Philippines’ Ghost Projects Scandal: Corruption Amid a Climate Emergency

Sarah Michael04 Nov, 2025Other

Public outrage is growing in the Philippines after investigators uncovered hundreds of flood-control infrastructure projects that were paid for but never built. As the country faces increasingly severe flooding and cyclones, the scandal exposes how state-funded “ghost projects” can amplify vulnerability, drain public funds and undermine public trust. With estimates of losses approaching ₱545 billion (US $9.4 billion) and more than 100,000 projects under review, the case is rapidly becoming one of Asia’s most significant corruption scandals. Beyond the Philippines’ borders, this scandal also signals regional risks: in a climate-sensitive Southeast Asia, weak governance and misused infrastructure funds threaten the resilience of entire populations and could deter global investment.