DAVAO CITY – Davao City second district Rep. Omar Vincent Duterte denounced on Thursday night, Sept. 4, the persistent corruption within the Department of Public Works and Highways and called on all contractors to become partners in reform.
REP. Omar Duterte (FB)
Duterte made the call before members of the Philippine Constructors Association and the Davao Constructors Association Center Inc. at the Construction Industry Fellowship Night at the Davao Convention and Trade Center.
The lawmaker described corruption in the DPWH as a persistent issue that continually reappears in the national budget.
He cited cases of overpriced, poorly built, and even non-existent infrastructure projects, warning that such practices ultimately harm the public through unsafe bridges, unfinished flyovers, and unfulfilled flood control measures.
“It’s the citizens who end up paying the price,” Duterte said, stressing that corruption drains public safety and development resources.
Duterte urged contractors and builders to report irregularities and reject substandard work, saying integrity must prevail over fear of losing contracts. “It is far worse to lose credibility and respect.”
The grandson of former President Rodrigo Duterte underscored the need for cooperation between government and contractors to end entrenched irregularities in the construction sector.
He appealed to contractors to take pride in the structures they build and ensuring these projects are free from corruption.
Rep. Duterte challenged industry leaders to help change the perception of the DPWH.
“If you continue working with integrity, and the government sustains efforts for transparency and accountability, perhaps future generations will no longer joke about DPWH as the ‘Department of Public Works and Ha? Wala?” he said.
Hundreds of engineers, contractors, and builders across the region gathered to strengthen ties and reaffirm commitment to ethical construction practices.