President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said it best: “If we anticipate well and we prepare well, marami tayong nagagawa para mas mabawasan ang effect (we can do much to lessen the impact).”

The President’s words, spoken at a briefing two days ago, capture both the anxiety and the determination now gripping the nation as another powerful storm—Typhoon Uwan—threatens to make landfall early next week.

Barely days after Typhoon Tino left a trail of devastation across the Visayas and Mimaropa, claiming at least 188 lives and 135 others missing, the country is now bracing for what may become a super typhoon. The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) reports that Severe Tropical Storm Fung-Wong, to be named Uwan upon entering the Philippine Area of Responsibility, has intensified rapidly and could reach super typhoon category by Saturday. With a massive rainband spanning up to a thousand kilometers, it is expected to drench much of Luzon and Visayas, and possibly make landfall over Northern or Central Luzon by Monday.

In response, President Marcos on Nov. 6 approved the declaration of a national state of calamity—a move that not only acknowledges the scale of destruction caused by Tino, but also enables the government to access emergency funds, impose price controls on basic commodities, and speed up the deployment of aid and preemptive measures ahead of Uwan. “Almost 10 to 12 regions will be affected,” the President said, underscoring the vast scope of the dual crises confronting the nation.

The government’s emergency machinery is in full swing. The Department of Social Welfare and Development has already released over ₱69 million worth of humanitarian aid, while ₱760 million in financial assistance from the Office of the President has been distributed to hard-hit local governments, including Cebu, Iloilo, and Negros Occidental. The Philippine Army has deployed more than a thousand personnel for rescue and relief operations in the Visayas, with another 5,000 soldiers on standby nationwide. Police units are using drones in Cebu to monitor traffic and aid the movement of emergency convoys. Across the country, local governments and the Office of Civil Defense have activated contingency plans, particularly in Northern Luzon, where Uwan is expected to strike hardest.

All these efforts reflect lessons learned from previous calamities: that disaster response must begin long before the first gust of wind or the first surge of water. Anticipation—as the President emphasized—is the first and most powerful form of defense.

But the task of preparedness does not rest on government alone. Communities and individuals play an equally critical role. Now is the time for every family to check their “go bags,” secure essential medicines, and prepare emergency supplies of food and water. Review evacuation routes, keep communication lines open, and assist neighbors who may need extra help. Local volunteers are still needed to help pack relief goods, cook meals, and man emergency lines.

We are again reminded that resilience begins at the grassroots, but true safety depends on sustained investment in disaster risk reduction: stronger infrastructure, efficient coordination between agencies, and credible early-warning systems. The new technologies being used—like drone monitoring and the DSWD’s parallel supply chains—show progress, but they must become standard practice rather than exceptional measures.

As the nation braces for Uwan, it is clear that the Philippines cannot afford complacency. Nature’s fury is unrelenting, but foresight and unity can blunt its worst blows.

This weekend up to early next week, as much of the country shelters from yet another storm, let us hold fast to both vigilance and compassion. When the winds subside and the waters recede, our collective duty will again be to rebuild—together.