Typhoon Kalmaegi, locally known as Tino, struck the Philippines in early November 2025, leaving a trail of destruction across the Visayas islands and affecting communities nationwide. Its sustained winds of up to 165 km/h and prolonged rainfall caused flooding, road disruptions, and displacement for hundreds of thousands of residents. While Mindanao experienced only minor flooding, the Cordillera highlands and the National Capital Region faced localized landslides and urban congestion. Our PBCI–CFP network, spanning Mindanao, Visayas, Cordillera, and NCR, monitored impacts on both our partner communities and the general population. In the Visayas, farmer-partners and cooperatives suffered crop damage, flooded homes, and operational disruptions. The typhoon exposed systemic governance weaknesses, including unfinished flood-control projects, highlighting the deadly consequences of corruption. The experience reinforced our commitment to disaster-resilient, climate-conscious, and integrity-driven peacebuilding across the Philippines.
1. The Typhoon’s Strength, Speed, and Path
Earlier this month, we at PeaceBuilders Community, Inc. (PBCI) and Coffee for Peace, Inc. (CFP) witnessed another reminder of the climate crisis when Typhoon Kalmaegi, locally named Tino, swept across the Philippines. According to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), the typhoon entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility on 2 November 2025, carrying sustained winds of around 85 km/h with gusts up to 105 km/h (Philstar, 2025).
Over the next 48 hours, Kalmaegi intensified rapidly. By 4 November, it made multiple landfalls in the Central Visayas, unleashing sustained winds between 150–165 km/h, with higher gusts reported (Philippine News Agency, 2025). The typhoon moved west-northwest, crossing Cebu, Negros, and nearby islands before exiting toward the South China Sea and Vietnam (Reuters, 2025).
We observed that the typhoon’s slower movement over land produced prolonged rainfall, leading to heavier flooding in low-lying communities.
2. The Typhoon’s General Impact
The overall impact was severe:
- Human toll: At least 114 people died and 127 remained missing across affected provinces (Reuters, 2025). Local officials in Cebu described the flooding as “by far the worst flash flood caused by a typhoon” in their province’s history (Time Magazine, 2025).
- Evacuations and displacement: More than half a million residents were displaced or evacuated to emergency shelters (Washington Post, 2025).
- Infrastructure and flooding: Roads, bridges, and transport systems were heavily affected. Floodwaters engulfed homes and markets, and airports suspended operations (Al Jazeera, 2025).
- Geographical vulnerability: The archipelagic layout, combined with mountainous terrain and already swollen rivers, increased the likelihood of landslides and prolonged flood exposure.
“The scale of the disaster reminded us that natural hazards are only part of the story; governance and preparedness amplify or mitigate their impact.”
3. Governance and Corruption: Amplifying Factors
This reality highlighted a crucial lesson: corruption and inefficiency can turn a manageable storm into a humanitarian disaster. Our network observed how inadequate infrastructure worsened flooding, delayed response, and increased human suffering—reinforcing that peacebuilding is inherently linked with ethical governance and community resilience.
While Typhoon Kalmaegi was a natural event, reports indicated that structural vulnerabilities and governance failures amplified its effects. Flood-control and drainage projects in Cebu were reportedly unfinished, substandard, or absent, despite large budgets being allocated (Time Magazine, 2025).
4. The Flood Beneath the Heights
A gleaming architectural project called The Rise at Monterrazas has become a symbol — not merely of luxury development, but of a moral and ecological dilemma. Beneath its stunning terraces and sustainability rhetoric lie the communities whose homes were destroyed by floods, reportedly worsened by the very earthworks that gave birth to this modern monument of ambition (Flores, 2025; Moaje, 2025).
Recent floods in the city’s lower residential areas — just below The Rise — have rekindled long-standing concerns about questionable environmental design and hillside construction practices. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has since organized a technical team to review the development’s environmental compliance, including drainage, slope stabilization, and runoff management systems (Cordero, 2025; SunStar Cebu, 2025).
Experts and environmental observers have long warned that massive hillside developments like Monterrazas alter the natural hydrology of the mountain. When vegetation is removed and slopes are cut, rainwater that once soaked gently into the earth becomes a violent torrent, flowing swiftly down into the valleys and communities below (Moaje, 2025).
The developers and designers of The Rise at Monterrazas have branded the project as a model of “context-responsive” and “eco-conscious” architecture. On glossy brochures and public presentations, they speak of terraced harmony and environmental stewardship. But the real test of sustainability is not what a building looks like — it’s how it impacts those who live beneath its shadow.
