The local government of Quezon City hosted the QC Flood Summit 2025 this week, gathering experts from science, engineering, urban planning and disaster resilience sectors to address the city’s persistent flood challenges.

Organized by the QC Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (DRRMO) under the theme “Rising Above Floods: Building Resilient Cities,” the summit focused on implementing science-driven forecasting, ensuring accountable infrastructure, and designing future-ready urban spaces.

Mayor Joy Belmonte used her welcome remarks to criticize the over-reliance on citizen endurance, stressing the city’s commitment to building a resilient city through tangible programs.

“Counting on our people’s resilience is no longer an option,” Belmonte said. “They deserve long-term solutions. We must therefore intensify our efforts and strengthen our systems so they can better support our communities in the years ahead.”

Technical discussions underscored that improving early warning systems is a critical priority for flood-prone urban areas, stressing the need for more accessible tools, user-friendly hazard maps and capacity-building programs.

Participants pointed out a key gap between national hazard forecasts and local decision-making, noting that class suspensions and pre-disaster mobilization often require action hours before hazards peak, when forecasts still carry uncertainty.

To address this, experts recommended aligning protocols between agencies, improving communication channels and institutionalizing forecast-based action to enhance local readiness.