SECRETARIES Vince Dizon and Giovanni Lopez will swap roles in the latest Cabinet reshuffle announced by the Palace Monday, with Dizon returning to the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and Lopez taking over at the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
In a press briefing, Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Secretary Lino Cayetano said the move ordered by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. aims to “accelerate reform” across the two agencies.
“Secretary Dizon moves to the DOTr to fix the daily commute. Secretary Lopez moves to the DPWH to ensure that the reforms there are sustained. All of this is aimed at making government services faster and more accessible for our fellow citizens,” said Cayetano, quoting Marcos.
The rumors that Dizon would return to the DOTr began when it was revealed that he had longstanding ties to Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano—brother of the PCO secretary — who Sen. Panfilo Lacson flagged for billions of pesos in allegedly anomalous infrastructure and flood control projects in Taguig City.
Because Dizon was tasked with investigating infrastructure anomalies, his relationship with Senator Cayetano raised concerns over his impartiality on the issues.
But the PCO secretary said the president’s decision was based entirely on the needs of the agencies, not on politics.
“The president makes decisions based on what is best for the Filipino people — that is the kind of president we have,” he said.
Cayetano noted that Lopez is a “systems builder” who can ensure that reforms made in the agency will last.
“We want to ensure that the approach is comprehensive and long-term. The president believes that Secretary Banoy Lopez — who is both a CPA and a lawyer — is a ‘systems builder’ and the right person for the job,” he said.
He described Dizon as a “disruptor and reformer,” noting that his return to the DOTr will help ease the struggles of commuters.
“His move to the DOTr stems from the president’s belief that we must urgently provide some relief to our fellow citizens regarding their daily commute — focusing on the commuting experience, addressing issues like the long queues at the LTO, and prioritizing critical transportation projects that will benefit the Filipino people,” he added.
When asked if other people were considered to take the helm of the two agencies, Cayetano noted that the two secretaries were among the high-performing Cabinet secretaries under the Marcos administration.
Mixed reaction
Transport groups were divided over Dizon’s return to the DOTr, with Piston opposing his reassignment and Manibela welcoming his return.
Piston President Mody Floranda said Dizon’s return was no cause for celebration, citing the government’s transportation policies.
“There is nothing to celebrate in the return of Vince Dizon to the DOTr,” Floranda said in Filipino.
“Certainly, he was placed there to further push the rotten and trashy World Bank Jeepney Phaseout program, privatization of MRT-3, and other stinking pro-business and anti-foreign government programs,” he added.
Floranda said that the group would oppose Dizon’s return through protests.
“Dizon can expect us to greet his return with intense strikes and protests,” he said.
On the other hand, Manibela Chairman Mar Valbuena welcomed Dizon’s return to the DOTr and thanked Giovanni Lopez.
“We are with you in the good programs of the DOTr, but we will also remain fierce critics of those that are not aligned with the welfare of the nation, especially in transportation,” Valbuena said in Filipino.
Budget process
Sen. JV Ejercito on Monday expressed confidence that leadership changes at the DPWH and the DOTr would not derail the 2027 budget process, saying incoming officials were already familiar with key infrastructure priorities and funding requirements.
Ejercito, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, said he had worked with Dizon and Lopez on their respective agencies’ proposed budgets and had discussed the need to sustain funding for major infrastructure projects, particularly railways, airports and foreign-assisted initiatives.
“Normally, that would be a problem because we are already in the middle of the budget season. But having worked with both Secretary Vince Dizon and Secretary Manuel Lopez, I am quite familiar with both of them,” Ejercito said in an interview.
“Fortunately, as chairman of the Committee on Finance, I handle both the DPWH and the DOTr, and I have been in talks with them on several occasions, mostly about their work,” he added.
Dizon previously served as Transportation secretary before taking over the DPWH, allowing him to work with Ejercito on transportation initiatives.
“Before Secretary Vince Dizon moved to the DPWH, he was already with the DOTr, and we have been pushing for the same things ever since,” Ejercito said.
He identified the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR), the South Commuter Railway, the Metro Manila Subway and airport improvements as among the key projects that need sustained funding.
“Our concern is the railway systems and ensuring that funding for foreign-assisted projects continues without interruption,” Ejercito said.
“These include the NSCR, the South Commuter Railway, the Metro Manila Subway System and airport improvements. These are the projects we have been pushing for and discussing for some time,” he added.
Ejercito said he had discussed similar infrastructure priorities with Lopez and hoped the transition would not disrupt the agencies’ programs.
“We have discussed the same things with Secretary Manoy. Hopefully, things will continue in the same direction,” he said.
“I don’t think it will be a difficult transition because we are already familiar with each other,” he added.
Ejercito also urged Lopez to sustain reforms at the DPWH following controversies involving flood control projects, stressing that those responsible for irregularities must be held accountable and measures must be put in place to prevent a recurrence.
“I hope he will continue the reforms that were started after the flood control issue. The reforms must continue, and those who should be held accountable must answer for their actions so that this will not happen again,” Ejercito said.
He said infrastructure spending should focus on projects that deliver lasting economic benefits and improve public services rather than on construction undertaken merely to justify spending.
“I really want to push for projects that will have a significant impact on the economy and help improve public services,” he said.
