If the Philippines had a peso every time it had casualties recorded because of a typhoon, it might actually have the resources to fund another flood control. Unfortunately, this statement is not just a harsh truth, but a reflection of a systemic problem that plagues the country each time a typhoon strikes. The recent devastation caused by Typhoon Tino, which battered the Negros Islands, brings this reality to light once again—44 confirmed deaths, 53 missing, and over 130,000 people affected. This catastrophe could have been avoided if the government had taken earlier, more decisive action in addressing the nation’s vulnerabilities to extreme weather events.

Typhoon Tino is far from an anomaly in the Philippines. The archipelago is hit by an average of 20 typhoons annually, yet each year, communities are caught off guard, paying the price for insufficient preparation. The Philippines is no stranger to typhoons, yet the same mistakes are repeated year after year, typhoon after typhoon. Typhoon Tino was not a particularly massive storm in terms of strength, yet the destruction it left in its wake—141 displaced individuals, and countless others with ruined homes and livelihoods—reveals just how unprepared we remain.

The lives lost, families displaced, and farmlands ruined could have been minimized or mitigated perhaps, even avoided if only the necessary infrastructure and proactive policies had been put in place long before the storm made landfall. The reality is that many parts of the country are living on the edge, with limited resources and systems ill-equipped to handle natural disasters. Time and time again, we hear calls for better disaster preparedness, but the urgency often fades when the winds calm and the waters recede.

According to the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) of Negros Occidental, 44 people have already been confirmed dead due to Typhoon Tino. These numbers are not outliers. They are part of an increasingly predictable pattern. From Typhoon Ondoy to Yolanda, the number of lives lost continues to mount, even as the lessons from past storms are forgotten. This shows a clear failure to implement long-term solutions to reduce the impact of such disasters. The flood control measures in some areas are either inadequate, outdated or substandard, and in many places, there is a lack of community resilience programs to help citizens recover faster.

In Negros Islands, for example, critical infrastructure such as flood control systems has been largely neglected. These systems were either insufficiently designed, poorly maintained, or outright nonexistent in some localities. This, despite the fact that the region has been a typhoon-prone area for decades. The government’s failure to allocate the necessary funds and resources to improve flood protection and build more resilient communities is not just a policy failure—it is a human failure.

The Philippine government, both at the national and local levels, often reacts with well-meaning sympathy and relief efforts in the wake of disasters. However, this has become the default response rather than part of a robust, preemptive disaster management strategy. Relief operations, while necessary, should never be the only response.

The question is: why weren’t these lives and homes better protected before Typhoon Tino’s arrival? Why did it take the storm’s destructive force to bring attention to the inadequacy of our systems? The government’s continued tendency to prioritize short-term relief over long-term solutions has led to the unnecessary suffering of millions of Filipinos, year after year.

Additionally, the lack of adequate early warning systems in certain areas, as well as the failure to ensure proper evacuation plans were in place, put countless lives at risk. In the case of Typhoon Tino, it wasn’t just the wind and rain that caused the damage, but the government’s delayed response to the urgency of the situation. Had the government acted more proactively in terms of flood control measures, the impact on these communities could have been greatly reduced.

Typhoon Tino’s impact was also a stark reminder of the growing intensity of typhoons, driven by climate change. The Philippines, being at the heart of the Pacific typhoon belt, is especially vulnerable to the worsening effects of global warming. Yet, despite these threats becoming increasingly clear, climate resilience initiatives have not kept pace. Instead of addressing these threats through sustainable urban planning, improved infrastructure, and long-term investments in climate adaptation, much of the focus remains on reactive measures, such as rescue operations and emergency relief, after the disaster strikes.

The question then becomes: how many more disasters will it take before we shift our focus from crisis management to proactive planning? How many more lives need to be lost before the government understands that disaster preparedness is not just an afterthought, but an essential investment in the nation’s future?

While the national government bears a significant portion of the responsibility, local government units (LGUs) also need to take a more active role in ensuring the safety of their constituents. In areas like Negros, where Typhoon Tino wreaked havoc, LGUs should have done more to reinforce structures that could withstand strong winds and heavy rains. It’s important that these local governments understand their responsibility in disaster mitigation and make it a priority.

In the case of Typhoon Tino, LGUs failed to sufficiently prepare the most vulnerable communities. Many residents were not informed in advance about evacuation centers or the potential hazards, especially in areas with steep mountainsides prone to landslides. Without proper evacuation plans and swift response teams in place, the situation only worsened.

It is not enough to simply react to the aftermath of a disaster. The Philippines must shift towards building resilience in its communities. This requires a comprehensive and strategic approach to disaster risk reduction—an approach that focuses not just on providing aid after a catastrophe, but on preventing such catastrophes from reaching this level of devastation in the first place.

This means investing in stronger infrastructure, such as flood control systems, reinforced buildings, and storm-resistant roads. It also means strengthening early warning systems, improving evacuation strategies, and ensuring that the most vulnerable populations are better prepared for what’s to come. Moreover, there needs to be a concerted effort to raise public awareness about the importance of disaster preparedness, especially in communities at the highest risk.

To do this, the government must allocate funding not just for relief, but for long-term resilience-building initiatives. Public-private partnerships should also be encouraged to develop innovative solutions for climate adaptation, ensuring that resources are directed towards making Filipino communities safer and more resilient.

The tragic aftermath of Typhoon Tino is a wake-up call that must not be ignored. The lives lost, the homes destroyed, and the livelihoods upended were not unavoidable. With proper planning, timely action, and sustained investment in disaster resilience, these lives could have been saved, and the damage could have been minimized. This is not just a matter of policy—it is a moral imperative.

We cannot afford to lose more lives, and we cannot continue to live in a state of perpetual vulnerability. It is time to turn the tide and build a future where the people of the Philippines are truly safe from the ravages of nature.

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