Malacañang has clarified that President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has not considered abolishing the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) despite the widespread corruption allegations currently hounding the agency.
The statement was made by Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Press Officer and Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro during a press briefing on Monday, October 20.
“Unang-una po ang departamento, hindi po lahat na mga nangangasiwa, at ‘di po lahat ng nga taong gobyerno sa DPWH ay masasabi nating gumawa ng kamalian. May mga public servants pa rin po at public officials na masasabi nating tumutugon sa kanilang mga obligasyon,” Castro said.
She emphasized that the President sees no reason to dissolve the entire department, saying that accountability should fall only on those proven guilty of wrongdoing.
“Sa ngayon po ay hindi po pa naiisip kung dapat itong i-abolish, dahil dapat ang tanggalin dito ay ‘yong mga gumagawa ng mali,” she added.
According to Castro, DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon is actively working to identify and remove officials involved in irregularities related to the department’s flood control projects, which have recently drawn national attention.
“Madali naman pong malaman kung sinu-sino ito, at sa tulong na rin po ni Secretary Vince [Dizon], matatanggal po ang dapat matanggal sa ahensya,” she said.
Castro also noted that Dizon has already reminded new DPWH employees to uphold integrity and serve the public with honesty, stressing the importance of following the law and maintaining ethical standards in government service.
The Palace’s statement came in response to remarks made by Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, who earlier suggested that the government should create a new department entirely instead of trying to fix the DPWH.
“Kung ako tatanungin, magtayo na lang ng bagong DPWH e. Kumuha ng bagong tao dahil… ako kasi naniniwala kung hindi mo… ang aking philosophy sa management, darating ka kasi sa punto na kung hindi mo maayos iyan, gumawa ka na lang ng bago. I think it will take years and years for Secretary Vince [Dizon] to clean up,” Gatchalian said.
Despite such proposals, Malacañang reaffirmed that President Marcos continues to support Secretary Dizon’s leadership and reform efforts, underscoring the administration’s stance that institutional reform—not abolition—is the proper course of action.