Newly appointed Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vince Dizon revealed on Monday, Sept. 1, that he would issue a memorandum that will seek the submission of courtesy resignation of all ranking officials of the department amid allegations of anomalies in flood control projects.

In a Palace briefing, Dizon said the directive would cover undersecretaries, assistant secretaries, division heads, regional directors, and district engineers.

Replacements are expected to be completed within 30 to 60 days to ensure uninterrupted operations.

He cited a non-existent flood-control project in Bulacan that was paid in full as the impetus for the planned action, saying erring officials would be removed and prosecuted.

“Papaano po nabayaran ang isang proyekto na wala naman talaga? Mayroon pong tao sa DPWH na nagpabayad doon. Ang utos ng ating Pangulo, hanapin iyong mga iyon at tanggalin sa puwesto at kasuhan (How was a project that didn’t even exist paid in full? There were people in the DPWH who authorized the payment. The President’s order is to find them, remove them from their positions, and file charges),” Dizon said.

Dizon emphasized that only competent and honest staff would be retained after a personnel review, emphasizing the need to place skilled employees in sensitive and critical posts.

“Maraming mabubuti at magagaling na kawani ang DPWH. Ang utos ng ating Pangulo, hanapin sila at sila ang ilagay sa mga sensitibo at importanteng posisyon,” he said (There are many capable and excellent employees in the DPWH. The President’s order is to identify them and place them in sensitive and critical positions),” he added.

Alongside the planned shake-up, Dizon said he would impose a “lifetime blacklisting” on contractors linked to ghost or substandard projects, extending to company owners and responsible individuals, with automatic action triggered by prima facie evidence.

“There will be no processing, no investigation—any contractor involved will be automatically blacklisted for life. A corresponding case will also be filed,” Dizon said.

He noted that all evidence gathered by the department would be submitted to the independent commission established by Marcos to investigate anomalous projects and pursue cases against erring officials, contractors, and other responsible individuals.

Dizon cited the “Isumbong sa Pangulo” platform, which has received thousands of complaints, as a key source for identifying ghost projects, and said DPWH procedures would be revised to disqualify flagged contractors immediately.

He added that the department would coordinate with the Department of Trade and Industry, the Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board (PCAB), the MMDA, local governments, and the private sector—including San Miguel Corporation—on long-term flood-mitigation projects.

“This is just the beginning,” Dizon said. “We need to fix this. I cannot accept—and neither can the President—that we just watch on TV while our fellow Filipinos continue to suffer every day. It is unacceptable.”