Vince Dizon

Vivencio "Vince" Bringas Dizon (born August 18, 1974) is a Filipino economist, consultant, and political aide who has served as the secretary of public works and highways since 2025 on an ad interim basis under President Bongbong Marcos. He previously served as the 41st secretary of transportation under President Marcos from February to September 2025. He also served as President Rodrigo Duterte's adviser on flagship programs and projects, deputy chief implementer of the National Action Plan Against COVID-19, and president and CEO of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority.

Early life and education Dizon was born on August 18, 1974, in Quezon City to Agustin Coronel Dizon and Melanie Borbon Bringas but spent most of his childhood in Porac, Pampanga.

He attended Don Bosco Technical College for high school. From 1991 to 1996, he studied at De La Salle University (DLSU) where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics and a Bachelor of Science in Commerce degree in Management of Financial Institutions. During Dizon's term as BCDA chief, the agency posted its highest contribution to its major stakeholder, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). BCDA remitted to the AFP in the first three years of the Duterte administration alone, accounting for 33 percent of the total contributions made since 1993. Under Dizon, BCDA has remitted a total of ₱16.367 billion to the National Treasury.

BCDA's total assets increased by 7 percent from in 2018 to in 2019.

Dizon prioritized the development of Clark which was aligned with President Duterte's plan to decongest Metro Manila, the Philippines' capital region and largest metropolitan area, and develop other potential economic hubs in the regions. On November 27, 2018, BCDA inaugurated its corporate office in Clark Global City and transferred part of its operations there as part of the move to decentralize state offices in Manila. In the same month, Dizon led BCDA's launch of “Clark: It Works, Like a Dream,” a major campaign which integrates four investment districts, namely the Clark Freeport Zone, Clark Global City, Clark International Airport, and the New Clark City.

Dizon saw Clark as one of the most financially viable lands of BCDA and prioritized the expansion of Clark International Airport and the development of the Philippines’ first smart, green, sustainable and resilient metropolis, New Clark City. In October 2020, the government announced that the construction of the new Clark International Airport Passenger Terminal Building is already 100 percent completed, and will be operational by 2021.

His term also saw quick development of New Clark City Phase 1A which served as the main sports hub for the 2019 Southeast Asian Games. The BCDA also hosted other major sporting events in the new sports complex, such as the 1st Philippine National Open Swimming Championships, Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association (PATAFA) qualifiers, and the first New Clark City Triathlon.

President Duterte included Dizon as a member of the Cabinet cluster on infrastructure in July 2019, and in September the same year, he was named Presidential Adviser for Flagship Programs and Projects to oversee the monitoring and implementation of the administration's flagship infrastructure programs, and making recommendations thereto.

In November 2019, during a Senate interpellation for the Philippine Sports Commission Budget for 2020, Dizon was prominently coaching Senator Bong Go on how to answer questions raised by Senator Franklin Drilon on the future financial viability of facilities built in BDCA for the 2019 SEA Games.

In October 2020, the Citizens Crime Watch Association filed before the Office of the Ombudsman a complaint for graft and malversation against Dizon, Government Corporate Counsel Elpidio Vega, and Isaac David, the director of Malaysian firm MTD Capital Berhad – the BCDA's partner in building New Clark over the facilities in New Clark City used during the 2019 SEA Games.

In December 2020, Dizon was appointed by President Duterte as the officer-in-charge chairperson of the Clark Development Corporation, a subsidiary of the BCDA that manages Clark Freeport Zone.

On October 15, 2021, Dizon filed his resignation as BCDA president.

National Action Plan Against COVID-19 (2020–2022)

During the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic and even while serving as BCDA chief, Dizon was appointed National Action Plan Against COVID-19 Deputy Chief Implementer, contributing to the government's policies in response to COVID-19 and serving as the country's Testing Czar.

As chief coordinator of the government's "Test, Trace and Treat" strategy, Dizon played an active role in improving the Philippines’ COVID-19 testing capacity. In September, Dizon reported that 3 million Filipinos have been tested, with daily testing capacity reaching 42,000. Dizon was also actively involved in the conversion of major facilities to mega quarantine centers for COVID patients.

In Clark, Dizon initiated the setting up of Task Force Clark Safe Haven to assist overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), both those stranded by the lockdown and those returning to the country.

Through Dizon and the Clark Development Corporation (CDC), Clark was able to host the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) bubble, the first sports event in the country amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

In November 2021, Dizon took his oath of office as the new Presidential Adviser for COVID response. According to acting presidential spokesperson Karlo Nograles, his office is focused on the vaccination efforts of government.

Secretary of Transportation (2025)

Appointment

On February 13, 2025, President Bongbong Marcos appointed Dizon as Secretary of Transportation, replacing Jaime Bautista, who resigned citing health reasons. Dizon took his oath of office before President Marcos on February 21. The Commission on Appointments confirmed his appointment on June 3, 2025.

Tenure On his first day as secretary, Dizon ordered the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) to suspend its plan to implement a compulsory cashless payment system on toll roads, describing the proposed system as "anti-poor".