When the “green” language of architecture becomes a cover for ecological displacement, we are no longer dealing with innovation; we are witnessing a new form of environmental injustice. The poor below pay the price for the comfort of the few above.
5. Quarrying and Mining the Mountains of Cebu
In the aftermath of Typhoon Kalmaegi (local name “Tino”), the extensive quarrying and mining operations in Cebu Province emerged as a significant factor that worsened the flooding and landslide impacts. Local farmers’ organizations and environmental groups pointed out that decades of unregulated quarrying—especially for dolomite, limestone, sand, and gravel—had stripped critical upland watersheds and destabilised slopes, which in turn accelerated runoff and reduced the land’s natural capacity to absorb heavy rainfall (Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas [KMP], 2025). The province’s governor confirmed that years of quarrying may have clogged rivers and impaired drainage, compounding the effect of unprecedented rainfall (The Washington Post, 2025).
In many flood‑hit lower‑lying areas of Cebu City and surrounding municipalities, residents observed that rivers overflowed rapidly, and flood‑control infrastructure collapsed or failed—conditions exacerbated by upstream environmental degradation (Bulatlat, 2025; KMP, 2025). Thus, while Typhoon Kalmaegi’s meteorological force triggered the disaster, the heavy human‑modification of land through mining and quarrying created a terrain much more vulnerable to flooding than it otherwise would have been.
6. Impact on PBCI–CFP and Our Partner Network
Our network spans Mindanao, the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), the National Capital Region (NCR), and the Visayas islands. We monitored each region closely to assess impacts, particularly how our partner network and the general population were affected.
a. Visayas Islands: Severe Disruption for Partners and Communities
The Visayas islands, which lay directly in the path of Typhoon Kalmaegi, were among the hardest-hit areas. Our partners in Cebu, Negros, Bohol, and nearby provinces experienced flooded homes, damaged crops, and disrupted community activities. Roadways and bridges were submerged, slowing or halting local supply chains.
Many of our farmer-partners reported partial loss of coffee harvests and other crops, while community cooperatives faced damage to storage facilities. In collaboration with local volunteers, we prioritized rapid communication and emergency coordination, ensuring that affected communities received timely updates and support.
In the Visayas, our partners were affected alongside the general population, reinforcing our commitment to integrate disaster resilience into every level of our network.
b. Mindanao: Minor Floods, Limited Operational Impact
In Mindanao, Tino caused only minor floods and temporary transport slowdowns. PAGASA raised Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 4 for Dinagat Islands, Siargao, and Bucas Grande Islands, warning of winds over 160 kph, heavy rainfall, and possible storm surges of up to three meters (PAGASA, 2025).
Localized flooding occurred along the Butuan–Surigao national highway, and some farms near the Agusan River Basin were temporarily submerged (Philippine News Agency, 2025). Operations at Coffee for Peace facilities in Davao, Bukidnon, and North Cotabato continued normally, though we temporarily paused fieldwork as a precaution.
c. Cordillera Region: Rainfall and Landslide Precautions
In the Cordillera highlands, partners in Benguet, Ifugao, and Kalinga reported moderate to heavy rainfall. Although Tino stayed east of Luzon, our coffee farming partners activated early warning protocols in coordination with the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council in the Cordillera Administrative Region (RDRRMC–CAR), ensuring that minor landslides and slippery roads did not endanger farmers and field workers. Coffee delivery schedules were delayed in highland areas, but no major damages occurred. Rice fields have been affected and farmers are looking at low yields in the coming harvest season.
d. National Capital Region: Urban Flooding and Coordination Slowdowns
In the NCR, intermittent heavy rains and localized flooding affected low-lying districts such as Quezon City, Pasig, and Marikina. Traffic, power, and internet disruptions temporarily slowed communications between peacebuilding networks and our Davao centre. Our ICT team switched to remote coordination protocols to maintain updates across regions.
e. Adaptive Measures Across Regions
We reinforced interregional coordination:
- Contacting RDRRMC–Caraga and RDRRMC–CAR for weather updates;
- Engaging faith-based humanitarian networks in NCR and Visayas for situational mapping;
- Communicating with community cooperatives across Mindanao, Visayas, and Cordillera for ground-level reports.
