Hello, ASEAN Hive Community! 💖 Wishing you all well, good health, and have a wonderful day! ✨
Every nation, regardless of its size or wealth, faces its own unique set of issues. Today, I want to open up about a persistent and deeply impactful struggle in my country, the Philippines, particularly from a very personal perspective: Severe flooding.
Just last month, our family experienced the harsh reality of this problem firsthand. The heavy rains led to significant flooding, and it wasn't just outside; the waters rose right inside our house. I remember seeing our belongings getting soaked, and the roads outside turning into dirty rivers. The roads outside our home became impassable, cutting us off from our usual routines.
It was a chaotic and stressful time, which is why I wasn't able to post actively during that period. Our priority shifted entirely to dealing with the immediate crisis. These are the moments when the "biggest problem" wasn't just an idea, but a tangible, immediate threat to our homes and daily lives.
While Philippines is no stranger to heavy rainfall, especially during typhoon season, the severity of the flooding we experience points to deeper, systemic issues. For example, our recent flood got worse because a river wall was broken, and the flood gate control was out of order, unable to manage the water flow effectively. This wasn't just bad luck; it highlights a critical failure in infrastructure maintenance and planning.
It's disheartening to see how issues like corruption, short-term solutions, and the use of substandard materials contribute significantly to these ongoing problems. We often observe a peculiar and frustrating trend: numerous road constructions seem to pop up everywhere, especially around election campaign periods, even in places that look fine. It makes you wonder if these projects are truly for long-term improvement or simply for show, often left unfinished or poorly executed. It feels like during the busy campaign season last May, the crucial and urgent need for strong, permanent flood defenses was overlooked in favor of more visible, temporary projects, leading directly to the kind of incidents we just endured.
This isn't just our family's story. The widespread impact of this issue affects countless communities across our nation and has even caught the attention of national media. Our recent flooding incident was actually featured on one of our country's leading stations, GMA Network, through its GMA Public Affairs "Reporter's Notebook" Program. You can watch the segment and see the reality of what many communities face here: River wall sa Navotas, gumuho! | Reporter’s Notebook
(Source: GMA Public Affairs 'Reporter's Notebook' on YouTube)
It often feels like public outrage or media exposure is the only trigger for action. Many problems, like our community's persistent flooding, exist for years without adequate attention or funding. A major incident occurs (like this recent severe flood), or someone shares it on social media (thanks to social media, you can easily share concrete evidences), making it go viral or catching the eye of national news. Suddenly, officials face public pressure. They announce investigations, promise quick fixes, or start highly visible (but often superficial) repairs. As the news cycle moves on or the public's outrage subsides, the pressure on officials lessens. The initial burst of activity slows down. Without sustained pressure, the comprehensive, long-term solutions like proper infrastructure maintenance, addressing corruption, or building strong flood defenses are often left unfinished. The "fix" is temporary, and the underlying problem remains. This cycle is incredibly disheartening because it means that genuine improvement often depends on a constant, exhausting battle for public attention rather than consistent, responsible governance.
This problem affects so many lives. Addressing this problem demands more than just temporary fixes or band-aid solutions. It requires genuine political will to combat corruption within infrastructure projects, ensuring that public funds are used for durable, high-quality materials and comprehensive, long-term flood control systems that are properly maintained. Community vigilance and advocacy can also play a crucial role in holding officials accountable and demanding transparency. Maybe if we switch from projects just for elections to projects that are truly needed and last, we can have a safer future.
This post is my entry for ASEAN Hive Community Challenge #164: My Country's Biggest Problems.
Thank you for letting me share this personal experience and highlight one of my country's biggest problems. I look forward to reading about the challenges other countries are facing 😊
Love lots,
Elle 😘
She is someone with a big imagination and spends her free time chasing new adventures. She shares stories inspired by her love for travel, food, and furry companions. Writing doesn’t come easily to her, not because she lacks ideas, but because her thoughts often run faster than her words. Her storytelling is a mix of lighthearted tales and personal insights, written with the hope of connecting with curious, kindred spirits. With a camera in hand and curiosity in her heart, she documents the little things that make life vibrant, even if her photography is still a work in progress.
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