By Ginggay Hontiveros-Malvar, Chief Reputation and Sustainability Officer, and Aboitiz Group and President, Aboitiz Foundation
This article originally appeared on the author’s Tribune.net column ‘On the G(ood) Side’.
The flooding brought by typhoon “Tino” was a stark reminder that extreme weather is becoming our new normal. In just a matter of hours, entire communities were submerged, homes were swept away, and families sought safety on rooftops. If climate trends continue, the Philippines must be ready not only for storms of this magnitude, but for more intense rains.
One lesson has become increasingly clear: we need both green and gray solutions to protect our communities. A key factor to consider is how much water the ground can take in. Cities are dominated by concrete, which absorbs almost nothing. In fact, standard cement or asphalt can take in only about one millimeter of water per hour, meaning nearly every drop that falls becomes runoff. This explains why concrete-heavy areas flood faster and more frequently.
Natural surfaces tell a different story. Grass absorbs around 10 millimeters per hour. Small forests can take in about 50 millimeters per hour. And old-growth forests can absorb over 300 millimeters per hour, a capacity hundreds of times greater than concrete. These numbers tell a powerful message: cities flood faster when they lose their natural ground cover. And cities stay safer when forests, mangroves, and green spaces continue to do what they’ve always done — slow water down before it reaches communities.
We do not need to choose between nature and development. Iloilo’s Jaro Floodway is a good example of how green and gray solutions can work together. Built to redirect excess water during heavy rains, the floodway did not operate in isolation. Its effectiveness is supported by the natural riverbanks, surrounding green areas, and open spaces that help slow and spread the flow of water. The system succeeds because engineering and ecology reinforce each other.
Cebu has the same opportunity to embrace this integrated approach. One long-term solution is the restoration of the Central Cebu Protected Landscape (CCPL). Through CarbonPH, Aboitiz Group is helping rehabilitate about 29,000 hectares of watershed that supply water to millions of residents. Reforesting these uplands increases their ability to absorb rainfall, reduce runoff and stabilize slopes, giving Cebu a natural buffer that complements the infrastructure downstream.
This model can be replicated across local governments nationwide. Upland forests can be restored to allow hillsides to absorb more rain. Mangroves along coastlines can be protected to soften storm surges. Rivers and waterways can be kept unobstructed so they can function as intended. Urban areas can embrace more parks, open spaces, and permeable surfaces that let water sink naturally into the ground rather than rush into drains all at once.
Building resilience should begin long before rains come. By incorporating green and gray solutions in development plans, we can protect lives, reduce economic losses, and build a future where communities can withstand storms.
