What You Need to Know About the September 21 Protests in Metro Manila

(SPOT.ph) Metro Manila is bracing for not one but two major protests on September 21. While the date recalls the 53rd anniversary of Martial Law, this year the spotlight is just as much on corruption in flood control projects.

Since 2022, the government has poured at least P545 billion into flood control projects, but investigations suggest that a handful of contractors have cornered about 20% of the funds, while some projects have turned out to be substandard—or never built at all. According to the Department of Finance, the Philippines loses an estimated P118.5 billion every year to corruption in flood control alone.

Even President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has acknowledged the public anger, saying he supports the rallies as long as they remain peaceful.

“If I wasn’t president, I might be out in the streets with them,” Marcos said. “Of course they are enraged, of course they are angry, I’m angry. You let them know your sentiments, you let them know how they hurt you, how they stole from you, shout at them and do everything, demonstrate, just keep it peaceful.”

Both protests have filed the necessary paperwork with the respective local government units for the upcoming protests. The Philippine National Police (PNP) said it has yet to detect threats related to the mass protest action. In any case, almost 1,000 police officers and 1,400 reserve forces are set to be deployed across Metro Manila.

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The day kicks off at 9 a.m. in Luneta/Rizal Park with “Baha sa Luneta: Aksyon Laban sa Korapsyon.” This one’s spearheaded by youth and student groups under TAMA NA (Taumbayan Ayaw sa Magnanakaw at Abusadong Network Alliance), with backing from environmental collectives like Panatang Luntian Coalition and other activist organizations.

“We call on fellow young people and our elders to gather at Luneta on Sept. 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,” University of the Philippines Student Regent Dexter Clemente said in a statement.

There’s no mention of specific attire for the event, only to bring essentials to make you comfortable.

“Bring umbrellas, food. This is like a picnic and at the same time our call for accountability," TAMA NA Convenor David San Juan said.

The Luneta crowd sets the tone with a more grassroots feel—students, campus groups, and Gen Zs if you will—before some participants head to the People Power Monument to join the second leg. However, no details have been issued on whether there will be a march from Luneta to EDSA. You can find more information about “Baha sa Luneta” on the official Facebook page.

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By 2 p.m., the action moves to the EDSA Shrine/People Power Monument for the bigger “Trillion Peso March” (TPM). This gathering is convened by the Church Leaders Council for National Transformation (CLCNT), with participation from civil society organizations like Tindig Pilipinas and 1Sambayan, progressive political groups such as Akbayan Partylist and Liberal Party, and labor federations including Nagkaisa.

The demands here are broad and structural:

“Ang kaban ng bayan ay galing sa luha at pawis ng taumbayan. Tungkulin natin bilang mamamayan na ito’y bantayan, tiyakin na nagagamit sa tama, at hindi napupunta sa bulsa ng mga tiwaling opisyal at kanilang mga kasabwat. Ngayon ang panahon para tayo’y tumindig at magkaisa laban sa korapsyon,” Akbayan Representative Chel Diokno said in a statement.

Participants are urged to wear white as a symbol of unity and hope. TPM Spokesperson Francis Aquino Dee is expecting as many as 15,000 people at this event.

“May dalawang nag-organize sa iba’t ibang parte ng Metro Manila kaya kung saan tayo komportable o malapit, we can go there,” Dee said. “Ang napagkasunduan ay magco-converge ang mga movements dito sa Manila sa People Power Monument ng 2 p.m. sa September 21.”

If you’re wondering which one to attend, let this post answer that for you: