They have transferred to their respective new positions.
A day after the Palace’s announcement of a cabinet shakeup, Secretaries Vince Dizon and Giovanni Lopez officially handed over their posts to each other.
Dizon returns to his old post as chief of the Department of Transportation (DOTr), while Lopez has been moved to lead the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
During their turnover ceremony, which was held at the DPWH central office, they shared their confidence that each other will be able to continue the work they have done within their now-former departments.
Comebacking Transportation chief Vince Dizon said that he sees that reforms he did will be made by new Public Works Secretary Giovanni Lopez.
“Tingin ko bibilis pa nga (ang mga reporma) kasi unang-una mas magaling sa akin si Sec. Banoy and he really understands systems. Structural ang problema eh, hindi tao lang,” Dizon said.
He also turned over two envelopes containing documents that can be used to go after those involved in anomalous projects.
“Ikaw na bahala sa mga ‘yan. Tanggalin mo na lahat yang mga ‘yan in the next few weeks. Review-hin mo na lang. Iyan pa yung mga susunod,” Dizon said to Lopez.
Lopez has assured that he will continue the reforms initiated by Dizon and vowed to fo what is right.
“I’ve never had any relationship with anyone here (sa DPWH) professional or otherwise. So, walang utang na loob. Hindi tayo nagkaroon ng relasyon, so mas mapapabilis po akong magdesisyon kung tama ba ‘yung ginagawa niyo o kung salbahe pa rin po kayo,” he said.
He also aims to have cultural change within the DPWH. “Itong cultural change na sinasabi ko po, hindi lang para sa mga Kalihim ito. Ito po ay mas importante sa mga tao, sa mga kawani ng Kagawaran at talaga pong matagal na po nagtrabaho sa DPWH. Sana magtulungan tayo na manumbalik po ang pagtitiwala ng taumbayan sa DPWH,” he said.
As for Dizon, they are just working and would like to focus on doing so.
“Trabaho lang kami. And I think this is the message that the President wants to send in the entire country. Ang gusto niya, tama na muna ‘yung politika, tama na muna ‘yung away, tama na muna ‘yung siraan, bangayan, trabaho tayo. Ang daming problema ng Pilipinas eh,” he said.
