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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Brian Poe points out DPWH's institutional lapses, but cuts newbie Dizon some slack

Brian Poe points out DPWH's institutional lapses, but cuts newbie Dizon some slack

Published Sep 18, 2025 10:03 pm

At A Glance

  • FPJ Panday Bayanihan Party-list Rep. Brian Poe underscored the long-standing "institutional lapses" in the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) even as he hailed newly-installed Secretary Vince Dizon's efforts to correct the situation.
DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon (left), FPJ Panday Bayanihan Party-list Rep. Brian Poe (Contributed photos)
DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon (left), FPJ Panday Bayanihan Party-list Rep. Brian Poe (Contributed photos)


FPJ Panday Bayanihan Party-list Rep. Brian Poe underscored the long-standing "institutional lapses" in the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) even as he hailed newly-installed Secretary Vince Dizon's efforts to correct the situation.
Poe, a vice chairman of the Committee on Appropriations, interpellated Dizon during the DPWH's 11-hour budget hearing with the panel on Wednesday, Sept. 17.
There, the neophyte solon brought up the years of flawed implementation and accountability within the agency.
Poe cited the DPWH’s own report that hundreds of projects from 2017 to 2024 have been flagged for deficiencies ranging from incomplete plans, poor design, and substandard materials. Many of these projects, the DPWH admitted, are now on hold pending review and corrective action.
“These projects cut across several administrations and multiple Congresses. Kaya hindi natin puwedeng sabihing problema lang ito ng isang taon o isang kalihim (That’s why we can’t say this is just a problem of one year or one secretary),” Poe said.
Dizon, who was appointed as DPWH secretary only last Sept. 2 , echoed the concern and vowed that practices such as awarding projects without approved engineering designs will be stopped.
“Ngayon lang po ako nakakita ng proyekto na naa-awardan na wala man lang plano (This is the first time I’ve seen a project being awarded without even having a plan),” said Dizon, who calling such anomalies unacceptable.
Poe also drew attention to DPWH’s unobligated balance for fiscal year 2025 amounting to ₱392.3 billion with only 22 percent having been disbursed so far this year. This, he said, makes it premature to judge the budget’s performance.
“This year’s budget will be one of the most closely monitored in history. Pero hindi pa natin puwedeng husgahan kasi barely a quarter pa lang ang na-disburse (But we can’t judge it yet because barely a quarter has been disbursed),” he explained.
He further reminded the agency that ₱56.7 billion in unobligated funds from 2024 remain available and must be maximized for proper implementation.
“Yung budget mula sa nakaraang Kongreso, dapat gamitin para ayusin ang mga proyekto at hindi na maulit ang mga pagkukulang (The budget from the previous Congress should be used to fix the projects and prevent the same shortcomings from happening again),” Poe emphasized.
The party-list solon from Pangasinan concluded by stressing that only a mix of accountability and data-driven planning will prevent fund wastage and deliver true protection to communities.
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