Merit-based promotion to drive DPWH cleansing - Dizon

Metro Manila, Philippines - A merit-based promotion is in place at the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) as part of a cleansing process in the graft-ridden agency, Secretary Vince Dizon told employees on Monday, Oct. 20.

The Cabinet official vowed to fill almost 2,000 vacant positions, beginning with the promotion of “deserving,” “honest,” and “hardworking” personnel, including job order employees.

“Hindi porket job order kayo nang napakatagal na panahon eh wala kayong karapatan at oportunidad para umangat. Kayo po ang uunahin natin, kayo po ang mauuna dito sa halos 2,000 vacancies all over the country,” he said during the agency’s flag raising ceremony.

[Translation: It doesn’t mean that you as a job order employee for the longest time don’t have the right and opportunity to get promoted. You will be our priority in filling up these 2,000 vacancies nationwide.]

Dizon said the positions have been vacant possibly for months or even years.

The secretary also announced that he is reviving the cadet engineering program – initiated by then secretary now Independent Commission for Infrastructure Commissioner Rogelio Singson in 2013.

The recruitment program trains young civil engineers to be capable employees of the department.

New official

In Monday’s flag-raising ceremony, Dizon named the new officer in charge for convergence and technical services, Lara Esquibil, whom he said was from the first batch of the cadet engineering program.

The 36-year-old official was the former head of the agency’s design bureau.

Esquibil replaced Arrey Perez, the undersecretary for less than a month, who quit on accusation of Batangas Rep. Leandro Leviste that linked him to contractors.

Dizon said Esquibil’s role is critical in the design, construction, and monitoring of civil works projects.

“Itong pag-recommend at pag appoint natin as OIC, I think sends a message…nagdesisyon ako na I will choose the best one na tingin ko makakatulong sa atin lalo na sa pag-reporma natin,” said Dizon, noting that Esquibil skipped a number of ranks.

“Simulan na natin magtayo ng talagang dapat na nandiyan hindi dahil ito ay tao ni ganito, tao ni ganyan, nirekomenda ni ganito, nirekomenda ni ganyan,” he added.

[Translation: I think this act of recommending and appointing as OIC sends a message…I have decided that I will choose the one I believe can help us the most, especially in carrying out our reforms…Let’s start building with people who truly deserve to be there — not because they are backed by somebody, or recommended by this or that person.]

Barely two months in office, Dizon has carried out sweeping changes including ordering an internal cleansing after a number of employees were implicated in the alleged pocketing of public funds through infrastructure deals.