The country’s top business groups welcomed the nationwide protests against corruption on Sunday, Sept. 21, as a positive step toward building a transparent economic environment that inspires investor confidence.

The Federation of Philippine Industries (FPI) said on Monday that the widespread protests reflect public outrage against corruption in the country’s infrastructure system, particularly the anomalous and non-existent multi-billion-peso flood control projects.

The FPI, the umbrella group of domestic manufacturers and producers, said the demonstrations underscore the “deep public demand” for transparency, accountability, and good governance in the management of public funds.

Thousands of Filipinos took to the streets on Sunday to condemn corruption in infrastructure projects that were supposed to protect communities from flooding.

The Philippine economy is estimated to have lost over ₱100 billion in the past three years due to corruption in flood control projects, with ghost projects wiping out nearly 300,000 job opportunities.

The protests were largely peaceful, although over 200 people were arrested after clashes with authorities and alleged destruction of property.

The FPI noted that while protests may prompt greater caution among investors, this is only a short-term effect.

“This presents an opportunity for the Philippines to demonstrate its commitment to transparency and reform, which can strengthen long-term investor confidence,” the group said in a statement, penned by its chairman, Elizabeth Lee.

“We believe that if addressed decisively, this moment can become a turning point that reinforces the foundations of our economy,” it added.

To sustain investor confidence, the FPI said the government should mount transparent investigations into the reported corruption, with findings made public and accountable actions taken.

The industry group added that procurement, auditing, and oversight mechanisms must be strengthened to prevent the recurrence of substandard or non-existent projects and the misuse of public funds.

For the Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Inc. (FFCCCIl), combating corruption should go beyond the prosecution of lawmakers, officials, and contractors who are alleged to have pocketed public funds.

“We must go further and dismantle the entire ecosystem that allows corruption to thrive. This requires sweeping systemic reforms built on radical transparency, efficiency, and ruthless accountability,” the FFCCCIl said in a statement.

“We need not reinvent the wheel. We must look to exemplary models in other jurisdictions where powerful, independent anti-corruption agencies have full autonomy to investigate and prosecute without fear or favor,” the group also said.

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos earlier established the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI), a fact-finding body tasked to probe alleged corruption, irregularities, and misuse of funds in infrastructure projects within the last 10 years.

The FFCCCIl stressed that corruption is a “heinous betrayal” that robs Filipinos of essential services, while also stifling innovation and investments.

“The time for half-measures is over. Let us unite to build a system that rewards integrity and paves the way for a just and prosperous Philippines,” it said.

The FPI further said that the Marcos administration’s economic managers must provide consistent communication to reassure domestic and foreign investors that “the country’s macroeconomic fundamentals remain sound.”

The government was urged to collaborate closely with industry and civil society groups to ensure that public concerns are addressed through reforms in an effort to deter unrest.

“We believe that by confronting these challenges with transparency and resolve, the Philippines can emerge stronger, more competitive, and more attractive to long-term investment, while at the same time safeguarding the stability that local businesses, manufacturers, and producers depend on to grow and thrive,” the FPI said.