Five new undersecretaries of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) have been appointed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon administered the oath-taking of the five new officials on Monday, September 29.
The five new undersecretaries are:
Arrey A. Perez-Undersecretary for Operations in charge of Convergence Projects and Technical Services
Arthur V. Bisnar-Undersecretary for Regional Operations
Charles T. Calima Jr.-Undersecretary for Special Concerns
Ricardo Bernabe III-Undersecretary, Office of the Secretary
Samuel Rufino J. Turgano-Undersecretary for Legal Services
In an interview on Tuesday, Dizon said that he is ‘happy’ now that the new undersecretaries are joining him in the agency. He also said that more appointees will be named in the coming weeks.
When asked why the new DPWH officials are fit for their positions, Dizon said that they are trustworthy.
‘Kilala ko sila. Kailangan trusted. It’s a good mix of technical people, may experience both sa gobyerno and private sector,’ Dizon said.
(I know them. They need to be trusted. It’s a good mix of technical people who have experience both in the government and private sector.)
Dizon noted that he needs lawyers, like Bernabe and Turgano, and investigators like Bisnar.
He also shared that Bisnar is a good friend of Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong and new Independent Commission for Infrastructure Special Advisor Rodolfo Azurin.
In a Senate blue ribbon panel’s hearing last Thursday, former DPWH Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo confessed that he committed ‘wrongdoings’ in anomalous flood control projects. He also vowed to cooperate in the investigation.
Meanwhile, former DPWH Undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral was previously tagged by Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson as the one who allegedly contacted Senate President Vicente ‘Tito’ Sotto to request insertions in the proposed 2026 national budget.
Dizon earlier said that as Cabral denied the allegations to him, he told her to explain herself before the Senate. cb