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About
Us
Brief History
The
development of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)
into its present structure underwent a long process of evolution
spanning a century of colorful and significant events in laying the
groundwork for the physical foundation of the country.
The
Department is considered as old as the Philippine government, its
existence dates back to about four (4) centuries at the time of the
Spanish colonial era. It emerged from its embryonic form in 1565
when the first settlement roads were constructed by forced labor.
Fortresses then were connected by improved trails as supply lines
and means of communications. As Spain was in its expansion program
in the islands, it resorted to a policy of attraction by way of
public works construction. In order to pursue their objective, the
King of Spain designated the Spanish Governor General in the country
as Chief of Public Works assisted by “Junta Consultiva” through a
Royal Degree in 1867.
It
was in 1868 when the Bureau of Public Works and Highways (Obras
Publicas) and Bureau of Communications and Transportation (Communicationes
y Meteologia) were organized under a civil enginer known as
“Director General”.
Since then, the Department underwent various stages of
development and evolution that largely depended upon the change in
government shift of administration policies, and reorganization in
its structure and responsibilities to suit the demands of times.
Finally after a long process of
evolution by virtue of Executive Order No. 124, dated January 30,
1987, the agency is now known as the Department of Public Works and
Highways (DPWH) with five (5) bureaus, six (6) services, sixteen (16
regional offices, twenty-four (24) project management offices
sixteen (16) regional equipment services and one-hundred eighteen
(118) district engineering offices.
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Evolution of DPWH
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1898 |
The Organic Decree issued by Gen.
Emilio Aquinaldo establishing the Philippine Revolutionary
Government created four (4) government departments among which
was the
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Department of War and Public
Works
In 1896, after four (4) centuries of Spanish colonization, our
Filipino forebears started the revolutionary movement and the
struggle to gain freedom began. On June 12, 1898, Gen. Emilio
Aguinaldo declared the Philippine Independence in Kawit,
Cavite. The Organic Decree of the Philippine Revolutionary
Government on June 23, 1898 issued by Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo
provided for the creation of four (4) Departments in the
government, one of which was the DEPARTMENT OF WAR AND PUBLIC
WORKS.
Though once included in the Department of War, now Department of
National Defense, its functions as builder and maintainer of
roads, bridges and other public works structures are inherent in
the present Department. The inclusion of public works in the
War and Department can be explained by the exigencies of the
revolutionary period. The construction of fortifications and
trenches was needed in the cause for freedom which our heroes
had fought for.
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1902 |
Bureau of Engineering and
Construction of Public Works and Bureau of Architecture and
Construction of Public Buildings - were created by Act. Nos 22
and 268 of the Philippine Commission and placed under the
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The Department of Commerce and
Police
When Spain ceded the Philippines to the United States in 1898,
the public works and activities were placed under the U.S. Army
engineers. By virtue of Act No. 83 passed by the Philippine
Commission on February 6, 1901, public works and projects were
placed under the “Provincial Supervisions”. In 1902, the
Philippine Commission passed Act Nos. 222 and 268 creating the
Department of Commerce and Police which gave birth to the Bureau
of Engineering and Construction of public works and the Bureau
of Architecture and Construction of public buildings.
Act No. 1401 of the Philippine Commission passed on October 4,
1905, abolished engineering districts and positions of district
engineers. On October 26 of the same year, however, by virtue
of a Reorganization Act, the Bureau of Public Works was created
and placed under the Department of Commerce and Police. Along
with the economic growth of the country was the need for a more
extensive road network that would penetrate the rural areas. In
order to achieve that end, provincial boards were created in
1907 with authority to collect double cedula taxes to finance
the construction of provincial roads and bridges. In addition,
the national government appropriated P1,700,000 as aid to such constructions.
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Oct 26, 1905 |
Bureau of Public Works was created
and placed under Department of Commerce and Police |
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1916 |
Department of Commerce and Police
transformed to
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The Department of Commerce and
Communications
A significant headway in the growth of the DPWH was the first
appearance of motor vehicles in the Philippine highways in
1910. Roads and bridges had to be kept in good condition at all
times. Naturally, there was a need for funds to keep the roads
passable the whole year round. To raise such needed funds,
motor vehicles and drivers plying the highways were required to
register with fee in 1921. To keep pace with further
development in transportation and communications, the Department
of Commerce and Police was transformed into the Department of
Commerce and Communications under Reorganization Act No. 2666 of
1916. |
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May 1, 1931 |
Department of Commerce and
Communications renamed as
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The Department of Public Works
and Communications
More development for the Department took place in 1931 when the
Philippine Legislature passed on May 1 of that year Act No.
4007, renaming the Department of Commerce and Communications as
Department of Public Works and Communications. This Act,
however, did not state the proper composition and functions of
the DPWC.
