September 20, 2025

Philippine reptiles angry at “crocodiles” in government

In the Philippines the words “crocodile” and “buwaya” are used for corrupt leaders and officials. The corruption is so bad even crocodiles themselves are joining two large protests tomorrow in Metro Manila!

On the left is the largest living reptile, a saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus), and beside them is the smaller but Critically Endangered Philippine crocodile (Crocodylus mindorensis) that lives in just a few rivers in the country.

Year after year floods continue to ravage the Philippines, despite P1.9 trillion pesos or $33 billion dollars allocated to the Department of Public Works and Highways or DPWH since 2011 (PH Senate). “Ghost” or poorly or unimplemented flood control projects total up to P350 billion pesos or $6.1 billion dollars so far (Baclig, Inquirer) with economic loses estimated upward to about P118 billion pesos or $2.1 billion dollars (PH Department of Finance).

A printable protest sign in Bisaya (Cebuano specifically) comes with the free download in my Philippine Wildlife Art Gumroad shop. “Tabangi ang buaya sa suba, hawaa ang buaya sa gobyerno!!” (Help crocodiles in the river, remove crocodiles in government!)

This is just from preliminary estimates regarding flood control. Who knows how much has been siphoned off from other projects. Greenpeace says that the P1 trillion pesos or $17.5 billion dollars of government funds earmarked for climate change expenditures might also have been susceptible to corruption since 2023, including P560 billion pesos or $9.8 billion dollars in 2025 alone.

The Philippines is due to lose up to 13 percent of GDP by 2040 from climate change, with the poorest homes affected (World Bank).

By stealing taxpayer money, Philippine officials and contractors are now the target of crocodiles and people alike tomorrow, and moving forward.