DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS AND HIGHWAYS

A Written Report

Presented to

Professor ELIZABETH S. LUMAYAG CODILLA DPA.

Department of Political Science

College of Arts and Social Sciences

MSU- Iligan Institute of Technology

Iligan City

In Partial Fulfillment

of the Requirements for the Course

Political Science 151 (Philippine Bureaucracy, Processes, and Movements)

Second Semester, AY 2016-2017

SAHANIE MOHAMMAD ALI

February 2017

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Table of Contents

TITLE PAGE…………………………………………………………………………………………….. 1

TABLE OF CONTENTS ……………………………………………………………………………….. 2

INTRODUCTION……………………………………………………………………………………….. 3

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND………………………………………………………………………… 3

DPWH SECRETARY…………………………………………………………………………………... 4

GENERAL FUNCTIONS……………………………………………………………………………….. 4

BUREAUS AND ATTACHED AGENCIES…………………………………………………………… 4

PROGRAMS ……………………………………………………………………………………………. 6

ISSUES………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 7

CONCLUSION……………………………………………………………………………………….. .. 9

REFERENCES…………………………………………………………………………………………. 10

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 CHAPTER 1:

Introduction

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.

CHAPTER 2:

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF DPWH

 1898- The Philippine Revolutionary Government created the Department of War and
Public Works on June 23, 1898
 1902- The Bureau of Engineering and Construction of Public Works and Bureau of
Architecture and Construction of Public Buildings were created by Act Numbers 22 and
268 of the Philippine Commission and placed under Department of Commerce and
Police.
 1905- On the 26th of October this year the Bureau of Public Works was created.
 1916- The Department of Commerce and Police was converted to the Department of
Commerce and Communications.
 1931- The Department was renamed as Department of Public Works and
Communication (DPWC) on May.
 1951- DPWC was reconstituted as Department of Public Works, Transportation and
Communication.
 1976- DPWTC was renamed Ministry of {public Works, Transportation and
Communication (MPWTC). The Department of Public Highways became the Ministry of
Public Highways.
 1979- MPWTC was split into two separate Ministries- the Ministry of Public Works,
Transportation, and Communication and the ministry of Public Highways.
 1981- On July 27 of this year MPW and MPH were merged to become the Ministry of
Public Works and Highways.
 1987- The Ministry was renamed as the Department of Public Works and Highways.

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 CHAPTER 3:

THE DPWH SECRETARY:

MARK A. VILLAR

He earned his bachelor's degree in Economics, Political Science and Philosophy from
the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. He also finished his master's degree in
Business Administration from the University Of Chicago Booth School Of Business. On his
return to the Philippines, he worked for 10 years in the family's real estate business. He was
President of Crown Asia Corporation before becoming Managing Director of Vista Land and
lifescapes.

CHAPTER 4:

General 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.

CHAPTER 5:

BUREAUS AND ATTACHED AGENCIES

1 Bureau of Research and Standards

BRS undertakes researches to identify appropriate standards in the implementation of DPWH

projects, in coordination with the private sector. In terms of technological development, BRS
undertakes a well-focused research program to improve the quality of projects in DPWH.

2 Bureau of Construction

BOC reviews and evaluates programs, estimates, contracts, progress reports of DPWH
projects, as well as, inspects, checks and monitor construction projects of DPWH implementing
offices and other government agencies.

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3 Bureau of Equipment

BOE formulates guidelines, policies, rules and regulations on the nationwide allocation and
utilization of equipment. It evaluates the equipment requirements of the different DPWH Field
Offices and recommends acquisition and allocation. Takes custody of the DPWH equipment,
undertakes maintenance and administers equipment rental.

4 Bureau of Design

BOD conducts, supervises and reviews the results of field surveys for DPWH projects to review
the schemes, designs, specifications, estimates, tender/contract documents covering the
technical design aspects of the DPWH projects and that of other government agencies in
accordance with current standards and guidelines.

5 Bureau of Maintenance

BOM is primarily tasked with the maintenance of the nation's public works and highways
facilities. Relative to this, it is engaged in the continuous conduct of field inspections to
effectively monitor maintenance activities of the District Engineering Offices.

Agencies

1 Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System

Derives its Mandate primarily from Republic Act 6234 which states the basic goals of the
System and declares as its major policy the proper operation and maintenance of waterworks
system to ensure an uninterrupted and adequate supply and distribution of potable water for
domestic and other purposes and the proper operation and maintenance of sewerage systems
in its service area which includes the whole of Metro Manila and parts of Cavite and Rizal.

2 Local Water Utilities Administration

The Local Water Utilities Administration, more commonly referred to as LWUA, is a government-
owned and controlled corporation (GOCC) with a specialized lending function mandated by law
to promote and oversee the development of water supply systems in provincial cities and
municipalities outside of Metropolitan Manila.

