The monsoon rains is a yearly issue in the Philippines. Although few cause such destruction as Haiyan in 2013, they have often brought everything to a standstill for days as residences wait for the floodwater to recede. Due to deforestation in the mountains, canals and waterways clogged with garbage from squatter communities that live along them, and just plan lack of urban planning, serious flooding in large cities such as Manila are becoming more and more prevalent. As usual, the hardest hit are the urban poor. They are usually the last communities to receive any help from the government.