MANILA, Philippines — Public Works Secretary Giovanni Lopez on Thursday pledged to cement anti-corruption reforms by institutionalizing them and restoring public confidence in the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
Lopez, at his first briefing with key agency officials, cited his goal was to make the reforms, pushed by his predecessor and now Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Vince Dizon, permanent at DPWH “no matter who heads the department or sits in Malacañang.”
Reiterating that the reforms were actually initiated by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and carried forward by the ex-DPWH chief, Lopez stressed that it would take “strong political will” to implement reforms at the public works department.
He vowed to focus on the systems and cultural changes, being the two vital elements needed to make the reforms stick. The first entails preserving and institutionalizing the systems Dizon had introduced; the second requires a shift in how government officials and even employees carry out their duties.
For Lopez, cultural change means transforming the mindset, daily habits and sense of accountability of the department's rank-and-file employees and officials—not merely its top leadership.
Combined with the systems change, Lopez emphasized that cultural change would ensure that habits of anti-corruption and transparency outlast any single administration.
Urging the entire DPWH officials and employees to strictly follow proper procedures, the ex-DOTr chief believed that the agency must carry forward reforms in transparency, accountability and employee promotions.
After all, he said, rebuilding public trust will take the whole of government—not just officials or individual workers.
The reform programs must encompass the entire project cycle from budget preparation and procurement up to the implementation, Lopez said.
The transition at DPWH came on the heels of a clean-up campaign targeting ghost projects and kickbacks, requiring employees and officials as well as contractors to embrace a zero-tolerance stance against impunity and corruption.
Dizon, on Tuesday’s joint press conference with Lopez, turned over several documents that appeared to be involving more erring agency officials and personnel.
Dizon also revealed during the same media briefing that over 80 DPWH personnel were removed from their positions while 29 contractors were either blacklisted or suspended under his watch since he assumed the post more than a year ago.
