ESSC is preparing a publication titled "Rainfall, Landslides, Debris Flow, Flooding: Understanding the Real Causes that Put Lives at Risk." 

Disasters in the Philippines will recur with increasing magnitude and devastating impact on physical and social landscapes. Flooding is reported with increasing frequency and sense of devastation affecting more people than ever before. Many do not realize that the natural processes of climate, geology and geomorphology continually form the Philippine landscape in different ways. The landscape we think we are totally familiar with greatly changed from earlier times, and will continue to change.

Rainfall, landslides, debris flows, debris floods and flooding with volcanic eruptions and earthquakes are natural events that become disasters only in areas where people settle and properties are established. These socially-induced natural disasters are increasingly exacerbated by sustained and chronic poverty, poor governance and resource allocation, lack of coordinated planning and climate change. In time, human risk is made real where land allocation, land zoning, and disaster management are poor. Every influencing factor, because it is an inter-relation of the human and natural, must now be considered in a comprehensive response.

ESSC continues its research to understand the causes of destructive floods. The research draws deeply from the recent tragic experiences of landslides and flooding in the country. ESSC is working to share with Philippine society a deeper understanding of the real causes and impacts of risk and disasters. This work is viewed to contribute in providing a basis for dialogue to develop disaster management plans and a solid foundation for securing homes and livelihood as a community and as a nation.

A broader dissemination is being envisioned by publishing a book to be shared mainly with local governments. ESSC already has a draft book manuscript. However, the increasing frequency and intensity in occurrence of landslides and floods demands further work and investigation to cover a broader diversity of events and illustrating the extent of disaster vulnerability in the Philippines.