By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet

In a press conference on Monday, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Sec. Vince Dizon outlined some of the top priorities of DPWH for 2026—a follow-up to his year-end report in December 2025, where he initially laid some of his plans to regain public trust in the agency.

Chief among these was the repair and maintenance of dilapidated roads and bridges across the country, which would include a massive rehabilitation of the worn-out segments of the Maharlika Highway, which stretches from Laoag City in Luzon to Zamboanga City in Mindanao.

In his presentation, Secretary Dizon cited some stretches of the 3,380-kilometer thoroughfare in Pampanga, Quezon Province, Bicol, and Samar as the catalyst for this significant and long-overdue undertaking that is initially estimated to cost around P16 billion, but will benefit millions of motorists plying AH26.

The Public Works chief, moreover, hailed the good progress made by the DPWH in the rehabilitation of EDSA. He also hinted that the rehabilitation plan for C5, another major road in Metro Manila, is expected to be formulated in Q1 2026.

Sec. Dizon also gave the media a brief glimpse into the status of some dilapidated bridges that would be included in the agency’s agenda, which includes the Buot-Taop Bridge (Cebu), Oyungan Bridge (Iloilo), Tubod-Nabuna Bridge (Misamis Occidental), and a damaged hanging bridge in Barangay Kayapa, Nueva Vizcaya.

He also expressed outrage over the unfinished roads and bridges in the country, which continue to bring inconvenience to its intended beneficiaries, vowing to complete these projects this year.

Some examples cited in Dizon’s presentation were the San Agustin Bridge (Arayat, Pampanga), Candaba Bridge (Baliwag-Candaba-Sta. Ana Road, Pampanga), Tigasao-Pacifico Bridge (Siargao), and Aganan Flyover (Iloilo).

Flood control projects in focus

The repair of dilapidated flood mitigation infrastructures caps off the agency’s list of key priorities for 2026, with Dizon stressing that these projects in Bulacan, Oriental Mindoro, and Davao Occidental must be finished before the onset of the rainy season halfway through the year.

The Public Works czar went on with his presentation by sharing significant reforms made by the DPWH in the process of budget planning and procurement in government public works projects—a direct response to public outrage and heightened scrutiny over where the public funds and their taxes go after President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s revelation of widespread corruption in the agency.

Dizon, moreover, reiterated his call to the citizenry to participate in making positive change by continuing to report unfinished projects to the DPWH Transparency Portal (transparency.dpwh.gov.ph), social media pages (Facebook, Instagram, X, and Threads), e-mail ([email protected]), and hotline (02) 165-02.

Meanwhile, he hailed the significant number of young professionals who are applying for positions within the DPWH, citing the importance of new people in revitalizing the agency and regaining public confidence in this government institution.

This, as he also hinted at the commencement of campus job fairs that will be conducted in various universities and colleges nationwide this January.

Further updates, cleansing within the ranks

As of press time, Dizon noted that 12 individuals linked to the flood control mess are now behind bars, with warrants of arrest issued against 15 others. 

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has also received a total of P241 million in cash surrendered by key figures, such as Henry Alcantara (P181 million), Gerard Opulencia (P40 million), and Sally Santos (P20 million).

The Public Works chief moreover cited P20.3 billion in frozen assets, which includes 6,538 bank accounts, 367 insurance policies, 255 motor vehicles, 178 real properties, 16 e-wallet accounts, and three securities accounts, including the recent seizure of vehicles registered to former Ako Bicol partylist Representative Zaldy Co.

Secretary Dizon rounded up his presentation by announcing the names of various officials who were relieved from their posts, citing a ‘clean sweep’ within the ranks of DPWH.

• Regional Directors

Region 1 – Ronnel Tan

Region 4A – Jovel Mendoza

Region 5 – Virgilio Eduarte

Region 7 – Danilo Villa

• Assistant Regional Directors

Region 4B – Neil Farala

Region 5 – Annie Dela Vega

• District Engineers

Metro Manila 3rd DEO – Ruel Umali

South Manila – Manny Bulusan

Also included in the list were La Union 1st DEO OIC Sherylann Gonzales, Iloilo City DEO OIC Roy Pacanan, and Leyte 4th DEO OIC Peter Scheller Soco, who were also axed for failing to meet CSC qualifications standards.

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