The Commission on Appointments on Tuesday approved at the committee level the ad interim appointment of Manuel Bonoan as Secretary of the Department of Public Works and Highways.

Bonoan, then president and chief executive officer of SMC Tollways, was appointed by President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. last May, assuming the position on 30 June.

In his introductory message before members of the CA, Bonoan said that he will commit and support the current administration's flagship infrastructure program "Build, Better, More"

"Given a second chance to serve the Department of Public Works and Highways, I am well aware that the job is enormous, especially in these challenging times. I recognize that the DPWH is one of the key agencies that stimulate economic progress and relaunch our country out of the effects of the pandemic," Bonoan said.

Senate President and CA chairman Juan Miguel Zubiri expressed optimism in Bonoan's leadership as chief of the DPWH, calling his selection a "return of the comeback."

"I don't think we have any objections to this gentleman here, who served the DPWH with flying colors for many years," Zubiri said.

When asked about his flagship projects for the current administration, Bonoan said that he'll be looking into revisiting of the country's national road systems to provide ease of transportation for motorists:

"A study prepared by the (Japan International Cooperation Agency) indicated that the Philippines would lose about P3.5 billion if we did not address traffic congestion in our national highways, and these are some of the priority areas that we're looking into," Bonoan said.

Bid disruptions

Members of the CA also raised certain issues to Bonoan, including Camarines Sur 2nd District Representative Luis Raymund "LRay" Villafuerte who pointed out disruptions in the bidding process including nine construction firms and a certain "Carlos Batalla" who he accused of extorting money for contractors.

Sen. Cynthia Villar also suggested Bonoan and the DPWH address right-of-way issues, which she said are hampering the progress of government infrastructure projects, including the Cavite-Laguna Expressway:

"I hope the DPWH would realize that if you don't interfere in the right-of-way problem, then our infrastructure problems would be delayed," Villar said.