Bonoan vows to keep post, defends integrity of DPWH personnel
Metro Manila, Philippines - Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan vowed to keep his post, insisting that most personnel in his agency are competent in the midst of corruption allegations hounding flood control projects.
“Iyan po sana ang madaling gawin. Mag-resign o talikuran ko ang problema pero hindi po ang pag-alis o pag-iwas ng responsibilidad ang tamang paraan ng paghahanap ng solusyon,” he said in a video message released on Saturday, Aug. 30.
[Translation: That would have been the easier way — to resign or walk away from the problem. But leaving or avoiding responsibility is not the right way to find a solution.]
The Cabinet secretary said while he supports accountability, he will not tolerate corruption under his watch.
A number of groups and lawmakers have earlier urged Bonoan to quit his post with some DPWH personnel under fire over substandard or non-existent projects that were declared completed.
Bonoan defended the integrity of his personnel.
“Taas noo ko pong sinasabi sa inyong lahat: mas marami po ang matitino at mahuhusay na mga tao sa DPWH,” he said.
[Translation: I am proud to tell all of you: the DPWH has more good and competent people.]
Bonoan said his agency has taken concrete actions to address the flood control mess, including the creation of an anti-graft and corrupt practices committee.
He also cited the enforcement of preventive suspension orders against the employees of Bulacan 1st district engineering office, which reportedly had ghost and substandard flood control projects, and the district engineer in Batangas who allegedly bribed a lawmaker.
On Aug. 29, the DPWH suspended applications for foreign travel authority for personal reasons, except for urgent medical needs, amid the investigation into the government’s flood-control projects.
The order came in the wake of a directive from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to conduct lifestyle checks among government officials, leading off with DPWH personnel.
The Senate will resume its flood control probe on Monday, Sept. 1, while a House inquiry is set on Tuesday, Sept. 2.
