AMENDING PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO. 1 DATED SEPTEMBER 24, 1972 RELATIVE TO PART X OF THE INTEGRATED REORGANIZATION PLAN.

• Number: Presidential Decree No. 458
• Sections: 40

Preamble

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

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.

Section 2 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.

Section 3 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.

Section 4

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:

Section 5 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.

Section 6 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.

Section 7 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.

Section 8

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.

Section 9

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.

Section 10 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.

Section 11 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.

Section 12 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.

Section 13 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.

Section 14 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.

Section 15

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.

Section 16 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.

Section 17 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.

Section 18 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.

Section 19 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.

Section 20 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.

Section 21 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.

Section 22 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.

Section 23 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.

Section 24

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.

Section 25

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.

Section 26

SEC. 26. The Board of Transportation shall have the same

composition, powers and functions except that its Air Transportation

Division is abolished.

Section 27

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.

Section 28 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.

Section 29 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.

Section 30 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.

Section 31 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.

Section 32 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.

Section 34 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.

Section 35 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.

Section 36

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.

Section 37

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.

Section 38

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.

Section 39

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.

Section 40

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