Gatchalian suggests new DPWH with new employees amid corruption issues

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian on Thursday floated the idea of building a new Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) due to alleged widespread corruption in the agency. 

“Kung ako tatanungin, magtayo na lang ng bagong DPWH eh. Kumuha ng bagong tao dahil…ako kasi naniniwala, ang aking philosophy sa management, dadating ka kasi sa punto na kung hindi mo maayos yan gumawa ka na lang ng bago,” Gatchalian said in a press conference. 

(If you ask me, we should build a new DPWH and hire new personnel because... my philosophy in management is to just build something new if you have reached the point where you can no longer fix it.) 

Gatchalian, chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, said that it would take DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon years to clean up the agency, starting by filing cases against corrupt personnel

He, however, clarified that his idea to rebuild DPWH was not an official proposal, as there are a lot of factors that need to be considered. 

“It’s easier said than done. Extreme talaga ‘yun. I’m just saying na from my management point of view, parang mas maganda pang ganon. But extreme ‘yan. Of course marami tayong dapat pag-isipan, ‘yung mga tao, baka bumagal ang pag-set up,” he added. 

(It's easier said than done. That's really extreme. I'm just saying that from my management point of view, it seems that doing that is better. But that's extreme. Of course, we have a lot to consider, such as the employees and operations.) 

Last month, Dizon said that he was eyeing to complete the reorganization of all DPWH officials from the highest ranks down to district engineers within the next 60 days, as part of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s sweeping directive to cleanse the agency.