From vulnerability to resilience: Addressing the causes, impacts, and solutions for recurrent flash floods in the Philippines

The Philippines is among the most disaster-prone nations. Its islands are frequently hit by floods, typhoons, landslides, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and droughts due to their location along major tectonic plates and in a typhoon belt .The country is blessed with oceans, rivers, lakes, and streams, but weather events can release massive amounts of water, causing flooding. This study investigates Philippine flash floods, their sources, effects, and solutions. It focuses on major floods, including those caused by both typhoons and monsoons, as well as susceptible locations and ASEAN prevention methods.

Employing a descriptive-evaluative research design, this study aligns with Ary's notion that descriptive research seeks to capture the current state of affairs. It entails data mining from reliable, pertinent sources to inform the study's outcomes. Analysis reveals that recurrent flash floods pose a considerable risk across all Philippine regions, with Region III standing out as particularly susceptible. The catastrophic flooding induced by Super Typhoon Yolanda marked the most severe flooding event in the Philippines between 2010 and 2020. However, monsoon-induced floods also significantly contributed to annual flooding, particularly in highly urbanized and coastal areas.

Attention and resources should be prioritized for Northern Luzon, notably Regions I, III, IV-A, IV-B, and CAR, which exhibit a high frequency of flash flood recurrences. Implementing actionable flood risk information and robust flood warning systems, reinforcing drainage infrastructure, allocating budgets for flood prevention initiatives, promoting tree planting, and adopting Cambodia's HYDRA Floods approach represent viable flood prevention measures tailored for the Philippines' flood-prone regions.