The rainy season is here: We can weather the storm with foresight

**media[17697]**The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) confirmed the start of the rainy season on June 2 after several days of widespread rainfall brought by the habagat or southwest monsoon. Yet while the rains have arrived, so too have the familiar risks – torrential rain, flooding, landslides, and, too often, avoidable tragedy.The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) responded swiftly, urging LGUs to brace for the possible onslaught of the southwest monsoon (habagat). In a memorandum, the DILG ordered the LGUs to ensure the functionality of Emergency Operations Centers with adequate personnel and equipment, and to activate Local Incident Management Teams trained in the Incident Command System.“Local governments must also identify and prepare structurally sound evacuation centers with essential facilities such as sanitation, medical aid, and designated areas for vulnerable groups. These should be regularly inspected and upgraded based on safety standards and capacity requirements,'' the DILG advisory said.The DILG also urged LGUs to adopt proactive measures anchored on the Operation Listo protocols for hydrometeorological hazards to minimize risks to lives, property, and the local economy. Operation Listo, launched in 2014, aims to strengthen disaster preparedness of LGUs using the whole-of-government approach.The same week saw the filing of Senate Bill No. 2999, a landmark proposal that deserves attention and support. Filed on May 29, 2025, the bill seeks to establish a mechanism for declaring a state of imminent disaster — a legal and procedural framework that will allow the government to mobilize resources and issue warnings even before a full-scale disaster strikes.It “integrates anticipatory action principles into existing plans and policies at the national and local level.”This kind of anticipatory governance is what the country needs: proactive, science-based action rather than belated response.SB 2999 reflects a different approach to disaster risk management, recognizing the value of timing. By enabling earlier declarations and preemptive mobilization of funds, rescue assets, and logistical support, this measure could reduce casualties and losses in vulnerable areas. In a country where lives, property and agricultural produce are lost yearly due to late or fragmented disaster response, this bill can lead to a higher form of disaster preparedness.This development complements the rollout of the Unified 911 Emergency System this July, starting in Metro Manila, BARMM, Ilocos Region, and Central Visayas. The system presents access to a single, centralized emergency hotline for police, fire, medical, and disaster-related emergencies. Enhanced with geolocation, real-time video feeds, and agency coordination, this system promises not only faster response times but a smarter, more connected response network.Together, these developments — PAGASA's forecasting, DILG's community mobilization, and the 911 system's technological leap — represent a cohesive, multi-layered national approach to disaster preparedness. But success lies not just in laws and systems, but in implementation and participation.Preparedness must reach every barangay, every household, every family. Citizens must take weather warnings seriously, avoid high-risk zones, and participate in drills and local planning. Meanwhile, local governments must follow through — not only when disaster strikes, but before it does.The rainy season has begun. But with smart legislation, strong leadership, and sustained public cooperation, we can weather the storm ahead — not just with courage, but with foresight.