Policy
Fresh Start? New Chief Vince Dizon Tells DPWH Officials to Submit Courtesy Resignations
He steps in with a long to-do list on the flood control controversy.
Published on Sep 1, 2025
(SPOT.ph) Just seven months
after being appointed Secretary of the Department of Transportation (DOTr),
the Palace has reassigned Vince Dizon to lead the Department of Public Works and
Highways (DPWH).
It’s no secret that the DPWH has been under intense scrutiny in recent months, with a Senate Blue Ribbon Committee inquiry now looking into reports of overpriced, substandard, even nonexistent flood control projects. It was against this backdrop that Dizon officially took over as department chief on September 1 after President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.
accepted the resignation of Manuel “Manny” Bonoan.
Dizon has been tasked to conduct “a full organizational sweep of the Department and ensure that public funds are used solely for infrastructure that truly protects and benefits the Filipino people.”
This is why, on his first day, he ordered the courtesy resignation of all DPWH officials from top to bottom.
“Hindi magkakaroon ng mga ganitong klaseng proyekto kung walang kakuntsaba sa loob ng DPWH," Dizon said in a press briefing. “Aking i-execute immediately sa susunod na araw. Unang-una po, ang unang-una ko pong order na ipalalabas ay ang pag-order ng courtesy resignations top to bottom, Usec, Asec, division head, regional director, hanggang district engineer ng buong bansa. Ito ang unang-una po na order na gusto ipalabas ng ating Pangulo."
A new body called the Independent Commission to Investigate Flood Control Anomalies has also been established by Marcos for this purpose.
Why Vince Dizon for DPWH?
Marcos said the choice to tap Dizon was based on the latter's track record.
“He’s done a very good job sa
DOTr. I think he’s already set the stage for all of the things that we need to
do. So, puwede na niyang iwanan. He’s also familiar with the workings of the
Department of Public Works and Highways,” Marcos said.
The new chief has long been involved in major infrastructure projects, even before his short stint at the DOTr. Under the Duterte administration, he served as Presidential Adviser for Flagship Programs and Projects and as president of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA), where he oversaw the construction of New Clark City and other Build, Build, Build initiatives. He also held pandemic-era roles as Deputy Chief Implementer of the National Task Force Against COVID-19.
During his time at the DOTr, Dizon's leadership was marked by hands-on responses to commuter woes. He extended MRT-3 train hours, fixed broken elevators and missing signage on the EDSA Busway, cleared right-of-way issues for the Metro Manila Subway, and pushed the privatization of 10 regional airports, including Iloilo, Davao, and Siargao.
With Dizon moving to DPWH, Marcos
has appointed Giovanni Lopez, Undersecretary for Administration, Finance, and
Procurement, as the Acting Secretary of DOTr. Lopez has held senior
positions in critical railway, aviation, and maritime infrastructure
projects, but taking over from Dizon at a time when transport reforms were just gaining momentum means he has big shoes to fill.
Also read: Why Claudine Co’s Name Is All Over Your Feed
Micah believes that writing is always political. Beyond the byline, you’ll find her bruising herself in a pole studio or napping with her beagle. Reach her at micah@spot.ph.
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