Rapid Urbanization and Typhoon Tino: Cebu City’s Flood Disaster Was a Planning Failure, Not a Natural One
Similar to what happened in New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina, sometimes the real problem isn’t the storm — it’s urban planning. Many large cities and communities are built purely out of demand, often ignoring environmental balance and infrastructure capacity.
Cebu City is a beautiful place, blessed with natural scenery and vibrant life. But rapid urbanization has become its greatest threat — a silent culprit now made visible through heartbreaking images emerging from the recent floods.
The Insurance Lesson We Ignore
I often emphasize the importance of insurance for this exact reason. A healthy, competitive insurance industry doesn’t just provide financial protection — it also serves as a warning system.
When insurance companies refuse to insure certain areas or specific types of properties, it’s not because they’re “evil.” It’s because they’ve assessed that the risk of loss outweighs the potential for profit. In other words, when an insurer says no, it’s a sign that something about that land, region, or risk is deeply problematic.
In parts of Florida, for example, some insurers outright refuse to cover properties in high-risk flood zones. That’s not cruelty — that’s realism. It’s a signal that certain locations are destined for repeated loss.
So, before blaming politicians, builders, or insurers, homeowners should also ask a simple question: “Will this property even qualify for insurance?” If the answer is no, that’s your first red flag.
Because when disaster strikes, politicians and lawmakers are often quick to blame everyone but themselves. But the truth is — much of this could have been avoided with foresight, planning, and respect for risk indicators.
This is also why I’m not in favor of over-regulating the insurance industry. A profit-driven insurer that refuses to underwrite an unsustainable area might actually be protecting the public. If a nation respects property rights and allows insurers to act freely, it will naturally develop safer communities — and save billions in future disaster relief.
Now, the question is: Will Cebu need international aid to repair what was clearly an avoidable tragedy?
We grieve the loss of life — but we should also seek wisdom from God. Many prayers are answered through discernment, yet humanity often refuses to see truth when it comes wrapped in practicality. Instead of demonizing industries like insurance or capitalism, we should learn to recognize their divine purpose in preventing suffering.
The Flooding in Cebu: A Man-Made Crisis
The devastating floods that swept through Barangay Bacayan in Cebu City during Typhoon Tino were not just the result of torrential rains — they were the outcome of years of unchecked urban growth, deforestation, and weakened natural drainage in upland areas.
Urban Expansion Weakened Natural Barriers
Cebu City Councilor Joel Garganera, chair of the Committee on Environment and vice chair of the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, explained that the rapid spread of subdivisions and cemented roads in the mountain barangays disrupted the natural absorption of rainwater.
“The water from the mountains could no longer be absorbed by the soil, and that triggered the strong water current that hit Bacayan,” Garganera told SunStar Cebu on November 4, 2025.
Residents were seen wading through waist-deep floods in Villa del Rio, Bacayan, after the typhoon brought heavy rainfall that submerged homes up to the second floor and destroyed vehicles.
Garganera noted that deforestation and population migration into upland areas have made these communities far more vulnerable to flash floods.
“If we compare the city to what it was 50 years ago, the difference is huge,” he said. “We’ve lost trees, and people have settled in areas that were never meant for housing.”
Where trees once helped absorb rainfall, those lands are now cemented. Without proper water retention systems, heavy rains have nowhere to go but downhill — fast.
“We don’t have any water retention at all, sad to say,” Garganera admitted.
“Our rivers are getting narrower due to encroachment from informal settlers and large establishments.”
Misplaced Blame and Environmental Neglect
Some residents blamed Barangay Lusaran, located farther upland, for the floods. Garganera clarified that while Lusaran lies within Cebu’s watershed system, it is not solely responsible.
Heavy rains in mountain barangays cause rapid runoff that flows naturally into the Butuanon River, which then overflows into low-lying communities like Bacayan.
Environmental degradation — the loss of forest cover, improper drainage, and unregulated residential expansion — has magnified these effects. Areas that never experienced flooding before are now under water.
“The barangays that never had flooding in the past are now among those experiencing it badly,” Garganera said, attributing it to “strong rains and strong winds.”
Bacayan: Among the Hardest Hit
Barangay Bacayan in northern Cebu City suffered catastrophic flooding when the Butuanon River overflowed, submerging parts of Villa del Rio and neighboring communities.
As of November 4, 2025, 4:52 p.m., at least nine fatalities had been confirmed by the Cebu City Incident Command Post (ICP). The victims were spread across seven barangays — including Bacayan, Cogon Pardo, Guadalupe, Sapangdaku, Talamban, Poblacion Pardo, and Kalunasan.
Several individuals remain missing. In Bacayan alone, 28 residents are still unaccounted for, including members of a family whose father was the lone survivor.
The City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) continues to verify casualty figures as search and rescue efforts persist.
A Call for Long-Term Solutions
Councilor Garganera called for long-term rehabilitation and prevention efforts, including:
- Reforestation of upland areas
- Restoration of waterways
- Stricter enforcement against riverbank encroachments
- Improved water retention systems
“We must start restoring our waterways and prohibit people from living along riverbanks. The volume of water we’re seeing now is no longer normal,” he said.
The Cebu City Government remains on red alert, with ongoing rescue, relief, and clearing operations.
Final Reflection
We mourn the lives lost in Cebu, but we must also confront the deeper issue — human negligence disguised as progress.
This was not a purely natural disaster. It was a predictable outcome of rapid urbanization, ignored warnings, and misplaced priorities.
Consider making Jesus Christ your Lord and Savior today. In times like these, it becomes clear that human systems — no matter how advanced — cannot replace the wisdom, humility, and stewardship that come from walking with God.