MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. didn’t hold back in his 2025 State of the Nation Address (SONA) as he publicly shamed government officials and contractors involved in corrupt flood control projects, branding them as national embarrassments and thieves of the people’s future.
“Mahiya naman kayo sa inyong kapwa Pilipino.”
(“Shame on you, especially towards your fellow Filipinos.”)
The President’s furious rebuke came in the wake of weeks of torrential rains and devastating floods caused by the southwest monsoon (habagat) and recent tropical cyclones Crising, Dante, and Emong — disasters he personally witnessed during on-ground inspections.
“I saw it with my own eyes,” Marcos declared. “Many of these flood control projects were failures — some collapsed, others only existed on paper.”
‘Ghost Projects’, Kickbacks, and SOPs
In a rare moment of bluntness, Marcos confirmed what the public has long suspected — many of the infrastructure projects meant to protect communities from flooding are actually riddled with ghost entries, substandard work, and kickbacks disguised as SOPs (“standard operating procedures”) or money “for the boys.”
“Let’s stop pretending,” Marcos told lawmakers and the nation. “The entire public already knows about the rackets.”
“Be ashamed. Be ashamed that entire communities were submerged in floodwaters because of your greed. Be ashamed that our children will inherit the national debt you created by stealing funds meant for their future.”
Cleanup Operation: Publishing the Dirty Secrets
To clean up the mess and expose the rot, Marcos announced a three-step strategy:
- The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is ordered to submit a list of all flood control projects initiated or completed in the past three years, per region.
- Regional Project Monitoring Committees will vet and audit the list, flagging failed, incomplete, or suspicious “ghost” projects.
- The final report will be published for the public to scrutinize, allowing citizens and whistleblowers to weigh in.
“We will make this list public,” the President declared. “The people deserve to know where their taxes are going. We will not allow these crimes to be swept under the rug.”
Audit Incoming
The flood control fiasco is set to undergo full audit and performance reviews, Marcos said, ensuring that every peso spent will be traced.
With the President’s words still ringing in the halls of Congress, the question now is — will those behind the “flood of corruption” finally be held accountable? Or will it be business as usual behind closed doors?
The storm is far from over.
