The public’s trust in flood control investigations by OCTA research, a private polling group based in the Philippines, results may be mixed, but the majority of Filipinos are nearly united in experiencing both moral outrage and deep apprehension toward corruption in government projects, signalling “a growing demand for accountability, transparency, and decisive government action.”
The nationwide survey, conducted from September 25 to 30, found that 60% of respondents felt anger or outrage when thinking about corruption in government flood control projects.
Meanwhile, 30% said they felt fear or anxiety, and 9% expressed disappointment or sadness.
OCTA said outrage was the most common emotion recorded across all regions, age groups, and socioeconomic classes, and was particularly strong among younger Filipinos, especially Gen Z and millennials.
“The strong emotional response highlights the public’s continued frustration over the misuse of public funds in infrastructure programs and may suggest declining confidence in the integrity of public institutions,” OCTA said.
The controversy over so-called “ghost” flood control projects and the widespread corruption behind them has not only spotlighted inefficiencies in public infrastructure spending, but has also triggered what many see as a deeper and more dangerous crisis: a sharp erosion of investor confidence in the Philippine economy.
“It’s a stark reminder that corruption is a weapon of mass wealth destruction,” SEC Chairperson Francis Lim said during the Oct. Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines (Finex) conference. “When trust breaks down, capital dries up, and everyone—government, business, and the public—pays the price.”
The public sentiment toward the outcome of the investigations into the flood control scam is expected to add more pressure on the government to hold those responsible for fraud accountable, according to Rowegie Abanto, ABS-CBN News.
A “big majority” or 71% of Filipinos are optimistic that corrupt politicians and their accomplices in the flood control corruption scandal will be punished, according to a Pulse Asia survey released on October 15.
It also showed that almost all Filipinos or 90% agreed there was collusion among executive officials, lawmakers, and private contractors in the misuse of multibillion-peso flood relief funds.
Flood control programs that fail to deliver results drain public resources while leaving communities exposed, just as projects that clear rivers, wetlands, and mangroves weaken natural defences against rising seas and stronger storms.
Therefore, 83% of Filipinos supported the decision of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to expose corruption, viewing it as a necessary step toward restoring public trust, OCTA Research said.
On the other hand, only 3% of the respondents disagreed, while 13% remained undecided.
“These results indicate a strong reservoir of public goodwill and trust for the President’s decision to confront corruption head-on. The findings suggest that sustained transparency and follow-through on reforms could further strengthen public confidence in government integrity and leadership,” OCTA Research said.
The tragedy is not only the loss of funds, but also the theft of our very chance to adapt to a changing climate since corruption, inefficiency, and poor planning deepen vulnerabilities at a time when resilience is most needed.
Knee-deep in Caloocan’s floodwaters, Dion Angelo dela Rosa searched for his missing father, who had been detained for playing kara y krus and could not contact his family on July 22.
Three days later, Dion found him, but exposure to polluted waters left Dion with leptospirosis, claiming his life two days after their reunion.
His death was a tragic consequence of neglect; proof that in the Philippines, every storm exposes the same deadly failures, and the same culprits remain untouched.
Sources:
https://www.msn.com/en-ph/news/other/9-in-10-filipinos-believe-officials-colluded-on-flood-control-theft/ar-AA1Oumzt
https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/962374/majority-of-filipinos-outraged-over-flood-control-mess-octa-research/story/
https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/10/15/71-percent-of-filipinos-believe-those-responsible-for-flood-control-scandal-will-be-punished-1131
https://filipinotimes.net/latest-news/2025/10/14/majority-of-filipinos-outraged-over-flood-control-corruption-back-probe-octa/
Written by: Abdiel Franz Bernales
Copyedited by: purebloodedhuman
