2 Bulacan towns rally vs ‘scam’ flood projects

MALOLOS, Bulacan, Philippines — Indignation rallies were staged in Guiguinto and Paombong towns on Saturday to denounce the anomalous flood projects in Bulacan.

The protest replicated the Tindig Hagonoy mass actions by multisectoral groups last week to condemn the “substandard and ghost flood control projects” implemented in the province by the Department of Public Works and Highways.

Alfredo Punzal, Tindig Paombong convenor, said people who have been reeling from the impact of the decades-long flood problem joined the rally to express their frustration and condemn corruption.

Punzal said the groups denounced the people responsible for the “unbearable hardships” they suffered every time Paombong gets flooded, especially during heavy rainfall worsened by high tide.

Armando Perote, Tindig Guiguinto convenor, said the rally participants first attended a mass at San Ildefonso Parish Church before marching to the Guiguinto town hall to denounce anomalies in the infrastructure projects.

Israel Saguinsin, co-convenor of Tindig Hagonoy, said various stakeholders in the province have agreed to push for similar mass actions to denounce the “scam projects.”

Brig. Gen. Ponce Rogelio Peñones Jr., Central Luzon police director, said the rallies in both towns were peaceful.

Based on the “Sumbong sa Pangulo” website, Bulacan was listed as the province with the most flood control projects – a total of 668 contracts – from 2022 to 2025.