Dizon tells new DPWH chief Lopez: ‘Pay close attention to Bulacan’

MANILA, Philippines — Former Public Works and Highways Secretary Vince Dizon on Tuesday asked Secretary Giovanni Lopez to closely monitor flood control projects and other developments in Bulacan as the latter assumes leadership of the agency.

During a turnover ceremony of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Dizon presented several unfinished flood control and other projects that were completed during his stint as DPWH secretary. 

He then noted that he discovered many incomplete flood control projects in Bulacan, some of which he earlier described as “ghost projects” because they were tagged as “complete” despite being fully funded. 

Article continues after this advertisement

READ: Amid ‘Inday,’ how’s Bulacan coping with idled flood works?

FEATURED STORIES

NEWSINFO

NEWSINFO

NEWSINFO

“[Secretary Giovanni], please pay very very close attention to Bulacan kasi nakakaawa po talaga ang Bulacan. Hindi ko na maalala kung ilang beses akong nagpunta sa Bulacan,” Dizon said in a press conference. 

([Secretary Giovanni], please pay very very close attention to Bulacan, because the people there are suffering. I cannot remember how many times I visited Bulacan already.)

Dizon then shared that Hagonoy in Bulacan has become the “epicenter” of flood control corruption, where residents complain that floodwaters take too long to subside and their areas flood easily even after short rainfall. 

Many Hagonoy residents have repeatedly protested corruption, calling on the national government to address the longstanding flooding in their areas.

Article continues after this advertisement

How’s Bulacan’s first district engineering office now?

Just last year, Bulacan became the ground zero of flood control anomalies, as many DPWH officials and personnel in its first district engineering office were implicated in corruption. 

Article continues after this advertisement

Among them was Bulacan District Engineer Henry Alcantara, who approved several flood control projects in his area and earlier admitted to certifying the completion of ghost projects. He also admitted to taking around P300 million in kickbacks from flood control projects in Bulacan.

READ: Alcantara bares ‘in-house’ contractors in DPWH Bulacan

Over a year after Alcantara was dismissed from his office, and now that he stands as a state witness in the flood control corruption scandal, Dizon expressed confidence in the new district engineer’s leadership. 

During the press conference, Dizon introduced Kenneth Fernando as the district engineer who replaced Alcantara in Bulacan’s first district. 

“It’s been a pride and a joy for me to have worked with him since we put him in place of Henry Alcantara,” Dizon said.

Dizon added that Fernando was first hesitant to accept the role as the latter acknowledged the responsibilities and controversies. However, Dizon said that he told the latter: “‘Ken, you have to take this. Di ba? I’ll give you all the support you need. But we have to change the wind.”

Dizon then proudly shared that as Fernando accepted the role, many stalled and unfinished projects in his district already saw progress. 

“So when you tell me kumusta na ang first [district of] Bulacan, I’m very hopeful. I’m very, very hopeful that it will be in good hands with [Secretary Giovanni] at the helm and with people like Kenneth and his team,” he added. 

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.

Your subscription has been successful.

(So when you ask me how the first [district of] Bulacan is now, I’m very hopeful. I’m very, very hopeful that it will be in good hands with [Secretary Giovanni] at the helm and with people like Kenneth and his team.) /mr