MANILA— Outgoing Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vince Dizon on Tuesday turned over documents detailing alleged anomalous projects to his successor, Giovanni Lopez, urging him to remove erring officials within the agency in the coming weeks.

During a joint press conference at the DPWH headquarters, Dizon handed Lopez thick envelopes containing the files and called for the removal of personnel involved in irregularities while protecting those who perform their duties properly.

“Ikaw na bahala sa mga ‘yan. Tanggalin mo na lahat yang mga ‘yan in the next few weeks. Review-hin mo na lang. Iyan pa yung mga susunod. Sorry, ganun talaga eh. We have to get rid of the rotten apples and protect the good ones. No choice diyan,” Dizon said.

Dizon expressed confidence that reforms in the agency would move faster under Lopez, whom he said had a stronger grasp of systems and institutional processes.

“Tingin ko bibilis pa nga (ang mga reporma) kasi unang-una mas magaling sa akin si Sec. Banoy and he really understands systems. Structural ang problema eh, hindi tao lang,” he said.

He also reiterated the administration’s call for government officials to prioritize public service over political disputes, saying they were expected to carry out President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directives.

“Trabaho lang kami. And I think this is the message that the President wants to send in the entire country. Ang gusto niya, tama na muna ‘yung politika, tama na muna ‘yung away, tama na muna ‘yung siraan, bangayan, trabaho tayo,” Dizon added.

For his part, Lopez vowed to review the DPWH’s processes and continue the reforms initiated by Dizon, particularly those concerning transparency, accountability and the promotion of competent employees.

The new DPWH chief said he had no prior professional or personal ties with agency personnel that would prevent him from taking action against those found responsible for wrongdoing.

“I’ve never had any relationship with anyone here (sa DPWH) professional or otherwise. So, walang utang na loob… So hindi po ako magdadalawang isip,” Lopez said.

He also underscored the need to change the agency’s workplace culture, saying reforms should extend beyond leadership and reach its rank-and-file employees.

“Itong cultural change na sinasabi ko po, hindi lang para sa mga Kalihim ito. Ito po ay mas importante sa mga tao, sa mga kawani ng Kagawaran,” Lopez said.

The turnover followed a Cabinet reshuffle announced Monday by Marcos, who swapped the positions of Dizon and Lopez.

Dizon returned to the Department of Transportation (DOTr), where he was tasked with improving daily commutes and addressing the presence of fixers. Lopez, meanwhile, was assigned to the DPWH to strengthen safeguards against corruption and institutionalize reforms.

Presidential Communications Secretary Lino Cayetano described Dizon as a “disruptor” and “reformer” tasked with accelerating transportation reforms, while Lopez was characterized as a “systems builder” expected to reinforce anti-corruption measures in the public works agency. (PNA)