New DPWH chief pledges public trust restoration
OUTGOING Public Works Secretary and returning Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon (left) hands over files on Department of Public Works and Highways officials under investigation to incoming DPWH Secretary Giovanni Lopez during a joint press conference in Manila on Tuesday.
Photograph by Toto Lozano for DAILY TRIBUNE
Newly appointed Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Giovanni Lopez called on agency officials and employees Tuesday to work toward restoring public trust following a Cabinet swap with Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon.
The two officials addressed reporters in a joint press conference shortly after Malacañang announced they were exchanging cabinet portfolios, with Dizon returning to the Department of Transportation (DoTr) and Lopez assuming leadership of the DPWH.
According to Dizon, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. directed both cabinet secretaries to “disrupt the rotten system and make the reforms last.”
“While the reforms are in place, it’s not finished,” Dizon said, acknowledging that corruption challenges persist within the DPWH.
During the briefing, Dizon formally handed over documentation to Lopez regarding agency personnel under investigation for administrative or criminal wrongdoing.
Lopez, a lawyer and certified public accountant who previously served as transportation chief, emphasized that having no prior personal or political ties within the DPWH will allow him to act decisively against official misconduct.
“If you will not follow the proper procedure and the proper process, it will be easy for me to decide,” Lopez warned agency personnel, adding that he will resist political pressure to approve unlawful projects or processes.
Dizon cautioned DPWH employees against expecting a lenient administration under his successor.
“If they think Sec. Lopez is going to be easier or more lenient than me, everyone is in for a big surprise,” Dizon said, describing Lopez as an accountant with a sharp eye for numerical discrepancies and strict adherence to regulations.
Detailing his tenure at the DPWH, Dizon reported that more than 80 employees had been dismissed for cause, with 39 cases filed in court related to anomalies in flood control projects.
He added that over 50 individuals face pending arrest warrants or are currently incarcerated in connection with those cases.
Despite the ongoing anti-corruption campaign, Dizon noted that the agency had promoted 2,671 personnel during his tenure, stressing that corrupt individuals represent a small minority within the public works department.