Manila, Philippines — November 5, 2025
Public anger is intensifying as several government agencies continue to withhold explanations for billions of pesos in missing infrastructure funds, sparking calls for transparency and accountability across the country.
According to a recent Commission on Audit (COA) report, multiple infrastructure projects—ranging from roads and bridges to flood control systems—remain unfinished or nonexistent, despite having been fully funded from the national budget between 2023 and 2025.
Billions Gone, No Clear Answers
The audit findings revealed alarming discrepancies: payments were released to contractors for projects that have yet to begin, while other completed projects show signs of substandard workmanship or overpricing.
Lawmakers demanded answers from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), but officials provided vague explanations, citing “delays,” “data errors,” and “unrecorded fund transfers.”
Opposition senators criticized the administration’s silence, calling it a “blatant disregard for the people’s right to know.”
«“Billions of pesos in taxpayers’ money are unaccounted for, yet no one is taking responsibility. The people deserve transparency, not excuses,” Senator Risa Hontiveros said during a press briefing.»
Growing Distrust Among Citizens
Across social media, hashtags such as #WhereIsTheMoney and #HoldThemAccountable trended nationwide as Filipinos expressed frustration over government negligence. Many netizens compared the issue to the ghost flood control projects scandal that recently rocked Northern Luzon.
“Every year, they promise better infrastructure, but all we get are potholes and floods,” said one resident from Bulacan. “Where did the money go?”
Malacañang’s Response
When asked about the controversy, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. urged agencies to cooperate with COA and ensure “full transparency in public spending.” However, critics say the administration’s response has been “too little, too late.”
Analysts warn that this growing public outrage could damage public trust ahead of the 2025 midterm elections, as citizens demand real accountability and visible results from government programs funded by their taxes.
For now, the mystery remains: where did the money go?
📸 Image Caption Prompt:
“Angry Filipino citizens holding protest signs outside a government building, demanding transparency over missing infrastructure funds — dramatic daylight scene, news photo style, emotional expressions, realism and urgency.”
