DPWH Charter Law Ignorance Highlights Agency Issues
Antipolo City 2nd District Representative Romeo Acop highlighted the serious implications of a top Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) official’s unfamiliarity with the agency’s founding law. This ignorance, he said, reveals the magnitude of problems plaguing the agency’s operations and oversight.
During the initial hearing of the House infrastructure committee, Acop questioned Public Works Undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral about how the DPWH overlooked ghost flood control projects. He pointed out that adherence to the Executive Order No. 124, signed in 1987, should have prevented such lapses.
Executive Order No. 124: The DPWH Charter
EO No. 124, issued during former President Corazon Aquino’s administration, reorganized the Marcos-era Ministry of Public Works and Highways into the current DPWH. Acop pressed Cabral on her awareness of this critical order, emphasizing its role as the agency’s charter.
When Cabral admitted she did not know the EO number, Acop expressed concern over the undersecretary’s lack of familiarity with the agency’s foundational law. “Madam Undersecretary, Executive Order No. 124, reorganized the Ministry of Public Works and Highways into what we now know as DPWH. That’s your charter, but you do not even know it,” he said.
Cabral apologized for her unfamiliarity, but Acop suggested this ignorance could be why the department is in disarray. “Maybe that’s the reason why we are in a disarray because you do not even know your own charter,” he remarked.
Concerns Over Bureau Leadership and Accountability
Acop further tested Cabral’s knowledge of the DPWH’s internal structure, confirming she could identify the bureaus under the agency: Construction, Design, Maintenance, Equipment, and Research and Standards. However, he expressed frustration over the absence of bureau chiefs at the hearing.
He lamented that their presence could have clarified misconceptions about the role of lawmakers in infrastructure projects, especially regarding accusations of misuse of public funds. Instead, Acop pointed the finger at the DPWH and its contractors for the problems.
“I pity us, my fellow legislators, because there are claims on social media that legislators plus DPWH would be equal to projects,” Acop said. “And I would beg to disagree with that Madam Undersecretary. Maybe contractors plus DPWH would be equivalent to projects,” he added.
Warnings of Contempt Amid Budget Disputes
During the hearing, Acop warned Undersecretary Cabral and DPWH Region IV-A Regional Director Jovel Mendoza that they could be cited for contempt. This came after Cabral insisted that the agency did not alter the budget submitted by Antipolo’s District Engineering Office (DEO), claiming the DPWH relies solely on regional offices for budget proposals.
Acop, growing frustrated, questioned Mendoza, who also confirmed that the DEO’s budget proposals were not changed. This exchange underscored tensions over budget handling and accountability within the DPWH.
Budget Concerns Spark Calls for Investigation
Last Friday, Deputy Speaker Ronaldo Puno, also representing Antipolo, raised alarm over the 2026 national budget submitted by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM). He noted that the budget included allocations for projects already completed, raising questions about the accuracy and management of funds.
Puno cited Marikina 1st District Representative Marcelino Teodoro, who reportedly intended to return funds for completed projects. This prompted Puno to review his own district’s budget, discovering that projects listed by the DPWH district and regional engineering offices were missing from the National Expenditure Program.
In response, Puno filed House Resolution No. 201, urging an investigation into the sponsors behind the alleged “ghost” flood control projects in the 2025 national budget.
For more news and updates on DPWH charter law, visit Filipinokami.com.
