UNDOUBTEDLY, President Bongbong Marcos’ fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 28 was dominated by two themes: the widespread flooding across the country and the alleged corruption behind the government’s multibillion-peso flood control projects.
The President didn’t mince words when he exclaimed, “Mahiya naman kayo!”
But the question is: to whom was he speaking?
Obviously, to politicians and their favored contractors.
Why? Because the President zeroed in on flood control projects and used familiar keywords associated with corruption: kickbacks, SOPs (standard operating procedures), errata, and the infamous “for the boys.”
When these words surface, one can’t help but think of kurakot (corruption) or tinunga-ay (illicit profit-sharing) in every infrastructure project. All of this is nauseating — especially to ordinary Filipinos who struggle daily just to survive.
OBVIOUSLY DISMAYED
Still, many were left wondering: Why did the President emphasize corruption in the context of flood control? Is eradicating corruption really the key to ending floods?
Possibly. But for environmentalists in Negros — specifically the Group of Environmental Socialists (GOES) and Green Alert Network (GAN) — the issue of flooding requires a comprehensive disaster risk reduction and management plan, something they hoped the President would lay out.
But he didn’t even touch on environmental protection or disaster mitigation strategies. Naturally, they were disappointed.
SWEET PROMISES
Pardon me, but the way I see it, the President’s fiery rhetoric on flooding and corruption seemed like an attempt to cover up his failed promises about flood control. In fact, when I reviewed my notes from my coverage of SONA 2024, two of his key statements stood out:
1. “Over 5,500 flood works have been finished.”
2. “More ongoing.”
The total cost of these projects? Billions of pesos.
So where are they now?
Take note: the President neither cited nor showcased a single one of these 5,500 supposedly completed anti-flood projects. Were they just empty talk? Istorya kuris-kuris?
Unless proven otherwise, I dare say this year’s SONA was a face-saving maneuver — one that aimed to distract the public with fiery lines about pursuing corrupt officials behind failed flood control efforts.
But can the President truly deliver results — next week, next month, next year, or even before he finishes his term?
I DOUBT IT — all caps!
3 ‘WICKED SIBLINGS’
So what pushed the President to deflect public attention with talks of corruption and flooding?
Simple. Nature’s wrath — specifically through what are now dubbed the three “wicked siblings”: tropical cyclones Crising (Wipha), Dante (Francisco), and Emong (Koni). These three arrived in succession, pounding the country with relentless rains that caused flooding from ankle- to armpit-deep in various areas — just a week before SONA 2025.
According to a report by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) as of 9:56 a.m. on July 31, these cyclones left a trail of destruction:
* 37 confirmed dead
* 22 injured
* 8 still missing
* 2,121,645 families or 7,685,943 individuals affected
Damage estimates include:
* Infrastructure — ₱10,080,789,951
* Agriculture — ₱1,961,211,507
* Irrigation systems — ₱281,660,000
PUBLISH THE LIST
Now, in what seemed like an effort to “play safe” and deflect accountability over the numerous failed or “ghost” flood projects, the President promised to publish the list of those responsible — the corrupt.
But when? And who exactly? That remains the intriguing part.
Whether he likes it or not, the President must act — and fast — if he wants to have something concrete to present in his next SONA. Still, the biggest question remains: Will flooding cease to submerge vast areas of the country every time a storm hits?
Consider this: PAGASA projects that 16 more typhoons may enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) between August and December this year.
In short, we all need to stay alert. “Abangers” tayo!
EXTREME CORRUPTION
To sum it all up, this piece is about the deep-rooted, near-incurable corruption in our government—particularly in the realm of flood control projects. Ordinary citizens have neither the power nor the resources to investigate or call out these anomalies.
But God works in mysterious ways. Through the tropical cyclones, He has revealed the true state of the nation — one riddled with corruption that’s almost beyond cure.
Mahiya naman kayo!—but does that even work anymore?
If not, I trust that God has another plan. One designed to expose and humble the greedy, the unscrupulous, the unrepentant.
It won’t be fast and furious. But if not now, let’s just wait and see. After all, God knows exactly when to remind us that wickedness — especially when it exploits nature — is unforgivable./PN
