My short talk with DPWH Sec. Hermogenes Ebdane

It was a busy day for all of us and even more for DPWH Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. but, he made time for a limited number of bloggers to meet up with him and interview him on-the-spot!

I am not fully aware of everything in the Philippine politics but I can say that I am knowledgeable of somethings that most people are still unaware of. I would still rather keep them a secret before I get charged with libel here.

My first impression of the DPWH secretary was wrongly predicted for the few hours we stayed with him. I thought that he was a serious man who would speak like any grown up man tackling government and society but, to my surprise, no! What was amazing was, he told us his past experiences and hardships that made what he is today.

Let us not judge any government official by their cover. Sometimes, we should also see the entire picture and focus on a new perspective to understand complicated things.

It has been also said that DPWH is the most corrupt government agency in the Philippines. To tell you the truth, I do not think so. I would think that the PASG or the BIR would overtake DPWH without sweating. I am thinking of one reason why the survey result showed that. It is because DPWH is easily remembered and is known to almost everyone.

For instance, someone asks a person in the streets randomly, "What is the top 3 most corrupt government agency to you?" Surely, that person would say the top 3 government agencies he can think of! What if that person can't think of anything else? He will look around and check out the road construction with the DPWH name in it. Get my point?

People must also understand that the process is much more complicated than accusing DPWH of being the most corrupt government agency. There are higher ranking officials other than Sec. Ebdane himself in which, he should also follow. Serving in several administrations already, he has the experience and knowledge on what is happening with the government.

The problem with people is, we always see the negative side of a person and we forget the good things they have done with one wrongdoing.

Anyway, thank you for the interview time you granted us Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane.

This was his photo when he was still the secretary of the Department of National Defense.
DPWH Sec Hermogenes Ebdane's Profile