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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider DPWH mandates merit-based shakeup over flood control anomalies

DPWH mandates merit-based shakeup over flood control anomalies

Published Feb 23, 2026 04:20 pm

At A Glance

  • DPWH mandates merit-based shakeup for regional and district executives.
  • Appointments and promotions now depend on project performance, timeliness, and adherence to technical standards.
  • Pending criminal or administrative cases will be considered in reassignments.
  • Tenure limits set to prevent political influence and conflicts of interest.
  • Move follows scrutiny over billion-peso flood control anomalies.
Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vince B. Dizon (Photo: DPWH)
Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vince B. Dizon (Photo: DPWH)
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has ordered an executive shakeup with merit and project performance as the basis for appointments amid allegations of billion-peso flood control anomalies.
DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon said proper project completion, timely maintenance, and adherence to technical standards will now determine promotions and appointments.
Department Order No. 18, Series of 2026, requires regional directors (RDs), assistant regional directors (ARDs), district engineers (DEs), and assistant district engineers (ADEs) to be evaluated on technical performance and project planning.
Officials will also be assessed on safeguard compliance as well as financial and procurement management.
Reassignments must take into consideration whether employees have pending criminal or administrative cases, the DPWH said.
Tenure limits—five years for RDs and ARDs, and three years for DEs and ADEs—are designed to prevent political influence and conflicts of interest, the agency noted.
The policy follows public scrutiny over flood control projects that implicated former DPWH Bulacan 1st DE Henry Alcantara and ADE Brice Hernandez.
Alcantara is now under the Department of Justice’s Witness Protection Program after returning P316.3 million and submitting evidence.
Other officials face plunder complaints, highlighting the department’s push to restore public trust and strengthen governance, the DPWH said.

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