Ched Rick Gatchalian

Hundreds of Bulacan State University students, with some professors and marginalized groups, joined the university walkout against alleged corruption and “ghost” flood projects in Bulacan on Friday, September 19. Facebook/BulSUONE

Article (news)

WRAP: Bulacan protests vs. alleged corruption in flood control so far

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1758355499488G1LwTzlaQAAxIrz.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Hundreds of Bulacan State University students, with some professors and marginalized groups, joined the university walkout against alleged corruption and “ghost” flood projects in Bulacan on Friday, September 19. Organizers said nearly 300 joined the rally, with more still coming. <em>Facebook/BulSUONE</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — Bulacan residents and students have staged multiple protests following the exposé on “ghost” flood control projects in the province, which has received around <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/5/five-reveals-from-the-flood-control-data-1848">P43.7 billion in funding</a> for flood control infrastructure.</p><p>The province was placed at the center of controversy after inspections in Baliwag and Plaridel found projects that were substandard or did not exist at all.</p><p>President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. himself did not mince words, saying he was “very angry” after <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/8/20/marcos-inspects-flood-control-project-in-bulacan-as-probe-intensifies-0913">seeing a P55-million river wall project</a> in Barangay Piel in Baliwag on August 20 that had been marked &quot;completed&quot; but had showed no indication of work having even started.</p><p>All these pushed the formation of the &quot;Bulakenyos for Good Governance&quot; coalition in Bulacan State University on August 29.</p><p>The coalition includes student leaders, progressive organizations, and Sangguniang Kabataan members calling for accountability for the apparently anomalous projects.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2025/9/2/bulacan-community-leaders-youth-urge-accountability-for-ghost-flood-control-projects-1647"><strong>Bulacan community leaders, youth urge accountability for &#x27;ghost&#x27; flood control projects</strong></a></div><p>The BulSU Student Government, which led the initiative, hung a banner outside their office criticizing the supposed &quot;flood control scam&quot; in the province.</p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:560px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17583562892721755765444097BONG.webp" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">President Ferdinand &quot;Bongbong&quot; Marcos Jr. inspects a section of the river wall project in Barangay Piel, Baliuag, Bulacan, on August 20, 2025. Marcos expressed intense anger over the discovery of &quot;ghost&quot; flood control projects in the province. Yummie Dingding, PPA pool </span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>DPWH BULACAN OFFICE</strong></div><p><strong></strong>Commitees of the House of Representatives and Senate have initiated probes into flood control projects.</p><p>During the House Infra Committee’s hearing on September 9, former Bulacan 1st district assistant engineer Brice Hernandez — sacked by the Department of Public Works and Highways because of the controversy — <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/9/ex-dpwh-engineer-shows-photos-of-money-intended-for-proponents-1346">showed photos as he alleged lawmakers&#x27; involvement</a> in the flood-control anomalies.</p><p>Among the photos he showed was of a stack of money allegedly for contractors who borrow licenses.</p><p>Hernandez also alleged that Sen. Jinggoy Estrada and Joel Villanueva had infrastructure project insertions in Bulacan. Both senators have denied the allegations and have said they are open to any investigation.</p><p>The consecutive exposé surrounding the DPWH office in Bulacan province prompted students and progressive formations to protest outside its office in Tikay, Malolos City on September 11.</p><p>Protesters urged a faster probe and accountability over alleged corruption in the province, where areas are prone to flooding.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>&#x27;CAMPUS WALKOUT PERSISTS&#x27;</strong></div><p>Following a series of <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2025/9/5/bulacan-protesters-brave-rain-in-rally-vs-anomalous-flood-control-projects-2152">protest actions </a>by BulSU students, the student government staged a campus walkout on Friday, September 19 — the biggest so far for students in the province against the “ghost” flood control projects.</p><p>Hundreds of students, with some professors and members of progressive groups, staged a rally outside the DPWH Bulacan office and in front of the BulSU gate.</p><p>This, despite the university&#x27;s sudden announcement shifting classes online because, the administration said, of the possible impact of transport strikes.