The devastation left by Severe Tropical Storm Kristine across the Philippines once again raises a critical question: When will the nation be prepared to face strong typhoons without enduring severe losses, destruction, and death?

As of this writing, Tropical Storm Kristine (international name: Trami) has left 158 cities and municipalities under a state of calamity, 85 people dead, and 1.4 million families and 5.7 individuals affected. A total of 382,000 individuals found shelter in 7,400 evacuation centers, while more than 178,000 individuals sought shelter elsewhere. The government has announced PhP 562 million worth of assistance to families affected by the severe storm.

The damage wrought by Kristine is not solely about climate change, though climate change demands that the government takes action, fast. It’s about the government’s long-standing inaction and misguided policies, and the unchecked power dynamics that prioritize profit over people. We need a government willing to implement genuine reforms to mitigate the impact of natural disasters and prioritize sustainable, equitable growth.

We call on the government to review and overhaul policies such as land-use conversion laws, which often permit unregulated development, deforestation, and other activities that lead to severe flooding and environmental degradation.

Moreover, it is high time to reassess the mining and quarrying permits granted across the country. These extractive industries destabilize land and degrade the environment, endangering communities that bear the brunt of landslides, flash floods, and soil erosion. An immediate, thorough review of these activities—and their cumulative environmental toll—is not just advisable but essential to the long-term safety of our communities.

It is also urgent that the Marcos Jr government take the side of its people in international discussions on climate change. It should stand up against the biggest carbon emitters, especially the United States, who are responsible for accelerating and making worse the climate change that we are experiencing now. It should demand the immediate creation of just transition plans to protect the planet and the people and reparations with no strings attached for victims of climate injustice.

As Kristine exits the country, and as we near the anniversary of Supertyphoon Yolanda, which claimed thousands of lives, the government must be reminded and, more importantly, placed under the workers’ and people’s pressure. Strong typhoons like Kristine will happen again, but they should not always lead to disasters, and only genuine, comprehensive action will keep us prepared.

Let us demand a shift from band-aid solutions to proactive, preventive policies—rooted in the principles of good governance, accountability, and resilience.