THE resignation of Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan is being spun as โcommand responsibility.โ But letโs be blunt: this is not accountability, this is damage control.
Billions of pesos have been poured into so-called flood control projects, yet our communities are still drowningโliterally and figuratively. Ghost projects, sweetheart deals, and lavish lifestyles of contractors paint a picture of a department that has long been a piggy bank for the powerful.
Now comes Vince Dizon, parachuted in as the new DPWH chief. His first order of business: ask everyone to submit โcourtesy resignations.โ Sounds bold, but history has taught us that mass resignations often end up as mere reshuffling. Old players return under new titles, and the game continues.
The bigger question is this: will Dizon dare to expose who really benefits from this rot? Because corruption in DPWH is not just about rogue engineers or district officesโitโs about politicians, dynasties, and business cartels who feast on public funds while leaving ordinary Filipinos to wade through floods.
Bonoan may be gone, but the system that enabled corruption remains untouched. Unless the Marcos administration allows real transparency and prosecutions that reach all the way up, DPWH will remain what it has always been: the Department of Public Works and Highway Robbery.
About The Author
