Presidential Decree No. 458 (PD 458) — Amending Presidential Decree No. 1 Dated September 24, 1972 Relative to Part X of the Integrated Reorganization Plan.
WHEREAS, there is need to strengthen public works functions
of the Government in order to increase the production of physical
infrastructure facilities of the country;
WHEREAS, There is need to strengthen the Government's
capability of operating and regulating the use of these facilities; and
WHEREAS, in assuming these vast and varied responsibilities,
the Department of Public Works, Transportation and Communications has
become too large to provide effective supervision and administration.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the
Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by the Constitution,
do hereby decree and order to be part of the law of the land, the
following:
SECTION 1. Presidential Decree No 1 dated September 24,
1972, relative to Part X of the Integrated Reorganization Plan is hereby
amended by separating the Bureau of Public Highways from the Department
of Public Works, Transportation and Communications and creating it as a
department to be known as Department of Public Highways.
Organization of the Department of Public Highways.
SEC. 2. Organization of the Department of Public Highways.-
The Department of the Public Highways, shall be composed of a
Department Proper made up of the immediate Office of the Secretary, the
Planning Service, the Administrative Service, and the Financial and
Management Service; two bureau, namely: (a) the Bureau of Construction
and Maintenance and (b) the Bureau of Equipment; and the Regional and
District Offices.
Relationships between the Department Proper, the Bureaus and the Regional Offices.
SEC. 3. Relationships between the Department Proper, the
Bureaus and the Regional Offices.—The Department Proper shall have
direct line supervision over the bureaus and regional offices. It shall
be responsible for developing and implementing1 programs on the
construction and maintenance of roads, bridges and airport runways. The
Bureau of Construction and Maintenance shall be essentially staff in
character and as such, shall exercise only functional supervision over
the regional offices, while the Bureau of Equipment shall provide
equipment support to the field offices through its equipment depots and
area shops. When necessary and as a means of assisting the Department
Proper in delineating the methods and plans of operation at the field
level, both Bureaus shall maintain Communication and contract with the
regional offices for the purpose of updating established plans and
programs and determining problems arising therefrom.
The regional offices shall constitute the operating arms of the
Department Proper with responsibility for directly implementing the
plans and programs drawn up by the bureaus and assigned by the
Department Secretary in accordance with duly adopted policies,
standards, and guidelines. They shall be organized as miniature
counterparts of the Department in the region and shall be vested with
sufficient authority to undertake departmental operations within their
respective jurisdictions. In the exercise of such authority, they shall
be directly responsible to the Secretary and shall receive proper
technical guidance from the two Bureaus.
SEC. 4. In conformity with the above set of functional
relationships, the functions, powers, duties and responsibilities of the
various units of the Department shall be as follows:
Office of the Secretary.
SEC. 5. Office of the Secretary.—The Office of the
Secretary shall consist of the Secretary of Public Highways, the
Undersecretary of Public Highways and the personnel in their immediate
office. It shall be responsible for the adoption and promulgation of
rules and regulations necessary to carry out departmental policies and
objective, and for exercising general supervision and control over the
bureaus and offices of the Department.
Function of the Secretary.
SEC. 6. Function of the Secretary.—The functions
of the Secretary shall be as follows:
Advise the President in the promulgation of executive orders,
regulations, and decrees relative to matters under the jurisdiction of
the Department;
Establish the policies and standards for the operation of the
Department pursuant to the President's program of government;
Promulgate rules and regulations necessary to carry out
department objectives, policies, and functions;
Exercise supervision and control over all bureaus and offices
under the Department;
Delegate authority for the performance of any function to
officers and employees under this direction; and
Perform such other functions as may be provided by law.
Functions of the Undersecretary.
SEC. 7. Functions of the Undersecretary.—The functions
of the Undersecretary shall be as follows:
Advise and assist the Secretary in the formulation and
implementation of department objectives and policies;
Oversee all the operational activities of the Department for
which he all be responsible for its responsible to the Secretary;
Coordinate the programs and projects of the Department and be
responsible for its economical, efficient, and effective administration;
Serve as deputy of the Secretary in all matters relating to the
operations of the Department; and
Perform such other functions as may be provided.
SEC. 8. When the Secretary is unable to perform his duties
owing to illness, absence or other causes, or in case of vacancy in the
office, the Undersecretary shall temporarily perform the functions of
said Office.
SEC. 9. The functions and composition of the Planning
Service, Administrative Service and Financial and Management Service
shall be in accordance with those prescribed under Chapter I, Part II of
the Integrated Reorganization Plan.
