Last August 12, three students from Don Roces Science High School in Quezon City were walking home when a tragedy struck. A portion of concrete debris from a condominium facade along Tomas Morato Avenue fell, hitting the children. Two remain in critical condition, one after undergoing surgery for severe head injuries.
As parents and as a community, we are heartbroken and outraged. This should never have happened. No child should suffer because of preventable negligence.
Today, we write this as an open letter to corporations, developers, and building owners.
Dear Corporations, Developers, and Builders,
Every wall you raise, every floor you lay, every facade you design, these are not just structures. They hold lives, dreams, and futures. With each project comes a responsibility far greater than profit or prestige: the duty to protect the people who walk under your roofs, pass by your sidewalks, and trust in your structures every day.
Safety is not optional. It cannot be treated as an afterthought or a line item to be trimmed for cost savings. Negligence has consequences, and cutting corners can cost lives. Last week’s tragedy is a painful reminder of this truth.
If you are parents yourselves, imagine if it was your child walking home that day. Imagine the pain of seeing them in an intensive care unit, their young life interrupted by something that could and should have been prevented. Would safety checks, regular maintenance, and structural compliance still feel like “extra expenses”?
Children should never pay the price for corporate neglect.
Accountability Matters
We echo the plea of the parents whose sons are now fighting for their lives: expedite the investigation, and hold accountable those who have been negligent in their duties. Accountability is not only a legal matter. It is a moral obligation.
To the corporations and builders who take pride in shaping skylines, remember that every beam and every wall carries a duty to protect. The measure of true success is not just in buildings that stand tall, but in communities kept safe.
Let’s Not Fail Our Kids
This is our appeal: let us build with accountability, with safety, and with humanity. Let us create cities where parents do not have to fear that a walk home from school could end in tragedy.
We ask you, please, let’s not fail our kids.
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