ILOILO City – A civic group has accused the government of wasting billions on flood control projects, particularly the Jalaur mega dam in Calinog, Iloilo, while leaving urgent needs in education and healthcare gravely underfunded.
During a rally yesterday, protesters from the Jalaur River for the People’s Movement lambasted what they called misplaced priorities in public spending, saying the massive budget allocation for infrastructure has not solved flooding but has instead fueled corruption.
“Instead of tackling flooding effectively, these projects have brought about a flood of corruption, injustice, and violence against our people,” said movement spokesperson Arlie Bosque.
The demonstrators pointed out that the over P11-billion Jalaur mega dam project alone could have funded thousands of classrooms in underserved towns.
“If only we spent that money on education, we could have built 3,500 classrooms to address the severe shortage in towns like Himamaylan (Negros Occidental),” Bosque stressed.
Many students in Negros and other provinces, they added, are still forced to study in makeshift structures.
Health and education advocates also highlighted the plight of medical students at West Visayas State University (WVSU), whom they claimed have been deprived of critical scholarships due to what they described as mismanaged funds.
“This year, our first-year medical students are missing out on the CHED SRS scholarship, which is crucial for their education,” Bosque said.
The protesters further warned of the mega dam’s environmental and social costs, claiming that affected communities are already burdened by recurring floods and displacements. They accused the government of advancing projects that benefit only a few at the expense of public welfare.
“Our call extends beyond merely reviewing the dam project; it’s a plea to prioritize public welfare, especially in education and health, over infrastructural projects that serve to deepen corruption,” Bosque added.
The Jalaur River for the People’s Movement announced plans to stage a bigger protest on September 21, the National Day of Action Against Corruption, to amplify their demand for a radical shift in government priorities./PN
