Newly minted Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vince Dizon on Monday said he will order the courtesy resignation of all DPWH officials, following President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to purge the department amid alleged irregularities in multibillion-peso flood control projects.
Dizon said the move, which he announced hours after he took his oath as DPWH chief, marks the start of a “clean sweep” to restore public trust, ensure transparency, and guarantee that every peso spent in infrastructure truly serves the Filipino people.
“Ang unang-una ko pong order na ilalabas ay ang pag-order ng courtesy resignations top to bottom: usec, asec, division head, regional director, hanggang district engineer ng buong bansa (My first order to be issued is to order courtesy resignations top to bottom: undersecretary, assistant secretary, division head, regional director, up to district engineer for the entire country),” Dizon said in a Palace press briefing.
“Iyan po ang unang-unang direktiba ng ating Pangulo. Nag-usap po kami nang matagal kaninang umaga at ang sabi niya ‘linisin’ ang DPWH at ito po ang simula (That was the very first directive of our President. We talked for a long time this morning and he said to ‘clean up’ the DPWH and this is the beginning).”
The new DPWH chief said he would implement the massive shakeup within 30 to 60 days.
Dizon succeeded Manuel Bonoan, who stepped down under the principle of “command responsibility” after anomalies in flood control projects surfaced.
Previously served as Transportation Secretary and Presidential Adviser on Flagship Programs, Dizon vowed to implement the President’s mandate to restore public trust in the DPWH and ensure infrastructure projects are built with integrity, transparency, and efficiency. (PNA)