</p><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display:flex;max-width:550px;width:100%;margin-top:10px;margin-bottom:10px"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&amp;embedId=twitter-widget-0&amp;features=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%3D%3D&amp;frame=false&amp;hideCard=false&amp;hideThread=false&amp;id=1968964786671988952&amp;lang=en&amp;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com%2F%23%2Fworkspace%2Fmonitoring%3Fitem%3Durn%3Anewsml%3Aod2-workbench-api.abs-cbn.com%3A2025-09-20T08%3A16%3A40.567537%3A9a16164d-6d6a-4fcd-b82e-f4d349c7cdf0%26action%3Dedit&amp;sessionId=8a98f41c7b09bfe60157e5b58e9970335bf95f8c&amp;theme=light&amp;widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&amp;width=550px" style="position:static;visibility:visible;width:550px;height:648px;display:block;flex-grow:1" data-tweet-id="1968964786671988952"></iframe></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8"></script><div><br/></div><p>After the walkout, the groups met with church leaders and other progressive outfits for a multi-sectoral press conference.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2025/9/17/campus-walkout-persists-in-bulacan-after-state-university-cancels-f2f-classes-1854"><strong>&#x27;Campus walkout&#x27; persists in Bulacan after state university cancels F2F classes</strong></a> <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2025/9/17/campus-walkout-persists-in-bulacan-after-state-university-cancels-f2f-classes-1854"></a></div><p>&quot;Tunay na nakakakilabot ang galit ng mga iskolar ng bayan na nagsasama-sama upang labanan ang katiwalian sa Bulacan... Malaki ang papel natin para maalala ng mga nasa pwesto na nasa taumbayan ang kapangyarihan,&quot; BulSU SG president Roshan Reyes told ABS-CBN News.</p><p>(The collective anger of the people&#x27;s scholars against corruption in Bulacan is really fearsome. We have a huge role in reminding government officials that the people hold the true power)</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>HAGONOY MOTORCADE, RALLY</strong></div><p>On Saturday, September 20, another rally was held in the province.</p><p>This time, in Hagonoy, Bulacan — where residents had long been complaining against persistent flooding, with some being forced to raise their homes time and time again.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2025/8/19/local-officials-residents-unaware-of-p77-million-flood-control-structure-in-hagonoy-0941"><strong>&#x27;Where is it?&#x27; Local officials, residents unaware of P77-million flood control structure in Hagonoy, Bulacan</strong></a></div><p>Hundreds of residents, church leaders, and members of youth groups staged a rally and motorcade to express dismay over alleged widespread corruption in the government.</p><p>They marched through 3.9-foot high tide water while holding placards with calls for accountability.</p><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display:flex;max-width:550px;width:100%;margin-top:10px;margin-bottom:10px"><iframe id="twitter-widget-1" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&amp;embedId=twitter-widget-1&amp;features=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%3D%3D&amp;frame=false&amp;hideCard=false&amp;hideThread=false&amp;id=1969297343343186064&amp;lang=en&amp;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com%2F%23%2Fworkspace%2Fmonitoring%3Fitem%3Durn%3Anewsml%3Aod2-workbench-api.abs-cbn.com%3A2025-09-20T08%3A16%3A40.567537%3A9a16164d-6d6a-4fcd-b82e-f4d349c7cdf0%26action%3Dedit&amp;sessionId=8a98f41c7b09bfe60157e5b58e9970335bf95f8c&amp;theme=light&amp;widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&amp;width=550px" style="position:static;visibility:visible;width:550px;height:672px;display:block;flex-grow:1" data-tweet-id="1969297343343186064"></iframe></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8"></script><div><br/></div><p>&quot;Hindi namin inaasahan na ganoon karami at mapaparalisa &#x27;yung traffic sa buong kabayanan,&quot; said Israel Saguinsin, a BulSU professor and one of event organizers.</p><p>(We did not expect we would have that many people, enough to stop traffic across town)</p><p>Another rally will be held on Sunday, September 21, at the Malolos Capitol regarding the same issue.</p><p>This, amid Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson&#x27;s recent confirmation that the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee found supposed flood control projects in Bulacan worth P600 million in the 2023 unprogrammed budget — which Hernandez linked to Villanueva.</p><p>Lacson also earlier said the committee identified P355 million worth of infrastructure project insertions in the same province — the amount linked to corruption claims against Estrada.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/18/lacson-alleged-estrada-insertions-seen-in-2025-budget-none-for-villanueva-1347"><strong>Lacson: Alleged Estrada insertions seen in 2025 GAA; Villanueva&#x27;s in 2023 unprogrammed funds</strong></a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEOS:</strong></div><div><strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/0Dot64rNYmU?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong></div><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/cJY-Zg819vI?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>Bulacan residents and students have staged multiple protests following the exposé on “ghost” flood control projects in the province, which received around ₱43.7 billion in funding for flood control infrastructure.</p>

Bulacan residents and students have staged multiple protests following the exposé on “ghost” flood control projects in the province, which received around ₱43.7 billion in funding for flood control infrastructure.