Led by the Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya)-Navotas, Navotas City fisherfolk protested in front of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Malabon-Navotas District Engineering Office on the morning of September 8. They condemned the local agency for its involvement in massive corruption linked to flood control projects.

Navotas City is a Metro Manila city that is constantly flooded even with light rainfall. Residents and fisherfolk said the government allocated a ₱4 billion fund for flood control projects in the city from 2023 to 2025, but flooding persists.

“Fisherfolk are among the main victims of the corruption of politicians and their contractor accomplices. We have already lost our livelihood from reclamation and conversion projects, and we now even suffer from flooding due to the government’s incompetence,” Pamalakaya-Pilipinas national chairperson Fernando Hicap said.

According to the group, the flood control projects in Navotas City are linked to anomaly-ridden and corruption-laden Topnotch Catalyst Builders Inc and to St. Timothy Construction owned by the Discayas. “This should not end only in a House of Representatives investigation staged by senators and congressmen who are surely involved in these anomalies. All those who benefited from plundering the people’s money must be held accountable, from contractors, DPWH officials, to politicians, and even Marcos Jr himself,” Hicap stated.

To express their indignation, fisherfolk hurled mussel shells at the DPWH wall. Police responded with harassment and dispersal. Three fisherfolk and their supporters were reported injured.

Pamalakaya-Pilipinas is expected to join various other protests and activities led by Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) in the coming days to denounce the widespread corruption of the Marcos regime.