Before writing this piece, the author searched “Flood” on YouTube in an incognito window. The first channel that appeared was from India with four livestreams: the speech of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu; the speech of Indian actor Vijay in Namakkal, a video tracking India’s stock market, and the Philippine Senate’s investigation of the controversial substandard flood-control projects.
Since it was an Indian channel, one might expect that the Vijay or stock market video would have more viewers. But with over 991K people watched the Philippine Senate’s investigation, the flood control scandal has undoubtedly made international headlines.
Ask a Filipino about the flood control scandal and they’ll surely have something to say. Because billions have been spent—and stolen—but why is the Philippines still flooded?
According to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), an average of 20 tropical cyclones (TCs) enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) per year—more than anywhere else in the world.
Being in the Pacific Ring of Fire, living through a flood, or conducting rescue operations as a first responder in the Philippines becomes difficult in the aftermath of a volcanic eruption or a devastating earthquake.
Fortunately, flood control projects can lessen or even prevent flooding. These engineering marvels control river flow, drain excess water, store water, control sediment, and protect rivers, coastlines, and slopes.
Deaths could have been prevented in the wake of Typhoons Crising, Dante, and Emong if certain individuals had not corrupted these flood control projects. Many more Filipinos might still be alive from past typhoons had rampant corruption been investigated earlier. But as the saying goes, “better late than never.”
People have had enough of the corruption. It’s time to fight fire with fire, especially now that we know that tens of billions of Pesos are just pocketed by these personalities.
But in this instance, Filipinos are fighting flooding by flooding the streets.
The Trillion Peso March last September 21, 2025, is just the start. Filipinos from all walks of life are protesting the rampant corruption to take back what’s rightfully theirs – a true display of People Power that has changed and will continue to change the world.
