By Benjamin Cuaresma
MANILA, Philippines — Hundreds of Bulacan residents, farmers and fisherfolk waded through floodwaters in Malolos on Monday as they took their protest against alleged corruption in flood-control projects and coastal reclamation directly into communities struggling with yet another round of severe flooding.
The National Heroes Day demonstration, led by the anti-corruption coalition Kilos Bulacan, brought together members of fisherfolk organization Pamalakaya, farmers’ group Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) and Anakpawis Party-list.
The protesters accused government officials and private interests of aggravating Bulacan’s long-standing flooding problems through allegedly anomalous or ineffective flood-control projects and environmentally damaging developments.
While acknowledging that extreme weather and days of southwest monsoon, or habagat, rains triggered the latest flooding, the groups argued that poorly implemented infrastructure and the destruction of natural defenses have made communities more vulnerable.
“Napapanahon ang inilunsad na protesta ng mga residente, magsasaka, at mangingisda sa Bulacan para muling manawagan ng hustisya at pananagutan sa lahat ng sangkot sa maanomalya at palpak na flood control, ganundin sa malaganap na pandarambong ng kalikasan na nagpapalubog ng mga komunidad,” Pamalakaya Vice Chairperson Ronnel Arambulo said.
“The protest by residents, farmers and fisherfolk in Bulacan comes at a crucial time to again demand justice and accountability from all those involved in anomalous and failed flood-control projects, as well as widespread environmental destruction that is submerging communities,” he said.
Pamalakaya also renewed its criticism of the New Manila International Airport development in Bulakan town, a 2,500-hectare project involving reclamation along the Manila Bay coastline.
The organization claimed the development displaced nearly 1,000 fishing families in Barangay Taliptip and led to the removal of more than 600 mangrove trees.
KMP chairperson Danilo Ramos, a Malolos resident, said farmers have repeatedly borne the economic consequences of flooding, which he blamed in part on what he described as ineffective and anomalous flood-control projects.
“Farmers and residents of Bulacan have long endured the repeated flooding caused by these useless, anomalous flood-control projects. While corrupt officials and big corporations plunder the public funds and our environment, ordinary people suffer,” Ramos said.
The farmers’ group called for genuine flood mitigation measures, accountability and compensation for affected communities.
“We demand justice in the form of genuine mitigation measures, accountability, and appropriate compensation for this systematic disaster that caused unmeasurable losses,” Ramos added.
Bulacan has remained heavily inundated following successive tropical cyclones and days of habagat rains, prompting authorities to place the province under a state of calamity.
The flooding has also reached one of the province’s most historic religious landmarks.
Floodwaters inundated portions of Barasoain Church in Malolos, but parish activities continued despite the difficult conditions.
Photos released by the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish showed residents attending Masses, baptisms and funeral services while floodwaters surrounded parts of the church.
The historic church was already inundated Sunday as persistent monsoon rains continued to batter Bulacan, underscoring the severity of flooding that has transformed the province’s latest disaster into both a humanitarian and political flashpoint.
ia/xf
