Aquino praises DPWH performance

President Benigno S. Aquino III inspects the facilities of the temporary shelter at the Cogon Relocation Site in Barangay Cogon, Guiuan during a visit to the province of Eastern Samar on Friday (November 07). With the President are DSWD Sec. Dinky Soliman and DPWH Sec. Rogelio Singson. More than 200 Yolanda survivors will benefit from some 133 housing units. It was in Guiuan where super Typhoon Yolanda, the strongest typhoon ever recorded, made its first landfall on November 08, 2013. (Photo by Gil Nartea / Malacañang Photo bureau)

MANILA — Following years of being the “poster boy” of corruption and inefficiency, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) received praises from  President Aquino for its “quality management” and “honest service” to the public.

In his speech during the 117th anniversary of the department, Aquino expressed his gratitude for the concrete benefits of  being in the straight path.

Aquino applauded the department’s effective public service citing the ISO 9001:2008 Certificate for Quality Management System for the DPWH.

Public Works secretary Rogelio Singson presented the certificate from the International Organization for Standardization, yesterday to the president.

The ISO is an international standard-setting body comprised by member-representatives from various national standards and organizations.

Singson said that receiving the certificate was a “milestone in the history” of the DPWH citing how it took them two years to qualify and obtain it.

Included in the list of DPWH offices given the ISO certification are  nine services, six bureaus, the pilot regional offices in the National Capital Region and in Davao, and the South Manila and Davao City district engineering offices.

Aquino, meanwhile announced that the department’s budget will be equivalent  to five percent of the country’s gross domestic product, increasing by a percent from the current four percent allocated in the department.

He also gave credit to Singson for being the “foreman” in the efficient implementation of the projects of the department and for pushing for reforms.