PHILIPPINE HISTORY OF CIVIL

ENGINEERING DURING 1898 - 1903

CABUTIN,AIRA MIYAKA
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 FIRST PHILIPPINE REPUBLIC (AGUINALDO) 1898

The OrganicDecree issued byGen. Emilio Aquinaldoestablishing the Philippine

RevolutionaryGovernment created four(4) government departments among which was the
Department of War and Public Works. In 1896, after four (4) centuries of Spanish colonization, our
Filipino forebears startedthe revolutionary movementand the struggleto gain freedom began.
OnJune 12, 1898,Gen. Emilio Aguinaldodeclared the Philippine Independence in Kawit, Cavite.The
Organic Decreeof the Philippine Revolutionary Government on June 23, 1898 issued by Gen. Emilio
Aguinaldo provided forthe creation of four(4) Departments in thegovernment, 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 functionsas builder and maintainer ofroads, bridges and
other public works structures are inherent in the present Department. The inclusion of public worksin
the Warand Department canbe 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.When Spain cededthe Philippines tothe United Statesin 1898, thepublic works and
activities were placed under the U.S. Army engineer.
 DURING 1902

The first professional association of architecture and surveyors was born on September 14, 1902with
the creationof the Academiade Arquitectura y Agrimensura de Filipinas (AAAF). Bureauof
Engineering andConstruction of PublicWorks and Bureauof Architecture and Constructionof Public
Buildings- were createdby Act. Numbers 222and 268 ofthe Philippine Commissionand placed
underThe Department of Commerce and PoliceThe Philippine Commissionpassed Act Nos.222 and
268creating the Department ofCommerce and Policewhich gave birthto the Bureauof Engineering
and Construction of public works and the Bureau of Architecture and Construction of public
buildings. ThePhilippine Bill of1902 (July 1,1902) or thePhilippine Organic Act authorized the
Government of the Philippine Islands to provide for the needs ofcommerce. This includesimproving
harbours, constructingmaintaining bonded warehouses, wharves, piers, light-houses, signal and
life-saving
stations, buoys, and like instruments of commerce, as well as to adopt and
enforce regulations. (The US Congress authorizes the Philippine Government
to grant franchise and concession for the construction of public utilities and
services) On December 8, 1902, the first Railroad Legislation Act (Philippine
Commission Act No. 554) was passed granting the Manila Railroad Company
(MRRCo) the right to construct branch lines.