3 National Irrigation Administration

The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) is a government-owned and controlled corporation

primarily responsible for irrigation development and management. It was created
under Republic Act (RA) 3601 on 22 June 1963. Its charter was amended by Presidential
Decree (PD) 552 on 11 September 1974 and PD 1702 on 17 July 1980. Both increased the
capitalization and broadened the authority of the Agency.

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 CHAPTER 6:

PROGRAMS, SERVICES AND PROJECTS

1 Public-Private Partnership program

Infrastructure development for our country remains of critical importance to regain and
sustain high economic growth, improve the social living standards of the people and remove the
bottlenecks to international commerce and investment.  The new administration recognizes the
Public-Private Partnership (PPP) as an approach to invest resources for adequate road
infrastructure. The Government has less resource to invest on Expressways.  DPWH will
undertake the reforms needed to create a more conducive environment for private business and
help generate many more bankable projects.

The Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Service is tasked to handle PPP projects in the
Department.  The Office has come up with a short and long list of priority PPP projects
proposed for implementation.  These priority projects are the outputs of the on-going JICA-
assisted Preparatory Survey for Public-Private Partnership Infrastructure Development Project
in the Philippines. Mostly situated in Luzon, and only two projects are completed while the rest
are ongoing. Example: Muntinlupa Cavite Expressway

2 Infrastructure projects

 P23-B worth of Infra Projects to be implemented by DPWH Eastern Visayas in 2017

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Regional Office 8 will
implement a total of 834 infrastructure projects region-wide amounting to P23-B for FY
2017 based on General Appropriation Act (GAA). Along with its 12 District Engineering
offices, Regional Office 8 has already completed pre-detailed engineering (PDE) for 621
while 146 projects are undergoing PDE. A total of 670 projects are with on-going pre-
construction while 586 of all 834 projects were already bid out.

 Leyte 4th DEO to Implement ₱1.8B Infra Projects for 2017

The Leyte 4th District Engineering Office (DEO) will implement ₱1.8 Billion worth of
infrastructure projects for CY 2017, consisting mostly of off-carriageway improvements, flood
control and drainage systems, barangay infrastructure and school buildings. This is based on
the initial list furnished by the DPWH Central Office, Planning Service which consolidates the
National Expenditure Program (NEP) of DPWH.

The ₱1.8 Billion expected for 2017 is almost twice the amount of ₱.99 Billion allocated for
the District from the General Appropriations Act (GAA) 2016. Of this amount, ₱778 Million was
implemented by Leyte 4th DEO and the rest by the DPWH Regional Office. 80% of the amount
for 2016 has been obligated already and implementation is on-going.

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  Cagayan De Oro City- the national government is set to build P1.7 billion worth of
projects.

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) on Tuesday said these projects
include the construction of four bridges and four interchanges. Leowald Pacore, an engineer
at the regional office of the DPWH said that the ongoing project at the Bitan-ag Creek
project has an allocation of P75 million. Under the said project, the existing clogged up box
culvert at the creek will be removed and replaced by a 14-meter long bridge with an
elevation of 1.85 meters. This will pave the way for the efficient flow of water in the said
creek. This is expected to run through the course of the next three years.

 Zamboanga Peninsula Infra Projects

The Department of the Public Works and Highways (DPWH) eyes booming
infrastructure development in Zamboanga Peninsula as it lays out more projects for 2017 in
line with the current administration’s thrust to accelerate infrastructure spending. The
regional office is gearing up for a total number of 446 projects targeted to be undergone by
2017. Under the National Expenditure Program of the Department, a total of ₱16,598,174
billion will be allotted for 2017 to construct, upgrade, and rehabilitate national roads and
bridges in the Zamboanga Peninsula. Projects on the construction, repair or maintenance of
dikes, seawalls, river control, revetment, river walls, drainage mains, waterways, and other
structures and facilities for flood control should also be prioritize to mitigate the catastrophic
effects of flooding.

CHAPTER 7:

ISSUES AND CHALLENGES

1 Surigao Earthquake

Five (5) road sections and five (5) national bridges were reported to have damages in
Region XIII. All affected national roads and bridges are still passable. DPWH District
Engineering Offices installed warning signs and deployed personnel and equipment to conduct
clearing operations and placement of filling materials on bridge approaches. Technical
personnel from DPWH and PICE-ASEP EQRP Team are continually conducting
evaluation/assessment on National Government-Owned Buildings, Hospitals and School
Buildings and Other Infrastructure Facilities.

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2 Corruption

Issues of never ending corruption that is said to have worsened during Aquino’s
administration, with Singson as the DPWH secretary. The re blocking of roads and “repairing”
concrete roads that does not seem to have damages, road repairs that takes a lot of times that
even causes traffic and road congestion. These are some of the scenarios that clearly manifests
corruption under the previous administration. In addition, last December 2016, 6 officials are
convicted to graft and estafa for ghost repairs (inquirer, 2016)

3 Traffic

This is mainly caused by road congestion due to unending road repairs, reconstruction,
re blocking, and asphalting. In the case of Iligan City, as an observer it is evident that “small”
repairs alongside roads especially along the National Highway causes heavy traffic to
commuters every day. It takes months for a road side repair or re blocking to be done.

