Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vivencio “Vince” B. Dizon announced a major internal reform program on Monday during their flag ceremony, focusing on filling nearly 2,000 vacant positions, ensuring timely employee salaries, and reviving a cadet engineering program to inject “fresh blood” into the department.
In a speech to DPWH personnel, Sec. Dizon emphasized that the reforms would be judged by action, not words, and pledged to hold himself and the department accountable for delivering results with “integrity and honesty.”
The Secretary outlined three immediate concrete actions:
- Filling 2,000 Vacancies: Dizon announced that 1,993 vacant positions across the country, primarily engineering roles from Engineer II to Engineer V, will be prioritized for existing DPWH employees. He stated that deserving, honest, and hardworking personnel, including long-serving job order employees, will be the first in line for these permanent, plantilla positions. He instructed officials to release guidelines for the application and promotion system promptly.
- Timely Salary Payment: Addressing complaints of delayed wages, particularly for job orders, Dizon issued a strict directive that all salaries must be paid within seven days of the cut-off period. “It can be earlier, but it cannot exceed seven days,” he stated, adding that he would personally monitor compliance through the Office of the Secretary.
- Revival of Cadet Engineering Program: To cultivate new talent, Dizon declared the revival of the Cadet Engineering Program, initially launched in 2013. As a testament to the program’s success, he immediately appointed its alumna, 36-year-old Lara Marisse I. Esquibil, as the Officer-in-Charge (OIC) Undersecretary for Technical Services, NBCDO and External Convergence Projects. Esquivel, previously the head of the Bureau of Design, was praised by Dizon as a “young, dynamic, and professional” leader who exemplifies that hard work and integrity will be rewarded.
Esquibil replaces former Undersecretary Arrey A. Perez, who resigned on Friday after being named by Batangas 1st District Representative Leandro Leviste as one of the DPWH officials allegedly involved with contractors.
Dizon’s announcements came amidst a call for “deep and broad changes” within the DPWH. He acknowledged the department’s critical role in national development and disaster response, citing a recent landslide in Bukidnon that claimed two lives.
He stressed that while the agency must continue its work, it cannot set aside the need for internal reform. “We will judge not because of what we say, but because of what we do. Our actions will judge us, not our words,” Dizon told the audience.
The Secretary framed the appointment of OIC Usec. Esquibil as a move towards a merit-based system, signaling a departure from traditional patronage. He admitted that systemic corruption cannot be solved by appointing one honest official alone but requires comprehensive systemic reforms, which he promised to roll out in the coming weeks and months.
The reforms were finalized during a strategic planning session with former DPWH secretaries. Dizon also confirmed that 20 show-cause orders have been issued related to ongoing internal investigations, with more expected. He reiterated a zero-tolerance stance towards corruption, warning that employees involved in malfeasance would be jailed.
Secretary Dizon concluded by assuring staff of his weekly presence to personally oversee the implementation of these reforms, stating, “Let’s work properly… and most importantly, let’s work together.”#
