Philippines Flood Crisis Sparks Public Outrage Over Corruption in Billions of Pesos Projects
For 36-year-old schoolteacher Crissa Tolentino, floods have always been part of daily life in Apalit, a low-lying town near Manila. She commutes by paddle boat through waterlogged streets, whether to her classroom or the clinic where she receives cancer treatment.
But this year, her patience has snapped.
An unusually severe monsoon season has paralyzed life across the Philippines—stranding commuters, submerging cars, spreading disease, and intensifying anger over corruption in flood-control projects that were supposed to prevent such devastation.
“I feel betrayed,” Tolentino says. “I pay my taxes faithfully, yet corrupt politicians live lavishly while we suffer.”
Her frustration mirrors that of millions of Filipinos who are now demanding answers.
Corruption Allegations in Flood Control Projects
Public fury erupted after President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. inspected a flood-control dam—only to discover it did not exist. Soon after, the economic planning minister admitted that as much as 70% of public funds for flood management may have been lost to corruption.
The fallout has been swift:
-
The House Speaker resigned after being implicated, though he denied wrongdoing.
-
The Senate leader was ousted after revelations that a contractor who funded his 2022 campaign had won government bids illegally.
-
The president revealed that just 15 firms received contracts worth ₱545 billion ($9 billion) for flood projects, raising serious red flags.
The central bank has since frozen the firms’ assets while investigations unfold.
Social Media Backlash: “Crocodiles” and “Nepo Babies”
Online, anger has exploded into viral content. TikTok and Facebook are filled with AI-generated videos mocking corrupt officials as crocodiles—a local symbol of greed.
Particular ire has fallen on political “nepo babies,” the children of powerful families flaunting designer clothes, luxury cars, and jet-set lifestyles on social media. Many have now turned off comments or deactivated accounts after a storm of sarcastic posts suggesting taxpayers funded their shopping sprees.
The outrage deepened when videos resurfaced of wealthy contractors Pacifico and Sarah Discaya, who showcased their fleet of over 30 luxury cars, including multiple Mercedes, Porsche, and Lincoln models. Once celebrated as rags-to-riches entrepreneurs, they are now symbols of excess and corruption.
Summoned to congressional hearings, Mr. Discaya admitted paying kickbacks to lawmakers but insisted it was the only way to win contracts. Lawmakers denied the charges, but the couple’s firm has been blacklisted, and protesters smeared mud on their office gates with graffiti calling them “thieves.”
Filipinos Demand Justice and Accountability
The scandal has mobilized both online and offline movements.
-
Creators Against Corruption, a collective of social media influencers, pledged to keep exposing abuses: “We will be relentless, loud, and a mirror to power until justice is served.”
-
Workers from the Department of Public Works have even been allowed to stop wearing uniforms after being harassed in public over graft allegations.
Meanwhile, ordinary Filipinos like Rhens Rafael Galang are adapting creatively. The 28-year-old researcher turned entrepreneur sells overalls with built-in rain boots on TikTok, a business born from necessity. His viral videos—one showing him wading waist-deep through flooded streets—have drawn millions of views.
Still, he remains hopeful: “One day, honest funds will finally be used for proper flood control in our town.”
Rising Protests and a Critical Turning Point
A mass anti-corruption protest is planned for September 21, coinciding with the anniversary of Ferdinand Marcos Sr.’s declaration of martial law in 1972. Many see it as a symbolic reminder of how unchecked corruption once fueled dictatorship.
President Marcos Jr., aware of history’s lessons, announced a sweeping inquiry to “unmask the swindlers and reveal how much they stole.” He urged citizens to protest peacefully: “If I wasn’t president, I might be out on the streets with you.”
But anger is spreading fast, drawing comparisons to movements in Indonesia and Nepal, where public protests recently toppled governments.
A Nation’s Familiar Struggle with Corruption
The Philippines has long battled graft scandals. In 2013, lawmakers were accused of siphoning billions from their discretionary funds into fake “ghost projects.” Today, experts warn that the scale of corruption has ballooned.
Former Justice Secretary Leila de Lima noted in a recent interview: “What once involved tens of billions has now grown to hundreds of billions. The problem is not just recurring—it is escalating.”
For citizens like Tolentino, however, the crisis is about more than politics or numbers. It’s about survival. She sees only two dry months each year in her flooded town—and wonders how long Filipinos must endure while officials prosper.