A youth leader from Hagonoy is calling on both national and local governments to take urgent, concrete steps to address the town's persistent flooding, arguing that residents should not be forced to accept it as the “new normal.”

Bea Paula, a Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) councilor of Barangay San Sebastian and a broadcasting student, voiced her frustration in a Facebook post, emphasizing that Hagonoy’s long-standing flooding problem has been normalized to the detriment of its people.

"It is not normal, and it should not be accepted as the new normal. This is a problem that needs to be addressed and accounted for," Paula stated on her Facebook page.

She noted that residents are not used to the situation by choice—rather, they are left with no alternatives due to the government’s failure to implement long-term solutions.

Paula also appealed to media outlets to avoid romanticizing the struggles of Hagonoy residents.

"Kaya, sa lahat ng media outlets, TV networks, at radio stations: bilang isang broadcasting student, kung ipi-feature natin ang Hagonoy lalo na sa mga panahong ganito, huwag naman sana nating i-highlight ang mga masasayang tao sa gitna ng baha, o ang mga sasakyang dati’y mataas ngunit ngayon ay nalulubog na rin (So, to all media outlets, TV networks, and radio stations: as a broadcasting student, if we are to feature Hagonoy especially during times like these, let us not highlight the happy people in the midst of the flood, or the vehicles that were once tall but are now also submerged).

“Huwag nating iromantisa ang nararanasan ng mga taga-Hagonoy gamit ang mga linyang sanay na, masaya pa rin kahit may baha, o resilient ang mga taga-Hagonoy. Hindi ito resilience, ito ay kawalan ng pagpipilian (Let us not romanticize the experience of the people of Hagonoy using lines like they're used to it, they're still happy despite the flood, or the people of Hagonoy are resilient. This is not resilience, it is a lack of choice)," the SK councilor added.

She urged the public to acknowledge the deeper impact of recurring floods: businesses forced to close, workers unable to report or work remotely, students unable to enroll due to internet and power outages, and families with no means to improve their living conditions.

Opportunities have been lost, she said, with families and businesses choosing to leave the town due to the constant flooding.

Paula called on public officials to listen to the voices of ordinary Hagonoeños and prioritize long-term, meaningful solutions.

"What we need is real action and concrete help, I will repeat, flood is not normal and will never be the new normal," Paula said