IN the coming weeks, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is set to implement an unprecedented ‘major reform measure’ that could save the government around P60 billion in the 2026 national budget, Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon said.
In a press conference on Monday, Dizon presented what he called ‘the biggest single piece of reform,’ following the directive of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to suppress corruption in the agency.
‘Today, I’m going to announce the major reform measure that, in my opinion, will be the biggest, or one of the biggest if not, the single biggest piece of reform that we will do in the DPWH [Department of Public Works and Highways],’ Dizon said, referring to the massive discrepancy in the cost of materials in government infrastructure projects against market prices.
The directive to peg DPWH costings to market prices was a firm order from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who began the sweeping reforms in his last State of the Nation Address (Sona) by calling attention to overpriced, substandard and even nonexistent infrastructure projects, mostly in flood control.
The message of the President, Dizon said, was clear: There should be real change, lasting change.
‘Baguhin ang DPWH. At yun ang gagawin natin.Ngayon lang ginawa ito sa DPWH. Dekada na malalaki ang diperensya ng presyo pero kailangan na nating gawin ito. Kapag naibaba na natin ito, mami-minimize na natin ang corruption. Saan napupunta ang pera? Obviously, in all likelihood, napupunta sa pagnanakaw. Gagawin natin ang masinsinan at tunay na pagbabago,’ he said.
[Let’s overhaul the DPWH. That’s what we will do. It’s only being done now. For decades, there have been wide gaps in pricing, and that must change now. If we can bring this down, we can minimize corruption. Where does the money go? Obviously, in all likelihood, to thieves. We will carry out genuine and thorough reforms]
Their initial initial move, he said, is to bring down the cost of construction materials used in government projects, like cement, asphalt, steel, reinforced steel bars, sheet piles, gravel and sand, which are priced higher by as much as 75 percent.
‘I know it’s been decades; I said so in Senate hearings, many DPWH Secretaries have come and gone. So much DPWH budget has come and gone, but the overpriced materials are still there,’ Dizon said, speaking partly in Filipino.
He lamented that no matter the government’s efforts to put those accountable behind bars and return the stolen funds, all these will still be put to waste if the DPWH will not undergo major reform.
‘We won’t stop until those liable are charged. While we are running after the liable parties, and seeking to jail them, we will also run after their assets,’ he repeatedly vowed.
Meanwhile, even if there is a change in administration, the setup started by President Marcos won’t change. ‘I signed this last Thursday, before the [Undas] holiday. Now, this just needs to adjust to market level,’ he said.
To future DPWH secretaries, Dizon has this to say: ‘That can no longer be changed. Shame on those who try to reverse it. If the private sector can build roads with those prices, why can’t the government? What could be the reason? Corruption. We will not sacrifice the quality, but we will curb corruption.’
Dizon also revealed that they are studying thoroughly the potential liabilities of those behind the overpricing.