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History of Highway

in the Philippines

Early 1900s
Transportation is
dependent on trails,
water ways, railroads,
earth roads and
partially gravelled
roads.

1868 : The Bureau of Public Works and


Highwayswere organized under a civil
engineer known as Director General

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.
its functions as builder and maintainer of
roads, bridges and other public works
structures

Department

Defense)

of War (Department of National

Post World War II


The

new and independent government of


the Philippines continued the rehabilitation
and construction of roads through
reparation and war damages paid by the
Japanese government.

Other

financial support and aids are


provided by the US government for the
innovation of roads and bridges.

The American
Government were the
ones who initiated the
development of
roadways making
connections between
towns, cities and
provinces the country.

1898 : The public works and activities were


placed under the U.S. Army engineers

1902

: creation of the Department of


Commerce and Police which gave birth to the
Bureau of Engineering (Construction of public
works)
Bureau of Architecture (Construction of public
buildings)

Need

for a more extensive road network that


would penetrate the rural areas
In order to achieve that end, provincial boards were
created 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.

1910

: The first appearance of motor


vehicles in the Philippine highways

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.
1921

: To raise such needed funds, motor


vehicles and drivers plying the highways
were required to register with fee

1954

: In relation to road and bridge


construction and maintenance, the Bureau of
Public Highways was created and placed under
theDepartment of Public Works, Transportation
and Communications.
This provided for a more effective management of
the Philippine Highways under a Commissioner.
Active plans & programs were formulated &
implemented.

1981 : Ministry of Public Works and Highways


(MPWH)
The Ministries of Public Works and Public
Highways were merged for a more effective and
sustained implementation of infrastructure
projects.

Marcos Era
During

his first term as president, he initiated


ambitious public works projects on roads,
bridges, schools, health centers, irrigation
facilities, and urban beautification projects that
improved the quality of life of Filipinos.

Marcos Achievements
Bridges:
o San Juanico Bridge
Toll-ways:
o Manila North Diversion
Roads and Highways:
o Marcos Highway

1960 1980 (Automobile Age)


Cars are no longer a luxury but a necessary
in transporting people and goods.
During this decade, roads construction is a
matter of priority of the government.

The nation is on Wheels

1987-Department

of Public Works

and Highways
As the primary engineering and
construction arm of the government
They are 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

Major

highways and expressways were


constructed through the financial and loans
from foreign bank.

But

with this improvement, vehicles started


clogging the roadways causing various
traffic problems.

In

2007, there were about 5.53 million


registered motor vehicles with registration
increasing at an average annual rate of
4.55%

Statistics:

(as of 2010)

203,025 kilometers (126,154


mi) of roads in the country,
only around 20% of the total is
paved.

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