The recent news that former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Rogelio “Babes” Singson has stepped down from his post at the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI), presents a unique opportunity that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. simply cannot afford to miss.
In fact, Singson’s resignation from ICI could be a blessing in disguise.
President Marcos Jr. has a rare opening to reset DPWH with real technical horsepower—an opening too important to miss.
Singson stepping away from ICI opens a clear path for President Marcos to inject much-needed technical competence and seasoned leadership back into an agency that is, quite literally, the foundation of our national development.
Yet sadly, DPWH’s reputation is now being destroyed by controversies emanating from widespread reports of anomalous flood control projects in almost every region of the country.
Let’s face the reality: current DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon, while a highly visible official who projects himself well before the media, lacks the necessary technical background and expertise to steer the agency back to its original role of overseeing the planning, design, construction, and maintenance of the government’s various infrastructure works and projects.
The argument for Singson lies in his resume. From 2010 to 2016, “Babes” Singson led the DPWH with efficiency and a metric-driven focus that earned him the moniker of a true technocrat.
His tenure was marked by a relentless campaign against corruption, meticulous project planning, and the efficient execution of major projects.
His résumé speaks a language the DPWH desperately needs: billions planned and spent with accountability, kilometers of roads ready for traffic, and concrete volumes that translate into roads
Contrast this with Dizon—a supposed “no-nonsense” official whose primary strength appears to be excellent projection and media handling.
While good public relations are vital, they cannot, and should not, replace engineering foresight and institutional knowledge in an agency as complex and critical as the DPWH.
A good DPWH Secretary needs to know the difference between a girder and a beam, not just how to look good cutting a ribbon.
Why Singson now?
From 2010–2016, Singson ran a tight ship—metric-driven, corruption-resistant, and relentlessly oriented toward delivery.
He speaks the vocabulary of design specs, procurement norms, and rigorous project control—not merely talking points, but the nuts, bolts, and timelines of big construction projects.
Singson has proven he can dismantle entrenched bureaucratic hurdles and corruption networks, a legacy from his anti-graft efforts under President Benigno S. Aquino III.
He also possesses the technical acuity to demand accountability from contractors and ensure that projects are built to specifications and are completed on time.
Likewise, he provides institutional memory which is essential in bridging the gap between successful past infrastructure programs, and the current administration’s goals, offering invaluable historical context and lessons learned.
As it is, the DPWH is a professional engineering and construction agency. It must be led by a professional engineer with decades of executive experience.
Singson’s background is precisely that.
He is a proven executor the administration needs right now to clean up the mess left by some unscrupulous characters that operated at the DPWH, and ensure that worthwhile projects would not turn into a bust of delayed undertakings with questionable quality.
President Marcos Jr. therefore has the perfect opportunity to send a powerful message: that in the highest echelons of public service, substance will always trump style.
Naming Singson is not merely a political appointment; it is a strategic move in ensuring that the administration’s flagship programs would see their completion.
Mr. President, the opportunity is knocking. Let the genuine technocrat lead the DPWH.
