OUR knowledge illuminates only a little corner of the universe, hence it is incomplete, approximate, tentative and merely probable, and is designed to be held only so long as it conforms to the evidence.
The best level of argument is using the language of science, where even the experts’ opinion comes lowest in the hierarchy of evidence. It is an arena where an idea can withstand scrutiny, can be revised with new evidence, and results in a reliable understanding of the world.
Social media is not the best place for such an exchange as it is drowned by biases and casual opinions compounded by obvious trolls weaponizing their anonymity yet can be very disturbing on how they, with all candor, can collectively attack. And the Dunning-Kruger bias is at its best — where the incompetent appear in the “valley of stupid” (based on the theory) as very confident armed with very little knowledge but armored with unchanging conviction coupled with ego and pride. Some of the intellectuals have given up on social media for their mental health, and resigned and resolved that nothing can break these cognitive biases anyway.
Politics and social media that divide
The most dangerous battleground is politics, which even psychiatry regards as an unallowable topic of conversation, along with religion. Imagine an agora where multi-polarized perspectives are presented by diverse fanatics incessantly protecting their politicians beyond what logic can fathom. Complicate it more with sympathy, which is highly subjective. This explains the ever-divided nation that we are, even in understanding calamities and disasters that recently struck our nation.
We have been so divided because we lack objectivity, yet we engage in futile assertions that drain our productive energy. We have been so divided because the design of social media resonates with our confirmation bias that is fed by the attention-feeding algorithm.
A gem found on social media
There are reasonable social media content that is drowned in the wilderness of the social noise. One of those I found is that of Ed Parra Malagapo, an outstanding mechanical engineer awardee who holds eight doctorate degrees, four masteral degrees and eight Harvard certifications. He is also a researcher and author, and dean emeritus of Philippine Christian University who is also a fellow of the Philippine Society of Mechanical Engineers and an Asean engineer. Yet, his opinion and evidence are subjected to the rules of the very science he uses.
He posted on social media and, with his permission, is worth sharing in this column. Here is what he wrote, science-based, yet presented in the simplest terms possible:
Science, not politics
Cebu has once again suffered from devastating floods that cost lives, homes and livelihoods. The recent downpour brought by Typhoon Kalmaegi (local name: Tino) turned roads into rivers and submerged entire communities. But the question remains: was it God’s act, or was it the result of human negligence and poor environmental management?
What happened?
On Nov. 2, 2025, torrential rains poured over Metro Cebu and neighboring provinces, triggered by Typhoon Kalmaegi. Within hours, floodwaters rose rapidly, trapping people in their homes, sweeping away vehicles and destroying properties. Many of the worst-hit areas had already experienced heavy flooding earlier this year — a clear sign that lessons from past events remain unheeded.
The real causes: scientific factors
Extreme rainfall and overflowing drainage. Typhoon Kalmaegi released massive rainfall in a short period. Cebu’s drainage systems were overwhelmed, unable to handle the water volume.
Loss of forests and watersheds. Deforestation and quarrying in upland Cebu stripped the land of its natural water absorbers. Without trees and roots to hold water, rain rapidly turns to runoff, flowing down to urban areas.
Poor urban planning. Rapid urbanization replaced natural waterways with concrete. Drainage canals are clogged with garbage, roads are built over old creeks, and many structures rise directly on floodplains, leaving the city vulnerable.
Siltation and weak infrastructure. Years of neglect, unregulated quarrying and substandard flood control projects have led to shallow rivers that easily overflow.
The consequences
Lives lost: Dozens dead and many missing (232 confirmed dead and 112 missing, as of Nov. 11). A report by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council indicates 4.1 million individuals affected across regions. Properties destroyed: Homes and vehicles submerged.
Livelihoods disrupted: Roads, schools, businesses and public services paralyzed.
Public trauma: Psychological distress among survivors and evacuees.
This is not just a “natural disaster”; it is a human-amplified disaster, a product of environmental neglect and unscientific planning. Act of God or the result of human actions?
The typhoon itself is a natural event, born from the laws of meteorology and ocean heat. But the disaster that follows is man-made — magnified by deforestation and quarrying, uncontrolled urban sprawl, clogged drainage and waterways, and lack of discipline in waste disposal. There is an obvious failure to respect nature’s design.
In short: The hazard is natural; the disaster is human.
Who bears responsibility?
Scientific responsibility lies across all levels: local and national planners who fail to enforce zoning and drainage standards; developers and contractors who build over waterways or ignore environmental impact assessments; citizens who dispose of garbage irresponsibly or ignore flood warnings; and government agencies that overlook long-term watershed management.
Responsibility is shared, but accountability must be enforced. Science demands proactive prevention — not reactive blame.
The way forward
A lot of things need to be done, collectively and urgently, namely: restore forests and watersheds; enforce urban zoning and drainage laws; stop quarrying and illegal logging; invest in scientific flood control systems; and educate citizens on environmental stewardship.
These are not acts of politics but acts of science and survival.
Final thought
Nature will always send rain, but it is how we prepare, plan and protect that determines whether we survive or suffer. This tragedy in Cebu is not God’s punishment — it is nature’s warning to act responsibly.
Let’s stop blaming heaven and start fixing the ground beneath our feet.
One response to his post comes from Renante Gabiana Abellanosa, a former chairman of the Bayanihan Council in the United Arab Emirates, who wrote this meaningful, evidence-based assertion that he labeled as “corruption to the highest level.” He cites these narratives:
An integrated flood control and drainage system master plan for Metro Cebu was completed in 2017 (with funding assistance from the Japan International Cooperation Agency) — it identifies flood-prone areas, and structural and nonstructural measures (river improvements, diversion channels, drainage lines; also reforestation, zoning, waste management, relocation of informal settlers).
In 2019, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) noted that local government units in Metro Cebu must align their anti-flooding and drainage projects with the DPWH master plan; that master plan carried a P40-billion funding package.
As of 2024, the Regional Development Report noted that out of about 103 projects (in the Metro Cebu Flood Control and Drainage System Master Plan) estimated at P44.29 billion, only 21 projects worth P4.03 billion had been funded or implemented; major obstacles include funding, right-of-way acquisition and coordination.
However, P26.6 billion was utilized to construct unplanned flood control systems implemented by the regional DPWH.
History will decide on what happens next, hopefully with science coming into the picture to make things right.
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SOURCE: The Manila Times