THE Philippines, many parts of which are still wobbly from the past nine typhoons, must reinforce itself in the last quarter of this year with the possibility of La Niña hitting the archipelago.
La Niña, characterized by an above-average number of tropical cyclone occurrences towards the end of 2025 and above-normal rainfall conditions in most parts of the country that can trigger adverse impacts, including floods and landslides in vulnerable areas.
La Niña causes the jet stream to move northward and to weaken over the eastern Pacific. During La Niña winters, the South sees warmer and drier conditions than usual. During La Niña, waters off the Pacific coast are colder and contain more nutrients than usual.
As of Aug. 23, 2025, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council reported flooding from the combined effects of the Tropical Cyclone Kajiki (named in the Philippines Isang) and the Southwest Monsoon recorded 25,700 affected population in Regions 2, 5 and 12.
In recent years, climate change has become a major factor in why the Philippines is prone to typhoons that are stronger and more destructive.
As global temperatures rise, sea surface temperatures in the Pacific increase as well, providing more heat energy for storms to form and intensify.
Correctly, a La Niña event in the Philippines typically means a higher chance of more tropical cyclones and above-normal rainfall, potentially leading to a stronger typhoon season.
La Niña conditions, characterized by cooler-than-average Pacific Ocean temperatures, increase convective activity and provide more moisture and energy, which are favorable for the formation and intensification of typhoons.
With all this as a backdrop, the Philippines must brace for a potentially stronger typhoon season with the possibility of a La Niña episode developing in the last quarter of 2025, according to the weather bureau.
In a press statement, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said the El Niño Southern Oscillation-neutral, which it has been continuously monitoring in the tropical Pacific, is most likely to persist until October.
However, climate models show an increasing probability of short-lived La Niña conditions emerging between September and December.
In the meanwhile, we feel for our countrymen who remain threatened by rising floodwaters while waiting for the guilty – eternity cannot be ahead for the 117 million Filipinos – to be punished for their crimes in ghost flood control projects.
The public hearings conducted by the Senate cannot be a daily spectacle where laughter rises with anger and irritation without those guilty thrown to jail and punished for obvious crimes of economic sabotage.
