Php1.029 Trillion Lost to Anomalous Flood Control Projects since 2023-Greenpeace

In a country prone to natural disasters and rising sea levels, climate climate adaptation projects meant to save lives have instead become a goldmine for corrupt officials and private contractors.

Greenpeace Philippines claims that as much as Php1.029 trillion of the government’s climate-tagged expenditures has been lost to flood control corruption since 2023–Php560 billion in 2025 alone.

In a press conference via Zoom on September 9, Greenpeace Philippines condemned the corrupt practices officials and contractors who have allegedly pocketed billions from anomalous flood control projects meant to protect communities from the impact of climate change.

Greenpeace Philippines calculated the lost funds based on the Senate inquiries.

DPWH Under Scrutiny

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is at the center of allegations over anomalous flood control projects.

According to the National Integrated Climate Change Database and Information Exchange System, the integrated climate information portal of the Climate Change Commission, the DPWH took most of the climate-tagged projects in 2025: Php800 billion of the Php1 trillion of climate-tagged projects or 24,764 out of 26,874 climate-tagged projects. 

Still beneath these numbers, Greenpeace Philippines estimates that Php560 billion of Php800 billion have been lost to corruption—more than half DPWH’s climate allocation. 

Flood-related projects ballooned to Php248 billion in 2025. Of that, Php173 billion is suspected to have been funneled towards anomalous contracts and inflated costs. 

Climate Criminals and Public Betrayal

Greenpeace Philippines is up in arms with these corrupt officials. 

“A trillion pesos is a staggering, absurd amount, siphoned by avaricious, self-serving officials and contractor corporations from projects meant to help people cope with escalating climate impacts,” said Greenpeace campaigner Jefferson Chua. 

“This is unacceptable. They’re not just plundering government coffers, they’re also crippling the ability of millions of Filipinos to survive in the face of an escalating climate crisis. Theft of climate funds at such a scale is atrocious, and offenders are akin to climate criminals.”

Greenpeace Philippines points to corruption and greed as key reasons millions of Filipinos continue to bear the brunt of climate change.

Human Cost: Lives and Livelihoods at Risk

Beyond massive economic losses for local and national governments, the human toll of climate corruption is staggering.

Each year, millions lose their lives, homes, and livelihoods to frequent and intense flooding.

Flood control projects are meant to safeguard communities from rising waters and collapsing infrastructure, yet funds have been pocketed by greedy officials and contractors, according to ongoing investigations cited by Greenpeace Philippines.

In a report by Statista, a global data and business intelligence platform, 362 people died from major natural disasters in the country in 2024. The highest was in 2013 after Typhoon Haiyan, known in the Philippines as Super Typhoon Yolanda, which devastated various regions in the Visayas and Mindanao. 

Funding Gaps and Debt Dilemmas 

Despite allocating trillions for disaster risk reduction, the Philippine government claims it still lacks funds for climate adaptation and to cover climate-related losses and damages.

According to the Department of Finance, between 2010 to 2020, climate-related losses and damages cost Php506.1 billion. 

The government spent about Php2 trillion for disaster risk reduction and management from 2015 to 2020, yet funding still falls short of the country’s needs.

Economic Forecast and Accountability

Insufficient action on climate change could lead to even more disastrous consequences.

A 2022 World Bank forecast report says the country could lose as much as 7.6% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 2030 and 13.6% by 2040 due to climate change. 

“Filipinos are left with pitiful change from the billions stolen by a few,” said Chua.

In response, Greenpeace Philippines laid out urgent recommendations for the government: ensure accountability from corrupt government officials and contractors; end corruption and put in place measures to ensure transparency in government; create systems for greater people participation and ensure public access to government information; and put in place mechanisms to safeguard climate funds from corruption.

The Philippine government plans to apply for more loans and grants to address the losses and damages from climate disasters. 

But for Greenpeace Philippines, these plans will only deepen the national debt—with Filipinos expected to foot the bill for generations to come. 

“Given this filthy track record, what assurance does the Filipino people have that the money for climate adaptation won’t end up in the pockets of the greedy? Each new loan pushes us deeper into debt, while corruption drains the borrowed money that’s meant to protect us,” Chua said.

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