MANILA – Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vince Dizon has directed the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and private organizations to conduct independent background checks on the agency’s appointees to ensure transparency and integrity.

The move follows President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to clean up and reform the DPWH. In a letter addressed to NBI Director Jaime Santiago, Institute of Corporate Directors Chair Benedicta Baladad, Management Association of the Philippines President Alfredo Panlilio, and Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Consul Enunina Mangio, Dizon sought the assistance of both government and private sectors in vetting 14 DPWH executives, from undersecretaries to assistant secretaries.

“Ang paulit-ulit na sinasabi ng Pangulo dapat linisin at hindi depensahan ang DPWH. Kasama ito sa reporma at paglilinis na ginagawa natin na dapat ang mga kasamahan natin ay incorruptible at sincere sa pagseserbisyo sa Pilipino,” Dizon said.

In a separate initiative, the DPWH will collaborate with the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) to recover public funds allegedly misused by previous officials and contractors. The agreement, signed by Dizon and AMLC Executive Director Matthew David, enables the two agencies to share information for comprehensive financial investigations of suspicious transactions.

“Paulit-ulit na sinasabi ng Pangulo natin: kailangan maibalik itong pera na nawala sa mga kababayan natin,” Dizon said.

The partnership aims to accelerate the recovery of public funds, including freezing the accounts of implicated individuals under the Anti-Money Laundering Act. Secretary Dizon thanked AMLC for its swift action in freezing nearly 2,000 accounts tied to anomalous projects, noting that additional assets and accounts are expected to be frozen once cases are filed with the Office of the Ombudsman and the Independent Commission on Infrastructure (ICI).