UST students, alumni hit back at PNoy

(Updated 2:04 p.m.) Students and alumni of the University of Santo Tomas (UST) in Manila shot back at President Benigno Aquino III after he alluded to the institution in his last State of the Nation Address as among those blocking his public works projects.

 

In his last SONA on Monday, Aquino said, "Para matugunan ang madalas na pagbaha sa Maynila, isinulong natin ang pagpapagawa ng catchment area, pero tumutol po dito ang isang malaking unibersidad. May mga lumang gusali daw kasi silang baka maaapektuhan ng gagawing proyekto."

 

The apparent reference to the university stemmed from its administration's rejection of a proposal of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in 2013 "to dig out a 'retarding tank' under the university's open grounds" to serve as a catchment basin during heavy rains.

 

The UST administration has yet to issue an official statement on Aquino's remark, but some of its students and alumni came in defense of the university.

 

In a blog entry on Tuesday, San Francisco-based writer-producer Julius Fernandez pointed out that as far as flood control was concerned, there could be "a better longstanding solution without desecrating the University of Santo Tomas." (https://fernandezjrp.wordpress.com/2015/07/28/my-tomasino-lament-on-pnoys-implication-of-ust/)

 

"To imply that UST is not willing to sacrifice and is not doing its part is hurtful on the part of the Tomasino community who has always been a partner of the Philippine government in many of its projects –- especially within the heavily-congested City of Manila. Also, it is unbecoming of a public official to pull ‘blind item’ on his formal address when almost everybody gets the clue," Fernandez wrote.

 

He added: "If it was the decision of UST to not put an orinola underneath its grounds, its prerogative should be respected. Why does UST have to take the blame for poor urban planning and management?"

 

In a statement, student group STAND-UST called the President's statement "yet another immature and arrogant innuendo."

 

"The idea being asserted by Aquino sets aside the historical and cultural significance of the areas to be affected by his administration's indiscriminate and inane urban plan," it said.

 

 

Safety over 'prized soccer field'

 

The UST Open Field is one of the five national cultural treasures inside the university's campus, which has also been named by the National Historical Commission as a national historical landmark.

 

The Open Field was the venue of several events, particularly the 1995 World Youth Day, as well as the visits of three popes: Blessed Paul VI, Saint John Paul II, and Pope Francis.

 

In a television interview, Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda backed up Aquino's statement, saying a sacrifice must be made for the safety of others over "a prized soccer field."

"The interest of the many should prevail over the interest of the few. Maraming nababaha. Doesn't it make sense that we need to attend to the welfare of so many -- not just adults, but schoolchildren, kids who traverse those roads in times of storms? Would you forgo safety over a prized soccer field?" he said.

 

He added: "The President is just being the 'Ama ng Bayan.' Mahalaga sa kaniya ang welfare ng marami. And catchment, by the way, ay underneath... Is that being unreasonable? That we dig it up, make sure that millions who are within those areas will be safe from inundation?" —Rose-An Jessica Dioquino/ALG, GMA News