Functions and composition of the Bureau, of Construction and Maintenance.
SEC. 10. Functions and composition of the Bureau, of
Construction and Maintenance.—The Bureau shall be responsible for
the formulation and development of policies, plans, programs and
standards for the construction and maintenance of roads, bridges and
airport runway. It shall provide working guidelines for the operating
units of the Department. It shall be responsible for evaluating
policies, plans, programs and standards and it shall coordinate closely
with the Planning Service and regional offices of the Department.
The Bureau shall be headed by a Director assisted by an
Assistant Director. It shall be composed of the following divisions: (a)
Design Division; (b) Construction Division (c) Soils and Materials
Division; and (d) Maintenance Division.
Functions and composition of the Design Division.
SEC. 11. Functions and composition of the Design
Division.—The Design Division shall be responsible for undertaking
the structural and architectural design of roads, bridges and airport
runways, including necessary survey and location works, specifications
and estimates and establishing uniform practices and standards of design
to be adopted by regional and district offices of the Department. The
Division shall actually perform designing work for highly complex
projects only, while the department field offices shall be delegated
with the authority to prepare designs of less complicated projects
following the standards set by the Division. It shall have a Highway
Design Section, a Bridge Design Section, and a Drafting Section.
Functions and composition of the Construction Division.
SEC. 12. Functions and composition of the Construction
Division.- The Construction Division shall be responsible for
exercising technical supervision over all activities relating to
construction of roads, bridges and airport runways being undertaken by
the department field offices, and setting standards and procedures for
construction works. It shall have an Engineering Section, a Contracts
Section and a Planning Section.
Functions and composition of the Soils and Materials Division.
SEC. 13. Functions and composition of the Soils and
Materials Division.—The Soils and Materials Division shall be
responsible for carrying out researches and tests on soils and
construction materials for highway projects; development of materials
control procedures, standards and specifications for use and adoption by
the design, construction and maintenance units; and providing
coordinative and supportive functions to its counterpart units in the
department regional and district offices. It shall have a Technical
Services and Research Section, a Management Section, and an Operations
Section.
Functions and composition of the Maintenance Division.
SEC. 14. Functions and composition of the Maintenance
Division.—The Maintenance Division shall be responsible for
exercising technical supervision over all activities relating to
maintenance of roads, bridges and airport runways being undertaken by
the department field offices, establishing policy guidelines; extending
consultative services to the department field offices; and setting
standards and procedures for maintenance works. It shall have a Planning
and Control Section, a Technical Inspection Section and an Inventory
and Statistics Section.
SEC. 15. Functions and composition of the Bureau of
Equipment.-the Bureau of Equipment shall be responsible for the
management and control of all equipment belonging to the Department,
including their repair, maintenance and allocate to the department field
offices. It shall have an Administrative Division, a Financial and
Management Division, and Equipment Depots and Area Shops.
Functions and composition of the Administrative Division.
SEC. 16. Functions and composition of the
Administrative Division.—The Administrative Division shall be
responsible for undertaking activities relative to personnel, records,
and general services. It shall have a Personnel Section and a General
Services Section.
Functions and composition of the Financial and Management Division.
SEC. 17. Functions and composition of the Financial and
Management Division.—The Financial and Management Division shall be
responsible for undertaking activities relative to operational
budgeting, accounting management improvement and financial reporting. It
shall have a budget Section, and Accounting Section, and a Management
Section.
Functions and composition of the Planning Division.
SEC. 18. Functions and composition of the Planning
Division.—The Planning Division shall be responsible for formulating
plans, programs and policies for equipment management and control
including their repair, maintenance and allocation. It shall have a
Planning Section, a Technical Information and Specification Section and a
Cost Analysis Section.
Functions and composition of the Operations Division.
SEC. 19. Functions and composition of the Operations
Division.—The Operations Division shall be responsible for providing
technical supervision and control over the repair, maintenance and
allocation of equipment by the Equipment Depots and Area Shops of the
Bureau. It shall have an Equipment Control Section and a Preventive
Maintenance Section.
Functions of the Equipment Depots and Area Shops.
SEC. 20. Functions of the Equipment Depots and Area
Shops.—The Equipment Depots and Area Shops shall be responsible for
the actual allocation of equipment to the department regional offices
based on schedules set by the Bureau; repair and maintenance of all
equipment in the field in accordance with the guidelines, specifications
and standards established by the Bureau; and such other functions as
may be provided by law.
Functions and composition of the Regional Offices.
