MANILA — Thousands of people are expected to join two major rallies set in Luneta, Manila, and at the People Power Monument along EDSA, Quezon City, on Sunday, September 21, 2025, to protest alleged massive corruption in the government’s flood control projects.

Students, youth organizations, and activists are leading the Luneta rally referred to as “Baha sa Luneta: Aksyon na Laban sa Korapsyon,” also called “Bilyon People March,” which is scheduled for 9 a.m.

Meanwhile, the Church Leaders’ Council for National Transformation (CLCNT), composed of Catholic and Protestant representatives, along with civil society groups, people’s organizations, and sectoral leaders, is spearheading the People Power Monument rally dubbed “Trillion Peso March,” slated for 2 p.m. on the same day.

Both groups said the date is symbolic, marking the 53rd anniversary of the declaration of Martial Law in 1972 by the late former President Ferdinand E. Marcos, namesake and father of the incumbent chief executive.

The rallies’ names allude to the enormous amounts of public funds—including taxpayers’ money—allocated to flood control over the years, a large portion of which allegedly went to corruption.

They also reference the August 26, 2013 “Million People March” —dubbed the Philippines’ first social-media-organized protest—against the Napoles pork barrel scam. That campaign reportedly drew about 100,000 physical protesters in Luneta, thousands more in at least 27 cities across the country and abroad, and another 140,000 participants online.

University of the Philippines (UP) student regent Dexter Clemente, one of the leaders of the Luneta rally, announced, “We call on fellow young people and our elders to gather at Luneta on September 21. Let us call out and condemn the politicians and contractors who wear different colors but worship the color of money, who steal our people’s money.”

Tindig Pilipinas spokesperson Francis “Kiko” Aquino Dee, one of the organizers of the People Power Monument activity, stressed, “We cannot stay silent while our money is being stolen, while our people drown in both floods and corruption. ‘Yung brazenness ng katiwalian, sobrang naging halata nitong nakaraang mga linggo, kaya maraming naghahanap ng lugar para magkaroon ng kilos-protesta.”

He added that at least 15,000 protesters are expected to participate in the EDSA rally, while simultaneous protests are also being staged in other parts of the country, including Negros Island, Cebu, Cagayan de Oro, Baguio City, and Bohol.

Baha sa Luneta rally leaders and organizers include:

– Taumbayan Ayaw sa Magnanakaw at Abusado Network Alliance

– Panatang Luntian Coalition

– Student councils from various schools

Trillion Peso March leaders and organizers include:

– Tindig Pilipinas and its partners: Alyansa Tigil Mina, Every Woman, Nagkakaisa Labor Coalition, SENTRO, Solidarity for Truth and Justice, Mamamayang Liberal

– Alyansa ng Nagkakaisang Mamamayan (ANIM) and its chapters (TNTRio, P4GG: KK, RAM)

– Brotherhood of Christian Businessmen and Professionals (BCBP)

– Clergy for Good Governance (CGG) – Metro Manila

– Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines (CEAP) and its advocacy partners, including Miriam College and Simbahang Lingkod ng Bayan

– Concerned UP Vanguard

– MAPSA and various Catholic schools

– Sambayan

– TAMA NA – Ateneo de Manila

– WAGI – Miriam College

Elsewhere and on various dates, several other mass actions have been held or are being scheduled by different groups.

Transport group Manibela announced a nationwide strike from September 17 to 19, while PISTON said it will hold its transport strike on September 18.

Both groups expressed dismay over how the diesel tax paid by jeepney drivers is allegedly funding the lavish lifestyle of officials involved in the controversy, including their children.

“It’s not right that we’re funding their lifestyle while jeepney drivers are working almost the entire day just to earn enough for their family,” Manibela said.

UP students and faculty members held a “Black Friday” protest on September 12.

Other groups staged separate mass actions in front of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) office in Manila, the residence of contractors Discayas, and in various provinces.

Among the demands highlighted by the various protests are:

– Arrest and prosecution of individuals involved in the anomalous flood control projects

– Confiscation and return of ill-gotten wealth, including luxury cars and expensive designer items of all erring contractors, politicians, and government officials and their families

– Opening of all Statements of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALNs) and lifting of the bank secrecy law for all government officials

– Blacklisting of all contractors and suppliers involved in corruption, including those with links to legislators and government officials

Amid these protest actions, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has been placed on red alert status.

“Lahat po ng units ng Sandatahang Lakas ng Pilipinas have been placed na po on red alert status effective po nung 12 September 2025,” AFP spokesperson Colonel Francel Margareth Padilla said.

“Ito po ay isang precautionary measure po sa part po natin. Ito po ay standard security protocols. We would like to emphasize na wala po tayong dapat ikabahala,” she explained.

She added that with the implementation of the red alert status, a certain number of AFP personnel are required to be on standby, while leaves are suspended and troops are ready for any unexpected events.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) is also on alert in view of the protest actions.

“Magde-declare ng full alert status sa [National Capital Region Police Office] sa mga darating na araw,” PNP public information office chief Police Brigadier General Randulf Tuaño said, adding that under full alert, more police personnel will be available as absences and leaves will not be allowed.