James Deakin Wants Corrupt Officials Named After Typhoons
TYPHOONS – What if the next typhoon to enter the Philippines carried the name of an official allegedly linked to a ghost flood control project?
Transport journalist and road safety advocate James Deakin drew attention online after making an unusual suggestion to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) amid the continuing controversy surrounding government-funded flood control projects and alleged “ghost projects” in the Philippines.
In a social media post on Sunday, August 9, Deakin jokingly proposed that instead of using the usual names assigned to tropical cyclones, PAGASA should consider naming storms after government officials allegedly involved in questionable flood control projects.
“Dear DOST-PAGASA, instead of choosing random names for typhoons, we should start naming them after corrupt officials. Especially those involved in the flood control ghost projects.”
“Whatcha think? Share if you agree,” he said.
The post quickly attracted reactions from netizens, many of whom appeared to find Deakin’s suggestion amusing while also connecting it to the ongoing public discussion about alleged irregularities in flood control spending.
Some commenters joked that there could already be enough names to fill an entire alphabetical list, while others suggested that the number of alleged corrupt officials could exceed the number of storms expected to enter the Philippines.
“Last name or Full name ba dapat para mas specific? Lol”
“Kukulangin ang bagyo sa dami ng names”
“This is a very good suggestion Sir. Let’s start with Typhoon…”
“Yeah! Attribute it to them”
“Agree! The most intense one is the most corrupt!”
The comments reflected the frustration of some members of the public over allegations involving flood control projects, particularly those described as “ghost projects.”
The issue has gained public attention because of allegations that some government-funded flood control projects were either never implemented or did not correspond to the amount of money allocated for them. Such allegations have fueled calls for greater transparency and accountability in the use of public funds.
Under the current system, PAGASA maintains its own list of names for tropical cyclones that enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR). International names are also used by the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), which serves as the Regional Specialized Meteorological Center for the western North Pacific.
As of the latest information provided, PAGASA has not issued any reaction, response, or official statement regarding Deakin’s suggestion.
READ ALSO: Bong Revilla Granted ₱1M Bail in ₱92.8M Ghost Flood Control Case
