ILOILO City – The new officer-in-charge of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) – Iloilo City District Engineering Office (ICDEO) has pledged to rebuild public trust through transparency and stronger coordination, as scrutiny continues over past infrastructure issues under the district office.
Engineer Johnny Jose Pura assumed the post following controversies that hounded the previous ICDEOP leadership, prompting calls from both local and national officials for greater accountability in project implementation.
Pura, who previously served at the DPWH central office, emphasized that restoring confidence in the agency will hinge on collaboration across all levels of government.
“Through the leadership of Secretary Vince Dizon, we were advised on constant collaboration across offices. Unity and coordination should be implemented—from barangay officials up to the city level,” Pura said.
He acknowledged that his office is still in transition, with efforts focused on stabilizing operations, including the relocation of the district office to a more strategic site.
“As of this moment, limited pa lang ang nare-review namin. We’re focusing on transferring office to the old regional office. That’s our target because we have limited time to move out. The good thing is maganda naman ang lilipatan namin and we were able to fully relocate with the help of the team,” he said.
Pura admitted that a full assessment of ongoing and completed DPWH infrastructure projects in Iloilo City has yet to be completed, as he continues to review records left by his predecessor.
He also noted limited familiarity with previous issues tied to the office’s former location but expressed optimism that proximity to regional and other government offices will help improve coordination moving forward.
The leadership transition comes at a critical time for DPWH Iloilo City, with stakeholders expecting concrete reforms to ensure transparency, efficiency, and accountability in the implementation of public infrastructure projects./PN
