Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vince Dizon announced on Monday that four regional directors, along with several other officials, have been relieved from their posts amid ongoing investigations into anomalous flood control projects.
“I will be announcing changes starting with the regions and some districts today. And the first announcement I will be making is the relief of four regional directors,” Dizon said.
"We are officially relieving today for various reasons specifically there are ongoing investigations here, which I cannot fully disclose to you, but suffice it to say we are investigating a lot of people in the department," he added.
The affected regional directors are:
- Region 1: Ronnel M. Tan
- Region 4A: Jovel G. Mendoza
- Region 5: Virgilio C. Eduarte
- Region 7: Danilo D. Villa
Several assistant regional directors were also relieved, including:
- Region 4B: Neil C. Farala
- Region 5: Annie S. Dela Vega
Additionally, district engineers are:
- Metro Manila: Ruel V. Umali
- South Manila: Manny B. Bulusan
Meanwhile, three officers-in-charge (OIC) district engineers were also dismissed for failing to meet the qualification standards set by the Civil Service Commission (CSC). These include:
- La Union: Sherlylann Gonzales
- Iloilo City: Roy Pacanan
- Leyte: Peter Scheller Soco
Dizon emphasized that additional district engineers will be removed for failing to meet Civil Service requirements.
In a statement, Secretary [Insert DPWH Chief’s Name if available] said the department will introduce stricter merit and qualification requirements for all officials.
“Gagawin nating mas matibay, mas malakas ang requirements at qualifications para sa mga opisyales ng department,” he said.
The secretary also revealed that assignments of DPWH officials across various regions will soon be adjusted as part of the department’s ongoing reforms.
Dizon said the removals are part of the department’s ongoing reforms, reflecting its intensified efforts to address anomalies in flood control projects and enhance transparency in its operations.
