DLSU Committee Calls for Accountability Amid Worsening Flood Crisis in the Philippines

The De La Salle University (DLSU) Committee on National Issues and Concerns has issued a strong appeal to Lasallians and Filipinos nationwide to demand accountability from officials responsible for corruption and negligence that have exacerbated the recent flooding disasters across the country.\n\nIn a statement released on Tuesday, September 16, the committee condemned the failure of government agencies and personnel who neglected their duties, leading to the worsening impact of floods that displaced communities and caused fatalities. "We call on all Lasallians to stand with the Filipino people in demanding accountability against those who have failed in upholding their sworn duty, reform in institutions that have been eroded by corruption, and justice for the losses sustained due to greed and neglect," the committee said.\n\nThe floods, described as "devastating" and prolonged, have been linked to substandard and incomplete flood control projects, some being labeled as "ghost" projects—initiatives that were either never completed or failed to deliver promised protections. The committee singled out the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) for approving such inadequate projects, accusing them of betraying public trust. "Each signature is a death sentence written in ink. It is a deliberate choice to let communities drown while personal coffers fill," the statement strongly criticized.\n\nHighlighting the stark contrast between affected families and the ostentatious lifestyles of certain contractors, politicians, and bureaucrats, the committee called this disparity "a cruel mockery of our people's suffering" and an "undeniable proof of how deeply corruption festers."\n\nThe statement further underscored a pervasive "culture of impunity" within governance structures, asserting that when accountability is abandoned and institutions are exploited for private gain, disasters become "man-made crimes" rather than natural occurrences.\n\nAs investigations into flood control projects move forward, the committee urged the public to remain vigilant and insisted that "no one should be spared from accountability, no matter their position or privilege."\n\nConcluding their appeal, the DLSU committee stressed the need to uphold transparency, justice, and institutional reforms to ensure that government truly serves the Filipino people. "Let us not waver in our commitment to truth and justice, until corruption is confronted and governance truly serves the Filipino people," they declared.