Philippine ghost flood projects leave residents in a precarious state, isolated and stranded
In the heart of the Philippines, the small village of Plaridel is battling against more than just the rising waters. The unfinished dike in the village of Frances, a project costing nearly $2 million, has become the centrepiece of a significant corruption scandal that has cast a shadow over the country's infrastructure development.
The dike, one of over 100 flood-control projects at the epicentre of the scandal, was marked as completed more than a year ago, despite contractors only just beginning the project. This revelation has left residents like Elizabeth Abanilla, an 81-year-old resident in Plaridel, feeling betrayed. "I haven't followed the hearings on the scandal because I don't own a television," she said, "but I know something is wrong. Both the contractors and those who provided the funds are guilty in this corruption scandal."
The incomplete dike has forced residents to adapt to their daily lives. Children in the village are now donning rubber boots to class due to a spike in cases of bacterial disease leptospirosis and athlete's foot. On the roads, water levels can sometimes reach knee-high and sometimes ankle-high, making travel a challenge. In some homes, water levels have risen to the residents' thighs, forcing them to move their kitchens to the second floors of their homes.
The dike's inadequacies have not gone unnoticed by authorities. Public Works Minister Vince Dizon visited the site and declared the dike worthless, stating that taxpayer money was clearly stolen. He labelled the project a "ghost project" and fired the district's chief engineer and two others. President Ferdinand Marcos also criticised the dike, stating that it had inadequate cement mix.
The corruption scandal has not been limited to the village of Frances. Across the country, over 100 flood-control projects are embroiled in the scandal, with an estimated $17.6 billion in funds potentially bilked since 2023, much of it intended for communities affected by groundwater over-extraction and rising sea levels.
In response to the scandal, thousands of people are expected to protest in the capital on Sunday, demanding justice and prison for those found guilty of involvement in the bogus infrastructure projects. Francisco, a construction worker, prioritizes the return of the misused funds over punishment for those involved in the corruption. "We need these funds to build infrastructure that will protect our homes for sale, not line the pockets of corrupt officials," he said.
As the investigation continues, the people of Plaridel and many other communities in the Bulacan region are left without protection, their homes and lives at the mercy of the rising waters.
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