The Department of Transportation is the executive department of the Philippine

government responsible for the maintenance and expansion of viable, efficient, and
dependable transportation systems as effective instruments for national recovery
and economic progress.

Until June 30, 2016, the department was named Department of Transportation
and Communication (DoTC) With Republic Act No. 10844 or "An Act Creating
the Department of Information and Communications Technology", signed into law
on May 20, 2016 during the administration of Outgoing President Benigno Aquino
III, the Information and Communications Technology Office was spun off
the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and merged with all operative
units of the DOTC dealing with communications, to form the new Department of
Information and Communications Technology

History

From 1899 to 1979 all transportation and communications activities were

integrated into the structure and activities of what is now today the Department of
Public Works and Highways.

On July 28, 1979, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC),

headed by Minister José P. Dans Jr. was formally created pursuant to Executive
Order No. 546. Under this Executive Order, the Ministry of Public Works,
Transportation and Communications (MPWTC) was divided into two separate
ministries: The Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC) and the
Ministry of Public Works and Highways (MPWH).
The MOTC became the primary policy, planning, programming, coordinating,
implementing and administrative entity of the executive branch of the government
in the promotion, development and regulation of a dependable and coordinated
network of transportation and communication systems.
The infrastructure projects undertaken during this period included:
 Light Rail Transit System
 Computer-Controlled Traffic Lights System
 Manila International Airport now Ninoy Aquino International Airport
 Central Post Offices in Makati, Caloocan, Quezon City, and San Juan
It was also during this period that the motor vehicle registration and control was
improved with the introduction of permanent vehicle license plates and the
staggered registration system. A bus leasing program provided an additional 1,000
new buses in Metro Manila.
The operations of both the Philippine National Railways and the Metro Manila
Transit Corporation were improved and expanded. At the same time, the Manila
South Line of the PNR serving the Bicol Region was rehabilitated.

On February 26, 1986, just after the 1986 EDSA Revolution, Congressman
Hernando B. Pérez was appointed Minister of Transportation and Communication
by President Corazon C. Aquino.

In March 1987, technocrat Rainerio O. Reyes, was appointed Minister of MOTC.

Immediately after, the MOTC was reorganized pursuant to Executive Order Nos.
125, and 125-A. With these Executive Orders, the MOTC was made into a
Department, under the Executive branch of the Government.
Under Secretary Reyes, the quasi-judicial functions of the Department were
transferred to the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, which
was created through Executive Order No. 202.
Under Fidel V. Ramos
Jesus B. Garcia was appointed Secretary of the DOTC by President Fidel V.
Ramos. Under Garcia, new entrants were allowed in the landline and cellular
phone services, dilapidated taxi cabs were also phased out in favor of brand new
and late model units.

Present
At present, the DOTr is expected to pursue numerous projects as part of
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's thrust of improving and expanding the
country's infrastructure to promote tourism and investment, as outlined in her
2006 State of the Nation Address.
By 2016, the foundation of the Department of Information and Communications
Technology caused the DOTC to become simply the DOTr as the DICT transferred
the DOTC's communications agencies to it

Attached Agencies
Land (Road)[

 Land Transportation Office (LTO)

 Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB)
 Toll Regulatory Board (TRB)

Rail

 Philippine National Railways (PNR)

 Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA)
 Metro Rail Transit Corporation Though MRTC is not under the government, the
DOTC supervises the operation of the MRT-3(MRTC)
 North Luzon Railways Corporation (NORTHRAIL)
Air

 Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP)

 Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB)
 Philippine Aerospace Development Corporation (PADC)
 Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA-NAIA)
 Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority (MCIAA)

Sea

 Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA)

 Philippine Coast Guard (PCG)
 Philippine Merchant Marine Academy (PMMA)
 Philippine Ports Authority (PPA)
 Cebu Port Authority (CPA)

Miscellaneous

 Office for Transportation Security (OTS)

 Office for Transportation Cooperatives (OTC)
The history of the Department of Transportation and Communications can be
traced back to the establishment of the first Council of Government of the First
Philippine Republic.
In 1899, Gracio Gonzaga was appointed as Secretary of Public Welfare, which
included the transportation and communications services. When Pedro
Paterno became president, the department became the Communicaciones y
ObrasPublicas (Communications and Public Works Department),
with MaximoPaterno as secretary.
In 1902, the Philippine Commission established the Department of Commerce and
Police . It evolved into the Department of Commerce and Communications under
Reorganization Act No. 2666 of 1916.
From 1917 to 1922, Cebu governor DionisioJakosalem served as Secretary of
Commerce and Communication and implemented the construction of roads and
public buildings, linking the southern and northern parts of the province.
The Department of Commerce and Communications became the Department of
Public Works and Communications in 1931, when the Philippine Legislature
passed Act No. 4007, which lacked the proper composition and functions of the
said department until its reorganization on 15 November 1935 during the
inauguration of the Commonwealth Government. The DPWC 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.
President Manuel Quezon reorganized and regrouped the cabinet during the
Japanese occupation, making the DPWC the Department of National Defense,
Public Works, Communications and Labor.
When the Philippine Executive Commission was established in 1942,
President Jose P. Laurel appointed QuintinParedes as Minister of Public Works
and Communications.
After World War II, the Department of Public Works and Communications was re-
established by virtue of Executive Order No. 27.
In 1947, the Motor Vehicles office was placed under the department's supervision.
In 1954, as promulgated by Executive Order No. 392, the DPWC was transformed
into the Department of Public Works, Transportation and Communications
(DPWTC), which includes 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.
When President Ferdinand Marcos declared Martial Law in 21 September 1972,
the government implemented the Integrated Reorganization Plan No.1, which
places all the infrastructure functions of Bureaus and Offices under the DPWTC.
Through Administrative Order No. 2, the Bureau of Public Highways was
expanded and became the Department of Public Highways in 1 July 1974. Five
years later, MPWTC was divided into two ministries: the Ministry of Public Works
(MPW) and the Ministry of Transportation and Communication (MOTC). All
bureaus and offices concerned with public works functions and activities went
under the management of MPW. Likewise, all offices involved in transportation
and communications went under the supervision of MOTC.
On 16 March 1987, MOTC was reorganized and transformed into a Department,
pursuant to Executive Order No. 125 and 125-A.
On 12 January 2004, the Commission on Information and Communications
Technology (CICT) was created by virtue of Executive Order No. 269, signed by
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. It was composed of the National Computer
Center (NCC), the Telecommunications Office (TELOF), and all other operating
units of the DOTC that deals with communications.