Abolish the DPWH, fire all and do it now

A house that is about to collapse on its own, because of trillions of termites sucking the lifeblood of the nation, can no longer be saved by any band-aid solution or peripheral make-over. The whole structure should be demolished or better still burned in order to destroy all vestiges and instrumentalities of corruption. Any symbolic remodelling or restructuring is not acceptable.

The Independent Commission for Infrastructure can continue to perform its mission but the system and the people who cause the worst and perhaps the greatest alleged plunder of public funds should not be allowed to see the light of day at the earliest opportunity. In his fourth SONA, the president has opened a Pandora's Box which turned out to contain a can of highly venomous worms. He should now finish what he started and finish it with decisiveness and with determined finesse. Abolish that reprehensible agency and fire all people.

Of course, I know that there are many honest and competent men and women in the DPWH. But the whole structure has been totally compromised. It might be pointed out that even Sodom and Gomorrah would not be burned by God if there were twenty or two honest and pure people there. But these people have been, for so long and in many transactions, were aware of the many despicable shenanigans perpetrated by their superiors and peers. They have remained mum and turned blind, deaf and mute amidst all the reported atrocities and thieveries. They may be immaculate and blameless themselves. But they are already infected by the system.

I cannot and will not accept the proposition that the other personnel in the DPWH were blind when cartons and cartons of cash money were hauled by contractors and brought to the office of the district engineer, as admitted by these officials themselves, under oath before the legislative investigations. Why was there no single whistleblower? They were complicit by their own silence in the midst of reprehensible anomalies. If I were the president, I would not leave the new secretary to do the dirty work of firing self-confessed scoundrels and rasputin. He should take responsibility in the name of command responsibility and the principle of respondeat superior.

Of course, those without cases should be allowed to retire with benefits. But their continuation as public servants is untenable. They have lost their credibility and they also lose their own motivation and self-esteem. The new secretary has allowed them or even ordered them not to wear their uniform. This is because it is no longer a badge of honor to wear a DPWH uniform. It is a mark of shame and infamy. These people, even if they did not steal money, have inherited the original sins of their superiors. They need long-term rehab before they can be reappointed to any government position and if ever so, it should be with extreme caution and much reservation.

The DPWH should be replaced by a completely clean and blameless agency to be manned by highly competent, committed, conscientious professionals with characters beyond reproach. Appointments should be passed through a strict and uncompromising vetting system where politicians should not be allowed to interfere and contractors and suppliers should be banned from the whole process. Public biddings should be televised and all members of the Bids and Awards Committee should be men and women of unquestioned integrity, probity and ethics.

All contractors with current government projects should be thoroughly audited by the independent commission. And cases should be forthwith filed (and do not entrust to any Senate President the interpretation of the word "forthwith") Heads must roll. There should be no sacred cows. The people are sick and tired with too much talking, too much debates, and no decision, no action. The people are hungry for results. The people want to see convictions, imprisonment. Above all, the people want to see the abolition of the DPWH and the dismissals of all. And make no mistake about it, no ifs and no buts, no exceptions and no deferment. Now.

The people want blood. The government should serve and uphold the people. Abolition of the DPWH and dismissal of all. All other actions are peripheral, symbolic and short of being serious, authentic and true. And the people will not have anything short of draconian. Just do it.