Manuel Bonoan is the new head of DPWH

After being nominated by newly-elected President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. last May, Manuel M. Bonoan has formally assumed his role as the new head of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

Bonoan replaces Acting DPWH Secretary Roger G. Mercado who succeeded Mark Villar after he resigned from the agency when he ran for the elections and won a seat in the Senate. Outgoing Acting Secretary Mercado handed over the DPWH flag to Bonoan as a symbol of handing the reins during a simple ceremony at the DPWH Central Office held earlier today.

The new DPWH Secretary treats his new role in the agency as a homecoming of sorts. That's because he has an extensive career as a public servant that started in the DPWH as early as 1967, spanning four decades until his retirement in 2010 as Senior Undersecretary. Bonoan was actually the agency's Assistant Secretary during the Ramos Administration before becoming an Undersecretary in the Estrada and Arroyo Administrations.

Aside from his past experience with the DPWH, Bonoan is a professional civil engineer and had plenty of work in the private sector. Before becoming the new chief of the DPWH, he became the president and CEO of SMC Tollways which handles the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX), Tarlac Pangasinan, La Union Expressway (TPLEX), STAR Tollway, NAIA Expressway (NAIAX), and the Metro Manila Skyway.

With all the qualifications and experiences as a professional civil engineer, along with the wisdom he has earned in both the public and private sectors, President Marcos Jr. believes Bonoan will be able to lead the daunting task of completing unfinished flagship projects that have been left behind by the previous administration.

After the turnover ceremony, DPWH Secretary Bonoan convened a meeting with the Undersecretaries and Assistant Secretaries, Regional Directors, Bureau Directors, Service Directors, and Project Directors.

“Let us work together, let us continue working as a team,” said Bonoan.

With Mr. Manuel Bonoan now at the helm of the DPWH, we wish him good luck in his new post.