The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) formally launched on August 15, 2025 the Leadership Excellence for Advance Development (LEAD) Program, a transformative leadership training designed to cultivate the next generation of DPWH leaders and ensure the continuity of high-impact infrastructure development across the country.
Held at the Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP) Conference Center in Tagaytay City, the 10-day training is attended by 30 middle managers from the DPWH Unified Project Management Office (UPMO) Clusters, including Engineers IV, V, and Project Managers I to III. The program runs from August 15 to 28, 2025, to be followed by another 10-Day Technical Course from September 22 to October 03, 2025.
Spearheaded by Senior Undersecretary Emil K. Sadain, in partnership with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP), the LEAD Program is implemented under ADB’s Technical Assistance (TA-10084). The initiative is strategically aligned with the administration’s Build Better More infrastructure agenda and supports the broader vision of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. for a “Bagong Pilipinas.”
In his keynote address, Senior Undersecretary Sadain underscored the critical importance of emotional intelligence (EI) in the realm of public leadership, particularly for government engineers.
“For government engineers, EI is not just a soft skill—it’s a strategic asset that enhances effectiveness, builds public trust, and leads to socially responsible solutions,” he stated, highlighting how the ability to understand, manage, and respond to emotions—both one’s own and those of others—can significantly influence decision-making, stakeholder engagement, and project outcomes.
Senior Undersecretary Sadain pointed out that in the complex landscape of public infrastructure and governance, technical expertise alone is not enough. Government engineers must also possess the empathy, self-awareness, and interpersonal acumen necessary to collaborate with diverse communities, respond to public concerns with sensitivity, and lead teams with integrity and accountability.
DPWH Secretary Manuel M. Bonoan commended the LEAD initiative, describing it as a timely and strategic undertaking that strengthens the agency’s expanding infrastructure portfolio.
Secretary Bonoan emphasized that such forward-looking programs are essential to sustaining the momentum of national development and ensuring the efficient delivery of public infrastructure projects across the country.
Meanwhile, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Assistant Secretary Michael S. Villafranca shared the critical need for phronetic leadership—a philosophy that blends practical wisdom, ethical integrity, and situational awareness in decision-making.
“In today’s complex and rapidly changing environment, the Department need future leaders who are not just technically competent but also morally grounded and contextually aware. It’s not enough to follow a blueprint when the ground realities demand thoughtful adaptation. We need leaders who can think critically, act with conscience, and navigate ambiguity with discernment”, Assistant Secretary Villafranca emphasized.
ADB Transport Sector Director Dong Kyu Lee noted that the training is a strategic investment in ensuring the long-term sustainability of both ongoing and upcoming Official Development Assistance (ODA) projects. He said that developing leadership capacity helps ensure that projects—particularly those supported by ADB—are implemented effectively and remain resilient over time.
Also present during the opening ceremony were DAP Senior Vice President Magdalena L. Mendoza, UPMO Project Directors Rodrigo I. Delos Reyes, Soledad R. Florencio, Teresita V. Bauzon, and Benjamin A. Bautista; DPWH Service Directors Vanessa G. Villanueva and Randy R. Del Rosario; and former UPMO Project Director Virgilio C. Castillo.
The LEAD Program is composed of two key components: Leadership and Management Enhancement Course, focused on strengthening soft skills and strategic thinking; and Technical Course on Ensuring Project Readiness, tailored for ODA-funded infrastructure projects implemented by UPMO.
Among the most notable high-impact Infrastructure Flagship Projects (IFPs) funded by ODA under UPMO implementation is the 32.15-kilometer Bataan-Cavite Interlink Bridge, with civil works procurement underway and construction expected to begin before the end of 2025. Another major undertaking is Phase 1 of the 33.93-kilometer Laguna Lakeshore Road Network (LLRN), a project anticipated to significantly boost economic activity and promote transformative development in the CALABARZON and National Capital Regions.
Progress is also being made on the Dalton Pass East Alignment Road, which will provide a crucial link between Nueva Ecija and Nueva Vizcaya. Procurement of design consultants is ongoing, with detailed engineering design scheduled to commence in early 2026.
In the Visayas, the 33.09-kilometer Panay-Guimaras-Negros Island Bridges are in the detailed engineering design phase, while the Cebu-Mactan 4th Bridge and Coastal Road aims to ease congestion and improve accessibility in Metro Cebu. Meanwhile, feasibility studies are underway for the proposed 2.61-kilometer Second San Juanico Bridge, which will further enhance inter-island connectivity between Samar and Leyte.
In Mindanao, the Davao City Bypass Project has marked significant progress, with the northbound tunnel—measuring 2.3 kilometers—achieving breakthrough in March 2025. The southbound tunnel is expected to follow suit within the third quarter of this year. The Davao River Bridge, also known as the Bucana Bridge along the Davao City Coastal Road, is on track for full completion by the fourth quarter of 2025. Several subcomponents under the Improving Growth Corridors for Mindanao Road Sector Project (IGCMRSP) continue to support inclusive growth and sustainable development across the region.
At the same time, the DPWH is stepping up efforts to strengthen climate resilience by updating Master Plans and Feasibility Studies for the country’s major river basins. Updated plans have already been completed for seven out of 18 basins, including Apayao-Abulug, Pampanga, Bicol, Panay, Jalaur, Buayan-Malungon, and Agusan. Updates are ongoing for the Cagayan, Agno, Pasig-Marikina-Laguna de Bay, Ilog-Hilabangan, and Mindanao (Ala River) basins, with completion targeted between 2025 and 2027.
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