MANDATE Department of Public Works and

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is one of the three
Highways
departments of the government undertaking major infrastructure projects. The
DPWH is mandated to undertake (a) the planning of infrastructure, such as national Kagawaran ng Pagawaing Pampubliko at mga
roads and bridges, flood control, water resources projects and other public works,
Lansangan
and (b) the design, construction, and maintenance of national roads and bridges, and
major flood control systems.

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.
DPWH building

VISION Department overview

By 2030, DPWH is an effective and efficient government agency, improving the life
Formed January 24, 1899 (under the First
of every Filipino through quality infrastructure.
Republic)
MISSION January 30, 1981 (present form)
To provide and manage quality infrastructure facilities and services responsive to the
Headquarters Bonifacio Drive, Port Area, Manila
needs of the Filipino people in the pursuit of national development objectives.
Annual budget ₱290.5 billion (2015)
QUALITY POLICY
Department Mark Villar, Secretary
We commit to provide quality, safe, and environment-friendly public infrastructure
facilities that will improve the life of every Filipino. Executive

Website www.dpwh.gov.ph
We commit to comply with all requirements and to continually improve
effectiveness and efficiency in serving the public. Contact Person Engr. Edgardo Ramos

DPWH – NCR Project Engineer

We endeavour to implement the RIGHT PROJECTS at the RIGHT COST
determined through transparent and competitive bidding; with the RIGHT Construction
QUALITY, according to international standards; delivered RIGHT ON TIME +63 917 635 8856
through close monitoring of project implementation; and carried out by the RIGHT
PEOPLE who are competent and committed to uphold the values of public service, integrity, professionalism, excellence, and
teamwork.

CORE VALUES

Public Service
Integrity
Professionalism
Excellence
Teamwork
BACKGROUND 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.

ABOUT THE DPWH LOGO

The design conveys the idea of Filipino engineering excellence with sub-themes such as the fine
craftsmanship of Filipino design engineers, architects and the whole field of engineering profession,
competence and integrity . The most noticeable is the gear frame which is completely circular. The
gear represents motion, transmission and direction towards the common man’s economic and social
upliftment. The perpetual motion of the circular gear seeks unity of effort, unity of direction and
unity of the diverse components of the public works and highways functions and responsibilities. Its
sixteen (16) gears represent the administrative regions in the country. Within the gear frame, the
highway stretches northward and merges to an infinity, cutting through and against the backdrop of
a doric column. The doric column is the symbol of the building and construction industry. The term
“against the backdrop” and while the highway cuts through the doric column, it does not convey
divisiveness but instead conveys that the road stretches to infinity complemented hand-in-hand by
the prosecution of the public works projects represented by the doric column. This denotes unity of
objectives and unity of efforts. The white doric column and the two range lanes represent the engineering outputs of the Department -
- roads and bridges, flood control and drainage structures, ports, water supply, national buildings, urban community infrastructure and
other public works. Thus, the doric column and the highway should be taken in a total context.