BPO workers brave floods to protest inadequate drainage systems

MANILA — Members of the BPO Industry Employees Network Philippines (BIEN) Cubao chapter joined the anti-corruption march at Liwasang Bonifacio on Monday, putting aside their need for daytime sleep to voice concerns about the city's chronic flooding problem.

Workers employed in the graveyard shift, whose schedules require them to sleep during daylight hours, chose to participate in the protest despite the disruption to their rest cycles. For some employees, reaching their workplaces during recent heavy rains required alternative routes, with at least one worker resorting to swimming through flooded streets to reach the office.

The BPO sector participation underscores growing public frustration with what many view as mismanagement of flood control infrastructure and drainage systems in the metro. The industry, a major employer in the Philippines, has increasingly drawn attention to how inadequate urban planning impacts worker safety and productivity.

The rally, organized to address broader governance and corruption concerns, attracted participants from various sectors demonstrating that infrastructure failures affect multiple segments of the economy. Officials have faced mounting pressure to improve disaster preparedness and maintenance of drainage systems ahead of the coming rainy season.