Calumpit folk living in flood for months: Let the corrupt try to live how we do

Residents of Barangay San Miguel in Calumpit, Bulacan, have been living with flooded streets and homes for months, and they want those who helped themselves with billions of pesos in flood-control projects to be made accountable.

According to Jun Veneracion's report on "24 Oras," the residents have been dealing with floods for four months. They even built a make-shift bridge to help them go about their business while dealing with the flood waters.

Calumpit is under Bulacan’s first engineering district, the same entity that is under fire for substandard flood control projects. Hence, the residents have nothing but frustration that their flooding problem could have been resolved if greed had not prevailed. 

“Hindi po sana mangyari na puro hearing lang po, puro hearing lang. Sana may managot po talaga,” said resident Lorelie Atabay. 

(We hope it will not end in hearings. We hope someone will be truly held accountable.) 

Many longtime residents have decided to leave their houses, which were built with their hard-earned money. But others have no choice but to stay and endure the floodwaters. 

“Katulad ngayon, kahit saan ka bumaling, tubig dahil sa kagagawan ng mga korap na po na ‘yan,” said Jonathan Oronce. “Subukan po nila i-try na mamuhay ng pamumuhay namin ngayon, baka sakaling ma-konsensya po sila.”

(Just like now, wherever you turn, there's water because of those corrupt people [...] They should try and live our lives now, maybe they'll feel a little bit of conscience.) 

“Talagang hirap na hirap na kami sa nangyayari na ‘yan. Hindi namin akalain na, mabuti nabulgar nga ‘yung mga kurakot na tao,” said Josefina Talabera. 

(We're really, really struggling with what's happening. We never thought that... It's a good thing those corrupt people were exposed.) 

There are about 20 families currently seeking shelter in Barangay San Miguel’s evacuation center. Most of them have already lost count of how many times they had to evacuate because of the floods. 

“Sila po nagpapakasaya, kami pong mahirap na Pilipino nagpapakahirap po kasi. Nahihirapan po kami,” said Rochelle Masangkay. 

(They're having fun, while we poor Filipinos are suffering. We're struggling.) 

Meanwhile, some students don’t often go to school due to the flooding. 

“Masakit po na nakukuha nila yung pondo ng Pilipinas,” a young student lamented.

(It hurts that they're getting the funds of the Philippines.) 

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. earlier inspected the flood control projects in the nearby barangays of Barangay San Miguel, where he was welcomed with damaged infrastructure. 

Some barangay residents joined the protests last Sunday, September 21 to hold those in power accountable. According to the report, the residents said that they will surely protest again to let their voices be heard. –Vince Angelo Ferreras/NB, GMA Integrated News