The Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) denounced the glaring corruption, environmental destruction, and misuse of public funds surrounding the P4.59-billion Tacloban Causeway Project and the P100-million overpriced farm-to-market roads in Tacloban City. The peasant group said these are “clear examples of grand-scale corruption and government neglect under the Marcos Jr. regime’s so-called Build Better More program.”
The government conducted its own ocular inspection of the delayed Tacloban Causeway Project and called for a full investigation into serious irregularities, including questionable payments, missing documents, and the lack of transparency from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). The causeway, implemented by Sunwest Construction and Development Corporation owned by businessman Elizaldy Co, has long been criticized for being overpriced, poorly planned, and environmentally-destructive.
KMP also revealed that hundreds of millions of worth of farm-to-market road projects in Tacloban City and other parts of Eastern Visayas have been found to be overpriced. Some of these include the following:
San Roque Farm-to-Market Road Phase 2, Tacloban City
P100 million
0.287 km road constructed
P348,432 per meter
Guinsohayan, Samar
P35 million road constructed
0.206 km road constructed
P169,902 per meter
Kadaohan, Leyte
P46-million
0.37 km road constructed
P124,324 per meter
Farmers said the overpriced FMR projects serve as another cash cow for corrupt politicians and contractors, while small farmers remain deprived of genuine rural infrastructure and government support.
The 2.56-kilometer causeway across Cancabato Bay threatens to destroy mangrove forests that local fisherfolk themselves rehabilitated after Super Typhoon Yolanda in 2013. These mangroves serve as natural storm barriers and fish nurseries vital to their livelihoods. Reports stated that the construction will wipe out large areas of the mangrove belt and displace at least 500 coastal families.
“Farmers and fisherfolk rebuilt what the government abandoned after Yolanda. Now, the same Marcos Jr government is demolishing their work for the profit of cronies and contractors,” said Ronnie Manalo, KMP Secretary General. “We must resist these corrupt and destructive projects.”
Manalo who joins the Educational and Learning Tour of the International Solidarity and Learning Mission (ISM) probing human rights violations in Eastern Visayas, said the corruption in infrastructure projects like the Tacloban Causeway reflects the same climate of impunity that rural communities face.
“The people of Eastern Visayas are victims not only of militarization and red-tagging, but also of “plunder disguised as development,” Manalo said.
“Every overpriced project and every destroyed mangrove tells a story of injustice against farmers and fisherfolk. The Marcos government must be held accountable for both human rights violations and corruption against the poor.”
KMP demanded the immediate suspension of both the Tacloban Causeway and the overpriced FMR projects pending a full, independent investigation and audit of all contracts, environmental clearances, and fund releases. The group called for criminal prosecution of corrupt officials and contractors and compensation and rehabilitation for affected communities and ecosystems.
“The Marcos Jr. regime’s corruption-driven infrastructure binge deepens poverty, worsens environmental collapse, and fuels people’s resistance,” Manalo concluded.
KMP and the People’s Rising for Climate Justice are among the co-organizers of the International Learning and Solidarity Mission in Eastern Visayas, part of the Asia Pacific People’s Conference on Climate Imperialism and Militarism, to be held in Manila on October 16–17. ###
updates from the peasant movement of the Philippines 