Ched Rick Gatchalian

Residents wade through knee-deep floodwaters along Maria Clara Street near Araneta Avenue in Quezon City as heavy rains deluge the metro on Saturday, July 19, 2025. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

 

Article (news)

PH ranks first in 2025 World Risk Index on vulnerability to flooding

Vivienne Gulla

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1762245267230floods.png" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner"></span></span></span></div><p style="text-align:left">Residents wade through knee-deep floodwaters along Maria Clara Street near Araneta Avenue in Quezon City as heavy rains deluge the metro on Saturday, July 19, 2025. <em>Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News</em></p><div><br/></div><p>MANILA — The Philippines ranked first out of 193 countries in the 2025 World Risk Index on vulnerability to flooding, the Forest Foundation Philippines told a joint House panel on Tuesday.</p><p>During a briefing before the House Committees on Sustainable Development Goals and Climate Change, Forest Foundation Philippines’ Alaya de Leon stressed the need for nature-based and sustainable solutions to address the effects of climate change.</p><p>“We are at the top spot, yet again. We’re always somewhere in the top 3, because of our high geographic fragmentation and high exposure to weather related extremes,” De Leon said.</p><p>“The focus of this report this year is on floods, and the finding is that the flood risk in the Philippines varies significantly from region to region, but the primary influences are geography, infrastructure and spatial planning,” she added.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/20/qc-residents-face-perennial-problem-of-floods-trash-in-wake-of-crising-rains-1400">QC residents face perennial problem of floods, trash in wake of Crising rains</a></div><p>Some lawmakers expressed support for implementing nature-based and sustainable responses to climate change.</p><p>“Over the years, we have all come to realize that climate change et al cannot be solved by massive infrastructure programs, such as dams to address water security, construction of sea walls to address rising sea levels among others, rather we need to take sustainable responses to these problems and not add further harm or destruction to the environment in the process of solving a particular problem,” House Committee on Sustainable Development Goals Chairperson Rep. Jose Manuel Alba said.</p><p>“Beyond environmental benefits, NBS can also provide sustainable livelihoods for nature dependent communities, and help advance key sustainable development goals, from eradicating poverty and hunger, to strengthening climate and ecosystem resilience,” House Committee on Climate Change Chairperson Rep. Aniela Tolentino, for her part, said.</p><p>“Our committee is prioritizing the passage of Rep. Alba’s low carbon economy bill, which also provides the legal foundation for the compliance carbon market. Meanwhile, the DENR is in the process of drafting an executive order to establish clear guidelines and procedures for nature-based solutions,” she added.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/6/groups-urge-gov-t-to-replace-system-of-corruption-with-transparency-accountability-1342">&#x27;Dapat may managot&#x27;: Amid flood control probe, groups urge gov&#x27;t to replace &#x27;system of corruption&#x27; with transparency, accountability</a></div><p>Some congressmen, meanwhile, said the destruction caused by recent floods should be a reminder for the government to spare flood control projects from corruption.</p><p>“Every time na umuulan, bumabagyo, bumabaha ay lalong umiinit ang galit ng taumbayan dahil apektado sila, tapos napapaalala sa kanila &#x27;yung pinsala ng dulot ng pandarambong through the flood control corruption scandal… Paalala natin sa gobyerno, kailangan talaga wakasan ang korapsyon na ito,” ACT Teachers Party List Representative Antonio Tinio said in an interview.</p><p>“Ang pinakamalaking tulong talaga ay iyong tunay na disaster preparedness na hindi nakasalalay sa flood control projects na nananakaw lang. Kundi doon sa mga nature-based solutions: pagtatanggol at proteksyon ng ating kalikasan, pagtitiyak na ready ang ating communities pagdating sa disaster preparedness, &#x27;yung climate mitigation measures natin,” Gabriela Party List Representative Sarah Elago added. </p>

<p>The Philippines ranked first out of 193 countries in the 2025 World Risk Index on vulnerability to flooding, the Forest Foundation Philippines told a joint House panel on Tuesday.</p>

The Philippines ranked first out of 193 countries in the 2025 World Risk Index on vulnerability to flooding, the Forest Foundation Philippines told a joint House panel on Tuesday.