who suffer first and recover last. In the cycle of disaster and neglect, it’s not just the streets that flood—it’s hope, dignity, and trust in a system that continues to fail the very people it claims to serve.

As President Bongbong Marcos Jr. prepares to deliver his third State of the Nation Address this July 28, the floodwaters have already spoken. Will he address the downpour not just of rain, but of public frustration? Or will he once again turn to polished lines that signal intent but fall short of action? Now more than ever, the nation awaits concrete timelines, transparent funding, empowered local governments, and resilient, future-proof systems.

The storms may pass, but the wounds they expose linger long after the waters recede. If this year’s SONA fails to speak to the people still knee-deep in neglect, then it will be no different from the house we’ve always known: fragile, unstable, and destined to fall. No matter how many times we try to rebuild it with mud, it’ll collapse just the same. How many more storms must we endure before we speak up and demand a government that does more than just wait for the sun? Real change won’t come from empty promises or patchwork solutions, but begins with building a foundation strong enough to outlast the storm and leaders brave enough to lay it down.