Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon delivers his speech during the turnover ceremony with outgoing Secretary Jaime Bautista on February 24, 2025.  DOTr Handout 

MANILA (UPDATE) -- Newly-installed Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon is asking all incumbent Undersecretaries, Assistant Secretaries and DOTr Directors to submit courtesy resignations.

Shakeup at DOTr looms as new chief takes over; Dizon seen to bring in some Tugade-era officials

In a memo, Dizon said this is meant to give him a free hand to perform the mandate given to him by the President.

During a press briefing, Dizon downplayed the resignation call, describing it as a standard practice whenever “there is a change in leadership in government.”

“It’s just a simple gesture of good will and good faith to the newly appointed leadership which will allow the newly appointed leadership to find the best personnel to do the jobs that need to be done,” said Dizon.

In a memo signed by Dizon on February 24, 2025, all incumbent undersecretaries, assistant secretaries and directors of the DOTr were given two days or until February 26 to tender their unqualified courtesy resignations.

But Dizon also clarified that this only applies to officials from the DOTr Central Office and not those in attached agencies or Government-Owned and Controlled Corporations (GOCC) under the DOTr.

Dizon noted that it does not automatically mean that everybody will be booted out.

“It does not mean that I will accept those courtesy resignations in toto. It just means that we are now given the free hand to maybe move people around, if possible, look at the talents we have already in DOTr, and also look at outside talents,” he explained.

“Dahil alam niyo mabigat ang trabaho dito sa DOTr… We really need to find a way to find the best talent,” added Dizon.

Sources earlier told ABS-CBN News Dizon will appoint several officials from the time of former DOTr chief Arthur Tugade to reclaim their roles or related ones.

Undersecretary for Rails Jeremy Regino already resigned in early January. Usec. for Planning TJ Batan has stood in as Officer-In-Charge.

Batan also handled the railways sector back for a few years starting in 2018 under Tugade.

Sources privy to the matter said Batan may possibly be retained for continuity of programs, citing his institutional memory.

Dizon will inherit many major railway infrastructure projects including the ongoing construction of the Metro Manila Subway, North-South Commuter Railway, and the MRT-7– all of which are bogged down due to right-of-way issues.

As of writing, the DOTr has yet to disclose who has submitted their courtesy resignations

But Dizon said he has already gave Malacañang a list of seven people who he wants to be part of his team as he aims to hit the ground running at the DOTr.

“Hindi ko pwedeng pangunahan ang appointing authority,” he said, when asked to reveal those seven names.

Big-ticket railway projects unlikely to finish within Marcos term due to right-of-way roadblocks