How Will Vince Dizon Fare as the New DPWH Chief?
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is getting a new look and leader. President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos, Jr. has tapped Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon to take over the agency amid the agency's dubious handling of flood control funds.
On a rainy Sunday, Malacañang announced that Bonoan resigned from his post as he supported the President's call for accountability, transparency, and reform within the Public Works department amid the existence of supposed "ghost projects" meant for flood control efforts.
"Secretary 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," the Palace said, quoting the President's directive.
Department of Transportation Undersecretary for Administration, Finance, and Procurement Giovanni Lopez will temporarily take over the Transportation portfolio to ensure the uninterrupted delivery of services. He had previously served as chief of staff in the Office of the Secretary from 2020 to 2022 and was in charge of overseeing critical railway, aviation, and, maritime infrastructure projects.
"As Acting Secretary, Atty. Lopez will ensure continuity and build upon the gains initiated under Secretary Dizon’s leadership—particularly in advancing transport modernization and supporting initiatives that prioritize commuter safety, efficiency, and seamless project delivery," the Presidential Communications Office added.
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The President did not stop at switching around Cabinet members, as he also established an independent commission to probe flood control anomalies. The body will investigate irregularities via comprehensive reviews that would lead to actionable recommendations to ensure public trust in infrastructure spending.
Marcos earlier ordered a lifestyle check on all officials as his administration continued its campaign to go after those behind anomalous flood control projects, and corruption within the DPWH's ranks.
During his fourth State of the Nation Address last month, the President said he was going to crack down on corruption linked to stalled flood control projects as Filipinos continue to suffer from severe flooding.
Based on a government review of flood control projects in the past three years, only about 20 percent of these projects, worth about P100 billion, were awarded to only 15 out of 2,409 contractors for both local and national projects.
“Mahiya naman kayo (Have some shame),” he said, addressing officials using these flood control funds for perosnal gain.
The government has spent a whopping P545 billion in public funds on 9,855 flood control between July 2022 and May 2025.
According to the government's probe, more than 6,021 of these projects that cost about P350 billion did not specify what type of flood control apparatus or structure needed to be built.
The Marcos administration's audit was brought about by the perrenial issue of terrible flooding in various parts of the country from torrential downpour during typhoons and heavy rains, a resolution that has elluded the Philippine government.
Dizon's challenge
Marcos in February tapped Dizon, who had been the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) CEO, to take the helm of the DoTR to oversee big-ticket flagship projects such as the construction of the Metro Rail Transit Line 7 (MRT-7), North-South Commuter Railway, and Mindanao Railway Project.
"While Dizon has proven to be an effective implementer, corruption permeates in all branches and systems in the government," Leonard Lanzona, who teaches economics at the Ateneo de Manila University, told Esquire Philippines in an interview. Cleansing the ranks of the DPWH and boosting project implementation depends on the agency being able to get rid of corrupt administrators, and does not necessarily depend on the Secretary, he added.
"All of these shenanigans can then go beyond the purview of the Secretary," Lanzona said. "In effect, replacing the secretary can just be a band-aid solution to a more systemic problem. The economics professor also noted that irregularities can merely be shifted to other agencies and local government units.
"Reforms must be enforced in all institutions, not just DPWH," he said
Hansley Juliano, who teaches political science also at the Ateneo, said that Dizon will likely be in the firing line from state detractors if immediate results are not seen as he takes the helm.
"Dizon's reputation is built on fast action and this one requires immediate tangible results (if not necessarily metaphorical heads rolling)," he said in a Facebook Messenger chat. "I am inclined to think he may be a bit more forward-looking to simply provide mere band-aid solutions, but the systemic rot and dramatic fallout we saw from Saturday's flooding provide greater urgency in his role."
Marcos had ordered the DPWH to revisit these flood control projects that have failed the Filipno people time and time again because of the widespread corruption in infrastructure spending and monstrous delays in their implementation.
After consecutive typhoons submerged many parts of the country last year, Marcos called out graft-ridden projects and warned those responsible that they may face criminal charges if found guilty.
Then-DPWH Secretary Bonoan had told Philippine lawmakers that Metro Manila doesn’t have a drainage master plan
In Quezon City alone last August 30, 36 out of 142 barangays or villages suffered from massive flooding that many said was reminiscent of Typhoon Ondoy (2009), one of the worst storms to hit the country in decades.
“Intense floods were experienced in some areas in Quezon City...especially in Districts 1, 3, and 4, which resulted in inconvenience to the public,” according to the Quezon City government.
The nepo-baby witch hunt
On social media, so-called "nepo-babies" or children or members of political famlies and private contractors caught the public ire for flaunting their living ultra-lavish and ultra-luxurious lifestyles on Instagram as many Filipinos suffer from deep flooding and severe housing damage.
Many of these ostentatious and jet-setting lifestyles of these so called nepo-babies were scrutinized after the public disclosure of private contractors who bagged the largest flood control projets.
A lot of social media users got creative as they made collages of the outrageous prices of the designer clothing and luxury brands probably paid using tax payer money.
A daugther of a contractor with a sizeable following on Instagram was spotted sporting an outfit that netizens said cost an astonishing P688,170. To put that into context, a minimum wage worker in the country's capital regoin would need about 31 months to earn that kind of money.
These social media users, who were known family members of high-profile politicans and contractor, also posted vlogs of their countless shopping sprees abroad, which led to public outrage online.
