President Benigno S. Aquino III huddles with the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. officers, led by its president Angel Ngu, for a snap shot during the oath taking ceremony at the Rizal Hall of the Malacañan Palace on Tuesday (June 23). Also in photo is Justice Secretary Leila de Lima. (MNS photo)
MANILA (Mabuhay) – President Benigno Aquino III was all praises for the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) during its anniversary on Monday, even calling it a model agency.
“Kung may ahensya sa gobyerno na dapat tularan sa pagpapaginhawa sa kalagayan ng taumbayan, DPWH iyan,” Aquino said in a speech during the department’s 117th anniversary commemoration in its head office in Manila.
He also pointed out how corrupt practices in the DPWH were minimized during his almost five-year-old presidency.
“Ang dating poster boy ng katiwalian, ngayon ay modelo na ng episyenteng pamamalakad,” Aquino said.
“Wala ng palakasan. Wala ng pa-pogi,” he added.
The President also pledged to increase the DPWH budget next year, which will be equivalent to 5 percent of the country’s gross domestic product.
During the event, DPWH Secretary Rogelio Singson reported to Aquino that the agency’s quality management system is now certified in accordance with the requirements of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 9001:2008 standards.
Among those who received ISO certification were six DPWH bureaus, two regional offices, and two district offices.
Singson explained that the ISO certification means that these DPWH implementing offices “are now fully compliant with internationally accepted practices”
“Napakahirap po palang bunuin nito. Since we impose this on our contractors, sabi namin, dapat tayo rin ay ISO 9001 certified,” the Cabinet official said.
“This, to us, is a major step towards institutionalizing good governance reforms in the department,” he added.
Singson further said that the DPWH will strive to have all its regional offices and at least one district for region certified by the ISO. (MNS)