Dizon Should Support Greener Cities

Newly appointed Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon faces a tough challenge as he takes on Mega Manila's flooding problem that is both man-made and caused by climate change.

- MARIANNE GO

His track record and reputation, hopefully, will help him tackle the massive task in front of him, even as the flooding problem is not as simple as some would make it seem.

Secretary Dizon, however, is getting a strong statement of support from his predecessor, no less than former DPWH secretary Jose de Jesus.

De Jesus, in a statement, attested to Dizon's capability — "he has what it takes to get the job at the embattled department because he has demonstrated a strong political will and consummate competence in his previous jobs."

According to De Jesus, Dizon's two major problems will be to "resolutely deal with politicians, who by habit or design, would require 'cuts' from the public works budget; two: effectively manage the construction projects, meeting deadlines and protecting and allocating the budget to the project themselves."

Lastly, De Jesus said, "I hope Secretary Vince will have the solid and visible backing of the President, so he will be shielded from the slings and arrows coming from politicians who have not dropped the habit of getting cuts from construction budgets. Needless to say, for whatever it's worth, 'I'm throwing my moral support for our new DPWH Secretary.'"

Secretary Dizon should likewise take into account the advice of over 70 members of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of the Interior and Local Government, United Nations Development Program, Biodiversity Finance Initiative and various local governments who recently attended a three-day training workshop at the Swiss-Belhotel Blulane in Manila from Aug. 26 to 28 to find and fund ways to integrate more green spaces in our highly-urbanized cities.