MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. appointed Giovanni “Banoy” Lopez to lead the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to institutionalize lasting structural reforms and combat corruption within the agency, according to returning Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon.
Speaking in a television interview, Dizon explained that the President sought a leader capable of establishing permanent anti-corruption systems that would outlive the current administration.
“I think that’s where the President saw Secretary Banoy’s strengths in building systems, making systems last,” Dizon stated, adding that the President believed Lopez was a better fit to drive those initiatives through the remainder of his term.
The recent Cabinet reshuffle, announced by Marcos on Monday, returned Dizon to his previous post at the Department of Transportation (DOTr) while designating Lopez to succeed him at the DPWH. Dizon noted that the executive reorganization aligns cabinet officials with areas where they can deliver the highest impact.
Reflecting on his previous tenure, Dizon shared that Marcos initially directed him to dismantle and overhaul a severely flawed public works system.
“I asked you, Secretary Dizon, to put in the necessary reforms, to shake it up, to disrupt the entire system that clearly was broken,” he recalled.
For his part, Lopez acknowledged that the transition came unexpectedly.
“I was surprised. But I didn’t ask why,” he remarked regarding his new assignment.
Meanwhile, Dizon stated that he has been tasked by the chief executive to replicate systemic reforms within the DOTr and its attached agencies, including the Land Transportation Office (LTO) and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).
“I guess the President wants me to shake up agencies like LTO, other agencies like LTFRB,” Dizon said.