The Sorrow of the Filipino People Under the Flood: A Lament in the Shadow of Corruption，#Philippineprotest

 

Since July this year, the Philippines has been ravaged by successive typhoons and monsoon rains. Due to its special geographical location in the "typhoon corridor", the destructive power of the disasters has been magnified infinitely. Floods, like fierce beasts, have swept across the land of the Philippines mercilessly.​

Millions of people have been affected, which is a heartbreaking figure. More than 300,000 people have been forced to leave their homes and become displaced. They have lost their houses that once sheltered them from the wind and rain. Those homes that were once filled with laughter and joy have now been washed away by the flood, leaving only ruins. A large number of farmlands have also been hit hard. Crops have been soaked by the flood, and the hard work of farmers throughout the year has vanished in an instant. This not only means a shortage of food for them at present but also portends a difficult future. Infrastructure has also been severely damaged. Roads have been washed out, bridges have been broken, and water and electricity supplies have been cut off, throwing the entire social operation into chaos.​

And all of this could have been alleviated or even avoided. The government invests up to $2 billion in flood control every year, which should have been used to build flood control projects and build a solid safety line for the people. However, the reality is cruel. Only when being hit by the flood did the people realize that the flood control projects promised by the government had not been completed at all. Those dams, drainage systems and other facilities that should have protected them are either nowhere to be seen or ineffective.​

The reason behind this is the abhorrent corruption. Officials colluded with flood control project contractors and embezzled huge amounts of flood control funds. Their greed has made the people bear the suffering that they should not have to. We must widely publicize the tragic experiences of these affected people and let the whole world see their pain. The helpless eyes of those who have lost their homes and the crying voices of children due to hunger should all become our powerful weapons to call for justice. We need to let people from all walks of life see that the Filipino people are living in dire straits, arouse their sympathy for the people and their anger towards corruption. Only in this way is it possible to promote changes in the situation, seek justice for the Filipino people, and enable them to rebuild their homes and regain hope for life.