STUDENT councils have lashed out at the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) for using slang or lowbrow humor for class suspension announcements during typhoons.
The use of terms like “mga abangers” and “balik talukbong na” in announcements lack professionalism and concern for citizens, nine university student councils said in a joint statement on Sept. 26.
“Sa panahon ng kalamidad, ang pangunahing tungkulin ng pamahalaan ay magpahayag ng impormasyon na tunay at may malasakit,” the UST Central Student Council said on Facebook.
“Malinaw itong pagpapabaya sa tungkulin at kawalan ng pananagutan ng ahensyang ang trabaho ay pagsilbihan ang mamamayang Pilipino,” it said.
The councils said “unprofessional” advisories trivialized the dangers of extreme weather and disregarded the plight of students, workers, and families who rely on the government for updates for their safety.
“Ang buhay ng mamamayan ay hindi biro—pananagutan ito ng ating gobyerno,” they said. “Ang ganitong asal mula sa isang ahensiya ng gobyerno ay walang puwang sa serbisyong publiko.”
They urged the DILG to end its use of informal language in announcements, stressing that disaster communication must be handled with seriousness and urgency.
“Serbisyong totoo, hindi serbisyong pabiro,” they concluded.
The joint statement was signed by the student councils of the University of Santo Tomas, University of the Philippines Diliman, Adamson University, Philippine Normal University, Far Eastern University, Polytechnic University of the Philippines, University of the East Manila, National University Manila, and Ateneo de Manila University.
Classes were suspended in Metro Manila and some parts of Luzon and the Visayas on Friday, Sept. 26, due to tropical cyclone “Opong.” Classes had also been suspended due to tropical cyclones “Mirasol” and “Nando,” and heavy rains and flooding caused by the southwest monsoon.
