DPWHThe Department is considered as old as the Philippine government, its existence dates back to about 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 DPWHDepartment of War and Public Works ---1898The 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 Department of Commerce and Police ---1902

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 and Construction of public buildings. The Department of Commerce and Police ---1902

Act No. 1401 of the Philippine Commission passed on October 4, 1905, abolished engineering districts and positions of district engineers. On 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. The Department of Commerce and Communications---1916

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 needed funds, motor vehicles and drivers plying the highways were required 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 ---May 1, 1931

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.

The Department of Public Works, Transportation and Communications ---1951

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 Government Quarters Committee.

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. The Department of Public Works and Highways--- January 30, 1987 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 engineering offices. 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. ABOUT THE LOGOThe 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 mans economic and social upliftment. 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.

urban community infrastructure and other public works. Thus, the doric column and the highway should be taken in a total context.The divisions within the pillar represents the Departments five (5) bureaus, namely: Design, Construction, Maintenance, Equipment and Materials and Quality Control. MANDATES AND FUNCTIONS MANDATES The DPWH is mandated to undertake the planning of infrastructure, such as natural roads and bridges, flood control water resources projects and other public works, (b) the design, construction and maintenance of national roads and bridges, and major flood control systems. FUNCTIONS The DPWH functions as the engineering 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 REFORMSGuided by the overall policy directive of President Benigno S. Aquino IIIs Tuwid Na Landas,DPWHSecretary Rogelio L. Singson laid down his DPWH Transformation Framework, with the following objectives: transform the organization and its employees; simplify/innovate to reduce corruption and improve efficiency; and, optimize resources. IMPROVEMENTHIGHLIGHTS IMPROVEMENT HIGHLIGHTS DPWH Reforms through Information Technology:

Significant improvements in areas related to streamlining operations, strengthening internal controls, and, improving transparency have been undertaken with the use of IT( Information Technology). By providing automated controls that ensure compliance and prevent discretionary application of the policies and procedures that govern a process, IT is without doubt an effective means of organizational change.Project Implementation Civil works project management training, the Civil Works Registry and the MIS developed Document Tracking System (DoTS) are IT tools to ensure the efficient fast tracking of project implementation in the Department. In addition, improved planning tools, infrastructure right of way procedures and an upcoming right of way management system, as well as improvements in financial management with the production of contractor billing guidelines, etc. are also key enablers of this policy.

Transparency in Operation/Administration One of the vital issues addressed in transparency is in the procurement process. To increase transparency in the area of procurement, the Civil Works Registry (CWR) has significantly improved the process, together with the posting of information in the DPWH website. The DPWH website, in fact, is a reservoir of information that provides for transparency. Further, many new policies and procedures in several areas of operation of various improvement projects implemented under RIMSS(Road Information and Management Support System) prevent discretionary or arbitrary decisions.

Use of Information Technology Through RIMSS, the Department has now a state of the art voice and data communications network that eliminated long distance expenses within the Department between Offices connected and provided email capabilities. Whats more, the network also enables data to be stored centrally in Manila and updated and accessed nationwide to provide up-to-date, accurate, and reliable data for decision making and monitoring. The provision of computer equipment and software, as well as the extensive training programs offered by MIS, further adds to the IT foundation.

AccountabilityEnsuring clear policies and procedures for the various operations is the first step for accountability and this is also a driving force under the RIMSS reforms. For example, the Executive Information System will enable the Executive Committee to monitor performance of the various offices. One of the recently started improvement projects is the cleaning up of the Department Orders -- as it is often difficult to determine which ones are still in effect-- and the automation of these will allow quick searches by topic.

Organizational CultureDPWH has recognized that organizational culture change is a must. Efforts are underway to address this important aspect in order to to ensure sustainability of the improvements implemented so far and pursue even more changes in the future.