Coming soon: DPWH ‘job fairs’ on campuses
With its reputation in tatters and dozens of its officials either facing investigation or formal complaints, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) could use some new blood.
Make that young, “reform”-oriented blood.
Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon on Thursday said the DPWH would soon conduct a “massive recruitment” program in universities and colleges across the country as parts of an effort to recover from the flood control corruption scandal that had sunk the agency’s image to unprecedented lows.
The headhunting will start January next year to fill vacant positions in the DPWH, which Dizon said stood at around 2,000, including for professionals like accountants and engineers.
“We need fresh blood. We need young, dynamic, idealistic people to join DPWH. And you will be the ones to really turn the page and reform this institution from within. Not just in the next two years, but in years to come,” he said at a media briefing.
“Hopefully, you can help us really recruit people and really make people realize, especially the young generation, that it’s important that they participate in our reforms. And the best way to participate in this reform effort at DPWH is to join DPWH,” he added.
The secretary said he would “personally go around” and hold career talks featuring young DPWH officials to better convince students to join the agency.
Dizon mentioned the University of the Philippines, De La Salle University and University of Santo Tomas as among the campuses they plan to cover.
Some updates
He spoke of the planned DPWH “job fairs” after reporting that the agency had dismissed, suspended or filed administrative complaints against 90 employees and officials to date as a result of the graft investigations.
They include sets of officials who had also been “recommended” for prosecution for plunder, graft, bribery and malversation of public funds.
The recommendations, sent to the Office of the Ombudsman, came from the Department of Justice and the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI), the fact-body body created by Malacañang to look into questionable flood control and other infrastructure projects.
Next case on Cebu projects
Dizon said cases involving 10 DPWH personnel had already reached the courts.
Along with the filing of complaints, he said, some P13 billion worth of assets belonging to individuals implicated in the scandal had been frozen by the Anti-Money Laundering Council.
At least P150 million in project “kickbacks” have also been returned by the DPWH officials concerned, he added.
“This is just the beginning. This will continue on. We will not stop here,” Dizon said, citing a statement from Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla that another case will be filed by next week or before Christmas Day.
This January, the DPWH and the ICI will be submitting another recommendation to the Ombudsman, this time concerning flood control projects in Cebu, he said.
