Manila floods again: Billions of pesos for flood control, yet Metro Manila is still drowning — 7 possible solutions
Heavy rainfall driven by the enhanced southwest monsoon (known as "habagat") and the successive tropical cyclones Luis and Maymay (international name: Kujira) triggered widespread flooding and landslides across the Philippines, particularly in Luzon and parts of the Visayas. The systems brought prolonged torrential rains, overflowing rivers, impassable roads, damaged infrastructure, agricultural…
The Philippines experienced widespread flooding and landslides on August 17, 2026, due to heavy rainfall driven by the enhanced southwest monsoon and tropical cyclones Luis and Maymay. At least 23 people lost their lives, primarily in Benguet province from landslides, with an estimated 1.41 million families affected across multiple regions.
The flooding caused damage to hundreds to thousands of houses, disrupted infrastructure, and resulted in power and water interruptions. The public is frustrated due to the country's spending on flood-control infrastructure, despite ongoing issues. Senator Panfilo "Ping" Lacson has investigated allegations of ghost, substandard, and anomalous projects, estimating that about ₱180 billion ($3 billion) was lost since 2016.
These allegations have sparked criticism and raised concerns about the effectiveness and transparency of flood-control projects in the country.
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