Flooding and heat are getting worse — but nature can help protect our Barangay.
6×
floods per wet season
70%
paved surface
71%
no outdoor cooling space
11
green solutions tested
The problem
Two problems, one root cause
Nearly 70% of Paknaan is covered in concrete, rooftops and paved roads — with almost no trees or plants. This creates two serious problems that are getting worse every year.
💧
Flooding
Every wet season, the streets flood up to 6 times a year. Water rises to knee or even hip height, making it dangerous to walk outside, damaging homes, and disrupting daily life. During Typhoon Tino in 2025, water reached up to 2 meters high.
The main causes are close to home. A gap in the floodwall lets river water in directly. The drainage is often blocked by trash. And because nearly 70% of the ground is sealed, rainwater has nowhere to go.
250mmmore rain per year since 2000
🌡️
Heat Stress
Paknaan's concrete and asphalt absorb the sun's heat all day and release it at night — keeping temperatures high even after sunset. This is called the urban heat island effect, and it makes life significantly hotter than in greener areas.
Without trees or plants to provide shade, there are few places to find relief. Heat stress is a real health risk — it can cause dizziness, exhaustion and in serious cases, hospitalisation. Children, elderly and outdoor workers are most at risk.
71%of residents have no place outside to cool down
What can help
Nature-based solutions
Nature-based solutions use trees, plants and natural materials to fight flooding and heat. They work with nature instead of against it — and many can be implemented right here in Paknaan, by the community, without expensive machinery.
🌳
Street Trees
Provide shade, cool the air and intercept rain before it hits the ground.
🌿
Rain Gardens
Small planted areas that absorb rainwater from the street before it floods.
⬡
Permeable Paving
Paving that lets water soak through instead of running off into the street.
〰️
Bioswales
Planted channels along roads that guide and absorb water during heavy rain.
What can you do?
Nature-based solutions work best when the whole community is involved. You do not need money or special skills to make a difference. Small actions, done together, can protect the Barangay.
🗑️
Keep drainage clean
Blocked drains are one of the main reasons floodwater stays on our streets. Avoid throwing trash near drainage channels.
🪴
Plant something
You do not need a garden. A pot on your doorstep, a plant along your wall, or a tree in front of your home all help cool the air and absorb rain.
🌳
Care for street trees
If trees are planted in your street, help them survive. Water young trees in dry months, keep the area around them clean.
🤝
Join the clean-up
Every Saturday, Barangay volunteers collect trash. Join them. A clean Barangay means cleaner drainage and less flooding.
📢
Spread the word
Talk to your neighbours and family. The more people understand what nature can do, the stronger the community becomes.
Understanding the problem
Why does Paknaan flood and overheat?
Both problems share the same root cause: rapid urban growth that has covered almost all natural land with concrete and buildings, leaving no space for water or cooling.
1
Loss of Permeable Surfaces
Over 70% of Paknaan is covered by concrete and buildings. When rain falls, it cannot soak into the ground — so it collects on streets and floods homes.
Urbanisation
2
Hole in the Riprap Wall
The flood wall along the Butuanon river has a gap. When the river rises — especially during high tide — water enters the Barangay directly through this opening.
Infrastructure
3
Blocked Drains
Paknaan's drainage system is often clogged by garbage thrown on the street. When drains are blocked, rainwater has nowhere to flow and floods the roads.
Maintenance
4
More Intense Rainfall
Rainfall in the Philippines has increased by 250mm per year since 2000, and is expected to keep rising. More rain landing on sealed surfaces means more flooding.
Climate Change
5
Tidal Influence
Paknaan sits near the mouth of the Butuanon river. During high tide, sea water pushes upstream and makes it harder for the river to drain away — worsening floods.
Location
6
Rapid Development
Fast and informal construction has built over natural water channels, removing the land's ability to hold and absorb water during heavy rain events.
Urbanisation
DENR Flood Risk Map
Official flood hazard zones — High, Medium and Low risk — overlaid with land use
Flood-Prone Areas
Areas that flood (orange) vs areas that do not (green), based on data from Barangay Captain Ulgasan
Land Use & Flooding Combined
Which areas are residential or non-residential, and which ones flood. The black dot marks the hole in the riprap wall.
1
Urban Heat Island Effect
Concrete and asphalt absorb heat during the day and release it at night. Without plants to cool the air through evaporation, temperatures stay high around the clock.
Urbanisation
2
Almost No Green Spaces
There are barely any trees or plants in Paknaan. Vegetation naturally cools through shade and water evaporation. Without it, there is nothing to reduce the heat.
Urbanisation
3
Rising Temperatures
Temperatures in Paknaan already reach 25–32.5°C. In 2025, a heatwave pushed temperatures to 42°C across the Philippines, triggering a state of calamity in over 400 cities.
Climate Change
4
Housing Materials
Many homes are built with roofs and walls that absorb and hold heat. 71% of residents have no outdoor space to cool down, and more than half have no indoor cooling either.
Built Environment
5
Tropical Location
The Philippines sits just above the equator. Countries in South-East Asia experience 6–9 hours of heat stress per day during peak months. Paknaan's dense layout makes it even hotter.
Location
6
No National Heat Plan
The Philippines has no national heat action plan. Without guidance or resources from the government, communities like Paknaan must find their own ways to deal with extreme heat.
Governance
Land Use Map Paknaan
Showing how much of the Barangay is built up — leaving almost no room for plants or trees. The satellite photos on the right show what this looks like on the ground.
⚠️ Eight areas need the most help
When you combine the areas that flood with the areas that have the most heat, eight hotspot areas stand out. These places experience both problems at the same time and are the priority for nature-based action.
AhosSiliTalongCamansePechayPaliyaManggosSikwa
Green solutions
Nature-based solutions for Paknaan
11 types of nature-based solutions were tested against the specific conditions of Paknaan. Each one is scored on how well it reduces flooding, reduces heat, fits in narrow streets, and can be managed by the community.
Show:
Overview
How do all solutions compare?
No single solution does everything — that is why combining them works best.
Best approach
Combining solutions for Paknaan
No single nature-based solution can fix both flooding and heat in Paknaan on its own. The best results come from combining solutions that complement each other.
🌳 Street trees are the starting point
Street trees are the only solution in the research that scores well on both heat reduction and fitting in Paknaan's narrow streets. Every recommended combination starts with street trees — and adds a second solution that tackles flooding.
Full overview
All 7 tested combinations
The three recommended combinations are marked with ⭐. The others may work in specific locations where more space is available.
