MANILA – Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon vowed to push wide-ranging reforms and a thorough cleanup of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to end decades-long corruption in the agency and its infrastructure projects.

Dizon said the President ordered him to hold accountable those involved in irregularities and ensure that government projects benefit the Filipino people.

“Ang inutos po ng Pangulo sa akin ay hindi depensahan ang DPWH. Ang utos po ng Pangulo sa atin ay repormahin ang DPWH at baguhin ang DPWH,” Dizon said during the Senate Appropriations Committee hearing on the proposed 2026 budget of the DPWH.

He noted that duplicate projects had already been removed from the agency’s proposed budget for next year, which was reduced by ₱255 billion — a 29 percent decrease from the original ₱881 billion proposal — bringing the total to ₱625.78 billion under the National Expenditure Program and the House General Appropriations Bill.

The public works chief expressed support for the Senate’s move to remove from the budget other projects flagged for irregularities, lack of justification, or unlikely completion.

“We try our best to remove duplicate projects. Kung mayroon pa po kayong makikita na ganyan, by all means, tatanggalin po natin ang mga project na ‘yan. We will fully support po,” Dizon said.

He also thanked members of the Senate, calling them a “bastion of reform” and an institution that stands as the Filipino people’s ally against corruption.