DPWH to conduct 'massive recruitment' in schools starting January 2026

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is set to conduct a massive recruitment drive in schools nationwide beginning January 2026.

"Starting January, the DPWH is going to go on a massive recruitment. Magma-massive recruitment kami, magkakaroon ng mga job fair sa mga eskuwelahan mismo," Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon said at a press conference in Manila on Thursday.

"Sa UP (University of the Philippines), sa UST (University of Santo Tomas), sa La Salle… sa Ateneo, Mapua, FEU (Far Eastern University), PUP (Polytechnic University of the Philippines), UE (University of the East), all over… Hindi lang sa Metro Manila kundi sa iba't ibang lugar sa bansa," Dizon said.

(In UP, UST, La Salle... Ateneo, Mapua, FEU, PUP, UE, all over... Not just in Metro Manila but in different locations in the country.)

The Public Works and Highways chief said the agency will look for new engineers and accountants to join the department.

"Sa ating mga schools (To our schools), hopefully you can help us really recruit people," Dizon said.

"The future of the DPWH will be in the fresh blood that will be injected in this agency. Pinakaimportanteng resource ng kahit anong organization ay ang mga tao… 'Yung pagbabago sa mga opisyal ng DPWH, 'yan talaga ang magdidikta kung ang DPWH ba ay babalik na lang sa dati o talagang magbabago nang tuluy- tuluyan," he said.

(The future of the DPWH will be in the fresh blood that will be injected in this agency. The most important resource of any organization is its people... The changes among DPWH officials will really dictate if DPWH will go back to its old ways or will truly transform for good.)

"The best way to join in this reform effort [in] DPWH is to join DPWH. Join us in this effort," he added.

Dizon said the DPWH will appeal to the "patriotism" and "idealism" of the youth to entice them to join the agency, despite its tarnished reputation amid the flood control corruption scandal involving DPWH district engineers and ranking government officials allegedly in cahoots with politicians to pocket public funds.

"I will personally go around to convince you to join us… We need young, dynamic, idealistic people to join DPWH," Dizon said. — VDV, GMA Integrated News