Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Manuel Bonoan stood firm on Saturday, assuring the public that integrity still defines most of the agency’s workforce despite recent corruption controversies.
In a video statement, Bonoan acknowledged the frustration of Filipinos grappling with severe flooding and admitted that irregularities in flood control projects had worsened the problem. Still, he stressed: “I proudly say to all of you: there are more decent and hard-working people in the DPWH.”
The DPWH has come under fire following President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s discovery of “ghost projects” in Bulacan and the arrest of the Batangas 1st District Engineering Office chief for allegedly trying to bribe a congressman to stop a probe. Bonoan confirmed that those implicated have been preventively suspended, while executive officers in Batangas were reassigned to Calabarzon.
He said the agency is currently verifying the existence of flood control projects across Bulacan and other provinces in Regions 3, 4B, 6, 7, and 8 from July 2022 to May 2025.
Calls for Bonoan’s resignation have grown louder amid the government’s sweeping crackdown on corruption in infrastructure projects. But the secretary dismissed quitting as an option: “That’s the easy thing to do, to resign or turn my back on the problem. But leaving or avoiding the responsibility is not the right way to find a solution.”
Bonoan emphasized that while he accepts accountability, he will not tolerate corruption in any form. He also urged citizens to report anomalies in projects through the agency’s hotline 165-02 or email citizens_feedback@dpwh.gov.ph.
The anti-graft drive followed President Marcos’ order during his State of the Nation Address in July, after weeks of massive flooding brought by the southwest monsoon and successive storms.
