Camille Naredo

Students navigate the flooded section of Taft Avenue in Manila on Friday, August 22, 2025. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

Students navigate the flooded section of Taft Avenue in Manila on Friday, August 22, 2025.

Manila Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso ordered the suspension of face-to-face classes at all levels in both public and private schools after heavy rains caused massive flooding in the city.

The weather bureau PAGASA issued a heavy rainfall warning in various parts of Luzon due to the southwest monsoon enhanced by Tropical Depression Isang.
Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

MANILA FLOODING

Paige Javier

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/175593574204620250822-td-isang-flooding-manila-students-JC0377.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Students navigate the flooded section of Taft Avenue in Manila on Friday, August 22, 2025. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News"/>Students navigate the flooded section of Taft Avenue in Manila on Friday, August 22, 2025. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News</div>MANILA – The head of the University of the Philippines Resilience Institute emphasized the need for good governance and the use of science in helping address flooding in the whole country.UPRI Executive Director Mahar Lagmay on Saturday highlighted the importance of good governance amid issues on alleged anomalous flood control projects.&quot;Kapag hindi good ang governance, nagkakaroon ng katiwalian. &#x27;Yung pera na dapat nauukol para mas maging maginhawa ang buhay ng mamamayan ay nauunsiyami, hindi natutuloy,&quot; he said on the sidelines of a flood control resilience initiatives summit in Valenzuela City.&quot;So importante talaga yung datos ay open, transparent ang governance para sa ganung paraan kapag transparant, yung mga hindi kanaisnais na mga bagay na maaring mangyari ay hindi mangyari with transparency and with open, openness of data sets,&quot; Lagmay added.The resilience expert said urban planning is very important, as well as science and &quot;nature-based solutions.&quot;<div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/8/22/-not-an-isolated-case-lacson-scoffs-at-dpwh-s-excuse-over-ghost-flood-control-projects-1845">&#x27;Not an isolated case&#x27;: Lacson scoffs at DPWH&#x27;s excuse over &#x27;ghost&#x27; flood control projects</a></div>&quot;Importante na ma-mainstream ang science at maging risk-informed ang plano. Kasi kapag hindi science basked at risk-informed ang mga plano, yung ating mga ginagawa ay walang basehan. Kapag science-based at saka risk-informed ligtas ang ating mga mamamayan, development will continue even if there are hazards,&quot; he said.&quot;Kapag ka meron tayong mga ginagawa na science-based, natutukoy natin kaagad, mas nakakapipid ang mga mamamayan. Hindi tayong gastos ng 150 billion per year. Eh ang nagagawa lang ng kalikasan na kada taon ay nakakapinsala lang ng 50 billion,&quot; Lagmay pointed out.The UP scientist there is no one size fits all solution but all the initiatives of will come together to curb flooding.&quot;Lahat yan importante kasi hindi mo naman masolusiyon ang problema natin na per location kasi ang problema. Pagkamarami ang solusiyon na maliliit, pag nagsama-sama yun, maaari mo ang masolusiyon ang problema,&quot; Lagmay shared.&quot;Bago mo magawa yun, kailangan hanapin mo muna yung problema, intindihin yung problema, gamit ang siensya. Gagamitin mo yung teknolohiya para malaman po ano yung tamang solusiyon na gagawin,&quot; he added.Lagmay said it might be time to think of new strategies, aside from infrastructure projects, to address flooding.<div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/weather-traffic/2025/8/22/list-flooded-roads-in-metro-manila-on-aug-22-friday-0940">LIST: Flooded roads in Metro Manila on Aug. 22, Friday</a></div>&quot;Mag-isip tayo ng ibang strategy, maari nating isulong pa, i-push natin yung paggamit ng siyensiya at pag-usapan. Mas maging innotative, mas maging imaginative. Ang importante, huwag natin inuulit yung alam na natin na mali,&quot; he said.Lagmay explained that each location has a different problem when it comes to flooding, not all of which rely on infrastructure projects for a solution.&quot;Kailangan inaalam natin ang dagdag sa problema katulad ng pagtayo ng mga gusali sa ibabaw ng mga sapa, yung pagtapon ng basura, yung mga pagputol ng mga puno, excessive na concrete na pwede naman, nag-absorb na mga parks, imbis na concrete ay hayaan na lang ang lupa na may tanim o kaya mga sponge roads,&quot; he said.&quot;Maraming mga pwede tayong gawin na hindi lang dike ang gagamitin. Kasama na yung mga traditional, katulad doon mga pumps, katulad doon mga dike, kasamahan pa natin doon ng mga iba para maging mas maigi ang solution,&quot; Lagmay shared.When asked about the cause of recent flooding in parts of Metro Manila, he said there&#x27;s no one explanation since situations differ in each city.But he mentioned the accumulation of trash, narrowing of drainages and construction of various buildings near waterways are the common reasons.<div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/8/8/dotr-daily-dredging-of-waterways-to-continue-for-rest-of-rainy-season-2353">DOTr: Daily dredging of waterways to continue for rest of rainy season</a></div>

The head of the University of the Philippines Resilience Institute emphasized the need for good governance and the use of science in helping address flooding in the whole country.

The head of the University of the Philippines Resilience Institute emphasized the need for good governance and the use of science in helping address flooding in the whole country.

Good governance, science-backed solutions key to address flooding: resilience expert

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

Traffic

Manila

Horoscope

Health & Science

Good governance, science-backed solutions key to address flooding: resilience expert

Paige Javier,

ABS-CBN News

Published Aug 23, 2025 04:03 PM PHT

Read More:

Flood control projects

University of the Philippines Resilience Institute

Science

Nature-based solutions

Flooding

Metro Manila

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.