During the inauguration of the Commonwealth Government on
November 15, 1935, a reorganization of the DPWC was undertaken.
Under the set up, it was composed of the Bureau of Public Works,
Ports, Aeronautics, Coast and Geodetic Survey, Metropolitan
Water District Division of Marine, Railway and Repair Shop,
National Radio Broadcasting, Irrigation Council and Board of
Examiners for Civil, Mechanical, Chemical and Mining Engineers.
In 1941, outbreak of World War II, the DPWC and other government
offices were practically abolished due to dislocation of
manpower, lack of funds, materials and equipment, installation
of enemy administration and the setting up of resistance
movement.
Resuming its operation in 1946, the DPWC started with limited
human resources, funds, materials and equipment. An office of
the U.S. Bureau of Public Roads was set up to cooperate with the
Philippine Bureau of Public Works in implementing the highway
program as authorized by the Philippine Rehabilitation Act of
1946. |
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1951 |
Department of Public Works and
Communications (DPWC) was reconstituted as
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The Department of Public
Works, Transportation and Communications
The authority of the Department
was further expanded when, in 1947, the Motor Vehicles Office
was placed under its direct supervision.
Under Executive Order
No. 392 in 1951, the DPWC was again reconstituted to Department of
Public Works, Transportation and Communications (DPWTC) to
include the Bureaus of Public Works, Posts, Telecommunications,
Motor Vehicles Office, Irrigation Council, Flood Control
Commission, Radio Control Board, National Transportation Board
and Government Quarters Committee.
Taking cognizance of
the social impact of the road network to national growth, the
Philippine Highway Act of 1953 or Republic Act No. 917 providing
for an effective highway administration, modified apportionment
of highway funds and gave aid to provinces and cities for the
improvement and maintenance of roads and bridges.
In relation to road and bridge construction and maintenance, the
Bureau of Public Highways was created in 1954 by virtue of the
Republic Act No. 1192 and placed under the
Department of Public Works, Transportation and
Communications. This Act provided for a more effective
management of the Philippine Highways under a Commissioner.
Active plans & programs were formulated & implemented.
Upon the declaration
of Martial Law on September 21, 1972, the Administration
implemented the Integrated Reorganization Plan No. 1 on
September 24, placing all the infrastructure functions of
Bureaus and Offices under the DPWTC for simplicity and economy
of operations.
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1954 |
Bureau of Public Highways (BPH)
was created and placed under DPWTC |
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1974 |
BPH was expanded as
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The Department of Public
Highways
The former Bureau of
Public Highways was expanded and restructured into the
Department of Public Highways (DPH) for a more effective
administration of the country’s highway system through
Administrative Order No. 2, dated July 1, 1974.
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1976 |
DPWTC renamed as
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DPH renamed as
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The Ministries
With the shift in the form of
government, national agencies were renamed from Departments to
Ministries. In 1976, DPWTC became Ministry of Public Works,
Transportation and Communications (MPWTC) & DPH as Ministry of
Public Highways (MPH). |
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July 23, 1979 |
MPWTC was restructed into two (2)
separate Ministries - one, the Ministry of Transportation and
Communication and two, the
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The Ministry of Public Works
On July 23, 1979 under
Executive Order No. 546, MPWTC was again restructured into two
(2) Ministries – the Ministry of Public Works (MPW) and the
Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC),
integrating all bureaus and offices concerned with public works
functions and activities under the Ministry of Public Works.
The same went true with all offices involved in transportation
and communications which were placed under the supervision and
administration of the Ministry of Transportation and
Communications. |
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July 27, 1981 |
MPW and MPH were merged to become
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The Ministry of Public Works
and Highways
Under Executive Order No. 710
dated July 27, 1981, the Ministries of Public Works and Public
Highways were merged for a more effective and sustained
implementation of infrastructure projects. Under the
restructured set-up, the agency was known as the Ministry of
Public Works and Highways (MPWH) with 14 regional offices, 94
districts and 60 city engineering offices, five (5) bureaus and
six (6) service offices, in addition to corporations and
councils attached to the Ministry for administrative
supervision. |
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Jan 30, 1987 |
MPWH was renamed as
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The Department of Public Works and
Highways
Finally, by virtue of Executive
Order No. 124, dated January 30, 1987, the agency is now known
as the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) with five
(5) bureaus, six (6) services, 16 regional offices, 24 project
management offices, 16 regional equipment services and 118
district engineering offices.
As the primary
engineering and construction arm of the government, the DPWH is
responsible for the planning, design, construction and
maintenance of infrastructures such as roads and bridges, flood
control systems, water resource development projects and other
public works in accordance with national objectives.
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