Antipolo bishop: Gov’t officials must account for flood-control failures

LUCENA CITY — Amid the devastating floods that have hit various parts of the country in recent days, Bishop Ruperto Cruz Santos of the Diocese of Antipolo called on government officials to account for their actions and responsibilities.

“As your shepherd, I call upon those in positions of authority: Ask yourselves. Are you truly serving the people? Are you honest? Do you truly care about our nation?” Santos said in a scathing message written in Filipino titled “Hanggang Kailan” (Until When?) and posted on the diocese’s official Facebook page on Tuesday.

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READ: Flood control projects fail Central Luzon folk

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“You are there to protect, serve, and safeguard us. You have the power, time, and ability to address the problems of this country. But why do these recurring tragedies remain unresolved?”

“Why did funds intended for the welfare of the people fail to reach where they were supposed to go? Why have so many enriched themselves while the nation is sinking?” he asked.

Santos said the country has once again been plunged into deep suffering by seemingly endless flooding caused by the southwest monsoon, or “habagat.”

The weather disturbances have triggered widespread flooding, destroyed livelihoods and crops, and damaged infrastructure that should have helped protect communities from disasters.

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“Many families have been forced to evacuate, many areas have become impassable, and once again, many Filipinos are asking: How long?” Santos said.

The bishop acknowledged that the rains have been heavy and that a lack of discipline, including improper waste disposal, has contributed to flooding.

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READ: Weeks of Luzon flooding, landslides kill over 30

“But these are not the only reasons. There is a deeper wound that we must acknowledge: projects that were supposed to prevent flooding, but were never started, never built, or never fulfilled their intended purpose,” he said.

“Funds intended to protect our communities were not properly used. What should have been our defense against disasters became ghosts — ghost projects that were never seen, never felt, and never helped the people,” he lamented.

Santos stressed, however, that corruption and ghost projects are not the fault of ordinary Filipinos.

“All these are the result of the evil, greed, and negligence of those in power,” he said.

The bishop said Filipinos also have a responsibility to help rid the government of corrupt officials through their choices at the ballot box.

“In the coming elections, be discerning. Do not be swayed by temporary favors or handouts. The price of accepting a few thousand pesos in exchange for your vote is years of suffering, destroyed livelihoods, and lost hope. Have compassion for our country. Have compassion for ourselves. Have compassion for the generations to come,” Santos said.

Despite the situation, Santos appealed to Filipinos not to lose hope and to continue putting their faith in God.

“In the midst of the storm, let us hold hands. In the midst of the floods, let us help one another. In the midst of corruption, let us stand firm. In the midst of darkness, let us be the light,” the bishop said.

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Meanwhile, Sen. Vicente Sotto III has filed Proposed Senate Resolution No. 631 seeking a Senate investigation into the root causes and devastating effects of typhoons and monsoon rains, with the aim of strengthening disaster mitigation efforts.

Sotto said the probe should assess the country’s disaster mitigation measures and the resilience of public infrastructure, particularly flood-control projects intended to protect communities from flooding. /dp