Forty couples exchanged vows simultaneously Oct. 30, 2025 at a controversial constructed flood control project in Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro in what LGU officials hope will establish a world record and brand the town as the country’s “Unique Wedding Capital.”

The mass ceremony, dubbed the “Flood Control Wedding,” took place at the Patrick River flood control project in Barangay Tagumpay, with Sablayan Mayor Walter “Bong” Marquez officiating under the municipal government’s “Kasalang Bayan sa Barangay Tagumpay”.

“This is not just a project of cement and steel. It is also a reminder that no matter what storm comes, love can remain steadfast,” Mayor Marquez said during the ceremony.

The event, held at infrastructure built by Sunwest Corporation, symbolized “strength, unity, and hope,” according to Marquez, mirroring the flood control structure’s protective function for residents.

Sablayan has sought to develop its tourism sector, promoting attractions including Apo Reef Natural Park, one of the world’s largest contiguous coral reef systems.

The town LGU has focused on balancing development with environmental conservation.

Provincial Vice-Governor Diana Apigo-Tayan and several municipal council members served as principal sponsors for Thursday’s ceremony.

Occidental Mindoro Governor Eduardo Gadiano and Cong. Leody Tarriela sent congratulatory messages and gifts, according to the mayor’s office.

Marquez said they plan to submit documentation to Guinness World Records for recognition of the event, though verification requirements and existing records for mass weddings at unconventional venues remain unclear.

Mass weddings have become increasingly common in the country, where local governments frequently sponsor group ceremonies to assist couples who cannot afford traditional celebrations.

The events typically include free marriage licenses, ceremony fees, and sometimes basic reception provisions.

Meanwhile, the Ombudsman is set to file its first batch of graft charges by November 25 against former congressman Elizaldy “Zaldy” Co and his firm, Sunwest Construction and Development Corp., over an allegedly substandard flood control project in Mindoro, officials said.

The charges, which include bribery and falsification of documents, stem from an interim report by the Independent Commission for Infrastructure that flagged “irregularities” in Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) projects implemented by Sunwest Corporation.

The report accused the projects of failing to meet steel sheet pile requirements, with 85 percent of funds already disbursed despite the deficiencies.

Co, a resigned Ako Bicol party-list congressman who co-founded Sunwest and chaired the powerful House appropriations committee, is a central figure in the case.

He left the country in August amid the probe and faces a second subpoena to testify on November 11 and 12. Failure to appear could lead to contempt proceedings.

Sunwest, founded by Co and his brother Christopher, has become the Philippines’ top flood control contractor.

An analysis by the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism found the firm secured 79 projects worth about hundreds of billions of pesos.

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has named Sunwest among the top 15 contractors that have cornered one in every five flood control projects nationwide, prompting a government-wide review.

Co and his brother divested from Sunwest upon entering Congress, but investigations suggest lingering ties through affiliated companies.

photos courtesy of Sablayan Mayor Bong Marquez