SAN JOSE DEL MONTE CITY, Bulacan – Dozens of Catholic priests, parishioners, and local residents held a peaceful prayer rally and Holy Mass in front of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) District Engineering Office in Bulacan on Monday, December 15, 2025, demanding justice and transparency over alleged anomalies in flood control projects. The gathering, organized by the Diocese of Malolos and civil society groups, highlighted frustrations with “ghost dikes” and substandard works that left communities vulnerable to typhoons like Uwan, tying into the national P20-billion scandal.
Led by Fr. Flaviano Villanueva, a 2025 Ramon Magsaysay Awardee known for social justice advocacy, the rally featured prayers for victims of corruption, placards reading “No to Ghost Projects” and “Justice for Flood Victims,” and calls for the resignation of implicated officials. “We pray not just for rain to stop, but for the rain of truth and accountability,” Villanueva said during his homily, linking the protest to broader moral failures in governance.
Participants from flood-hit areas like San Jose del Monte and nearby municipalities shared testimonies of breached dikes and unfinished canals despite billions allocated. One resident lamented: “We paid with taxes, they paid with lies—our homes flood while pockets fill.”
The event remained orderly, with no reported incidents, though DPWH staff kept doors closed. Regional Director Roseller Tolentino was unavailable for comment, but the agency has previously defended projects as “ongoing” and compliant.
This Bulacan rally echoes nationwide outrage, including the Trillion Peso March, over the Independent Commission for Infrastructure’s findings of kickbacks and phantom works. As Christmas nears, the priests’ protest blends faith with fury: A plea for leaders to heed the season’s call for honesty, lest more floods—literal and figurative—drown trust.
Rally Snapshot:
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Organizers | Diocese of Malolos, civil society |
| Key Figure | Fr. Flaviano Villanueva (Magsaysay awardee) |
| Demands | Transparency, justice for flood anomalies |
| Location | DPWH Bulacan District Office |