“Heto ako, basang-basa sa ulan,

Walang masisilungan, walang malalapitan

Sana'y may luha pa, akong mailuluha
At ng mabawasan ang aking kalungkutan”

That’s how the popular song of the rock band Aegis goes like – a song about non-ending rain which
equates to the heartbreaks and loneliness a person in love almost always experience while in a
relationship. But I am not here in front of you to talk about these “hugots”, we may discuss them some
other times in some other venue, but I am here to address the non-ending rains too, just its literal
meaning. These non-ending rains which equates to a bigger problem – flooding, will be the subject of this
short, informative speech I will be delivering today.

The Philippines being located in the tropics, experience two seasons: the wet and dry season. The
dry season starts in late November and ends in May while the rainy seasons starts in June and lasts till
October. And it is during this rainy season that we become confronted with our problem - extreme
flooding which has been a constant battle for years now. At the onset of the rainy season, low-lying and
flood-prone areas have become flooded for rain lasting just an hour or two. What is more disturbing is
that areas and places which are do not usually get flooded, gets flooded nowadays. What causes these
extreme flooding? What are some possible solutions?

The extreme flooding experienced in the Philippines, particularly in nearby places - the towns of
Hagonoy and Calumpit here in Bulacan and Apalit and San Luis in Pampanga, is attributed to clogged
waterways, old drainage system, and improper disposal of the huge amount of trash generated by
residents living in the metros and in the provinces. Due to these reasons, floodwater gets clogged and
blocked resulting to longer time before it subside. Forced evacuations, closures of business
establishments, devastation of plants and crops of farmers are just some of the results of these extreme
flooding. Judging from these adverse effects, we can see that this problem is ought to be addressed
promptly and probably needs a long-term solution.

On a personal level, we can help prevent flooding by properly disposing our waste through proper
segregation and even making compost fertilizers. Different kinds of packaging—plastics, waste paper,
polystyrene foam (Styrofoam)—make almost half of our landfills. If we want to be a smart buyer, we can
support the use of environment-friendly packaging like the ones made from recycled materials. We can
participate in programs and projects initiated by the local governments – clean-up drives and tree
planting. In our small little ways, we can be a part of the solution to address this worsening problem that
are country is currently facing. Sometimes, the problem is within us. We may not see it, but we’re feeling
the consequences of our irresponsibility. We should practice discipline and consistency because it goes a
long way. In the end, it's up to us to decide how we can help to do something about it.