By Benjamin Cuaresma
MANILA, Philippines — Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon defended his frequent inspections of infrastructure projects, saying personal intervention remains necessary to force accountability in a department he described as plagued by apathy, corruption and a lack of urgency.
Dizon made the remarks during an infrastructure forum organized by the Economic Journalists Association of the Philippines on Oct. 19, where he spent less than 20 minutes before leaving to attend a meeting in Malacañang.
His brief appearance disappointed business journalists expecting a comprehensive presentation on the Marcos administration’s infrastructure priorities, the status of public works projects and measures addressing the controversial flood-control program.
Instead, Dizon focused on the difficulties of reforming the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), which President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. assigned him to lead after moving him from the Department of Transportation.
The secretary acknowledged criticism that his activities largely consist of inspecting projects and pointing out deficiencies. However, he argued that these visits are essential to overcoming a longstanding workplace culture in which unfinished roads and bridges are tolerated without consequences.
Dizon said engineers and officials often lack a sense of urgency, adding that projects move faster when senior officials demand deadlines, enforce quality standards and keep spending within approved budgets.
He cited instances in which work that could take six months was completed in just 45 days after officials intervened.
The secretary said meaningful reform would require sustained pressure until district engineers and regional directors independently enforce standards without waiting for intervention from the department’s top leadership.
He also acknowledged that changing the DPWH would be difficult because of its more than 70,000 employees and deeply entrenched institutional practices.
Dizon suggested that stronger accountability, including imprisonment for those responsible for corruption, could help change the department’s culture.
On transparency, he said the DPWH had introduced a digital portal allowing the public and media to access project information, bidding documents and contracts. The platform also provides geotagging details to help verify project locations.
The forum had been arranged months in advance, prompting expectations that the DPWH chief would outline the administration’s remaining infrastructure priorities at a time when public investment is considered crucial to economic activity.
While Dizon defended his hands-on approach to reform, his short appearance left business journalists without the broader infrastructure briefing they had expected.
ia/xf
