Preamble
WHEREAS, the functions and responsibilities of the Department of Public Highways, as created under Presidential Decree No. 458 and its subsequent amendments, have greatly expanded with the creation of the Bureau of Barangay Roads; WHEREAS, the present magnitude of work, functions and responsibilities of the Department demand closer supervision and coordination among the different bureaus, services, regions, district and city offices to further increase the efficiency of the organization; WHEREAS, in order to attain this objective, the Secretary of Public Highways recommends that it is necessary to create two positions of Assistant Secretary: one for administration, charged with the duty and responsibility of assisting the Secretary and the Undersecretary to supervise and coordinate administrative work and functions in all levels of the Department, to advise the Secretary and the Undersecretary of the administrative needs and requirements of the whole organization, as well as to assist in the formulation of policies, rules and regulations to improve the administrative organization of the Department; and the other for Planning and Operation charged with the duty of assisting the Secretary and the Undersecretary on the performance of their functions like reviewing long range and annual plans and programs, establishing project priorities and selecting capital projects for funding and execution, evaluating performance reports and integrating project implications for aggregative planning in supervising the technical organization of the Department, including bureaus, services, regions, district and city offices and advising the respective heads of said offices on the technical needs and deficiencies of their technical setup, and in the formulation of technical policies relative to planning, programming and operation. WHEREAS, the creation of these positions are warranted by the magnitude of work and responsibility of the Department; NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers in me vested by the Constitution, do hereby decree and order: