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Newly appointed Public Works and Highways Secretary Manuel M. Bonoan formally assumed his post on July 1
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His taking up the office vacated by acting Secretary Roger G. Mercado is a homecoming of sorts for Bonoan, who retired from DPWH after a career with the department starting in 1966
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He met with his subordinates to discuss his policies and priorities, with projects to help economic recovery high on the list
Manuel M. Bonoan on July 1 formally assumed his role as secretary of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). He succeeded acting secretary Roger G. Mercado.
Bonoan’s appointment to DPWH is a homecoming of sorts, the department said in a statement.
He has an extensive career as a public servant that started at DPWH as early as 1966, spanning four decades until his retirement in 2010 as senior undersecretary.
Bonoan, a professional civil engineer, became president and chief executive officer of SMC Tollways, which operates various tollways in Luzon, after his retirement.
The new DPWH secretary immediately met with his undersecretaries and assistant secretaries, regional directors, bureau directors, service directors, and project directors and laid out his policies and priorities.
“We will continue with the ‘Build, Build, Build’ program and complete what was started at the fastest possible time,” Bonoan said in an earlier TV interview.
“At the same time, we need to look at the list of projects so that we [can] consider and prioritize … the high-impact projects that can contribute immediately to the much-needed economic recovery,” he said.
