Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

People wade through a flooded street in Manila on July 21, 2025, as enhanced southwest monsoon brought heavy rains and flooding to different parts of the Philippines. Five people were confirmed dead while seven have been reported missing, according to the country's National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.  Ted Aljibe, AFP

Article (news)

HABAGAT FLOODING

Pia Gutierrez

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/175315408703220250721-habagat-flooding-manila-AFP.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">People wade through a flooded street in Manila on July 21, 2025, as enhanced southwest monsoon brought heavy rains and flooding to different parts of the Philippines. Five people were confirmed dead while seven have been reported missing, according to the country&#x27;s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council. Ted Aljibe, AFP</span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — Malacanang on Tuesday ordered the suspension of all preparations for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.&#x27;s fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) set next week as the country grappled with severe flooding due to weather disturbances.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/22/philippines-flooding-displaces-thousands-two-missing-1103">Philippines flooding displaces thousands, two missing</a></div><p>&quot;Let me be clear: All SONA-related preparations are hereby ordered immediately suspended,&quot; Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin said in a statement.</p><p>Marcos, who is currently in the US for a working trip, was &quot;dismayed&quot; that government personnel were reportedly &quot;putting up SONA-related materials in public areas while many communities are battling heavy flooding,&quot; according to Bersamin.</p><p>&quot;The Department of Public Works and Highways, along with all concerned agencies, must put full attention and exclusive focus on flood response and relief operations,&quot; he added.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/20/marcos-jr-arrives-in-us-to-tackle-tariffs-defense-with-donald-trump-0652">Marcos Jr. arrives in US to tackle tariffs, defense with Donald Trump</a></div><p>Marcos said the government must divert its efforts to respond to the &quot;crisis.&quot;</p><p>&quot;The President&#x27;s directive is to focus all efforts on ensuring the safety and welfare of the Filipino people, especially during times of crisis. All government agencies are expected to act accordingly,&quot;</p><p>The President arrived in the United States on Sunday, days ahead of his tariff and defense discussions with US President Donald Trump, their first official meeting since the American leader returned to the White House for a second term.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/21/marcos-jr-says-ph-us-alliance-preserving-peace-stability-in-south-china-sea-0005">Marcos Jr. says PH-US alliance ‘preserving peace, stability’ in South China Sea</a></div><p>In Metro Manila and nearby areas, <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/22/philippines-flooding-displaces-thousands-two-missing-1103">tens of thousands evacuated from their homes</a> and at least two people believed missing due to floodwaters driven by torrential rains. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/weather-traffic/2025/7/22/habagat-dumps-almost-a-month-s-rain-in-cavite-2-weeks-of-rain-in-qc-1049">Habagat dumps almost a month&#x27;s rain in Cavite, 2 weeks of rain in QC</a><br/><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/22/metro-manila-drainage-system-very-old-no-longer-adequate-in-preventing-floods-dpwh-0922">Metro Manila drainage system ‘very old’, no longer ‘adequate’ in preventing floods: DPWH</a></div><p>Meanwhile, the Office of Civil Defense said that measures were in place to ensure the orderly conduct of the SONA on July 28 despite bad weather. </p><p>“We are closely coordinating with the PNP po na magkaroon tayo ng orderly conduct ng flow ng mga pupunta sa SONA,” OCD Assistant Secretary Raffy Alejandro said in an online briefing.</p><p>“Kami po, ang mga areas na surrounding Congress ay hinahanda pa rin natin in case na magkaroon ng hindi magandang weather… Tuluy-tuloy pa rin naman ang ating mga emergency responders na naka-standby in case na kailangan ng assistance during the SONA po,” he said. </p><div><br/><br/></div>

<p>"The President's directive is to focus all efforts on ensuring the safety and welfare of the Filipino people, especially during times of crisis. All government agencies are expected to act accordingly," the Palace said.</p>

"The President's directive is to focus all efforts on ensuring the safety and welfare of the Filipino people, especially during times of crisis. All government agencies are expected to act accordingly," the Palace said.

Marcos suspends all pre-SONA preps as PH suffers severe flooding

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Marcos suspends all pre-SONA preps as PH suffers severe flooding

Pia Gutierrez,

Jauhn Etienne Villaruel,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jul 22, 2025 11:22 AM PHT

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Updated Jul 22, 2025 03:34 PM PHT

Read More:

Crising

weather

flood

flooding

weather patrol

flood patrol

Marcos

SONA

politics

ANC

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