In Baguio, students add voice vs corruption in infra works
BAGUIO CITY—Undeterred by strong rains from Tropical Depression “Mirasol,” around 1,800 students of the University of the Philippines (UP) Baguio walked out of their classes at 1 p.m. on Wednesday to stage an indignation rally against corruption in the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), particularly those involving substandard and “ghost” or nonexistent flood control projects.
The protest, organized by the Alliance of Concerned Students (ACS), was endorsed by the UP Baguio administration, which encouraged faculty and staff to join the action. The demonstration echoed a nationwide wave of protests demanding accountability for the misuse of public funds.
Braving the rain, students carried placards and banners denouncing corruption in government, particularly in flood control projects.
The issue had been mentioned by President Marcos in his State of the Nation Address in July. But protesters criticized Mr. Marcos for supposedly distancing himself from the scandal under his administration.
Call for accountability
The President, however, has created the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) that will look into these anomalous projects. Baguio Mayor Benjamin Magalong, a retired police official, is part of the ICI as special adviser and investigator.
UP student regent Dexter Clemente, speaking during the rally, urged students to remain vigilant and demand transparency at all levels of government.
“We must not allow them to keep spending billions [of pesos] while we suffer from overcrowded classrooms and lack of facilities,” Clemente said. “The people, especially the youth, must demand accountability—from top officials down to the grassroots.”
Faculty members also joined the call, with Rostum Alanas, a UP Baguio faculty representative of the All UP Academic Employees Union, expressing frustration over long-standing infrastructure issues within the university itself.
“Here in UP, many of our buildings remain unfinished. We have repeatedly protested against corruption, but the funds continue to disappear,” Alanas said.
Bigger protest
Wednesday’s walkout was a prelude to a larger demonstration in the city set for Sept. 21, the 53rd anniversary of former President Ferdinand Marcos Sr.’s declaration of martial law.
Dubbed the Baguio-Benguet March Against Corruption, the event will gather youth and civil society groups from across the region to demand transparency and justice. Organizers said the march would also feature testimonies from residents affected by disasters and failed infrastructure, linking their struggles to systemic corruption and fund misuse.
“Government funding for education remains grossly insufficient, while a select few politicians, their families, and cronies amass wealth through corrupt projects. How many more thousands of students could be educated, and how many more buildings could we have, if we weren’t being robbed by bureaucrat-capitalists?” said ACS chair Wendell Ortega. —WITH A REPORT FROM VINCENT CABREZA
