Members of cause-oriented groups slung rotten tomatoes at the logo of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) 7, outside of its District Engineering Office, in Cebu City morning on Friday, September 5, 2025.

The protesters hurled rotten tomatoes outside of DPWH to express their anger and frustration over reported irregularities in flood control projects of the national government implemented by the agency.

The protesters led by Jaime Paglinawan, chairman of Bayan Central Visayas, pointed out they were allowed by the security guards and the police outside of the DPWH Cebu City District Engineering Office to express their complaints, citing the activity did not take time and was carried out peacefully.

Prior to the throwing of rotten tomatoes, the group engaged in a program, outside of the DPWH 7 compound, where group leaders expressed their sentiments over reported anomalous flood control projects and how taxpayers are ripped of their valuable taxes, students of their future, among others.

The groups brought placards that speak strongly of their grievances.

After the protest action, members of the groups dispersed peacefully.

Malou Avila, information officer of DPWH Cebu City District Engineering Office, said that while the agency respects people’s rights to express their sentiments, they only carry out the projects of the Cebu City Engineering District. She cited that the flood control projects which got the ire of protesters are a national issue.

Rowena Pagobo, a resident, aspires for government to spend money more on decent socialized housing.

Pagobo said she doubts that the investigation in both the Senate and Congress would be of significant help to the marginalized members of society like her, but she hopes that despite the reported massive plunder of flood control project funds, the culprits would be held accountable.