Thousands of people are expected to take to the streets of Manila on Sunday in a large-scale protest against alleged corruption in government-funded flood control projects.
The demonstration, dubbed the “Trillion Peso March”, is named after a Greenpeace estimate that $17.6bn (£14bn) was misappropriated from climate-related projects in 2023. Organisers say the protest will highlight public anger over so-called “ghost” infrastructure schemes and the misuse of public funds.
The date of the protest, 21 September, carries historical significance in the Philippines. It marks the anniversary of the day in 1972 when then-president Ferdinand Marcos declared martial law, ushering in a period of authoritarian rule that lasted until his ousting in 1986. Marcos fled the country in 1989 amid widespread unrest and allegations of large-scale corruption.
The current president, Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr, son of the former leader, has expressed support for the planned demonstrations. Speaking at a press conference earlier this week, he said: “Do you blame them for going out on the streets? If I weren’t president, I might be out in the streets with them. Of course, they are enraged. They are angry, I’m angry. We should all be angry, because what is happening is not right.”
Civil society groups, church organisations and student movements are among those calling for the protest. The mobilisation comes amid a wave of anti-corruption demonstrations across Asia. In recent weeks, a youth-led protest movement in Nepal forced the resignation of the government, while in Indonesia, public anger over privileges granted to lawmakers prompted the authorities to reverse the policy. In East Timor, protests over a plan to provide free SUVs to legislators led to the scheme being scrapped.
In the Philippines, frustration has been mounting since President Marcos placed alleged irregularities in flood control projects at the centre of his July state of the nation address. The speech followed weeks of severe flooding that caused widespread damage and loss of life.
The political fallout intensified on Wednesday when Martin Romualdez, speaker of the House of Representatives and a cousin of the president, resigned from his post. “The issues surrounding certain infrastructure projects have raised questions that weigh not only upon me but upon this institution we all serve,” Romualdez said in a statement. “The longer I stay, the heavier that burden grows.”
Addressing the House before stepping down, Romualdez said he was resigning with “a full heart and a clear conscience” to allow an independent commission on infrastructure to “pursue its mandate freely and fully, without doubt, without interference and without undue influence”. He added that he supported calls for accountability.
The resignation came days after the owners of a construction firm accused nearly 30 members of the House and officials in the Department of Public Works and Highways of accepting cash payments linked to infrastructure contracts.
On Monday, President Marcos announced the formation of a three-member commission to investigate the past decade of flood control projects. The panel will be chaired by former supreme court justice Andres Reyes.
The allegations have fuelled public anger over the state of the country’s infrastructure and the perceived misuse of funds intended for climate resilience. The Philippines is highly vulnerable to extreme weather events, and flood control projects are considered critical to protecting lives and property.
Sunday’s protest is expected to draw participants from across the country, with organisers urging demonstrators to remain peaceful. Authorities have said they will deploy security personnel to maintain order.
The “Trillion Peso March” is being framed by its organisers as both a demand for accountability in public spending and a broader call for reforms to prevent corruption in climate and infrastructure projects. With the protest coinciding with a date deeply embedded in the nation’s political history, it is expected to carry both symbolic and political weight.
