News5 explains Bicol River Basin as flooding factor

CHEERS TO News5 for its explainer on the Bicol region’s topography as a major factor in the severe flooding triggered by the excessive rainfall of Severe Tropical Storm Kristine (international name: Trami). The report pushed the envelope in disaster reportage as it introduced features in the natural topography of the province that intensified the impact of extreme weather. 

The storm swept through the northeast parts of the country from October 21 to 25, 2024 blowing fierce winds and unleashing intense rainfall that affected Luzon and even some parts of Visayas and Mindanao. The worst hit were Bicol region and Batangas province in Southern Luzon. Provinces in Bicol suffered unprecedented widespread flooding; while communities in Talisay and Agoncillo town were devastated by landslides, a phenomenon that they had never experienced in the past. 

Unexpected and unprecedented in Bicol 

Timely and accurate live coverage round the clock had become the norm for media coverage of disasters, with media supported by efforts such as Project Noah. Newsrooms learned more lessons from Yolanda, the worst storm in Philippine history. Journalists familiarized themselves with the use of technical terms and how to present these in lay language. Media (ABS-CBN News, ANC, BusinessWorld, Daily Tribune, GMA Integrated News, Inquirer.net, Manila Bulletin, Manila Standard, Manila Times, News5, NewsWatch Plus, One News, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Philippine Star, Philstar.com, Rappler, and TeleRadyo Serbisyo) covered Severe Tropical Storm Kristine according to the book. 

GMA Integrated News, Manila Bulletin and OneNews PH reports cited data from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) to point out that Kristine had poured a record-breaking two months’ worth of rain in just 24 hours. Some media (ABS-CBN News, Daily Tribune, Manila Bulletin, Manila Times, and Rappler) followed this through with reports featuring sources who described the situation in Bicol as “the worst flooding” in decades. 

News5 discusses key factor in Bicol flood

News5 was the first to point to Bicol’s natural topography as a factor.

“Frontline Tonight” on October 24 dedicated its News ExplainED segment to Bicol’s flooding. News5’s anchor Ed Lingao used maps to visualize the geography of the province: the surrounding mountains, the Bicol River Basin and the Naga and Bicol rivers all gather water. The river basin captures water from higher ground through two rivers. With the excessive amounts of rain falling in a short period, the floods were inevitable. 

ABS-CBN News’ weekend edition newscast “TV Patrol Weekend” on October 26 aired the same explanation, but without the same level of detail and scientific breakdown. Anchor Zen Hernandez asked field reporter Jessie Cruzat if authorities knew why the flooding had not subsided in Catanduanes despite two days of sunny weather. Cruzat responded with the explanation of local officials: The massive amount of rainwater was just beginning to flow down from higher elevations to the lower to collect in the river basin. 

Natural topography as a factor 

Kristine, like a few other severe tropical storms, has pointed to the high density of rainfall in a short period that can cause unprecedented threats of inundation or landslides. 

Significantly, the reference to natural topography as a factor for flooding has pushed the envelope in disaster reportage. Geographical features and the “nature of things” matter. Filipinos should understand the inherent fragility of the country’s island topography, the coastlines, the slopes and highlands that cannot be safe for expansive human settlement. Commercial profit and development per se contribute to the ongoing degradation of our environment — the stripping of forest cover in the past and the current reclamation projects for real estate exemplify the cause and effect. 

The media have been quick to echo the tendency of politicians to hail Filipinos for their resilience, praising the people’s capacity to cope. It is time for journalists to provide more news about what government needs to do to protect and enhance the planet’s resilience, especially in our fragile and vulnerable islands.