MANILA, Philippines — Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon held a historic recruitment drive at his alma mater, De La Salle University (DLSU), on Thursday, February 12, 2026, urging fresh graduates to join the agency and help “repair” its image following the massive flood control corruption scandal.
However, the event took an awkward turn when Dizon used a disgraced engineer as a “cautionary tale,” only to discover the official was also a graduate of the same university.
The “Cautionary Tale” During the DPWH job fair, Dizon told students not to follow the path of Henry Alcantara and Brice Hernandez, two engineers dismissed and jailed for their roles in multi-million peso public works anomalies.
- The “Oops” Moment: After Dizon warned that following Hernandez would lead to jail, members of the audience informed him that Hernandez was actually a DLSU alumnus.
- The Reaction: A visibly shocked Dizon gasped and apologized to the Dean of the College of Engineering, saying: “Brice is from La Salle!? Oh my God. Sorry, dean… I didn’t know Brice was from La Salle. Terrible.”
Who is Brice Hernandez? Hernandez was a former assistant district engineer in Bulacan who became the face of the “flood control mess” investigation in 2025.
- Unexplained Wealth: He was questioned during congressional hearings on how he could afford several luxury cars on a P70,000 monthly salary.
- Current Status: Hernandez eventually turned over his luxury vehicles to the Independent Commission for Infrastructure. He is currently detained at the Quezon City Jail and has pleaded not guilty to graft charges related to a P92.8-million project in Bulacan.
Recruitment for Reform Despite the awkward exchange, Dizon emphasized that hiring “new blood”—particularly young engineers and accountants—is the primary strategy for internal reform at the DPWH.
- Accountability: Dizon noted that President Marcos has ordered him to ensure accountability, return stolen wealth, and jail those involved in corruption.
- Appeal to Youth: He praised the DLSU students for their willingness to join the agency despite its “battered image,” stating that their idealism is necessary to curb systemic graft.
The recruitment drive at DLSU is the first in a series of job fairs the DPWH plans to hold at top universities, as the agency seeks to fill critical positions with personnel who have not yet been exposed to the “rotten culture” cited in recent audit reports.