By the time this is published, our country must be under the onslaught of typhoon “Uwan”, which, at the time of this writing, has been gathering strength to engulf the entire Philippines. Alas, the old political script looms, as we saw last week with typhoon “Tino” when it ripped through the province with a fury that felt almost biblical, unleashing the most destructive flash floods in its history.

The news and social media were filled with horrific scenes caused by typhoon “Tino.“ Our countrymen from all walks of life, but located geographically at the wrong place and at the wrong time, were affected by typhoon “Tino.” We saw barangays swallowed by sudden torrents, families scrambling to higher ground and lifeless bodies fished out of the destruction.

Yet even in this darkest hour, some local officials found the time and will to fly off to London for an official trip or a previously scheduled vacation. While rescue teams in Cebu were counting the missing, these leaders were counting their boarding passes. Another vlogger was lambasted for his real estate project on the mountain that may have contributed to the flash floods in the barangays below. All comments on their videos have been disabled, expectedly.

Verily, the same politicians who profited from substandard flood control projects are suddenly back in front of cameras, handing out relief packs wrapped in plastic and self-promotion. They smile for photos while standing on the very ground weakened by the shortcuts they once approved.

The inconvenient truth in all of this is that flooding is not a matter of destiny. Provinces and cities can mitigate disaster risks when they plan effectively and build responsibly. In Iloilo, for instance, under then-Mayor Jerry Treñas, the city invested in flood-control projects; they cleared riverways, built functioning drainage systems, and coordinated upstream and downstream water management. Today, when heavy rains come, Iloilo still floods, but it does not drown.

Beyond prevention, there is also restoration. One mode is via insurance, which may not be able to bring back lives, but can bring communities back to their feet. One regional initiative, the Southeast Asia Disaster Risk Insurance Facility (SEADRIF), is working with our Department of Finance and aims to equip the Philippines with fast, pre-arranged financial support after disasters, reducing the long delays that slow down reconstruction.

As a nation, we still behave as though each typhoon is a “surprise quiz” we never studied for, despite climate change sharpening each incoming storm. Another thing we have to look at is the reported US$100 million grant for “immediate life-saving assistance” in areas severely affected by typhoon “Tino.” We hope this goes straight to the recipients, not “filtered” by our politicians.

Will we keep repeating our mistakes or finally decide that survival requires more than sympathy speeches and tarpaulin heroics? They say that the Filipino’s spirit is waterproof and resilient, but true Filipino resilience requires the courage to change before the water rises again.

For comments, email darren.dejesus@gmail.com.