TROPICAL Storm “Ramil” has once again laid bare the painful truth: Capiz remains trapped in a cycle of floods, destruction, and short-lived recovery. Every time the skies darken and rivers swell, the same scenes play out — roads collapse, bridges buckle, and families wade through chest-deep waters. Then, once the floodwaters subside, the province shifts from crisis to clean-up mode, repairs are rushed, promises are made, and the public’s outrage fades — until the next storm strikes.
This pattern of reactive disaster response has long defined local governance in Capiz. Each storm is treated as an isolated event, rather than as part of a predictable and escalating climate pattern that demands a long-term strategy. The damage left by “Ramil” — from sinkholes and eroded roads in Sigma to the flooded barangays of Roxas City — is not just the result of torrential rain, but of chronic underinvestment in resilient infrastructure and poor enforcement of flood control standards.
It is time for Capiz to break free from this destructive routine. The province must shift from rebuilding what was lost to reimagining what must endure. This requires more than post-storm rehabilitation projects that patch up damaged roads and bridges. It calls for a coherent, province-wide flood management master plan — one that integrates reforestation, watershed rehabilitation, proper drainage mapping, and the construction of elevated, climate-resilient public works.
Equally critical is institutional accountability. Local governments and national agencies such as the Department of Public Works and Highways must ensure that public funds for flood control are not just disbursed, but translated into durable, inspected, and transparent projects. Too often, flood mitigation works are reduced to token dredging efforts or incomplete drainage projects that fail when most needed.
The residents of Capiz deserve more than temporary fixes and token relief operations. They deserve roads that don’t cave in after a few days of rain, bridges that can withstand swollen rivers, and communities that can face storms with preparedness rather than fear.
Breaking the cycle of floods and forgetting begins with remembering — remembering that every life lost and every peso spent in repairs is a reminder of what inaction costs. Capiz cannot afford to keep rebuilding the same mistakes. It must start building for resilience — now.
