Former Public Works and Highways Secretary Rogelio “Babes” Singson has put an end to speculation that he might be tapped again to lead the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), saying it is time for others to take the reins.
“Sana, and I have said this, lahat ng kumausap sa akin, please, maghanap kayo ng iba. Mayroon namang ibang tao na pwede pa dyan. Not me. I wish I could. Sa totoo lang,” Singson said in an interview on DZRH News’ Special on Saturday on August 23.
Singson had been rumored as a possible replacement for current DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan, who is facing mounting criticism amid ongoing investigations into alleged anomalies in flood control projects.
The 77-year-old former Cabinet official explained that health and age are now significant factors, adding that he recently underwent eye surgery which limits his mobility.
“The situation is quite different. I can no longer be as active as I was 15 years ago. Dati, kayang-kaya ko magbiyahe o lumabas every weekend to go all the way to the district offices of DPWH,” he said.
Singson also cited the growing risks tied to corruption in infrastructure projects, warning that entrenched interests have become even more difficult to confront.
“Napakatindi ngayon ng kalaban mo, hindi mo na malaman kung saan manggagaling iyan. Hindi lang kontratista, mambabatas, Senado, lahat na iyan, all over the place,” he said.
He disclosed that his family strongly opposed any return to government service, out of concern for their safety.
“The biggest situation that I have to encounter is family safety… Ang sagot sa akin ng asawa ko at pamilya ko, ‘Dad, kung gusto mong magpapako at gusto mong maging martir, huwag mo na kami idamay.’”
Singson was at the forefront of the late President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino’s anti-corruption drive at the DPWH, when at the time, he slashed inflated budgets before bidding infrastructure projects.
“Pag pasok ko dyan, alam kong meron nang nakapatong na konti dyan, may overpricing na ‘yan. So before I bidded out the projects… sabi ko, tagpasin mo, we will declare for savings, 10% of my budget. Bid out niyo lang nang tama ang 90%,” he recalled.
He credited his anti-corruption drive at the time to Aquino’s unequivocal backing.
“Kung hindi ka suportado ng leadership ng Lower House at saka Senado, plus of course, 101% mandate sa akin ni President Noynoy to stop the corruption in DPWH…” Singson said, noting that, at the time, the DPWH had long been ranked among the most corruption-prone agencies alongside the PNP and Bureau of Customs.
