President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. announced a firm commitment on Tuesday to dismantle systemic corruption within the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), stating that decades of illegal practices will no longer be tolerated.
Speaking during a Kapihan with the Media in Phnom Penh, which capped his three-day State Visit to Cambodia, the President said that while laws and rules are in place, they have not been properly implemented, allowing illegal practices to persist for over 20 years.
“We must dismantle that system. They cannot be allowed continuity,” President Marcos stated, directly addressing the deeply ingrained issues. He noted that irregularities have been observed since at least 2003, and the problem has progressively worsened.
The President expressed his dismay that such corruption had become “normalized.” He stressed, “The most shocking part of this is that it became normalized… others may have allowed it, but I will not.”
To address these issues head-on, the President said an independent commission will be formed. This body will be tasked with investigating irregularities, particularly in flood control projects, to uncover how “kickbacks and other corrupt practices have become institutionalized.”
The investigation aims to understand how the system reached a point where these unlawful actions became the norm. President Marcos reiterated his resolve to put a stop to this cycle, ensuring accountability and transparency within the department.
