Bulakenyos (Bulacan residents) launched a series of protests in their towns in recent weeks to denounce the exposed corruption in government related to flood control projects. The most recent of these was the march in three towns on September 27.

In the town of Paombong, dozens of youths and residents marched to demonstrate their unity against corruption. The group Tindig Paombong spearheaded the action.

“We will not allow Paombong to be turned into a silent witness to blatant and systematic corruption. The ghost flood control projects do not only deceive our town—they insult the whole Bulacan and the entire Filipino people,” the group declared.

Tindig Paombong challenged Bulacan local officials to face the public and answer their involvement in corruption. “Hold all the thieves accountable, return the money to the people, and end the culture of lies and plunder,” it called.

The group Tindig Guiguinto also led a march in its town that day. The march ended at the town hall where they held a program. At the same time, the youth organized another program in Bustos.

About 1,500 Calumpit residents joined the march along MacArthur Highway in Barangay Poblacion on September 21, a week earlier. Another protest was also staged that day in Malolos.

On September 20, hundreds of residents in Hagonoy marched wading through the flood to join the protest “Tindig, Hagonoy.”

Bulacan registered the largest budget allocation for flood control projects from July 2022 to May this year. The Marcos regime allotted an estimated ₱28.56 billion for these projects. A total of 688 projects are scheduled for the province.

The government has allocated a total of ₱680.2 billion for flood control projects nationwide since 2022.