Palace: Public safety should prevail over UST’s concerns vs. proposed catchment area

Malacañang on Wednesday defended the government’s proposal to build a catchment area at the University of Santo Tomas (UST), saying public safety during floods should prevail over the university’s concerns over its open field earlier declared as a historical landmark.

At a press briefing, presidential spokesman Secretary Edwin Lacierda said that the government’s plan to build the UST catchment area is “scientifically well-founded and scientifically proven.”

“This is a situation where the interest and the safety of many should prevail over the concerns of, unfortunately, a university… Why is it difficult for us and for all the people involved to join and cooperate in building that catchment area?” Lacierda told reporters on Wednesday afternoon.

In his final State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday, Aquino criticized a certain university—apparently referring to UST—for supposedly standing in the way of the government’s execution of its flood control plan.

“Para matugunan ang madalas na pagbaha sa Maynila, isinulong natin ang pagpapagawa ng catchment area; pero tumutol po dito ang isang malaking unibersidad. May lumang gusali daw kasi silang baka maapektuhan,” Aquino said in his speech.

The UST administration earlier opposed the construction of the catchment area under the university’s opening grounds, citing security concerns and possible disruption of school activities.

UST alumni also criticized Aquino for the plan to build the catchment area, saying this will affect the university’s historical and cultural significance.

The UST open field, the site of the proposed water storage tank during heavy rains, was earlier named by the National Historical Commission as a national historical landmark.

Lacierda, however, said that Aquino only had public welfare in mind when he mentioned the plan to build the catchment area in UST during his final SONA.

“Does it make sense for government to put a catchment area in a place where it is a given fact na kapag malakas ang ulan, binabaha ang area na iyon? Does it make sense for the President, as ama ng bayan, to protect citizens who traverse España?” the Palace official asked.

“Is it too much to ask to put a catchment area and make sure that the lives of people who are there are protected? Is it too much to ask for the President to protect the welfare of Filipinos?” he added. —KBK, GMA News