With the appointment of former Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) President and CEO Vivencio “Vince” Dizon as Secretary of Transportation, everyone is hopeful that the government’s programs on the transportation sector will be continued and implemented with greater speed and efficiency and that new ones such as modernization and other flagship projects be undertaken.
I was privileged to have known Vince Dizon 21 years ago while on the campaign trail along with my good friend Allan Yap and Adonis Samson, FPJ’s cousin. Unknown to many, Dizon helped in the campaign of Senator Grace Poe’s late father Fernando Poe, Jr. when he ran for president in the 2004 national elections.
He served as FPJ’s personal campaign chief of staff and he has since then left a lasting impression as a promising and rising Filipino leader.
Dizon is not a stranger to civil service. When he formally takes over the helm of DOTr on the 21st, he brings with him his extensive experience as former BCDA top honcho and Presidential
Adviser on Flagship Programs and Projects during the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte. He was involved in the implementation of the Build Build Build program that resulted in the big-ticket infrastructure projects.
He served as chairman of the Subic-Clark Alliance for Development; vice chairman, Clark International Airport Corporation; and BCDA representative to the Clark Development Corporation Board.
He was member of the Board of Directors in the following: Fort Bonifacio Development Corporation, Bonifacio Estates Services Corporation, and Bonifacio Global City Estates Association.
During the pandemic years, Dizon became one of the more popular government officials. Filipinos, anxious to know the government’s response to the health emergency, would vigilantly wait for news broadcast on TV, radio and other platforms. It was not surprising to hear Dizon’s name mentioned in news since he was the Deputy Chief Implementer of the National Action Plan Against CoVid-19.
He also served as Chief Testing Czar and was Chief Coordinator of the Test, Trace, Treat (T3) Program. Born during the Martial Law years, Dizon studied at the Don Bosco Technical College for his secondary education. He obtained his Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Bachelor of Science in Commerce-Management of Financial Institutions degrees from the De La Salle University. Recipient of the British Chevening Scholarship Awards, he studied at the University of Reading in the United Kingdom and obtained a Master of Science degree in Applied Development Studies. From 2011-2013, he was Undersecretary for Political Affairs in the Office of the President.
He also served in the Senate as Chief of Staff of the Office of Senator Edgardo Angara (2002-2004), and later as Consultant of Senator Alan Peter Cayetano (2013-2016). In the private sector, he was Vice President for Corporate Communications for Strategic Alliance Holdings Inc. – Technologies or SAHI-TECH (2007-2011); while in the academe, he was lecturer of Economics and Finance and assistant professor of Economics and research associate at the De La Salle University; and had a stint as senior lecturer in Economics, Finance and Statistics at the University of Northern Virginia in Prague, Czech Republic. Many senators hailed the appointment of Dizon to the Cabinet as DOTr secretary and expressed their optimism that issues affecting the transportation sector can be addressed.
The transportation sector covers not only land, air and sea transport systems but also subways— all important to economic growth and are investment and tourism-related. One of those who welcomed Dizon’s appointment was Senator Grace Poe.
“We want to congratulate Secretary Vince Dizon on his appointment and thank him for taking on such an enormous task at this critical time,” she said in a statement. “The new DOTR chief can count on our support in bringing relief to our commuting public and lasting solutions to our transportation sector,” she added as she expressed confidence that with Dizon’s skills and experience, he could fast track the needed DOTr reforms and projects. Much is expected from the new DOTr Secretary.
In the metropolis alone, he is expected to solve traffic congestion, fast track the railway projects and the subway system, aside from solving the problems in the jeepney modernization program. In the rural areas, he has to ensure seamless transport of goods, services and people through better sea, air and land transport. Being an action man himself and a goal setter, I have no doubt Dizon is up to the task who will make DOTr as one of the top performing agencies under BBM.
