Bonoan gets CA approval on his appointment as DPWH chief

The Commission on Appointments (CA) on Tuesday confirmed the ad interim appointment of  Manuel Bonoan as secretary of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

SAGIP party-list Representative Rodante Marcoleta, chairman of CA Committee on Public Works and Highways, sponsored Bonoan's appointment during the plenary session.

The lawmaker cited Bonoan's public service career that started as civil engineering aid in 1966.

Bonoan rose from the ranks and handled several significant positions in the DPWH until he retired as senior undersecretary in June 2010, Marcoleta said.

"I can simply say without fear of contradiction that Secretary Manny is the only homegrown among the present crop of Cabinet members," Marcoleta said.

Bonoan joined San Miguel Corporation after his retirement from the DPWH. Thereafter, he was named president and CEO for the conglomorate's Skyway operations and maintenance.

"He had to make a great sacrifice by giving up his lucrative job in the private sector with many resources expressing the belief that he accepted the post to be able to leave a lasting legacy for the country by helping the president succeed in its public works agenda when he accepted the appointment to be the 40th secretary of the DPWH, for which he was reported to be  the first and the only choice of the president," Marcoleta said.

The lawmaker also cited Bonoan's technical preparedness and expertise in public works.

Marcoleta said Bonoan was described as the main anchor for the successful implementation of public works projects, particularly foreign-assisted projects with Japan International Cooperation Agency, United Nations Development Programme, and Asian Development Bank.

Bonoan was also praised for being an amiable, mild-mannered, principled, modest, and highly-accomplished individual.

"His appointment as DPWH secretary was warmly welcomed by the employees and offices in view  of his long-established reputation for competence, fitness and integrity," Marcoleta said.

He then mentioned that the DPWH Central Office Union composed of around 40,000 plantilla employees passed a resolution expressing full support to Bonoan as public works chief.

"In his appointment to the top post of the DPWH, he vowed to look closely into possible corrupt practices within the department, as well as continue the projects under the Build, Build, Build program of the previous administration to sustain the country's economic growth," Marcoleta said.

"In this time of uncertainty brought about by the pandemic, we need a steady hand at the helm of this department which is a catalyst to sustaining the growth and development, potentials of the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. I am confident that Sec. Manny's expertise in public works and his technical expertise honed over time the department is and will be in good hands," he added.

Before the bicameral commission approved Bonoan's appointment, Senate President and CA chairperson Juan Miguel Zubiri vouched for Bonoan's competence.

"I would just like to say that Secretary Bonoan is fit for the job, is well loved and well liked by his peers. He comes in as secretary or public servant who does not need a learning curve because he grew up from the ranks of the DPWH," Zubiri said.

"The hands of the DPWH are safe with this gentleman and I'm proud to move to act on the motion," Zubiri said.

The bicameral body was supposed to tackle Bonoan and Social Welfare and Development Secretary Erwin Tulfo's ad interim appointments.

However, the CA committee on social welfare and development deferred the hearing on Tulfo's appointment due to the latter's American citizenship and his libel cases. — RSJ/KBK, GMA Integrated News