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Will outgoing Manila Mayor Lito Atienza be the next secretary of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)?

A ranking DPWH official who spoke on condition of anonymity revealed yesterday that Atienza is one of those being considered by Malacañang for the top DPWH post.

Also on Malacañang’s shortlist are DPWH officer-in-charge Manuel Bonoan and former Philippine National Police chief Arturo Lomibao.

President Arroyo is expected to announce her choice at the end of the election period, or 45 days after May 14. She is also expected to announce other appointments.

“It would be an interesting choice for the president. We all know Atienza and Lomibao have both served her administration well,” the source said.

He said Atienza is being considered for the position because of the success of his “Buhayin ang Maynila” program, which resulted in improvements in the Baywalk area and in the districts of Escolta and Tondo, among other places.

Atienza served as Manila mayor for nine years. His son, Ali, ran for the same post, but lost to returning Mayor Alfredo Lim.

Lomibao, on the other hand, filed a certificate of candidacy for a congressional seat in Pangasinan, but backed out for unknown reasons.

There were reports that an influential politician convinced Lomibao to withdraw from the race in exchange for a “juicy post” in the government. The politician was not identified.

“The practice of getting outsiders to oversee the infrastructure program nationwide is unproductive because the department undergoes a series of periods of adjustments to accommodate new policies, plans and programs of the incoming secretary,” the source said.

Another official, meanwhile, said that Undersecretary Florante Soriquez was also being eyed as DPWH secretary.

Soriquez, who is set to retire next month, is reportedly wooing Malacañang for an extension of his service.

But some DPWH officials and personnel are wary of Soriquez because of his role in the controversial Pampanga Megadike project or the so-called “Lahar Scam,” for which he was slapped with criminal charges before the Sandiganbayan. They said that an agency whose image is tarnished by corruption needs a credible leader.

Soriquez had already acted as officer-in-charge of the department in 2004. — Edu Punay