Muntinlupa Mayor Ruffy Biazon criticized the destruction of property at a public high school used by evacuees during the height of severe tropical storm “Paeng.”
“Hindi dahilan ang kahirapan para mawalan ng disiplina, malasakit sa kapwa, respeto sa pampublikong gamit at pasilidad, at kabutihang asal (Poverty is not a reason for lack of discipline, concern for others, respect for public properties and facilities, and good manners),” he posted on Facebook.
Biazon posted photos showing a torn blackboard and trash left by evacuees who stayed at a public high school in Muntinlupa.
“Lungkot o galit...hindi ko alam ang nangingibabaw sa nararamdaman ko (Sadness or anger...I don’t know what is prevailing on what I feel),” he said.
He added, “Tulad na lang itong mga pictures ng classrooms na pinost ko. Yan ay mga pictures ng eksena sa isa nating paaralan na ginamit bilang evacuation site nitong nakaraan na bagyong si Paeng (Such as the photos of classrooms that I posted. These photos are scenes in of our schools used as an evacuation site this recent storm ‘Paeng’).”
Biazon said during the height of the storm, he even visited the evacuation site and asked the status of those who were staying there.
The mayor said because of the increase in people who went to evacuation centers from flooded areas, he requested the Division Office of the Department of Education to allow the use of classrooms as additional evacuation sites.
“Ngunit ano ang naging kapalit nito? Ang pagsira ng mag pasilidad at walang pakialam na iniwang nakakalat ang basura sa paaralan. Bakit ganyan ang nangyari? Bakit parang walang malasakit sa kagamitang pampubliko ang mga taong binigyan ng kalinga sa harap ng kalamidad? (But what happened in exchange for this? The destruction of facilities and leaving trash in the school. Why did it happen? Why is it that as if there is no care for public properties by people who were given refuge in the face of a calamity?” the mayor lamented.
He added, “Ito na ba ang karakter ng mga tao ngayon? (Is this the character of people today?)”
The mayor said the facilities were built using people’s money and the maintenance is being paid for by the public.
“Sinasabi natin na ang edukasyon ay mahalaga sa magandang kinabukasan...na ito ang mag-aahon sa kahirapan...na ito ang susi sa kaunlaran...pero bakit natin ginaganito ang paaralan? (We say that education is important to a bright future...that this will uplift from poverty...that this is the key to progress...but why do we do this to schools?),” he said.
He said he felt bad for the students who go to the school.
“Galit ako sa mga gumawa nito at sa mga responsable sa pangyayaring ito. Titiyakin kong may mananagot dito. (I am angry at those who did this and were responsible for this. I will make sure that people will be held accountable for this),” he said.