By Patricia Agustin, Regional News Correspondent

MALOLOS CITY, Bulacan – More than 100 protesters from 28 organizations marched to the Bulacan Provincial Capitol on Monday, demanding an investigation into billions of pesos worth of flood control projects as communities in the province continue to grapple with prolonged flooding.

The group, composed of farmers, fisherfolk, workers, youth, environmental advocates and religious groups joined the “Kilos Bulacan” rally to call on President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Congress, and the Senate to investigate alleged corruption in flood control projects, large-scale reclamation, and other developments they said to have contributed to the province’s flooding problems.

Initial estimates from law enforcement personnel placed the number of protesters at more than 100. The march began at the Digital Amphitheatre at Malolos City Hall and proceeded toward the provincial capitol.

The protesters said that the province’s flooding crisis should be examined beyond the effects of storms and heavy rains, pointing to alleged environmental degradation, reclamation, government neglect, and irregularities in the use of public funds.

David D’Angelo, convenor and interim spokesperson of Kilos Bulacan, said the coalition wants authorities to determine whether corruption and environmental changes have worsened flooding in the province.

“Lumalala ang pagbaha dahil sa patuloy na kapabayaan, pagkasira ng kabundukan… konbersyon ng lupa para sa mga industriya at subdibisyon at dahil sa sistematiko at malalim na korapsyon sa pondo ng bayan, lalo na sa milyon-milyong pondo ng flood control [projects],” he said.

The coalition is demanding the suspension of reclamation activities and the New Manila International Airport project, protection of rivers, creeks, and other waterways, accountability for officials and corporations found responsible for corruption, recovery of allegedly misappropriated public funds, compensation for flood victims, comprehensive nature-based flood solutions, and action on the climate crisis.

Reclamation and flooding

Fisherfolk representative Romeo Roxas of Pangisda-Bulacan linked the prolonged flooding to reclamation and development activities that, according to protesters, have reduced areas that previously functioned as natural water-retention spaces.

 “Halos umaabot na ng ilang linggo at buwan, hindi na humuhupa ang baha dahil wala nang madaluyan dahil tinambakan na ng 2,500 na ektarya ng lupa,” said Roxas. 

The protesters particularly raised concerns about developments associated with the New Manila International Airport, saying the project has altered natural waterways and contributed to faster and more extensive flooding, including in areas they said were not previously prone to flooding.

San Miguel Corp. is the developer of the airport.

Under the Republic Act 11506, the company was granted a franchise to pursue reclamation projects.

SMC president and chief executive officer Ramon Ang has said the airport would be constructed on existing low-lying land rather than newly-reclaimed land from Manila Bay. He described the project as intended to become the country’s largest international airport and a productive and transformative asset for Bulacan, the country and its people.

A 2025 Global Witness study, meanwhile, raised concerns about the airport’s exposure to sea-level rise and land subsidence and its effects on communities and ecosystems. 

The study also said the airport’s runways face flooding risks from rising seas and a sinking coastline and that construction had affected and displaced more than 700 families. It further said San Miguel had circumvented stricter environmental regulations by classifying the airport project as land development.

Flood control spending under watch

The rally also focused on the more than P40 billion worth of flood control projects reportedly implemented in Bulacan from 2022 to 2025. 

Government tally showed that Bulacan had 668 flood control projects, the highest number among provinces as cited by the group. Despite this, communities in Hagonoy, Calumpit, Paombong, Malolos, Meycauayan, and other areas continue to experience prolonged and destructive flooding.

The protesters questioned whether the projects were properly implemented and whether the billions of pesos allocated for flood mitigation have translated into effective protection for communities. 

They also raised concerns over projects that they said may have not been constructed according to their intended purpose.

The controversy also placed Bulacan Gov. Daniel Fernando under scrutiny after he was criticized for saying he had no knowledge of more than P40 billion worth of flood control projects in the province.

Protesters at the rally pointed to Fernando’s 16 years in the Bulacan provincial government, arguing that his long tenure should have allowed for closer scrutiny of the province’s persistent flooding concerns.

Kilos Bulacan also called for an investigation into Sen. Joel Villanueva, Fernando, and Bulacan Reps. Danny Domingo of 1st district, Ambrosio Cruz Jr. 5th district, Augustina Pancho of the 2nd district, and Florida Robes, representative of the San Jose Del Monte City lone district, over their alleged involvement in flood control projects.

The allegations raised during the rally have yet to be established by a final finding.

For the protesters, the continued flooding despite the scale of government spending shows the need to examine not only how much was allocated for flood control but also how the projects were implemented and whether they have delivered the intended protection.