“Even minor disruptions are opportunities to test and strengthen our disaster preparedness systems.”
f. Lessons and Forward Actions
Typhoon Tino reminded us that regional interdependence matters. While Mindanao remained relatively safe, the Visayas suffered severe impacts, and the Cordillera and NCR faced localized challenges. We plan to:
- Strengthen climate monitoring and risk assessment across all hubs;
- Integrate community-based adaptation training;
- Expand data-sharing systems among Mindanao, Visayas, Cordillera, and NCR peace hubs;
- Establish mutual aid protocols among regional partners.
These steps ensure that our peacebuilding efforts remain climate-conscious, disaster-prepared, and integrity-driven.
Conclusion
Typhoon Kalmaegi was both a meteorological and governance challenge. It tested the resilience of our communities and highlighted the importance of ethical, transparent systems in mitigating disaster effects. Across Mindanao, Visayas, Cordillera, and NCR, our network successfully maintained communication, assessed impacts, and coordinated support.
This experience strengthened our conviction that peacebuilding and climate resilience are inseparable: protecting human life, livelihoods, and ethical governance forms the foundation for lasting peace in our archipelago.
References
Al Jazeera. (2025, November 4). Typhoon Kalmaegi flooding kills more than 40 in the Philippines.https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/11/4/typhoon-kalmaegi-flooding-kills-more-than-40-in-the-philippines
Bulatlat Contributors. (2025, November 6). ‘Man‑made disaster’ | Typhoon Tino exposes deadly cost of unregulated quarrying in Cebu. Bulatlat. https://www.bulatlat.com/2025/11/06/man-made-disaster-typhoon‑tino‑exposes‑deadly‑cost‑of‑unregulated‑quarrying‑in‑cebu/
Cordero, T. (2025, November 7). DENR to probe Monterrazas residential project in Cebu. GMA News Online. https://www.gmanetwork.com/…/denr-to-probe…/story/
Flores, D. N. (2025, November 7). DENR probes Slater Young’s Monterrazas de Cebu after Typhoon ‘Tino’ floods.Philstar.com. https://www.philstar.com/…/denr-probes-slater-youngs…
Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP). (2025, November 5). KMP: Cebu’s worst flooding caused by unchecked quarrying, corruption. Kodao Productions. https://kodao.org/kmp-cebus-worst-flooding-caused-by-unchecked-quarrying-corruption/
Metropolitan Manila Development Authority. (2025, November 5). Flood and traffic situation report: Typhoon “Tino”.Pasig City, Philippines.
Moaje, M. (2025, November 7). DENR probes Monterrazas de Cebu project over landslides, flood risk. Philippine News Agency. https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1262807
Office of Civil Defense–Cordillera. (2025, November 5). Weather update and advisory: Typhoon “Tino” (Kalmaegi).Baguio City, Philippines.
Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration. (2025, November 3). PAGASA Weather Bulletin No. 8: Typhoon “Tino” (Kalmaegi). Quezon City, Philippines.
Philippine News Agency. (2025, November 4). Heavy rains from Typhoon “Tino” flood parts of northern Mindanao; Butuan–Surigao road drenched. https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1262380
Philstar. (2025, November 2). Three provinces under Signal No. 1 due to Storm Tino.https://www.philstar.com/headlines/weather/2025/11/02/2484364/3-provinces-visayas-and-mindanao-under-signal-no-1-due-storm-tino
Reuters. (2025, November 6). Typhoon Kalmaegi death toll hits 114 in Philippines; storm rebuilds strength as it heads to Vietnam. https://www.reuters.com/business/environment/typhoon-kalmaegi-death-toll-hits-114-philippines-storm-rebuilds-strength-it-2025-11-06
SunStar Cebu. (2025, November 7). Guadalupe SK seeks probe into Monterrazas drainage, retention ponds.https://www.sunstar.com.ph/…/guadalupe-sk-seeks-probe…
Time Magazine. (2025, November 6). Battered by yet another typhoon, Philippine people blame corruption for mounting death toll. https://time.com/7331623/philippines-floods-corruption-typhoon-kalmaegi-death-toll-protest
The Washington Post. (2025, November 4). Typhoon Kalmaegi leaves 66 dead, mainly in Philippine province still recovering from deadly quake. The Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/11/04/typhoon-kalmaegi-philippines-cebu-province/6c940522‑b9e0‑11f0‑b389‑38cf5ff33d6f_story.html
Washington Post. (2025, November 6). Typhoon Kalmaegi death toll rises in Philippines as storm approaches Vietnam.https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/11/06/philippines-typhoon-kalmaegi-death-toll-vietnam-tino