4 Pork Barrel Hike

"The Department of Public Works and Highways regained its slashed P8-billion 'pork' in
the General Appropriations Act of 2017. Not only that, it got an additional P497 million, at the
expense of the Calamity Fund," (Lacson, 2017)

"Apparently, the P8.557 billion plus another P497 million added to the budget of the DPWH
came from the huge cuts suffered by National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund
or Calamity Fund under the Special Purpose Fund," Lacson said. He pointed out the Calamity
Fund was reduced from a proposed budget of P37.255 billion to a mere P15.755 billion in the
signed 2017 budget law – a cut of P21.5 billion. Lacson claimed the realignments were done to
accommodate the pork barrel of lawmakers, citing instances when Mindanao congressmen
approached him during Senate plenary debates.

5 Infrastructure project failure

Too much rain, garbage, clogged waterways caused Cagayan de Oro flood. The DPWH
in Northern Mindanao says the 60 mm of rainwater dumped on Cagayan de Oro in just 6 hours
was equivalent to 2 weeks’ rain RAINAGE MASTERPLAN. In a media briefing on Wednesday,
January 18, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in Northern Mindanao
acknowledged that its elevated bridge over the Bitan-ag Creek along CM Recto Avenue failed to
prevent flooding between the Lim Ket Kai Complex and the University of Science and
Technology of Southern Philippines (USTSP) which was inundated with neck level water last
Monday. Bitan-ag Creek is one of the major waterways of Cagayan de Oro. It cuts across the
major residential and business districts: Barangay Camaman-an, Cogon Market, Limketkai
Center, Agora Market, and Barangay Lapasan. It is also the main drain of the drainage system
of the Cogon Market area, Osmena Street, Provincial Capitol Compound, Ramonal Village,
Barangay Nazareth, and a portion of Divisoria.

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 “It was designed to hold more water, but it failed,” Cupay said. “But it was not an isolated
incident because flood was all over the city, not just along the national highway.” The Bitan-ag
creek is one of the major waterways in the city that drains into Macajalar Bay.

CHAPTER: 8

CONCLUSION

As a student, it is wonderful to be informed that the government has crafted a bureau

that will help enhance and maximize the resources that the country possesses especially in
Mindanao. As it constructs infrastructures mainly roads and bridges that connect people and
enables them to deliver their goods and services. I think that all other agencies not only DPWH
needs efficient managers and employees who will extend their services to the masses. But
since corruption is rampant in almost all levels of the government having a very thorough
recruitment process is essential to ensure that tasks and duty are carried out with justice and
equality. With the current issues that the department is facing, like the case of the flood in
Cagayan de Oro City which one of causes was the failure of the bridge in the Bitan-ag Creek to
serve its purpose.

CHAPTER: 9

REFERENCES

Functions, Bureaus, attached agencies of DPWH. Retrieved on February 11, 2017 from:
http://www.dpwh.gov.ph/dpwh/

Chrisse D.Private Partnership Project (Sep. 2016).Retrieved on February 13, 2017 from:
http://www.rappler.com/business/industries/208-infrastructure/106093-dpwh-2016-budget-
savings-ppp

DPWH Leyte 4th DEO implmentation 2017. (Nov. 2, 2016). Retrieved on February 13, 2017
from: http://www.dpwh.gov.ph/dpwh/news/2185

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Infrastructure Project in Cagayan de Oro City. (Aug. 25, 2015). Retrieved on February 14, 2017
from http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/dpwh-bares-p1-7-billion-infrastructure-projects-in-
cagayan-de-oro/

DPWH project in Eastern Visayas., (February 7, 2017) Retrieved on February 14, 2017 from:
http://www.dpwh.gov.ph/dpwh/news/5673

Bobby L., Cagayan de Oro floods.(Jan 18, 2017). Retrieved on February 14, 2017 from:
http://www.rappler.com/nation/158774-causes-cagayan-de-oro-floods

Marc Jayson C., DPWH Officials convicted for graft estafa. (Dec. 01, 2016) Retrieved on
February 14, 2017) from: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/849801/dpwh-officials-convicted-for-graft-
estafa-over-ghost-repairs

The Manila Times., Philippine Corruption (June 12, 2015) retrieved on February 15, 2017 from:
http://www.manilatimes.net/no-end-to-dpwh-corruption/191467/

Rappler.com.,DPWH action on the damages of Surigao earthquake., (February 11, 2017)

retrieved on February 14, 2017 from http://www.rappler.com/nation/161165-damaged-roads-
bridges-surigao-quake

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