In the midst of the ongoing scandal engulfing the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Senior Undersecretary Emil Kiram Sadain stands out as a model of clean governance and dedicated public service. Known for his low-profile but steady leadership, Sadain exemplifies integrity in action—a career civil servant whose decades-long work in infrastructure and governance have remained untarnished, reflecting both professionalism and a genuine commitment to the Filipino people.
Sadain’s credentials speak volume: a licensed civil engineer and sanitary engineer, he finished his BS Civil Engineering at Western Mindanao State University in 1985, later placing second in the Sanitary Engineering board exam after graduating from National University in 1991. He capped his academic pursuits with a Master’s in Construction Management from the University of the East in 1995. Between 1992 and 1994, he also taught engineering courses at National University, reflecting his commitment to nurturing future professionals even as he built his career in government.
His public service trajectory is equally distinguished. From joining DPWH in 1986 as a young engineer, he rose steadily through the ranks, becoming Assistant Secretary in 2009 and Senior Undersecretary in 2022. He was also seconded as Regional Secretary of DPWH in the defunct Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) from 2012 to 2015, where he spearheaded modular bridge projects in Tawi-Tawi and introduced governance reforms, among others, that earned him the recognition as a “Father of Reform Agenda.” For these efforts, he was honored with the Presidential Gawad CES Award in 2017 and later the Presidential Lingkod Bayan Award in 2020.
Sadain’s reputation as a dependable leader was further solidified when he was appointed chief implementer of the Duterte administration’s "Build! Build! Build!" program and now continues to oversee major projects under the Marcos administration’s "Build Better More" initiative. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he headed the DPWH Task Force on health facilities, rapidly converting buildings into modular hospitals and quarantine centers. His advocacy also extends to resilience-building, having worked with JICA to strengthen coastal engineering and disaster-preparedness programs. Beyond government, he was elected National President of the Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers (PICE) for 2023–2024, a rare recognition from his peers.
Through it all, Sadain has remained what the times demand most: a clean, competent, and committed public servant. Reflecting his approach to public service, Sadain believes that “integrity is the foundation of every project we build — without it, even the strongest structure will crumble.”
In an era when DPWH faces credibility challenges, the public career of Emil K. Sadain, a true blooded Tausug, offers a rare narrative of integrity — proof that good governance and service to the people are still possible in the corridors of power.
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