A leading church official in the Philippines has blamed systemic corruption, not just climate change, for the recurring floods that continue to submerge communities.
Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David of Kalookan issued a pastoral letter denouncing what he described as a “mockery of justice” and a “betrayal of public trust,” as floodwaters once again inundate parts of Metro Manila’s northern districts.
“We are told it’s the climate—yes, climate change is real, and it is devastating,” David wrote. “But let us be clear: the real disaster here is corruption. The very funds meant to protect our people have been siphoned off by systems that enrich a few and endanger many.”
The prelate pointed to the government’s flood control projects, which have cost over ₱5 billion since 2003 in Malabon and Navotas alone, according to data from the Department of Public Works and Highways and the Japan International Cooperation Agency.
“And yet, as recent reports and COA audit findings have exposed, we still suffer from broken pumps, non-functioning floodgates, clogged canals, and substandard construction,” he said. “Some projects exist only on paper. Some facilities were abandoned even before they were completed.”
David also cited the repeated failure of the navigational floodgate that serves both Malabon and Navotas. “We were told that it had been repaired, but just a few days of torrential rains have brought it down again,” he said.
The bishop criticized ongoing reclamation projects in Manila Bay, saying they worsen tidal flooding and were approved “without a transparent, science-based environmental impact assessment” and with no consultation of coastal communities.
He called on the public, especially the youth, to demand accountability and resist political patronage. “Will you settle for a system that rewards patronage over planning, and politics over people?” he asked.
David urged communities to hold public officials accountable by calling for citizen audits of infrastructure projects and by engaging in civic action. “Faith without action is dead,” he wrote.
