By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet
“Panagutin ang dapat managot, ibalik ang pera [ng taumbayan], at repormahin ang DPWH.”
Cognizant with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s instruction to thoroughly ‘cleanse’ the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon shared the progress made by the agency as part of the administration’s ongoing probe into ‘ghost’ and anomalous flood control projects.
In a press conference on Thursday, Dizon introduced his presentation by telling the media that the figures in the slides are subject to change over the succeeding months.
The Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI), DPWH, and Department of Justice (DOJ) have recommended filing charges against 87 individuals tagged in the flood control mess, with notable figures including former House Speaker Martin Romualdez, former Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan, and former Representative Elizaldy Co cited in the list.
Cases have also been filed in local courts against 23 individuals, composed of DPWH officials and contractors.
Nine suspects have already been detained, while seven remain at large, including the former top brass of Ako-Bicol partylist that remains in hiding as of press time. Earlier, President Marcos ordered the cancellation of his passport to aid in efforts to locate and arrest the fugitive.
Moreover, 90 individuals from DPWH are now dismissed, suspended, or facing administrative cases after being tagged in the flood control mess.
Returning misused public funds to the government
Dizon went on with the presentation by noting significant progress on ensuring financial liabilities are held under control to prevent further misuse.
This includes P13 billion worth of frozen assets tallied by the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) and the DOJ as of press time, which includes:
- 4,679 bank accounts
- 283 insurance policies
- 8 air assets
- 255 motor vehicles
- 178 real estate properties
- 16 e-wallet accounts
- 3 securities account
The Public Works chief also cited the P150 million (P110 million from Henry Alcantara and P40 million from Gerard Opulencia) returned by some key figures involved in this pressing national concern.
He also lauded the P48 million acquired by the government in the auction of five luxury cars owned by the Discaya couple, as well as the agency’s collaboration with the Insurance Commission, Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) and AMLC to sustain its quest to ensure accountability and transparency in the flood control investigation.
Sweeping reforms, further initiatives
After outlining these worrying figures showcasing the current progress in the government-wide anti-corruption campaign, Dizon tackled the reforms he instituted in the agency three months into his tenure as the DPWH top brass.
These include the DPWH Transparency Portal launched in November, and the formulation of a Construction Materials Price Database (CMPD), outlining reduced costs in key building materials without compromising on quality.
He also shared the commencement of President Marcos Jr.’s Oplan Kontra Baha that initially launched in Metro Manila, Cebu, and Bacolod, and is set to premiere in the following areas next year, among others:
- Roxas City
- Bulacan
- Pampanga
- Cavite
- Laguna
- Pangasinan
- Cotabato
- Cagayan de Oro
The Public Works czar moreover announced a massive recruitment campaign that the agency will conduct in universities and colleges in January, hosting job fairs across the country to help fill the approximately 2,000 job vacancies at the DPWH.
He wrapped up his presentation by sharing the government’s progress on post-disaster repairs conducted by the agency’s regional offices in the wake of various calamities that shook the country in 2025.
Dizon noted the resumption of Bogo Hospital’s operation and the completion of tent cities in the municipalities of Bogo, Medellin, San Remegio, and Daanbantayan a month after northern Cebu was rocked by a magnitude 6.9 earthquake in October.
He also noted repairs done to schools affected by the onslaught of Typhoon Opong in Masbate, as well as the completion of the Piggatan detour bridge that will open on Friday, and the completion of San Juanico Bridge’s months-long rehabilitation.
Dizon said of the agency’s various initiatives and reforms, “Kung uunahin ang trabaho at hindi ‘yong mga kalokohan, hindi lang mabilis ang trabaho kundi maayos pa ang trabaho—at tama ang cost at presyo ng trabaho.”
He concluded in his remarks, “Our priority now is to be able to replicate yung mga nagawa namin, nung mga bagyo, nung mga lindol, na pwede naman palang gumawa nang mabilis at maayos na proyekto ang DPWH. Yun ang aming magiging mantra next year at sa mga susunod pang taon.”
jpv
