Newly-Appointed DPWH Chief Vince Dizon has 7 Days To ‘Clean’ Agency’s Proposed Budget for 2026
DPWH Chief Vince Dizon and some congressmen agreed that the funding of the flood control projects should be “Science-based”.
The flood control mess in the Philippines has hooked the attention of countless Filipinos. Amid the issue, the Department of Public Works and Highways, more commonly called DPWH, earned heavy criticisms from the public.
Amid the heat of the issue, then-DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan resigned from his position. There were already calls for Bonoan to take a leave or vacate his position amid the probe but he initially refused to saying that he faces problems. Malacañang also assured that Pres. Bongbong Marcos’ trust on the then-DPWH Chief remains.
Following the resignation of Bonoan, he was replaced by former Department of Transportation Secretary and now DPWH Chief Vince Dizon who immediately confirmed that he will order the “courtesy resignation” of all officials of the agency. The order will include all the DPWH undersecretaries, assistant secretaries, division heads, and district engineers nationwide.
Furthermore, the new DPWH Chief also announced the imposition of a “lifetime blacklisting” on the contractors who are behind the ‘ghost’ and substandard projects funded by the government. According to Dizon, there will be no procedure for it anymore.
“Wala na itong prose-proseso, walang imbestigasyon, automatic, blacklisted for life ang contractor na yan. May kaakibat na kasong yan. Lahat ng ating makukuha ay ipapasa natin sa independent commission na itinayo ng ating Pangulo,” Dizon expressed.
However, amid the budget talks now for the 2026 funding of the different government offices and agencies, Pres. Bongbong Marcos ordered the “sweeping review” of the proposed budget of the DPWH. The President’s order came amid the allegations that some items in the National Expenditure Program or NEP are allegedly seeking for budget allocations to fund projects that have already been completed.
DPWH chief Vince Dizon is given 7 days to ‘clean’ the 2026 proposed budget of his agency. Based on a report on ABS-CBN News, at a budget briefing with the House Committee on Appropriations, the DPWH Secretary and some congressmen agreed that the funding of the flood control projects must be “Science-based”.
The agreement came after the lawmakers pointed out that the proposed allocation for flood control projects for next year are allegedly misaligned with the list of the areas that are prone to flood.
“Hindi natin tinatamaan ang binabahang probinsya natin… Sa pinaglalaanan po natin ang pondo ng DPWH… 12 sa mga probinsya wala po dito sa top 20 (flood prone) provinces,” House Minority Leader Marcelino Libanan said.
Based on the report, DPWH Chief Vince Dizon claimed that there is a 2014 study which is a masterplan for the National Capital Regions (NCR) and the 18 river basics across the nation. However, he admitted that he does not think that it is used as basis.
“Kailangan po magbago ito, kailangan po magkaroon na ng basehan at hindi na po arbitrary ang paglalagay ng mga proyekto, lalo na ang mga flood control sa iba’t ibang mga lugar sa Pilipinas,” the new DPWH Chief said.
Reportedly, DPWH Chief Vince Dizon answered in the affirmative on the request of ACT Teachers Party List Representative Antonio Tinio to only propose budget allocations for flood control projects that are part of a long-term master plan based on Science.
Following his appointment to the controversial agency, DPWH Sec. Vince Dizon confirmed that he will abolish the internal investigation committee of the agency amid the flood control issue. According to him, he does not believe that an agency can probe itself.