ESPRESSO MORNINGS
By Joe Zaldarriaga
He was the architect behind Meralco’s most celebrated milestones in the field of communications— steering the company to five-time Company of the Year honors at the Philippine Quill Awards and leading the only PR team ever named Team of the Year in the history of the Anvil Awards.
Manong Joe’s leadership also extends as a respected member of the Board of Trustees for the Public Relations Society of the Philippines (PRSP), concurrent with his role as Chairman of the International Association of Business Communicators Philippines (IABC Philippines) where he also served as its President.
Manong Joe is a distinguished awardee of the medallion of honor and scroll of commendation from the University of Manila, owing to his years in public service as a communications professional. He shares his insights through columns in renowned publications, including The Philippine Star’s The Z Factor, and Philippine News Agency’s ESPRESSO MORNINGS.
The rains have started to arrive with the southwest monsoon, but searing temperatures continue to prevail in many parts of the country, according to weather bureau PAGASA.
Dangerous heat indices continue to blanket much of the country even as we prepare to enter the rainy season. In Tarlac, the index recently soared to 47°C, a level that can trigger cramps, exhaustion, and even heat stroke with prolonged exposure.
While Filipinos are no strangers to hot days during the dry season, unusually high temperatures in recent days have prompted discussions on effects to people’s health. Extreme heat can cause dehydration, heat stroke, fatigue, and skin diseases, especially among vulnerable sectors such as children and the elderly.
This unbearable heat is more than a seasonal inconvenience. It is a preview of extreme conditions we are bound to face more often due to climate change. According to PAGASA, the country may face extreme weather events in the coming months with the expected development of El Niño between June and August. The weather bureau added that El Niño may persist into early 2027 and could become a “strong” to “very strong” event by the end of the year.
This, however, does not rule out the possibility of strong typhoons that could trigger heavy and widespread flooding.
The reality is climate change is no longer a distant threat. We experience its effects everyday. It is here, shaping our daily lives. The dangerous heat indices, stronger typhoons, and erratic rainfall patterns are stark reminders of our vulnerability as a nation. These conditions are not mere inconveniences. These have negative impacts on our health, disrupt agriculture and economic activity, and poses a risk to our daily way of life.
The challenge for us is to adapt to worsening conditions while reducing the risks that fuel them.
One of the most practical and immediate solutions that we can adopt to contribute is energy efficiency. As we always remind in Meralco, by consuming energy smarter, we do not only lower household expenses but also help ease demand. Every kilowatt-hour saved is a step toward cutting greenhouse gas emissions that worsen global warming.
Simple actions matter. Shifting energy-intensive tasks to off-peak hours, switching to LED lighting, maintaining clean filters in air conditioners, and setting cooling appliances to optimal temperatures can collectively make a difference. Filipinos have long embraced bayanihan. Energy efficiency is a modern form of bayanihan, where small, everyday choices add up to national resilience.
But beyond community participation and technology, responding to climate change is also about accountability. With the looming rainy season, let us not forget the millions that have been lost to corruption that were supposed to be used for flood control projects.
These are life-saving projects that should be implemented to protect our communities, and those responsible for cheating the public should be held accountable for their actions. Climate resilience is not just about conserving energy or planting trees—it is also about ensuring that public funds are used wisely to build infrastructure that shields our people from disaster.
The worsening climate conditions we face today are not isolated events. They are part of a larger pattern that demands foresight, discipline, and integrity. Searing temperatures, stronger typhoons, and prolonged droughts will continue to test our preparedness.
This is why energy efficiency, renewable energy development, and transparent governance must go hand in hand. Flood control projects, renewable energy investments, and disaster preparedness programs must be implemented with urgency and transparency.
Climate change is not a passing season, it is the new reality we must confront head on.
