06/09/2025
๐๐-๐๐ | ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ฆ๐ฌ ๐ข๐ง ๐๐: ๐ ๐๐ฅ๐๐ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐ฑ๐๐๐ ๐๐จ ๐๐ฌ๐ค "๐๐ก๐๐ญ'๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ง?"
In light of the talks on the issues of flood control projects nationwide, comes the buzz of urgency to completely take down all corrupt individuals behind it. The Philippines encounters at least 18-20 typhoons annually; some pass by, most ravage lives. Such calamities have gone extremely destructive and continue to exceed normal effects due to climate change, depletion of environmental resources, and mismanagement of disaster response measures. Albeit the fact that the Filipinos are โused toโ such occurrences and are โresilientโenough to back off immediately after a typhoon, it is undeniable that the state of calamity preparedness in our country is much poorer than a beggar.
For several years, Disaster and Risk Reduction Management (DRRM) systems have been a concern that is considered tabooโ and this is the problem. The truth is, all of us have a part in this regard which we tend to dismiss every single time. Reasons why those who hold taxes and funds of the Filipino people are not afraid to pocket trillions of it is not just because they are rogue and have a sick interest of money but also because we let it. We do not engage in such talks until we are affected by a calamity and are unable to stand on our own. In simple terms, we only yell for help the moment we are out of breath. The same goes for them, they should be held accountable and face serious consequences for being instruments of indirectly ruining thousands of lives during crises. Resiliency is indeed a crucial part of being a Filipino, however, accountability is its right handโ something we continuously turn a blind eye on. Turns out, the Philippines is not a poor state, but is only runned by corrupt individuals who wear masks to hide anomalies.
In a special documentary released by the GMA Public Affairs hosted by veteran journalist Jessica Soho, head of Mayors for Good Governance Organization and Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong revealed trillions of tax amounts corrupted by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) workers, contractors, and some politicians behind it which should have been rendered to flood control and calamity preparedness systems. According to Magalong, for every Php 100 spent on a government project, only about Php 30 goes to the actual construction, hence, only 30% of the supposed funding is actually used. Based on the Php 450 billion budget allocated to the DPWH for flood control projects, the estimated amount actually utilized for construction is only Php 135 billion. Moreover, ghost projects in Baliwag, Bulacanโ which is prone to flashfloodsโ cost roughly Php 55 million, while overpriced cat's eyes or road reflectors cost Php 9.8 billion. The documentary also stated that 60% of every government project is corrupted, which would amount to Php 270 billion from the Php 450 billion DPWH budget.
Meanwhile, the Committee of Finance Chair Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian recently said each and every Filipino now has Php 142,000 debt if we were to jot down the countryโs overall liabilities. Now imagine, we did nothing wrong but we owe a hundred thousand pesos to the government? It is analogous to having a life sentence of imprisonment without due process, isn't it? ๐พ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐
๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐, ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐.
Graft and corruption is not new to Juanโs ears. And since it has been normalized for a very long time now, disaster preparedness and risk reduction systems are just flowing along with the current of massive floods; buried underneath, failed to be fostered. This highlights the urgency to speak up; engage in political and societal issues and be educated in it; and demand accountability because an individualโs voice, when intensified as a whole, may become the unified catalyst for eliminating mediocrity and deterioration of a typical Filipino living. Some, living in an extravaganza, would argue in order to hide their dirty doings. Children of the rouge ones, would insist it is their own parentsโ money that is used to purchase their luxury cars and designer bagsโ to buy them a mockingbirdโ but those who are compensated and have been stolen from, would never close their eyes once more.
If we want to break the chain of always being stepped on and receiving mediocre services from the authorities, we must also cut the cycle of being ignorant and quiet. If we want to strengthen, to foster disaster preparedness and risk reduction processes, we must unmask those individuals who did not only steal the tax and funds from the Filipino peopleโ for the Filipino peopleโbut robbed integral parts of us, being humane. We have looked at how these failed flood control projects affected thousands of people. We have seen how we unconsciously get robbed by departments and big people in it; how current efforts of the government arenโt enough; how our country cannot seem to progress; and why having not just knowledge but actions into these issues make a huge difference. It is now high time to actually stand on both of our feet, to demand justice and accountability, and to realize we need to have comprehensive safety and security in terms of any calamity. The only way to lessen the doomed effects of such calamities and to actually be prepared for times of crises is to build flood control systems which will last a lifetime utilizing an uncorrupted budget as its core foundation.
Let us raise our voices and do something as Filipinos. Because at the end of the thread, it is not our duty to build systems, but it is our obligation to check whether these systems serve us right. Otherwise we must ask, โwhat is going on?โ
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