Newly appointed Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vince Dizon announced that he will dismantle the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Committee, which was created to conduct internal investigations in the agency following the reported anomalies in flood control projects.
The committee, established under Department Order No. 166 signed on August 28, 2025, was tasked to probe graft and corruption allegations involving DPWH officials and employees.
During an interview on DZRH’s Dos Por Dos, Dizon explained that he does not believe an agency should investigate itself.
“‘Yun pong itinayo sa DPWH na internal investigation unit o task force, pasensya na lang po pero ‘yun po ay bubuwagin ko day one, today.”
“Hindi po ako naniniwala na ang isang ahensya ay pwedeng imbestigahan ang kaniyang sarili. Hindi po tama ‘yon,” he added.
Dizon further said his role is to gather documents and information to be submitted to a “true” independent commission under the Office of the President, as earlier announced by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.
According to the new DPWH chief, all those involved in ghost and substandard projects will face immediate suspension and criminal charges.
“Wala na pong pasikot-sikot dito e, pag ghost project, kung ikaw ay kontratista, banned ka, may kaso ka. Kung ikaw ay taga-gobyerno, kasama ka, kasabwat ka sa paggawa o pagbabayad doon sa ghost project, tanggal ka, may kaso ka. There’s no going around that,” he said.
Meanwhile, Dizon assured that innocent DPWH personnel will be protected, emphasizing that many employees remain honest and dedicated.
“Nakausap ko ang ibang DPWH secretary. Sila po nagsabi na marami namang matitino na kawani ng DPWH. Kailangan po natin silang hanapin. Pasensyahan na po sa iba na makikita nating hindi deserving.”
The new DPWH leadership will start reforms by reviewing the top 15 contractors in the country that have handled most of the flood control projects. Dizon said the review will cover not only recent years but decades of questionable practices.
“Hindi po taon ang binibilang natin dito sa ganitong pangyayari. Dekada na po ito, hindi po ito taon. Pero we have to focus. Actually ‘yang 2025, wala pa po iyan at baka binibid pa lang po. Ang kailangan po nating balikan ay mga dati,” Dizon said.
“Napakalaki ng DPWH. Ito po ay top-to-bottom cleansing. Iisa-isahin natin kada region at district. Sisimulan natin sa mga area na lantaran na nakita ng ating Pangulo,” he added.
When asked if flood control projects would continue this year, Dizon stressed that “a real flood control is still needed.”
He clarified that he is not in a position to investigate and imprison officials, but rather to clean up what he called “syndicates” in the agency, saying, “we need to fix the projects that are not doing anything for our countrymen.”
Dizon, who previously served as Secretary of the Department of Transportation (DOTr), replaced former DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan. Giovanni Lopez was appointed Acting DOTr Secretary.
On Monday, Dizon announced sweeping reforms in the agency, starting from the “top to bottom,” with the mandatory courtesy resignations of all its officials.
