Standing beside Dizon was Arrey Perez, a familiar face from Dizon’s days at the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA).
Funny thing, though.
Wasn’t it just last year that Perez jumped to the private sector for a short stint as president of Metro Pacific Tollways Corp., the expressway giant led by tycoon Manuel V. Pangilinan (MVP)?
Insiders said Perez is indeed set to rejoin the government, this time as a senior undersecretary at the Department of Public Works and Highways as soon as his appointment papers are finalized.
We’re also told there’s no bad blood, despite the confusing leadership changes at MPTC when Perez came in.
The toll road operator had previously announced him as successor to former president and CEO Rogelio “Babes” Singson, incidentally also a past DPWH Secretary.
It’s true that Perez eventually shared top management duties with MVP, only to be replaced 100 days later by veteran executive Joey Lim. Perez was then shifted to lead their regulatory affairs—still a respectable role—but not what was initially envisioned.
Moving forward, Dizon gains a valuable ally in his bid to clean up corruption in the department.
We’re told the secretary personally made the call to MVP for permission to bring his colleague back into public service.
Miguel R. Camus has been a reporter covering various domestic business topics since 2009.
