MANILA (October 21) — Two former heads of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) have expressed full support for the agency’s intensified efforts to weed out irregularities and strengthen governance, as flood control project controversies continue to put the department under scrutiny.
Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon said he welcomed former secretaries Jose de Jesus and Rogelio Singson to the DPWH strategic planning session in Clark over the weekend. The two veteran officials are lending their expertise to help craft internal reforms aimed at tightening accountability within the department.
“The contribution of Mr. De Jesus and Mr. Singson is very important because of their wisdom and experience as former DPWH secretaries,” Dizon said. “We need to learn from proven strategies to restore the credibility of the institution.”
The planning session is part of a broader reform push in response to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to cleanse the department’s ranks, improve oversight, and rebuild public confidence. Among the key priorities are stricter procurement protocols, improved project monitoring, and better internal control systems to close loopholes that enable corruption.
De Jesus, who served as secretary from 1990 to 1993 under President Corazon Aquino, and Singson, who led the agency from 2010 to 2016 under President Benigno Aquino III, are seen as figures with institutional memory and proven track records in pushing for transparency and operational discipline.
Singson currently sits as a member of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI), which is investigating anomalies in flood control projects. His involvement signals a coordinated effort to align internal reforms with the ICI’s fact-finding work.
Dizon underscored that rebuilding DPWH’s integrity requires more than rhetoric. “This is about changing systems, enforcing accountability, and making sure that every project reflects honest and effective public service,” he said.
