Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vince Dizon has relieved the district engineer of Camarines Sur’s 1st District Engineering Office following a road crash linked to inadequate safety signage at an ongoing construction site.

In a memorandum dated 5 August, Dizon ordered the removal of Ramon Anselmo Calagos following a 29 July vehicular accident in Barangay Magais, Del Gallego, along Andaya Highway, which left three people injured.

Investigations cited a lack of required traffic safety devices and warning signs at the road repair zone.

Calagos was directed to report to the DPWH-Bicol regional office for reassignment after turning over all official records, pending documents, and agency properties.

Dizon announced the administrative action Thursday during an inspection of the Oplan Kontra Baha Program along Sagop Creek in Naga City alongside Mayor Leni Robredo.

“Effective yesterday, I’ve already replaced the district engineer of the 1st District of Camarines Sur because we need to make our people accountable,” Dizon said. “We already ordered all districts and regions nationwide that we need to be very, very strict with safety standards.”

Dizon added that the agency is investigating the incident further and warned that the project contractor will also face accountability.

“It is the responsibility of the contractor to put up the right safety signs, and we have a strict standard. If that is not followed, life is the price, and really, it’s unacceptable,” Dizon said.

He added that legal charges against involved officials and contractors remain under consideration.

The action aligns with directives from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to sanction negligent DPWH personnel and private contractors.

The stretch of Rolando Andaya Highway has previously seen severe accidents, including a December 2025 passenger bus crash that left six dead and several injured.