Student leaders and youth activists from the Samahan ng Progresibong Kabataan (SPARK) staged a protest outside the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) office along EDSA, Quezon City, calling for a sweeping purge of corrupt contractors and a full-scale audit of all government infrastructure projects.

The demonstration was sparked by mounting public outrage over alleged anomalies in flood control initiatives, which have been described as one of the most brazen corruption scandals in recent history. SPARK spokesperson Milo Basuel led the charge, urging the DPWH to immediately de-accredit firms implicated in ongoing corruption investigations.

“Flood control dikes are just the tip of the iceberg,” Basuel said. “The DPWH must audit all its projects — from government buildings to roads and bridges — which make up the bulk of the infrastructure budget.”

Basuel questioned the integrity of future infrastructure spending, especially as the national budget shifts focus toward education, agriculture, and public works. He warned that without a thorough vetting of contractors and a deep investigation into existing projects, corruption will persist under the guise of reform.

“The current system is rotten to its core,” Basuel declared. “Changing faces in office without dismantling the collusion between politicians, civil servants, and contractors only guarantees more Napoleses and Discayas in the future.”

SPARK’s protest comes amid recent Cabinet and congressional shake-ups triggered by corruption allegations involving high-ranking officials. The youth group emphasized that genuine accountability must begin with a clean slate — starting with the removal of tainted contractors and full transparency in infrastructure planning and execution.

Their rallying cry:  Marcos, singilin. Lahat ng kurap, panagutin.” — a call for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to hold all corrupt officials and entities accountable.