By Tracy Cabrera
MANILA — Newly installed Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Giovanni “Banoy” Lopez has pledged to continue the agency cleanup initiated by his predecessor, focusing on entrenched corruption and stricter safeguards in infrastructure budgeting and implementation.
Lopez said the department would withhold funding requests for projects without adequate supporting documents, including those inserted into the proposed ₱7.2-trillion national budget for 2027.
The former transportation chief stressed that preventing the release of funds for projects that cannot be implemented is preferable to allowing public money to go to waste.
“Ang mindset ko ngayon, mas maganda na hindi mai-release ang pondo rather than it becomes a wastage of funds kasi hindi mo ma-implement, mag-sasavings na lang siya, babalik sa pera ng bayan” (“My mindset now is that it is better not to release the funds than to waste them on projects that cannot be implemented. The money can instead remain as savings and return to the public coffers”), Lopez said.
The proposed national budget has drawn scrutiny over infrastructure allocations added during House deliberations, with budget watchdogs questioning thousands of projects allegedly lacking the necessary documentation.
Lopez said President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. had directed him to institutionalize the reforms launched by former DPWH chief Vivencio “Vince” Dizon. The two officials exchanged positions, with Dizon now leading the Department of Transportation.
“We have each other’s strengths. At si Secretary Vince po kasi, disruptor iyan. Babaguhin niya talaga iyong bulok na sistema. Ako po kasi I was trained, modesty aside medyo precise, medyo calculated” (“Secretary Vince is a disruptor who will really change the rotten system. As for me, I was trained to be precise and calculated, modesty aside”), Lopez said.
Dizon earlier vowed to make the reforms permanent, particularly in budget preparation, procurement, fund disbursement and project implementation.
Lopez identified weaknesses in these areas as key factors behind past irregularities, including so-called ghost projects that received funding despite having no corresponding work on the ground.
“Sa sobrang galing nga nila, nakapag-disburse sila nang malaki wala namang proyekto kaya nga nagka-ghost project. So iyan iyong mga binago at binabago ni Secretary Vince. At ngayon po ang trabaho ko ay gawin itong permanente” (“They were supposedly so efficient that they disbursed large amounts despite having no actual projects, which led to ghost projects. These are among the practices Secretary Vince has changed and is changing. My job now is to make those reforms permanent”), he said.
Lopez added that budget allocations should be evaluated alongside project details and supporting records, rather than treated as the only basis for determining possible irregularities.
Required documents may include a program of work, feasibility study or master plan, when applicable, and a Certificate of Implementability introduced under Dizon’s leadership.
He also cited the Certificate of No Objection, which helps ensure that local government units are consulted about proposed infrastructure projects.
“Ibig sabihin mayroong tamang pakikipag-ugnayan sa lokal na pamahalaan. Para maalam nila na may proyektong ganoon. Kasi minsan hindi alam ng LGU na may proyekto pala. So these are all supporting documents” (“This means there must be proper coordination with the local government so officials know about the proposed project. Sometimes, the local government unit is unaware that a project is planned. These are all supporting documents”), Lopez said.
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