DPWH chief backs creation of dedicated water department

Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vince Dizon on Monday said he supports the creation of a separate government agency that will solely focus on water resources management.

Dizon made the statement during the Senate committee on finance’s deliberations on the proposed P625.78 billion of the DPWH for fiscal year 2026. 

“I think the President himself has supported this initiative. I think it is part of several discussions already with Congress and especially in the LEDAC. We fully support this, the creation of a separate ‘Department of Water’ that will handle this,” the DPWH chief told Senator JV Ejercito. 

“Kasi kailangan po talaga (it’s very important). Very important po ‘yung water resources management,” he added. 

Ejercito asked Dizon for his thoughts regarding the proposals to create a “Department of Water” that may possibly take over the flood control projects from DPWH, in a bid to manage the country’s water sources “more effectively.”

“It’s about time that we really put up all projects for water management under one full-fledged department. Masyado nang malaki ang DPWH. Sa laki nga, hindi niyo na po ma-monitor, kaya nga siguro may nakakalusot,” the senator said. 

(The DPWH is too big of an agency and because of this, it couldn’t monitor everything, that’s why some anomalous projects get through.) —RF, GMA Integrated News