Bonoan resigns as DPWH chief; DOTR's Dizon to take over as secretary
Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary Manuel Bonoan has stepped down from his post, amid the administration's probe into flood control projects by the agency.
Malacañang announced on Aug. 31 that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. accepted Bonoan's resignation, effective Sept. 1, 2025.
According to the Presidential Communications Office, Bonoan expressed support for Marcos' call for accountability, transparency, and reform within the DPWH in his resignation letter.
Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon has been appointed as the new chief of the DPWH.
"Dizon has been tasked to conduct a full organizational sweep of the department and ensure that public funds are used solely for infrastructure that truly protects and benefits the Filipino people," the PCO said in a statement.
Meanwhile, Marcos has appointed Atty. Giovanni Z. Lopez as Acting Secretary of the Department of Transportation.
The president has also established an Independent Commission to Investigate Flood Control Anomalies, which will conduct a comprehensive review of projects.
Bonoan was appointed DPWH secretary in June 2022 by Marcos. He previously served as the agency's assistant secretary during the late former president Fidel V. Ramos' administration, and as an undersecretary during the administrations of presidents Joseph Estrada and Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.
Before he was appointed DPWH chief, Bonoan was the president and CEO of the Manila Toll Expressway Systems Inc., Skyway Operations and Maintenance Corporation, and STAR Tollway Corporation.
On Aug. 30, Bonoan dismissed calls for his resignation, saying that it wouldn't solve the problem.
"Sa akin po, tatanggapin ko ang accountability pero tandaan po ninyo, hindi ko po kukonsintihin at papayagan ang anumang uri ng korupsyon na nangyayari," he said in a video message.
Marcos, in his fourth State of the Nation Address, called out government officials involved in the would-be corruption in flood control projects.
Marcos ordered the DPWH to "immediately submit" to him the list of flood control projects from every region that were started and completed in the last three years. He said a project monitoring committee will evaluate this list to determine the failures, as well as the unfinished and ghost projects.
Soon after, he launched the "Sumbong sa Pangulo" website, where the public can track and report flood control projects. He also published a list of 15 contractors that exclusively bagged 20% of all flood control projects worth P100 billion in the last three years.
The president also ordered lifestyle checks for all government officials.
