THE ACCEPTANCE on Sunday of the resignation of Manuel Bonoan as secretary of the Department of Public Works and Highways, and his replacement by Transport Secretary Vivencio Dizon though hugely- welcomed was regarded as suspiciously long in coming by the Kabataan Partylist, who claimed that President Marcos should have acted fast, instead of waiting for Bonoan to resign.
In between the public’s outrage over the corruption at DPWH and Bonoan’s resignation, —and the President’s acceptance— much cover-ups and data disappearances/manipulations could have occurred to spare several politicians that have been colluding with greedy contractors of flood control projects that were either ghost projects, overbloated and repeatedly budgeted, delayed completion (if at all began) using substandard materials and of substandard work, and loads of kickbacks (shared among contractors, politicians, especially those that made insertions to the budget, and LGU executives).
DEBATES IN SENATE
Too much heated debates have happened on the senate floor over the anomalous flood control projects, which the Blue Ribbon Committee of Sen. Rodante Marcoleta claims to exclusively be his responsibility by fighting it out with Senators Panfilo Lacson, Kiko Pangilinan, and Tito Sotto.
Such infighting for the glamor of chairing the probe only serves to further delay the ultimate outcome that people are dying to see: the filing of appropriate charges, fining and putting in jail those responsible for such enormous graft and corruption in implementing the flood control projects, especially as continuous heavy rains result in massive flooding of the metropolis.
‘The problem with DPWH is the systemic corruption— practically every level is already tainted with wrongdoings and personnel have grown used to enjoying huge sums from corruption that personal greed is impossible to discard.’
HOUSE PROBE
The House is also conducting its separate probe, and so with the DPWH under Bonoan, which would would either investigate or protect its own people from the consequences of their misdeeds.
A lot of House members are being implicated in the corruption of flood control projects by owning the construction companies, favoring/cuddling their contractors, inserting budget for such projects (even if not needed) and requiring percentages from the bloated project costs.
ENTER VINCE DIZON
Widely liked for his pro-commuters, pedestrians and pro-PUV stance, Dizon who has served government in numerous capacities since the time of President Benigno Simeon Aquino III until Marcos Jr. has been given a difficult mission at DPWH by the President: “a full departmental cleaning to restore credibility in flood control spending.”
(Earlier, the President warned that if such budget insertions and anomalies in DPWH and flood control projects would not stop, he would not approve the proposed 2026 budget of P6.793 trillion.)
SYSTEMATIC CORRUPTION
The problem with DPWH is the systemic corruption— practically every level is already tainted with wrongdoings and personnel have grown used to enjoying huge sums from corruption that personal greed is impossible to discard. Add the corrupting influence of politicians and contractors and some LGU heads, Dizon might just end up running in circles and not attain anything with the remaining barely three years of the Marcos administration.
In the end, whatever goodwill Dizon earned from his numerous positions in government might all end up to nothing— as evil has seeped deep in the public works sector.
IN THE EYES OF THE CORRUPT
For starters, Dizon is not absolutely without fault, he had a lot. He just might end up purging these ghosts from his image and waste precious time extricating himself from these blunders.
The most prominent is the P11-billion New Clark City sports facilities deal for the 2019 SEA Games, where he and other officials faced graft and malversation charges.
The Commission on Audit voided the project because of procurement violations, inflated costs and absence of proper appropriations. (Critics might be quick to say, are you any better than us?).
Dizon was also criticized by transport and human rights groups for displacing Aeta communities in Tarlac in favor of the New Clark City.
Another is the P55-million cauldron—the most expensive and most wasteful spending for the SEA Games that then Senate President Allan Peter Cayetano pushed so hard.
In 2021, he made headlines after he was roughed up by cyclists in Clark, when as chair of the Bases Conversion Development Authority, he banned them from certain roads. (Here he might be accused of being heavy handed and arbitrary).
A TECHNOCRAT
Having worked for different administrations, Dizon is regarded more as a technocrat and a micromanager. He would go to site inspections and bark simultaneous spot orders, that on hind sight need further study and analysis.
Supporters have been hailing him as “action man” who can deliver results. Critics said the SEA Games baggage and human rights controversies might haunt him in his new post.
But if he succeeds in cleaning up the most corrupt agency in the country might wash away his past sins and make him as the country’s modern day messiah.
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