The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) indefinitely suspended all road reblocking activities on October 10, 2025, following allegations of corruption and public outrage over unnecessary repairs.
Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon said the repeated repair of roads that appear to be in good condition has long angered the public.
“I’ve been hearing this since I was in elementary school. Our fellow citizens keep asking, "Why are roads that seem perfectly fine being demolished and rebuilt again?” he said in Filipino during a press briefing.
In response to these complaints, Dizon ordered an immediate halt to all reblocking works and directed the drafting of stricter regulations on road repairs.
He clarified that only projects involving visibly damaged roads requiring urgent attention will be exempted.
District engineers who defy the suspension order will face administrative sanctions.
Dizon said he has heard of alleged kickbacks from road reblocking projects since his youth, especially during election season, but emphasized that solid evidence is needed to prosecute corrupt officials.
To illustrate the issue, Dizon presented photos of roads in Bocaue, Bulacan, and Tuguegarao City, Cagayan, which appeared to be in good condition but were nonetheless torn up for reblocking.
He said Tuguegarao Mayor Maila Rosario Ting-Que personally informed him about the activity, prompting him to immediately stop the projects.
Show cause orders have been issued to the district engineers in both areas, requiring them to explain why they should not face administrative charges.
At the same briefing, Dizon clarified that he does not support Senator Sherwin Gatchalian’s proposal to abolish the DPWH despite uncovering corruption within the agency.
“If it’s abolished, what will happen to the projects that are critical to the DPWH? What if a bridge is destroyed or a disaster strikes?” Dizon said in Filipino.
He stressed that the department plays an essential role in responding to disasters such as typhoons and earthquakes.
Alongside the suspension of road reblocking, Dizon announced forthcoming reforms aimed at promoting transparency and fairness in the allocation of infrastructure funds.
Meanwhile, the Department of Agriculture (DA) will now take over the construction of farm-to-market road (FMR) projects previously handled by the DPWH.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said his department accepted the Senate’s challenge to lead the implementation of FMRs to curb corruption and reduce costs.
He vowed to work closely with local government units, farmers’ organizations, and independent auditors to ensure transparency and better serve community needs.
Laurel said the move aims to improve farmers’ access to markets and reduce post-harvest losses.
Senator Gatchalian, who chairs the Senate finance committee, earlier raised concerns over possible overpricing, alleging that as much as ₱10 billion may have been misallocated in 70,000 kilometers of road projects.
