The branches of government task for construction, management and maintenance of the highway system in the

Philippines. You can explain their history, mandates, functions or any information related to them.

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)

 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.

HISTORY

 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. 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”.
 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.

Mandate

 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.

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.

Vision

 By 2030, DPWH is an effective and efficient government agency, improving the life of every Filipino through
quality infrastructure.

Mission

 To provide and manage quality infrastructure facilities and services responsive to the needs of the Filipino
people in the pursuit of national development objectives.
Quality Policy

We commit to provide quality, safe, and environment-friendly public infrastructure facilities that will improve the
life of every Filipino.

We commit to comply with all requirements and to continually improve effectiveness and efficiency in serving the
public.

We endeavour to implement the RIGHT PROJECTS at the RIGHT COST determined through transparent and
competitive bidding; with the RIGHT QUALITY, according to international standards; delivered RIGHT ON TIME 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.

Department Secretary

MARK A. VILLAR; a Filipino politician and businessman currently serving as the Secretary of Public Works and Highways
of the Philippines. He is the son of former Senate President and 2010 presidential candidate Manny Villar and incumbent
Senator Cynthia Villar.

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 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.
Core values

 Public service
 Integrity
 Professionalism
 Excellence
 teamwork

References

Department of public works and highways. (2021, September 4). https://www.dpwh.gov.ph/dpwh/.