History

BACKGROUND

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.

EVOLUTION OF DPWH

    EVOLUTION OF DPWH 
1898 The Organic Decree issued by Gen. DEPARTMENT OF  WAR AND PUBLIC WORKS
Emilio Aquinaldo establishing the
Philippine Revolutionary Government           In 1896, after four (4) centuries of Spanish colonization, our Filipino
created four (4) government
forebears started the revolutionary movement and the struggle to gain freedom
departments among which was the
    EVOLUTION OF DPWH 

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.

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

Bureau of Engineering and
and Construction of public buildings.
Construction of Public Works and
Bureau of Architecture and  
1902 Construction of Public Buildings - were
created by Act. Nos 22 and 268 of the            Act No. 1401 of the Philippine Commission passed on October 4,
Philippine Commission and placed
1905, abolished engineering districts and positions of district engineers.  On
under the
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.

Octobe Bureau of Public Works was created
r 26, and placed under Department of  
1905 Commerce and Police
    EVOLUTION OF DPWH 
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
Department of Commerce and Police needed funds, motor vehicles and drivers plying the highways were required to
1916
transformed 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. 

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
May 1, Department of Commerce and
1931 Communications renamed as 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.

1951 Department of Public Works and THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS, TRANSPORTATION AND
Communications (DPWC) was COMMUNICATIONS
reconstituted as
            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

    EVOLUTION OF DPWH 

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.

Bureau of Public Highways (BPH) was
1954
created and placed under DPWTC  
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
1974 BPH was expanded as
administration of the country’s highway system through Administrative Order

No. 2, dated July 1, 1974.

THE MINISTRIES

            With the shift in the form of government, national agencies were

DPWTC renamed as renamed from Departments to Ministries.  In 1976, DPWTC became Ministry of
1976   Public Works, Transportation and Communications (MPWTC) & DPH as Ministry
DPH renamed as of Public Highways (MPH).

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

MPWTC was restructed into two (2)
July 23,separate Ministries - one, the Ministry bureaus and offices concerned with public works functions and activities under
1979 of Transportation and Communication
and two, the 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.

July 27,MPW and MPH were merged to become THE MINISTRY OF PUBLIC WORKS AND HIGHWAYS
1981
            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

    EVOLUTION OF DPWH 

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.

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

Jan 30,
MPWH was renamed as engineering offices.
1987
 
            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.

FUNCTIONS
The Department of Public Works and Highways functions as the engineering
and construction arm of the Government tasked to continuously develop its
technology for the purpose of ensuring the safety of all infrastructure facilities
and securing for all public works and highways the highest efficiency and
quality in construction. DPWH is currently responsible for the planning, design,
construction and maintenance of infrastructure, especially the national
highways, flood control and water resources development system, and other
public works in accordance with national development objectives.
MANDATE
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is one of the three
departments of the government undertaking major infrastructure projects. The
DPWH is mandated to undertake (a) the planning of infrastructure, such as
national roads and bridges, flood control, water resources projects and other
public works, and (b) the design, construction, and maintenance of national
roads and bridges, and major flood control systems.

Target Client: Filipino people (e.g. Contractors, suppliers, community)