SEC. 21. Functions and composition of the Regional
Offices.—There are created eleven Regional Offices pursuant to the
provisions of Chapter III, Part II of the Integrated Reorganization
Plan.
The Regional Office shall be responsible for the general
supervision, direction, evaluation, and coordination of the operations
and activities of the Department within the Region. It shall perform the
following functions, among others:
Administer, coordinate, and supervise the execution and/or the
management of projects and activities in the region;
Assign equipment among the district offices and among
projects in the region in coordination with the major equipment depot
concerned; and assign and allocate materials among district offices and
among projects in the region;
Under delegated authority, approve project work programs, plans,
estimates, specifications, requisitions, procurement of materials and
authority to undertake projects by administration or contract within
the budgetary limits, plans, programs, policies and standards laid down
by the appropriate headquarters entities;
Approve, under delegated authority, appointments of personnel of
the district offices in the region; and render decisions on personnel
and other administrative matters;
Undertake design work and project studies for less complex
projects; and
Perform such other functions as may be provided by law.
Functions and composition of the District Offices.
SEC. 22. Functions and composition of the District Offices.—The
Regional Offices of the Department shall have only one Highway District
Office in every regular province, provided that when necessary,
additional district offices may be created with the approval of the
President. The district office shall be responsible for the
implementation and execution of the policies, plans, programs, rules and
regulations of the Department relative to the construction and
maintenance of roads, bridges and airport runways. It shall have the
following functions, among others:
Administer, coordinate and direct all constructions and
maintenance of roads, bridges and airport runways in the district;
Undertake research and planning analysis for the development of
roads, bridges and airport runways and submit to the regional, office
pertinent statistical data and planning proposals, including
infrastructure requirements that may be needed;
Coordinate with other local and national government units located
in the district; and
Perform such other functions as may be provided by law.
Organization of the Department of Public Works, Transportation, and Communications.
SEC. 23. Organization of the Department of Public Works,
Transportation, and Communications.—The Department of Public Works,
Transportation and Communications shall be composed of the Department
Proper made up of the immediate Office of the Secretary, the Planning
Service, the Administrative Service, and the Financial and Management
Service, and six bureaus, namely: (a) the Bureau of Public Works, (b)
the Bureau of Ports and Harbors, (c) the Bureau of Transportation, (d)
the Bureau of Posts, (e) the Bureau of Telecommunications, and (f) the
Radio Control Office which is renamed Telecommunications Control Bureau.
The Board of Transportation, the Board of Power and Waterworks and the
Board of Communications shall be under the administrative supervision of
the Department of Public Works, Transportation and Communications. The
Water Resources Committee is retained in the Department. The following
government owned and controlled corporations and authorities are
attached to the Department of Public Works, Transportation and
Communications: (a) Central Luzon-Cagayan Valley Authority, (b) the
Cavite Electricity Distributing Authority, (c) the Cagayan de Oro Port
Authority, (d) the San Fernando Port Authority, and (e) the National
Irrigation Administration.
SEC. 24. The Department of Public Works, Transportation
and Communications shall maintain its present functions subject to the
provisions of the foregoing sections of this Decree and subject,
further, to the provision following.
SEC. 25. The Project Execution Service is abolished except
that the Infrastructure Operations Center is transferred to and made an
integral part of the National Economic and Development Authority. It
shall be responsible for monitoring and evaluating the progress and
execution of all infrastructure projects to provide information on
project performance of the various agencies for the President and the
Authority.
SEC. 26. The Board of Transportation shall have the same
composition, powers and functions except that its Air Transportation
Division is abolished.
SEC. 27. The Ports, Harbors and Reclamation Division shall
be separated from the Bureau of Public Works and shall be converted to a
bureau to be known as the Bureau of Ports and Harbors.
Functions and composition of the Bureau Ports and Harbors.
SEC. 28. Functions and composition of the Bureau Ports
and Harbors.—The Bureau of Ports and Harbors shall be responsible
for the construction, maintenance and repair of ports, harbors, shore
protection works and navigational aids as well as dredging and clearing
of harbors, navigable rivers, channels and waterways and the reclamation
of foreshore lands and seaways. It shall have a Management Division, an
Administrative Division, a Financial and Management Division, a
Construction Division, a Harbor Dredging and Reclamation Division and
Regional and District Offices.
Functions and composition of the Planning Division.
SEC. 29. Functions and composition of the Planning
Division.- The Planning Division shall be responsible for
formulating plans, programs, and policies for the construction, repair
and maintenance of ports and harbors, shore protection works and
navigational aids, dredging and clearing of harbors, navigable rivers,
channels and waterways and reclamation of foreshore lands and swamps. It
shall have a Project Development Section, a Programming Section, and a
Research and statistics Section.
