President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has directed local government officials to formally accept completed infrastructure projects before the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) can mark them as finished.
Speaking at a press conference on Monday, September 15, 2025, Marcos said official acceptance by local governments should be required for every DPWH project.
“I have instructed the DPWH and for that matter all of the departments to return that: the previous administration removed that acceptance,” the President said.
He recalled his time as a mayor, explaining that back then the DPWH could not tag a project as completed without going through inspection. Marcos expressed surprise when, during an onsite inspection of flood-control works in Bulacan, he discovered that some projects were already marked complete despite unfinished work.
To further curb corruption in infrastructure projects, Marcos announced the creation of an Independent Commission for Infrastructure. The commission will investigate alleged irregularities in flood-control projects and other DPWH undertakings.
The body will be led by former DPWH Secretary Andres Reyes Jr., who served during the Duterte administration, and SGV executive Rossana Fajardo, who will both serve as commissioners.
