Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon on Tuesday pledged a sweeping overhaul of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to eliminate long-standing corruption and ensure public funds benefit Filipinos.
Speaking at the Senate Appropriations Committee hearing on the agency’s proposed 2026 budget, Dizon said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered a top-to-bottom reform of the DPWH, with a strong focus on accountability and transparency.
“The President’s order to us is to reform and transform the DPWH—not to defend it,” Dizon told senators.
As part of the reform drive, the agency slashed its 2026 budget by P255 billion, from P881 billion to P625.78 billion, after removing duplicate and questionable projects. Dizon also welcomed further Senate scrutiny and committed to supporting the removal of any flagged or unjustified items in the spending plan.
The secretary thanked senators for backing reform efforts, calling the chamber a “bastion of reform” and a key ally in fighting corruption.
To boost service delivery, Dizon also ordered the immediate filling of nearly 2,000 vacant posts nationwide, with priority given to current DPWH staff, including job order employees.
