Break the Chains of Corruption: A call for integrity, accountability

Corruption in the Philippines has reached unconscionable, multi-trillion-peso proportions—and Bicol is once again at the center of the storm. Roads left unfinished, ports abandoned, bridges crumbling, and flood-control projects collapsing after the first rains are not just failed projects—they are stolen futures.

The Commission on Audit reports that in just two years, Bicol received ₱61.42 billion in flood-control funds. Yet ₱13 billion worth of projects remain incomplete, while ₱42.3 billion are suspected “ghost projects.” Nationally, losses from 2023 to 2025 may reach ₱118.5 billion. Each congressional hearing that ends without resolution proves how corruption has become political theater instead of justice.

As Iskolar ng Bayan—whose education was made possible by the Filipino people—we, the University of the Philippines Alumni Association (UPAA)–Camarines Sur, owe it to the nation to speak out. Corruption is no longer incidental; it is systemic, draining not only the treasury but also the hope and future of our people.

Bicol knows this pain too well. Every unpaved road delays a farmer’s harvest. Every half-built bridge keeps families apart. Every corrupt deal deepens poverty, unemployment, and disaster vulnerability. If our region is to rise, corruption must be stopped—not after it happens, but before it begins.

Our Four-Point Call

1. Transparency: The People Must Know.

We propose ATIN (Access to Information Now)—an open-source mobile platform giving citizens 24/7 real-time access to data on public works, especially flood-control projects: what is funded, who implements it, and whether it is completed. Public funds are ours, and so is the right to know.

2. Accountability: Punish Plunder, Deliver Justice.

Fully enforce the Anti-Plunder Act. Large-scale corruption must be punished with reclusion perpetua. Justice must be swift, impartial, and untainted by politics.

3. Reforms: Break the Cycle.

• Overhaul procurement in DPWH and other agencies.

• End political control over public works contracts.

• Pass the Anti-Political Dynasty Law so that leadership is no longer a family franchise.

• Restore the Party-List Law to its true purpose of empowering marginalized sectors.

4. People Participation: Vigilance is Power.

Empower universities, professionals, faith-based institutions, and civil society to serve as independent watchdogs—from planning to procurement to implementation.

Our Commitment

As Bicolanos, we stand united with our fellow Filipinos in the fight against corruption in all its forms. We refuse to let Bicol—one of the most impoverished regions in the country—remain a showcase of waste. It must instead become a model of integrity and development.

History will not remember leaders for promises but for courage. The time to break the chains of corruption is now—not tomorrow.

University of the Philippines Alumni Association (UPAA) – Camarines Sur. September 25, 2025 | Naga City