Photo credit: ICI

When former DPWH Secretary Rogelio “Babes” Singson stepped down as commissioner of the Independent Commission on Infrastructure (ICI), the public reaction was swift and predictable: “Wala na, tapos na ang ICI.”

That conclusion says more about our cynicism than it does about the institution.

We understand the instinct. For decades, Singson has been one of the few public officials whose name automatically triggered the words credibility and integrity.

We say this not as distant observers but as people who worked with him and saw, up close, how that reputation was built not in press releases but in the quiet, consistent discipline of a man who demanded standards without theatrics.

During one inspection trip in Baguio shortly after the July 1990 earthquake, Singson was head of the Presidential Task Force on the Rehabilitation of Earthquake Affected Areas, overseeing a ten billion peso budget.

The challenge was immense. Roads, bridges, schools, and other public infrastructure had to be rebuilt across Baguio, Dagupan, Cabanatuan, and other major centers of destruction.

Yet the recovery was efficient, transparent, and free of ghost projects. The money was spent wisely and directly to serve the people.

On that trip, we arrived unannounced and saw a section of road built far below specifications.

Singson immediately called the district engineer and, without raising his voice or humiliating anyone, delivered his signature calm warning: “Engr., pag hindi niyo inayos trabaho niyo, sabihin niyo lang. Malaki ang maitutulong ko para mawalan kayo ng trabaho.”

The district engineer, clearly shaken, later sent a truckload of vegetables and fruits as pasalubong. Singson refused it and ordered everything returned.

That was the man. Predictable in principle, immovable in ethics, and consistent in a way that made the people around him straighten their backs.

Singson was the personification of a servant leader, someone who leads by example instead of theatrics. A servant leader puts public duty above ego and earns authority through integrity, discipline, and quiet competence.

He uplifts the institution and the people around him not through fear but through the standards he himself lives by.

Unlike some cabinet members today who have a tendency to scold publicly para 'magpasikat' when cameras and media are present, Singson never resorted to spectacle.

His method was firm yet measured, corrective without humiliation. His focus was always on accountability and results, never on personal image.

That contrast reveals how integrity and respect can coexist with strict oversight.

So yes, people felt shaken by his resignation. Many assumed that if he left, something must be wrong.

That conclusion, however, is unfair to the commission, to its two remaining commissioners, and to the analysts, lawyers, investigators, technical staff, and volunteers who continue the unglamorous but essential work of infrastructure oversight.

The real problem was not Singson’s resignation.

It was the ICI’s silence from the very start, when the commission leaned heavily on the stature of its most respected member instead of providing sustained public communication.

That silence allowed critics to define the narrative and portray his departure as collapse rather than transition.

It is also important to recognize that the remaining commissioners have solid, independent credibility.

Chairperson Andres Reyes Jr., a retired Supreme Court Justice, brings decades of judicial experience and a reputation for impartiality.

Rossana Fajardo, the country managing partner at SyCip, Gorres, Velayo and Company, is serving in her first public position. She accepted an additional, undercompensated role in the ICI while maintaining her demanding private sector career.

The public should appreciate that this is real sacrifice: giving her time, expertise, and energy to serve without the perks or rewards found in the corporate world.

Unlike in the private sector, where work can proceed quietly behind the scenes, government requires clear communication, visible stewardship, and engagement with the public.

With the mentoring of Justice Reyes, Fajardo is well positioned to navigate these demands and help strengthen the ICI’s integrity and credibility.

Institutions lose credibility not when a respected figure leaves but when they fail to communicate what remains.

This is where the ICI must move decisively.

The two remaining commissioners should step forward to explain what continues, what systems are in place, which investigations proceed, and what reforms are already institutionalized.

People distrust shadows, not transitions. They need assurance that the mandate, processes, and investigative rigor of the ICI remain intact.

The commission should also highlight the technical backbone of its work. Let the public see the investigators, analysts, and engineers at work.

Demonstrating the processes, reviews, case evaluations, and fact-checking mechanisms shows that oversight is structured, methodical, and continuous.

Regular updates, briefings, and factual reporting can fill the vacuum left by silence and prevent detractors from taking control of the story.

Upholding the culture of integrity exemplified by Singson is equally important. Discipline, consistency, and ethical rigor must be institutionalized so that credibility never depends on a single personality.

Engaging stakeholders, from government engineers to civic groups and contractors, through periodic updates on projects and findings will reinforce trust and deter misconduct.

The resignation of Singson should not be seen as a loss but as an opportunity to reaffirm commitment, demonstrate continuity, and show the public that oversight, integrity, and reform will continue with determination.

Kung ang ICI ay mananatiling tahimik at masikreto sa ginagawa nitong trabaho, doon mawawala ang tiwala ng publiko.

Kung gusto nating matigil and pang-aabuso sa kaban ng bayan, dapat simulan natin sa malinaw at matapang na pagkilos.

Hindi sa katahimikan at kadiliman kundi sa gawa at integridad, tulad ng ipinamalas ni Singson.

Ed Javier

Ed Javier is a veteran communicator with over 35 years of experience in corporate, government, and advocacy communications, spanning the terms of seven Philippine presidents. He is also a political analyst, entrepreneur, and media professional. Drawing on this experience, he delivers clear, accessible analysis of political, governance, and business issues.