Schools on flood-prone Taft air anger over flood-control corruption
MANILA, Philippines — University presidents, professors, and students in schools along the entire stretch of Taft Avenue are joining calls to uncover corruption in flood control works, saying in a scathing statement that the country is suffering from the "twin-tragedy" of deadly floods and rampant corruption.
The One Taft alliance — representing students and faculty of Taft schools such as the De La Salle University — expressed support for the September 21 mass protests in a statement signed by over 400 signatories.
The alliance condemned the reported billions in stolen public funds meant for flood control projects that are "either substandard or totally nonexistent," directly linking the corruption to deaths along the flood-prone university corridor.
"The people are drowning in suffering, and the corrupt are feasting on a flood of profits," the alliance said Thursday, September 18, asking how many of the youth have "literally died because of raging floodwaters" while public officials allegedly profit from the missing flood control funds.
RELATED: What to know: September 21 anti-corruption rallies at Luneta, EDSA
Flood-prone Taft
Schools along Taft face regular flooding during heavy rains, with students and faculty often trapped by surging floodwaters or unable to enter campus.
"Do the contractors, congressmen, and bureaucrats involved in these corrupt activities even have a
conscience?" the statement read.
"And let us not forget the current and previous administrations who occupied Malacañang but allowed the country to suffer from this twin-tragedy of floods caused by negligence and corruption caused by bureaucrat capitalism," it added.
The alliance also asked: "How many workers, who have no choice but to go to work despite heavy rains, have died from diseases like leptospirosis? How many farmers have lost their livelihoods because there is no infrastructure to prevent floods from destroying their fields and crops?"
RELATED: Flood-prone UST decries corruption in flood control projects
The statement concludes with a call to "drown the plunderers in the rage of our just demands" as Manila's academic corridor prepares to join the anti-corruption demonstrations this Sunday.
It was signed by De La Salle University president Bernard Oca, Philippine Normal University president Bert Tuga, and St. Paul University Manila president Sr. Ma. Evangeline Anastacio.
The 429 signatories include department chairs, student council leaders, faculty members, librarians, and hospital staff from UP-Philippine General Hospital.
The One Taft alliance was formed in January 2025 to fight "poverty, corruption, and lack of accountability."
Major demonstrations ahead
Two major rallies are scheduled for September 21 - the "Baha sa Luneta" protest at Rizal Park beginning 9 a.m. and the "Trillion Peso March" at the EDSA People Power Monument starting 2 p.m.
The demonstrations coincide with the 53rd anniversary of Ferdinand Marcos Sr.'s declaration of martial law in 1972, a date long used to rally against authoritarian rule and corruption.
Over 200 sectoral groups and church organizations are expected to participate, with at least 15,000 protesters anticipated at the EDSA rally alone. Universities nationwide, including Adamson University, Ateneo de Manila, and Miriam College, among others, have announced support for the protests.
Church leaders at the EDSA rally are urging participants to wear white as a symbol of "unity and hope."
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