Arzen Rose Dulzura

Karen Davila condemns corruption’s role in worsening floods after Cebu tragedy

Article (news)

Cebu

E. Kristhoff Cagape

Push Team

Karen Davila took to social media to call out corrupt officials following the devastating floods that hit Cebu during the onslaught of Typhoon Tino.&quot;HOW CORRUPTION CAN COST LIVES. 188 dead and rising. The worst flash flood in the history of the province. Cebu has 414 flood control projects worth to ₱26.7 billion from 2022 to 2025 - meant to protect people, homes and livestock. What happened?!&quot; she posted on her Instagram page on Friday, November 7.The veteran broadcaster lamented how flooding continues to plague many parts of the country due to corruption. &quot;At hindi lang ito sa Cebu province, buong Pilipinas binabaha dahil ninanakaw lang naman ang flood control,&quot; she stressed.Karen also emphasized that as extreme weather events are becoming more frequent, the Filipino people continue to suffer because of systemic corruption.&quot;Extreme weather conditions will only worsen. It is a part of the world we live in today. What breaks my heart is seeing how our people are suffering because of systemic corruption,&quot; she said.Expressing her sympathy and frustration for ordinary Filipinos, Davila added: &quot;Nakaka-awa ang ordinaryong Pilipino. Habang nagdurusa sa hirap at kalamidad, maraming pulitiko naliligo sa nakaw na yaman.&quot;Karen ended her post with a strong message directed at corrupt officials, saying: &quot;PLEASE. STOP. STEALING.&quot;<div><iframe class="instagram-media" id="instagram-embed-0" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DQvxUlJEq_J/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=675&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A0%2C%22os%22%3A45956%2C%22ls%22%3A45864.09999999404%2C%22le%22%3A45865.79999998212%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="884" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-0" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px;min-width:326px;padding:0px;position:absolute"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>According to a report by ABS-CBN News and the ABS-CBN Research and Verification Unit, data from the Sumbong sa Pangulo website revealed that 414 flood control projects worth ₱26.7 billion were implemented across Cebu Province from 2022 to 2025.However, incumbent Governor Pamela Baricuatro claimed that based on inspections conducted by the provincial government since she assumed office in May, most of the flood control structures in the province were either ghost projects or substandard.The governor also alleged that corruption linked to these projects dates back to 2019, during the previous Duterte administration.&quot;I think it&#x27;s for the ICI (Independent Commission for Infrastructure) to divulge the information that we have submitted (to them). But definitely, we have seen projects here in the province na, I should say, mga ghost projects. We have seen substandard projects as well,&quot; she stated.Malacañang urged Governor Baricuatro to coordinate with the national government in investigating the matter.&quot;Kung mayroon po siya pang mga alam, may mga facts, may mga data rin po si Gov. Baricuatro na makakatulong sa ating gobyerno para mapanagot ang dapat mapanagot, iyan po ay welcome,&quot; Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said.As per report by PhilStar Global, the death toll from Typhoon Tino has climbed to 224, with 135 people still missing according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) and local authorities on Friday, November 7.&quot;We are very, very sorry,&quot; President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said in an interview with the reporters. &quot;We are all sad because our casualty figures are very high.&quot;He added: &quot;Most of them were really carried away… by the water, because of the size of the water, because of the speed of the flash flood that was coming.&quot;

Karen Davila laments how flooding continues to plague many parts of the country due to corruption.

Karen Davila laments how flooding continues to plague many parts of the country due to corruption.