Over 100 anomalies revealed in DPWH flood control probe's opening week
By Trixee Rosel
At A Glance
- Over 100 suspected anomalous projects surfaced nationwide in the first week of the DPWH flood control probe.
- DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon said the volume of reports reflects long-standing systemic problems in the agency.
- Dizon described the situation as unprecedented in his years of government service, noting the agency's disorder and overwhelming complaints.
- He stressed that systemic reforms, not piecemeal actions, are needed to address decades of irregularities.
- The investigation has expanded to other DPWH projects, with complaints continuing to accumulate nationwide.
Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vince Dizon (Photo: DPWH)
More than 100 suspected anomalous projects nationwide have emerged just a week after the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) launched its flood control investigation, DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon said on Tuesday, Sept. 9.
Dizon said the volume of reports underscores the agency’s long-standing systemic problems.
“Isang linggo pa lang ang nakalipas since napasabak tayo dito. Mahigit isang daan na ang proyektong nire-report sa akin all over the country. Pero kailangan isa-isahin natin ito (It has only been a week since we started, and more than a hundred projects have already been reported to me across the country, but we need to examine each one carefully),” Dizon said in a televised interview.
The DPWH chief admitted being stunned by the flood of complaints, describing it as the first time in his government service that he had seen an agency in such disorder.
“Sa tagal-tagal ko na sa gobyerno, in and out of the government, ngayon lang ako nakakita ng ahensyang ganito kagulo. Hindi ko maintindihan kung ano ang sistema, ano ang proseso. Talagang napaka-overwhelming (In all my years in government, in and out of agencies, this is the first time I have seen an agency in such chaos. I cannot understand the system or the process. It is truly overwhelming),” he said.
He emphasized that piecemeal solutions would not suffice, noting that the agency’s irregularities have evolved over decades.
“It needs to be systemic change. Hindi ito kaso lang dito, kaso doon, managot dito, magtanggal tayo. Matagalang proseso ito, hindi ito mabilis, hindi ito overnight. Dekada na itong nag-evolve yung sistema dyan. Pero dahan-dahan, kailangan natin ayusin ang sistema (This is not just about isolated cases here and there, punishing this one, removing that one. It is a long-term process, not quick, not overnight. The system has evolved over decades. But gradually, we need to fix the system),” he added.
The flood control investigation has since expanded to cover other DPWH projects, with complaints continuing to accumulate nationwide.