The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is holding university job fairs to recruit fresh graduates and graduating students as part of a nationwide drive to reform the agency and restore public trust amid allegations of corruption in flood control projects.

DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon said the initiative, launched in January, is focused on hiring engineers, architects, and accountants to bring in new talent and revamp an agency long plagued by misconduct.

“Kailangan repormahin na ang ahensya kasi dekada na ’yan eh. Ilang taon na ’yang binibilang nating kalokohan (The agency needs reform because these issues have persisted for decades. We’ve been tracking years of wrongdoing),” Dizon said.

The recruitment campaign has visited schools including Mapua University, which attracted up to 700 applicants, and De La Salle University.

It also visited Batangas State University and the Polytechnic University of the Philippines, drawing around 500 applicants in each school.

Despite the DPWH’s damaged reputation, Dizon praised the patriotism and willingness of young Filipinos to serve.

“Nakakatuwa naman po na sa kawalan ng tiwala sa DPWH, ‘yung sense of patriotism at sense of gusto mag-participate ng mga kabataan ngayon ay nandiyan pa rin kahit napakasama na ng reputasyon at halos walang tiwala sa DPWH. Gusto pa rin tumulong ng mga kabataan (It is heartening that, despite the lack of trust in DPWH, the sense of patriotism and willingness to participate among the youth remains. Even with the agency’s poor reputation and minimal public trust, young people still want to help),” he said.

The DPWH, the government’s lead agency for infrastructure development, has faced repeated public criticism over project delays, cost overruns, and allegations of irregularities. Reform advocates have called for structural changes and stronger oversight within the agency.

Dizon emphasized that the agency’s core mission remains building and maintaining infrastructure.

“Ang trabaho ng DPWH ay mag-ayos ng kalye, gumawa ng bagong kalye, mag-ayos ng tulay, gumawa ng bagong tulay. ‘Yan ang trabaho ng DPWH. ‘Di trabaho ng DPWH na mag-imbestiga at mag-file ng kaso (The DPWH’s job is to repair roads, build new roads, repair bridges, and construct new bridges. That is DPWH’s work. Investigating and filing cases is not the DPWH’s responsibility),” he explained.

However, he assured that the DPWH will assist partner agencies in addressing issues uncovered in anomalous projects.

“Ang trabaho ng DPWH ay tulungan ang ating mga ahensiya, specifically ang Ombudsman, ang DOJ [Department of Justice], and NBI [National Bureau of Investigation] para sa pag-iimbestiga at pagbubuo ng mga kaso, to provide evidence, to provide documents, to provide everything the Ombudsman, the DOJ, the NBI, and the PNP [Philippine National Police] need to build up their cases para pag-file sa korte, maayos na kaso ‘yan (The DPWH’s role is to assist partner agencies, specifically the Ombudsman, DOJ, and NBI, in investigating and building cases by providing evidence, documents, and all necessary materials that the Ombudsman, the DOJ, the NBI, and the PNP need to properly file cases in court),” Dizon added.