DPWH Secretary Stands Firm on Integrity
Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Manuel Bonoan emphasized that “there are more decent people” within the agency than rogue personnel causing recent controversies. He called for collective cooperation to address issues stemming from the actions of a few involved employees.
“We all want to solve this problem that only arose through the actions of a few involved or rogue personnel. That’s why we are calling on everyone to cooperate,” Bonoan said in a video message shared on the DPWH’s social media platforms. He proudly reiterated in Filipino, “I proudly say to all of you: there are more decent and hard-working people in the DPWH.” The four-word keyphrase flood control projects is central to the ongoing investigation and public discourse surrounding the agency.
Allegations and Preventive Measures
These statements come amid reports of alleged ghost projects linked to the Bulacan 1st District Engineering Office and the arrest of the Batangas 1st District Engineering Office chief. The latter was reportedly caught attempting to bribe a congressman to halt an investigation into irregularities involving flood control projects in Batangas.
Officials reported that several personnel from the Bulacan 1st District Engineering Office have been preventively suspended. Meanwhile, the Batangas office chief was suspended, and his executive officers were reassigned to the Calabarzon regional office as part of ongoing efforts to maintain accountability.
Ongoing Validation of Flood Control Projects
Secretary Bonoan further explained that the DPWH is actively validating the status of flood control projects across multiple regions. “We are continuously validating whether the flood control projects are still there in Bulacan and other provinces in Region 3, Region 4B, Region 6, 7 and 8 from the list we submitted to the President about flood control projects from July 2022 to May 2025,” he said.
Community members and local leaders noted that this validation process is crucial given the widespread flooding experienced recently due to the southwest monsoon and multiple tropical cyclones.
Calls for Resignation and Secretary’s Resolve
Several groups and public officials have urged Secretary Bonoan to step down amid the government’s intensified crackdown on corruption related to flood control projects. However, he has firmly declined to resign. In his latest message, he stated, “That’s the easy thing to do, to resign or turn my back on the problem. But, leaving or avoiding the responsibility is not the right way to find a solution.”
He added in Filipino, “For me, I will accept the accountability, but remember: I will not tolerate or allow any form of corruption that is happening.” His resolve underscores a commitment to transparency and reform within the DPWH.
Encouraging Public Reporting of Anomalies
Secretary Bonoan urged the public to assist in rooting out corruption by reporting any anomalies in infrastructure projects. He pointed to the DPWH’s hotline 165-02 and their official email as channels for submitting concerns.
Officials noted that the government’s crackdown on corruption in flood control projects began following President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive during his fourth State of the Nation Address last July. This move was prompted by the severe flooding that affected many provinces due to the combined impact of the southwest monsoon and successive tropical cyclones.
For more news and updates on flood control projects, visit Filipinokami.com.
