Wazzup Pilipinas!?
Major Issues & Questions
1. Flood-control corruption scandal & mass protests
What exactly are the anomalies and irregularities in flood-control and infrastructure projects?
Who are the public officials, contractors or lawmakers implicated, and how will accountability be enforced?
Will the protests sustain pressure for institutional reforms, or lead to superficial fixes?
How will this scandal affect public trust, governance, and the Marcos administration’s legitimacy?
Context & developments:
Whistleblowers testified to the Senate that many flood-control, road, and infrastructure projects have been built substandardly or overpriced to hide kickbacks.
Protests erupted across Manila and other cities under banners like “Baha sa Luneta” and the “Trillion Peso March,” demanding transparency and accountability.
Over 200 arrests were reported during these protests.
The Department of Finance estimates losses from the alleged corruption at around ₱118.5 billion over 2023–2025.
The scandal touches a sensitive nerve: flooding is a recurrent threat in the Philippines given monsoon and typhoon seasons. Many feel that “flood control projects” should have been among the most trusted public investments.
This is arguably the defining political crisis of 2025 in the country: it tests whether institutional checks, civil society pressure, and media exposure can force meaningful change.
2. Super Typhoon Ragasa (Nando) & climate vulnerability
How well prepared were local governments and national agencies in responding to the typhoon?
Will this event renew calls for better climate adaptation, disaster mitigation infrastructure, and accountability in disaster-related spending?
How will recurring severe weather events further strain social services, agriculture, and vulnerable communities?
Context & developments:
Typhoon Ragasa made landfall in northern Luzon, bringing extremely strong winds and storm surges, triggering evacuations, power outages, road disruptions, and flooding.
The Philippines is one of the world’s most disaster-prone nations. Floods, typhoons, and sea-level rise disproportionately impact the poor, coastal communities, and farming and fishing livelihoods.
Some of the flood-control projects under scrutiny (from the corruption scandal) are precisely the types of infrastructure meant to protect communities during such storms — raising questions about quality, oversight, and priorities.
In short: Ragasa underscores how climate risk and governance overlap. Poorly executed infrastructure is not just a financial scandal — it is a public safety risk.
3. Extension of rice import ban & food security / inflation
How will prolonged constraints on rice imports affect supply, price stabilization, and farmer welfare?
Can domestic production keep pace to prevent shortages or panic buying?
What trade-offs will the government need to manage (price controls, tariffs, subsidies)?
Context & developments:
On September 26, 2025, President Marcos extended the 60-day suspension on rice imports (both regular milled and well-milled varieties), in order to support local farmers and control domestic rice prices.
The Philippines remains a major rice importer (several million metric tons annually).
Earlier in 2025, rice prices surged ~24.4% (year-over-year), though they later fell ~17% by August, helping inflation ease.
Inflation has been relatively low in 2025 (~1.7% for Jan–Aug), within the government’s target range.
This is a high-stakes topic: rice is the staple food for most Filipinos, so any disruption or price spike has major social and political implications.
4. Energy transition: decline in coal use, rise in LNG and renewables
How fast can the Philippines shift from coal to cleaner energy while ensuring affordable, reliable power?
What regulatory, infrastructure, and investment changes are needed to support renewables and natural gas?
Will the transition address local pollution, climate commitments, and resilience to energy supply shocks?
Context & developments:
For the first time in ~17 years, the Philippines is on track to record an annual decline in coal-fired electricity generation — driven by a surge in liquefied natural gas (LNG) usage.
In early to mid-2025, gas-fired generation rose ~25% year-on-year, making up ~17.5% of power output.
The government has a moratorium on new coal power projects (in effect since 2020).
But renewables still lag behind national targets, and infrastructure, grid stability, financing, and policy design remain hurdles.
Energy is a long-term game. The shift now will determine whether the Philippines can meet its climate goals while preventing energy shortages or price shocks.
5. Former President Duterte charged at the ICC
Will the case proceed, and what are its legal and diplomatic ramifications?
What impact does this have on justice for victims of the “war on drugs”?
How does it frame the Philippines’ international standing and human rights obligations?
Context & developments:
Rodrigo Duterte, former president, has been charged by the International Criminal Court (ICC) with crimes against humanity over alleged extrajudicial killings during his anti-drug campaign in 2013–2018.
The Duterte legal team argues that since the Philippines withdrew from the Rome Statute in 2019, the ICC lacks jurisdiction, and also raises issues of mental fitness and process violations.
Human rights groups note that under President Marcos Jr., deaths tied to the drug war have continued, albeit less frequently, and impunity remains a challenge.
This case is consequential: it tests whether large-scale abuses will ever be prosecuted, and whether international institutions retain leverage when national politics resist accountability.
6. Territorial tensions & shifting security alignments
How will the Philippines balance its sovereignty in the South China Sea amidst increasing Chinese maritime assertiveness?
Is deeper cooperation with Taiwan (and indirectly with the U.S.) a new strategic pivot?
What are the domestic and diplomatic risks of accelerating defense ties in a delicate regional balance?
Context & developments:
Manila has accused Chinese coast guard vessels and a Chinese navy helicopter of harassing Philippine fishery vessels near disputed shoals.
Behind the scenes, the Philippines has quietly begun stronger security cooperation with Taiwan (e.g. coast guard coordination) despite adherence to the One-China policy.
Analysts view this as a recalibration: balancing economic ties with China, defense needs, and regional security pressures.
In sum: This issue is less flashy day-to-day, but fundamental to the country’s long-term security posture.
Big Picture Takeaways & What to Watch
Legitimacy under pressure: The Marcos Jr. administration faces a crucible. The flood-control scandal may reshape governance norms if not handled transparently and decisively.
Climate and infrastructure are now political: Natural disasters illuminate the consequences of weak infrastructure, poor performance, and corruption. The public is increasingly linking climate risk with governance risk.
Economic balancing act: Food security, energy transition, inflation management — all must be handled simultaneously, and missteps risk triggering public discontent.
International stakes: How the Philippines responds to the ICC case and maneuvers in the South China Sea will define its diplomatic credibility and freedom to act independently.
Civic engagement rising: The scale of recent protests suggests that younger generations are less tolerant of corruption and demand more accountability.
Ross is known as the Pambansang Blogger ng Pilipinas - An Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Professional by profession and a Social Media Evangelist by heart.
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The article captures the key pressures shaping Philippine politics and society in 2025 — corruption scandals, climate risks, food security, energy transition, human rights, and regional tensions. It shows how these challenges are interconnected and highlight the urgent need for transparent governance, stronger institutions, and Geometry Dash Lite long-term planning. Public protests and civic engagement also suggest that citizens are increasingly demanding real accountability and reform.
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