President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has accepted the resignation of Public Works and Highways Secretary Manuel M. Bonoan, effective September 1, 2025, amid mounting pressure to clean up alleged corruption in flood control and infrastructure projects.
In his resignation letter, Bonoan backed the President’s call for “accountability, transparency, and reform” within the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)—a department now under intense scrutiny.
To steer the agency through this critical shake-up, Marcos has appointed Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon as the new DPWH chief. Dizon, known for his infrastructure portfolio under Build Build Build, has been tasked with conducting a full organizational sweep and ensuring that public funds are spent only on projects that genuinely protect and serve Filipino communities.
To maintain momentum at the Department of Transportation (DOTr), Atty. Giovanni Z. Lopez has been named Acting Secretary. Lopez, who previously served as Undersecretary for Administration, Finance, and Procurement, brings experience from key transport sectors including rail, aviation, and maritime. His mandate: sustain modernization efforts and prioritize commuter safety and efficiency.
In a bid to restore public trust, the President also announced the creation of an Independent Commission to Investigate Flood Control Anomalies. The body will audit projects, uncover irregularities, and recommend accountability measures, signaling a broader crackdown on misuse of infrastructure funds.
These sweeping changes come as the administration faces growing criticism over billions in confidential and intelligence funds, and as calls for deeper anti-corruption reforms intensify. The shake-up at DPWH is being framed as part of the Bagong Pilipinas governance agenda—but whether it leads to real accountability remains to be seen. (ZIA LUNA)
