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Advocates Philippines
DPWH Chief: 'Mindset Must Change' - Finish Projects For Public Comfort
Photo credit: DPWH
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is gearing up to complete unfinished projects faster and make public service genuinely felt on the ground, Secretary Vince Dizon said in a press briefing on Monday.
This push comes after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered the agency to prioritize the completion and delivery of infrastructure projects across the country. Instead of focusing on statistics and progress reports, Secretary Dizon said DPWH personnel must adopt a people‑centered mindset that values how infrastructure improves daily life.
According to Dizon, what matters most to Filipinos isn’t the percentage of construction completed, but the real comfort and convenience that a finished project brings.
“Sinasabi ko nga sa mga DE natin at saka mga RD, ang kulang dito ay yung pagiintindi sa dinadaanan ng mga kababayan natin. Kulang sa pagmamalasakit. Kala nila it’s just a project but hindi nila alam na kapag inayos yan ng mabilis ay anlaking ginhawa, anlaking kawalan ng perwisyo sa mga kababayan natin. That is all about mindset ng mga taga‑DPWH na kailangan nang magbago,” he said.
He underscored his point with a vivid example: “Unless a project is 100% completed… Sorry, it is useless kasi hindi naman siya nagagamit ng tao eh. Kunyari ‘yung bridge—kung ang bridge ay 90% completed, useless ‘yun. Kasi hindi naman pwedeng rumampa ka na lang tapos tumalon ka sa kabilang side ng tulay eh.”
Dizon’s remarks signal a shift from measuring success by completion percentages to tracking how infrastructure improves mobility, safety, and quality of life for ordinary Filipinos.
The DPWH has been under scrutiny in recent years for delays, bottlenecks, and public frustration over slow‑moving projects, especially in flood control, roads, and bridges that are meant to ease travel and transport. Dizon’s emphasis on mindset change reflects the agency’s effort to become more responsive and disciplined in project execution.
Officials say new internal guidelines will be developed to monitor not just construction progress, but also the impact on local communities — from reduced travel times to better access to livelihood opportunities. Contractors and regional DPWH offices are expected to align more closely with these outcomes as the agency moves ahead with its infrastructure agenda.
The point is clear: infrastructure should not just be built — it should be completed and felt by the people who need it most.
This push comes after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered the agency to prioritize the completion and delivery of infrastructure projects across the country. Instead of focusing on statistics and progress reports, Secretary Dizon said DPWH personnel must adopt a people‑centered mindset that values how infrastructure improves daily life.
According to Dizon, what matters most to Filipinos isn’t the percentage of construction completed, but the real comfort and convenience that a finished project brings.
“Sinasabi ko nga sa mga DE natin at saka mga RD, ang kulang dito ay yung pagiintindi sa dinadaanan ng mga kababayan natin. Kulang sa pagmamalasakit. Kala nila it’s just a project but hindi nila alam na kapag inayos yan ng mabilis ay anlaking ginhawa, anlaking kawalan ng perwisyo sa mga kababayan natin. That is all about mindset ng mga taga‑DPWH na kailangan nang magbago,” he said.
He underscored his point with a vivid example: “Unless a project is 100% completed… Sorry, it is useless kasi hindi naman siya nagagamit ng tao eh. Kunyari ‘yung bridge—kung ang bridge ay 90% completed, useless ‘yun. Kasi hindi naman pwedeng rumampa ka na lang tapos tumalon ka sa kabilang side ng tulay eh.”
Dizon’s remarks signal a shift from measuring success by completion percentages to tracking how infrastructure improves mobility, safety, and quality of life for ordinary Filipinos.
The DPWH has been under scrutiny in recent years for delays, bottlenecks, and public frustration over slow‑moving projects, especially in flood control, roads, and bridges that are meant to ease travel and transport. Dizon’s emphasis on mindset change reflects the agency’s effort to become more responsive and disciplined in project execution.
Officials say new internal guidelines will be developed to monitor not just construction progress, but also the impact on local communities — from reduced travel times to better access to livelihood opportunities. Contractors and regional DPWH offices are expected to align more closely with these outcomes as the agency moves ahead with its infrastructure agenda.
The point is clear: infrastructure should not just be built — it should be completed and felt by the people who need it most.
Feb 16, 2026
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