DPWH staff assured of promotion, job security
Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon on Monday assured his agency’s employees of their promotion, as he announced 1,993 vacancies to be occupied first by “job order” or short-term workers of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
“Our priority to fill these various positions is within the DPWH. Let’s elevate the deserving, honest, hardworking people already in DPWH, including our current job order employees,” Dizon told fellow DPWH workers at Monday’s flag ceremony.
“Just because you have been on job orders for a long time does not mean you have no rights and opportunities to advance. You will be the first to fill almost 2,000 vacancies,” he also said.
Dizon encouraged DPWH employees to apply for the vacancies and promised job order employees that their salaries will no longer be delayed.
He warned those responsible for the delay in wages of dismissal.
“Within seven days from cut-off, all salaries will be paid. Nothing more, nothing less. It cannot exceed seven days. If there is anything here that cannot be paid, please tell me immediately,” he said.
Upon his appointment to the DPWH last month, Dizon called for the courtesy resignation of all agency officials, from the top ranks in the central office to the district levels, amid the widening scandal over corruption involving allegedly anomalous flood control projects.
New appointment
Also on Monday, Dizon named engineer Lara Marisse Esquibil officer in charge undersecretary for convergence projects and technical services.
According to the DPWH chief, Esquibil is highly regarded in the agency, receiving “a lot of great words” from many observers, including former Public Works Secretary Rogelio “Babes” Singson.
“She has my full trust and confidence,” Dizon said as he presented Esquibil to the agency’s staff.
Before her appointment, Esquibil, 36, was assigned officer in charge director of the DPWH Bureau of Design in July.
She entered the DPWH in 2013 under the first batch of the Cadet Engineering Program.
Dizon said Esquibil was initially reluctant to accept her new assignment due to the scandal surrounding the agency.
But “I had a very long conversation with Director Lara,” Dizon said. “I told her, ‘Just do what is right, keep your integrity, and you will be okay. We will always be behind you.’”
He expressed confidence that President Marcos will sign Esquibil’s appointment, saying Mr. Marcos “wants good people.”
The appointment followed the resignation last Friday of Undersecretary Arrey Perez after Batangas Rep. Leandro Leviste linked Perez to alleged dealings with private contractors.
Perez had served less than a month as DPWH undersecretary. Dizon called for more details regarding the congressman’s allegations which he subsequently retracted.
