The political landscape surrounding the Philippines’ Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is experiencing significant turbulence, as a prominent legislator from Batangas alleges that the reported links between departmental officials and private contractors extend far beyond a recently resigned undersecretary. Batangas 1st District Representative Leandro Legarda Leviste has amplified his call for greater transparency and sweeping reforms, asserting that a whole cohort within the team of Secretary Vince Dizon harbors connections that warrant public disclosure and rigorous scrutiny.

The issue was thrust into the spotlight following the swift resignation of former DPWH Undersecretary Arrey Perez on Friday, October 17. Perez’s departure came shortly after Leviste publicly suggested the necessity of a thorough background investigation and openly questioned the official’s suitability to supervise the crucial bidding processes for DPWH projects. Yet, according to Leviste, Perez was merely the tip of a much larger, and potentially more concerning, iceberg.

More Officials Implicated: The Photograph and the Meetings

In a clarifying statement released on a subsequent Saturday, Leviste directly addressed and countered any suggestion that he had cleared Perez of having ties to contractors. Instead, the congressman revealed that his core concern lay in the apparent systemic nature of the issue.

“People have asked if it’s true that I denied that USec Perez has links with contractors – I did not,” Leviste stated emphatically. “What I said was: There are more members of Secretary Dizon’s team linked to contractors, and one in particular was photographed with contractors in a recent meeting in a restaurant. This one photographed, was another member of Secretary Dizon’s team.”

This allegation of a photographic record of an out-of-office meeting adds a tangible element to the growing controversy, suggesting a pattern of engagement between Dizon’s team and contractors that occurs outside the formal, regulated environment of the DPWH office.

Secretary Dizon, in recent interviews, confirmed that his team members have indeed held meetings with contractors away from the official DPWH premises. While acknowledging the optics, Dizon defended the practice, stating that such meetings are “not disallowed.” He did, however, concede that the arrangement “seems a bit improper,” adding, “But it’s not illegal… But it would have been better if it was done in the office… What’s important here is that they’re talking for work, that’s what matters, and not because they’re asking each other for favors or giving something to each other.”

A Call for Concrete Reform, Not Just Personnel Changes

Leviste swiftly responded to Dizon’s defense, emphasizing that while he appreciates the Secretary’s existing efforts, the situation demands more than a mere acknowledgement of potentially “improper” behavior. The legislator pressed Dizon to address three fundamental points that he has consistently raised, underscoring that the focus must shift from individuals to the integrity of the entire system and budget:

Mandatory Disclosure and Anti-Kickback Assurance: Leviste demands that Dizon disclose each DPWH official’s connections and meetings with contractors and provide a clear, actionable strategy for how the department will unequivocally ensure that officials “do not get kickbacks.”

Budgetary Transparency and Data Release: He called for the release of the DPWH budget per legislative district (both the National Expenditure Program or NEP, and the General Appropriations Bill or GAB), a commitment made during a September 17 budget hearing. Furthermore, he requested the list of project proponents, information that he asserts should be “readily available.”

Project Cost Reduction: Leviste reiterated his long-standing push to lower project prices by 25%, a move he argues is essential to eliminating opportunities for corruption and maximizing the public benefit of infrastructure spending.

Phone Call Confirmed: Dizon Seeks Information

The tension surrounding the issue was further highlighted by a reported phone call to Leviste during his press briefing on Thursday, October 16. Dizon confirmed the incident, acknowledging that he had directed a member of his team to contact the congressman while the press event was ongoing.

“I called our mutual friend so I could hopefully find out the details. I want to know who,” Dizon explained, suggesting a desire to obtain specific names and information related to the allegations being made by Leviste.

The Enduring Focus: Systemic Change over Individual Resignation

In closing his statement, Leviste made a crucial distinction regarding his intent. He clarified that he never demanded the resignation of any DPWH official. His decision to name Undersecretary Perez came only after Secretary Dizon himself explicitly asked for an example. Leviste stressed that the core purpose of his press briefings and public campaign has always been broader than individual accountability.

“My press briefing was to follow up on Secretary Dizon to lower the prices of DPWH projects and release information on the data per district in the 2026 budget,” he explained. “It is in changing the budget and not just the team that we can show that we are doing all that we can to end kickbacks in DPWH.”

The legislator concluded with a compelling appeal to Secretary Dizon, one that encapsulates his commitment to structural reform and ultimate transparency:

“Given how many DPWH officials are connected with contractors, let us release the list of projects and remove all insertions by contractors in the DPWH budget.”

Leviste’s firm stance positions the current controversy as a pivotal moment for the DPWH, shifting the discourse from isolated cases of improper conduct to a comprehensive demand for systemic reform, budgetary transparency, and a fundamental overhaul of how public infrastructure projects are conceptualized, priced, and executed. The coming weeks are likely to see a continued push from the legislature for Dizon to publicly address these three key demands and demonstrate a tangible commitment to eradicating corruption and inefficiency within one of the government’s largest spending agencies.