The cost of keeping silent

We have seen the devastation brought by the recent natural disasters. Typhoon Tino brought most of us to our senses and made us realize that we could be at fault for the loss of lives and property. Because, for too long, we all chose to remain silent.

- TECH4GOOD FORMER DICT UNDERSECRETARY MON B, IBRAHIM

We all know that, at some point, the floods will come because our forests are gone, flood control infrastructures were poorly built, or somebody tinkered with the natural contour of the land so they can build new structures on those mountains. But we chose to remain silent.

In the Philippines, silence has become a currency—one that many unknowingly spend, thinking it buys peace, safety, or convenience. But the truth is far more tragic: silence, especially in the face of corruption, abuse, and injustice, costs us more than we realize. It costs lives, dignity, and the future of generations yet to come.

We have recently exposed numerous ghost government projects—funds allegedly allocated for flood mitigation that either never materialized or were grossly mishandled. These phantom undertakings, which have been happening for many years, leave communities vulnerable every time the rains come. Yet many of us simply shrug them off, maybe because we have other priorities in life, such as bringing food to the table. Or we chose to be silent because of fear, apathy, or a sense of helplessness.