DPWH to revive cadet program to recruit young engineers

Department of Public Works and Highways.

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is bringing back the Cadet Engineering Program to hire young engineers who may work in the government agency, DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon announced on Monday morning.

Dizon said that it was former DPWH Secretaries Rogelio “Babes” Singson, and Jose “Ping” de Jesus who brought up the program in a meeting on Saturday.

“They brought to my attention this very good program, the Cadet Engineering Program. This is very good for us to revitalize the DPWH with fresh graduates, with new, fresh engineers who have just passed or are just starting to work,” Dizon said at a flag-raising ceremony.

READ: DPWH to fill 1,993 positions, prioritize promotions

The Cadet Engineering Program was an initiative by Singson, launched in 2013.

It was a 26-week program made to put engineers through classes in public service, public infrastructure in the country, the DPWH and its mandate, and the agency’s regional, district, and project management office,s among others.

The program’s objective was to yield young engineers who may potentially work at the government agency.

One of the program’s success stories is the recently-named DPWH officer-in-charge, Undersecretary Engr. Lara Esquibil, who was among the first completers of the program in 2013.

In its previous implementation, interested engineers underwent a promotional exam for DPWH engineering positions nationwide to avoid the patronage system or backing.

However, Singson revealed that the program was dissolved after the agency allowed “outsiders” to get promotional slots. /mr