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Manila Bulletin devider Entertainment devider Celebrities devider Bianca Gonzalez, Edu Manzano sound off anew on floods, corruption

Bianca Gonzalez, Edu Manzano sound off anew on floods, corruption

Published Aug 11, 2026 09:41 am  |  Updated Aug 11, 2026 04:18 pm

At A Glance

  • Bianca Gonzalez and Edu Manzano are calling attention to the Philippines' perennial flood problem, alleged ghost flood-control projects and the billions meant to keep Filipinos dry. As the waters rise again, so do the questions: Where did the money go, and who should be held accountable?

The country is once again mired in flood.

As usual.

The rains come, roads disappear, commuters get stranded, homes and businesses take in water.

We are all familiar with the scenario.

Then we hear about flood control.

Again.

We have been hearing about it for years.
Billions have been allocated. Projects have been announced. Investigations have been launched. Some people accused of involvement in questionable public works have even been hauled to court. Yada, yada.

Apparently, we are not done asking questions.

Neither are Bianca Gonzalez and Edu Manzano.

Both have taken to social media to ask, in their own ways, the same questions running through our heads as we wade through waist-deep water.

Gonzalez pointed to the alleged ghost projects that may once again be exposed as the rains return.

"Nagsimula na naman ang pag-ulan at pagdating ng sunud-sunod na bagyo, magkakaalaman na naman ng mga lugar na ghost project lang ang milyones na flood control budget," Gonzalez wrote.

And who gets to suffer for it?

"Ang pinaka-mapeperwisyo na naman ay ang mga mamamayang ang nais lang sa araw-araw ay magtrabaho ng maayos at masuportahan ang pamilya," she added.

Talk about stating the obvious.

She also urged voters not to forget alleged corruption when election time comes around:

"Paalala lang sa lahat na huwag kalimutan, huwag magpabulag, huwag nang ibigay ang suporta sa mga pulitikong kinukurakot ang kaban ng bayan."

Fair enough.

Then there's Manzano.

He took a different route altogether.

Sarcasm.

"Magandang araw po sa mga yumaman sa flood control. Sana dry kayo, comfortable at enjoy na enjoy sa perang hindi naman sa inyo. Kami na po ang bahalang lumangoy."

That last line probably needs no further explanation.

"Kami na po ang bahalang lumangoy."

Woe to those who don’t know how to swim.
Apparently, in this country, it’s becoming a survival skill.

Manzano also urged people to "follow the water, follow the money."

Maybe we should.

But how?

Where?

We just know what happens when the rain gets heavy.

We only know which streets flood first.

We only know what gets destroyed. 

Yes, we have heard them geniuses talk about flood control for years.

Yet here we are.

Again.

Swimming.

So how many more rainy seasons are Filipinos expected to spend swimming before somebody actually fixes the problem?

Maybe all we can do is be like Dory: keep swimming. Keep at it.

But unlike Dory, try not to be so forgetful.

Because if we keep forgetting who was supposed to keep us dry, we might just keep swimming until we drown.

Related Tags

Bianca Gonzalez Edu Manzano Philippine floods flooding Philippines flood control projects flood control funds ghost projects habagat rainy season corruption
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