New Philippines Transportation Secretary Named
On February 13, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. appointed Vince Dizon as the new Transportation Secretary, replacing Jaime Bautista who resigned due to health reasons. Dizon is a corporate executive who held various posts under the Duterte administration, including CEO of the Bases Conversion Development Authority (BCDA), deputy chief implementer of the National Task Force Against COVID-19, and former adviser for flagship programs and projects. Dizon spent 26 years in government service, with extensive experience in the legislative and executive branches. Under the Marcos Administration’s “Build Better More” program, Dizon will lead a department responsible for overseeing flagship infrastructure projects. Dizon possesses experience managing the implementation of major projects under the previous government’s ambitious “Build, Build, Build” initiative.
Many legislators lauded the appointment of Dizon, citing his experience as an asset to infrastructure policy. Senators emphasized the importance of addressing transportation challenges, including traffic congestion and modernization projects such as the Metro Manila Subway and railway expansions.
While the Office of the President has already authorized Dizon to start the transition at the Department of Transportation (DOTr), the appointment will come into effect on February 21, 2025. For his part, outgoing DOTr Secretary Bautista thanked the president for the opportunity to work in government and promised Dizon his full support.
