When President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. delivered his 2025 State of the Nation Address, one phrase resonated more powerfully than any other: “Mahiya naman kayo (Shame on you).” It was a rare moment of unmistakable presidential outrage directed at those allegedly responsible for the multibillion-peso flood control scandal, a scheme he described as one in which some supposed infrastructure projects existed only as “pigments of imagination.” It was both an indictment of corruption and a promise that those who stole from the Filipino people would be held accountable.

A year later, the nation deserves more than a reminder of those stirring words. It deserves an accounting.

To be fair, the government has made visible progress. Several high-profile personalities linked to questionable flood control projects are now under detention. Investigations by the Department of Justice, the Office of the Ombudsman, the National Bureau of Investigation, and other agencies continue, while the Commission on Audit has long documented recurring deficiencies and irregularities in public infrastructure spending. Contract reviews, project inspections, and financial audits have likewise intensified as authorities seek to determine whether taxpayers paid for projects that were defective, grossly overpriced, or never completed.

These developments demonstrate that the investigations are moving. But they also underscore a stark realization: investigations alone do not deliver justice.

The public ultimately measures accountability not by the number of personalities investigated but by the number successfully prosecuted and convicted through due process. Until those responsible are punished and ill-gotten wealth recovered, the fight against corruption remains unfinished.

This year's State of the Nation Address presents President Marcos with an opportunity to build on last year’s moral challenge by presenting measurable results. Filipinos deserve a transparent report on three fronts: the number of flood control projects audited and found anomalous; the criminal, civil, and administrative cases already filed and their current status; and the concrete steps being taken to recover public funds while ensuring that legitimate flood control projects are completed without political interference. Such transparency would reinforce public confidence that the campaign extends beyond rhetoric and publicity.

The administration must also remove the bottlenecks that often allow major corruption cases to languish for years. Special prosecution teams equipped with forensic accountants, engineers, procurement specialists, and digital evidence experts should focus exclusively on complex infrastructure fraud. Modern technologies—including geotagged project documentation, satellite imagery, drone surveys, and digital procurement records—should become standard tools for verifying government-funded projects and strengthening evidence before the courts.

The private sector likewise has a vital responsibility. Business organizations, engineering and accounting professionals, academic institutions, technology companies, and civil society groups can provide independent technical expertise, integrity monitoring, procurement transparency, and whistleblower support. Ethical contractors must refuse participation in rigged bidding and help establish a business environment where honesty becomes a competitive advantage rather than a liability.

Most importantly, the campaign against corruption must transcend politics. Floodwaters do not ask whether their victims supported the administration or the opposition. Every peso stolen from flood control is a peso taken from safer communities, resilient infrastructure, and future generations who will shoulder debts incurred for projects that failed to protect them.

Eradicating deeply rooted corruption therefore requires a united citizenry, vigilant institutions, principled businesses, and political leaders willing to place national interest above partisan loyalties.

Last year's “mahiya naman kayo” line awakened the country’s moral conscience. This year, President Marcos has the opportunity—and the obligation—to tell the nation how that challenge is being transformed into convictions, recovered public funds, and a stronger culture of accountability. Only then can the promise behind those unforgettable words that shook the nation last year truly withstand the test of history.