In May 2025, Dizon directed local officials in Eastern Visayas to operationalize the Amandayehan Port in Basey, Samar, within two weeks as part of emergency measures to address logistics disruptions caused by load restrictions on the San Juanico Bridge. During an inter-agency meeting and site inspection, Dizon emphasized President Marcos's instruction to ensure the continuous movement of goods, fuel, and essential supplies between the provinces of Leyte and Samar amid the declaration of states of emergency in Samar and Tacloban. He also recommended that the port's management be transferred to the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) to enable sustained funding and development beyond the initial works supported by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

Active Transportation Strategic Master Plan

Dizon has reaffirmed his commitment to securing adequate funding for the Department of Transportation's (DOTr) Active Transportation Strategic Master Plan (ATSMP), a national framework aimed at promoting walkability and cyclist-friendly infrastructure throughout the country's urban centers. Dizon has acknowledged the deeply car-centric design of Metro Manila and other cities and stressed the urgent need to reframe transport planning to prioritize the safety and dignity of pedestrians and cyclists. He emphasized the importance of political will and pledged to fight for increased funding in the 2026 budget cycle, following a ₱90 billion (US$1.6 billion) reduction to the DOTr's approved 2025 allocation.

The ATSMP, which is in its consultation phase, is being developed in collaboration with private planning firm Palafox Associates and aims to address gaps in the country's active transport infrastructure. Public consultations are underway in six pilot cities—Iloilo, Mati, Metro Manila, Puerto Princesa, Surigao, and Zamboanga—to shape the plan's priorities and implementation strategies.

Dizon acknowledged the limitations imposed by budget constraints but stressed that he would push for restored and increased funding in the 2026 budget, instructing Road Transport Undersecretary Mark Steven Pastor to prioritize active transport in future allocations. He noted that effective use of the current budget would be essential to avoid further reductions and build a stronger case for expanded support. Under Dizon's leadership, the DOTr aimed to institutionalize active transportation planning through interagency collaboration. To manage anticipated traffic congestion, the DOTr, under Dizon's leadership and in its capacity as chair of the TRB, planned to implement toll-free access to select segments of Skyway Stage 3 to help divert traffic. In addition, an odd-even number coding scheme was set to be enforced along EDSA, while coordination with other agencies and stakeholders continued to finalize the broader traffic management plan.

Dizon stated that the rehabilitation would prioritize not only motorists but also pedestrians and commuters, as part of a broader effort to make EDSA safer and more inclusive. Supporters of the initiative argued that safer pedestrian facilities and improved public transport access help reduce inequalities in mobility by benefiting those who rely most heavily on shared and non-motorized transportation. On May 26, 2025, Dizon joined members of the Move As One Coalition in a community walk along EDSA, where he observed firsthand the hazards faced by pedestrians, including areas with limited protection from vehicles and motorcycles. He emphasized that enhancing pedestrian safety is a central objective of the ₱8.7 billion ($156 million) EDSA rehabilitation.

The rehabilitation, the first of its scale since 1980, was to involve the phased replacement of existing road surfaces with new concrete and asphalt, alongside upgrades to pedestrian walkways and drainage systems.

Secretary of Public Works and Highways (2025–present) Appointment Dizon taking his oath as Secretary of Public Works and Highways before President Bongbong Marcos, September 1, 2025. On August 31, 2025, President Bongbong Marcos appointed Dizon as the secretary of public works and highways, following the resignation of Manuel Bonoan amidst the flood control projects controversy. In turn, DOTr finance undersecretary Giovanni Lopez was named as the acting secretary of transportation. Dizon has served as secretary on an ad interim basis since September 1, 2025, as the Commission on Appointments has yet to schedule his confirmation hearing.

Tenure

Hours after being sworn in by President Marcos on September 1, 2025, Dizon ordered all officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to submit their courtesy resignations, citing a directive from the President to cleanse the agency of "corrupt officials" following reports of anomalous flood control projects. Dizon added that he would permanently blacklist contractors involved in substandard infrastructure projects.

In an interview over DZMM on September 2, 2025, Dizon said he would dissolve the DPWH's Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Committee, which had been established days earlier by his predecessor Manuel Bonoan to investigate anomalies within the agency. He explained that the department should not investigate itself, and instead directed that findings on projects and accountability be turned over to the independent commission created by President Marcos. Dizon added that his focus as secretary would be on internal reforms and cleanup, with the commission tasked to determine responsibility for irregularities.

In a press briefing on September 3, 2025, Dizon announced that all bidding for locally funded DPWH projects at the national, regional, and district levels would be temporarily suspended while the agency reviews ongoing works and introduces safeguards, in line with President Marcos's directive to address alleged anomalies in flood-control programs. Dizon clarified that foreign-assisted projects would proceed, citing oversight by international funders, and said the suspension would last up to two weeks. In the same briefing, Dizon requested the Department of Justice to monitor any future international travels of officials and contractors, including former DPWH Region IV-A assistant regional director Henry Alcantara and construction owner Sarah Discaya, as investigations continued following reports that 15 out of 1,600 validated flood control projects were found to be non-existent.

On August 9, 2026, Dizon inspected EDSA after heavy monsoon rains caused asphalt deterioration on a recently repaired section in Makati. He identified standing water accumulated because concrete barriers along the busway blocked drainage flows. He also added the low point of the first phase of the roadway project as the primary accumulation site. Dizon directed the contractor to fix the damaged pavement at no expense to the state. Workers plan to install temporary drainage ducts and create openings in the barriers to prevent future water pooling.

Personal life Dizon is married to Christine Marie Romero and they have one daughter.

He is also an Asia CEO Awards 2019 Circle of Excellence Awardee and was featured by Pampanga-based newspaper Punto! as "2018 Man of the Year" for the projects he spearheaded in Clark.

Honors

National honors