Functions and composition of the Administrative Division.
SEC. 30. Functions and composition of the
Administrative Division.—The Administrative Division shall be
responsible for undertaking activities relative to personnel
information, records, legal and general service, and other supportive
services. It shall have a Personnel Section, a Legal Section, an
Information Section, and a General Services Section.
Functions and composition of the Financial and Management Division.
SEC. 31. Functions and composition of the Financial and
Management Division.—The Financial and Management Division shall be
responsible for undertaking activities relative to operational
budgeting, accounting, management improvement and financial reporting.
It shall have a Budget Section, an Accounting Section, and a Management
Section.
Functions and composition of the Construction Division.
SEC. 32. Functions and composition of the Construction
Division.—The Construction Division shall be responsible for the
preparation of plans, specifications and estimates, for the technical
supervision of the construction, maintenance and repair of ports,
harbors, shore protection works and navigational aids. It shall have a
Designing Section and a Construction Management and Control Section. SEC.
33. Functions and composition of the Harbor Dredging and
Reclamation Division.—The Harbor Dredging and Reclamation Division
shall be responsible for dredging and clearing of harbors, navigable
rivers, channels and waterways, and reclamation of foreshore lands. It
shall have a Drydocking, Repair and Maintenance Section, and a Dredging
Section.
Functions and composition of the Regional Offices.
SEC. 34. Functions and composition of the Regional
Offices.—There are created eleven Regional Offices pursuant to the
provisions of Chapter III, Part II of the Integrated Reorganization
Plan.
The regional office shall be responsible for the general
supervision, direction, evaluation and coordination of the operations
and activities of the Bureau within the Region. It shall perform the
following functions, among others:
Administer, coordinate, and supervise the execution and/or
management of projects and activities in the region;
Assign equipment among the district offices and among projects
in the region in coordination with the major equipment depot
concerned; and assign and allocate materials among district offices and
projects in the region;
Under delegated authority, approve project work programs, plans,
estimates, specifications, requisitions, procurement of materials,
and authority to undertake projects by administration or contract within
the budgetary limits, plans, programs, policies and standards laid down
by the appropriate headquarters entities;
Approve, under delegated authority, appointments of personnel of
the district offices in the region; and render decisions on personnel
and other administrative matters;
Undertake design work and project studies for less complex
projects; and
Perform such other functions as may be provided by law.
Functions and composition of the District Offices.
SEC. 35. Functions and composition of the District Offices.—The
regional offices of the Bureau shall have district offices in places
and in such number as may be necessary to undertake actual field
operations of the Bureau. The district offices shall be responsible for
the implementation and execution of the policies, plans, programs, rules
and regulation of the Bureau relative to the construction and
maintenance of ports and harbors. It shall have the following functions,
among others:
Administer, coordinate and direct all construction and
maintenance of ports and harbors in the district;
Undertake research and planning analysis for the development
of ports and harbors facilities and submit to the regional office
pertinent statistical data and planning proposals, including
infrastructure requirements that may be needed;
Coordinate with other local and national government units
located in the district; and
Perform such other functions as may be provided by law.
SEC. 36. The clearing house and coordination functions of the
abolished Presidential Advisory Council on Public Works and Community
Development relative to public works are transferred to the Department
of Public Works, Transportation and Communications.
SEC. 37. Section 1 of Presidential Decree No. 107, dated
January 24, 1973, is hereby amended by including the Secretary of Public
Highways in the membership of the National Economic and Development
Authority.
SEC. 38. All provisions of Part X of the Integrated
Reorganization Plan and those of Letter of Implementation No. 11 dated
November 1, 1972, which are not amended by or inconsistent with the
foregoing provisions shall be effective and shall be correspondingly
applied in accordance with the intents and purposes of this Decree.
SEC. 39. All transfers or allocation of Bureaus and
Offices to the new departments in pursuance hereof shall include their
respective personnel, property, funds and responsibilities.
SEC. 40. This Decree shall take effect immediately.
Done in the City of Manila, this 16th day of May, in the year of
Our Lord, nineteen hundred and seventy-four.
(Sgd.)
FERDINAND E. MARCOS
President of the Philippines
By the President:
(Sgd.)
ALEJANDRO MELCHOR
Executive Secretary
Source: Supreme Court E-Library, Republic of the Philippines. Philippine laws are public documents (works of the government).
