Civil Engineering Orientation

Kathleen Jade G. Balaton | Midterm

during the 1863 earthquake. It was destroyed

Topic Outline: during the battle of Manila in 1945 Restoration
● History of Civil Engineering in the Philippines began in 1979 and ended in 1992.

SPANISH ERA
1591-1631
For more than three and a half centuries of Spanish
Leonardo Iturrino began the construction of the
Colonization in the Philippines, there were no Filipino
Santiago Castle/ Fortress in 1591 and completed it
Civil Engineers; they were called “Maestro De Obras”
in 1634. It was the second-most important fortress
(Master Builders) even though they designed and built
to be built of stone in Manila.
structures technology could allow during that time.
➢ Master Builders are today’s equivalent of 1599
Construction Foremen. The oldest stone church in the Philippines is the St.
➢ There were no schools that offered Civil Augustine Church, built in 1599. It is an immense
Engineering Courses during this era and the structure of thick walls of Corinthian and Ionic designs.
only Engineers with an academic degree were It has withstood many earthquakes from 1645 up to
Spaniards the present and survived the British invasion in 1762,
the Spanish–American War in 1898 and the Japanese
1571
invasion in 1942.
June 24, 1571 - The founding of the City of Manila by
Miguel Lopez de Legazpi. The Spaniards began 1621
Building Fuerte de Santiago (Fort Santiago) after the Don Bernardino Castillo, a generous patron and a
establishment of the city of Manila. The Fort has a well-known devotee of St. Sebastian, Patron of
perimeter of 2030 feet (620 meters). Archers, donated his lot, which is now the present site
of the San Sebastian Church. The original church,
1577
which was made of wood, was burned in 1651 during
The Franciscan Order arrived in Manila and began
a Chinese uprising. The succeeding structures were
constructing wood and cane churches that
destroyed twice by fire and an earthquake in 1859,
eventually succumbed to natural catastrophes.
1863, and 1880 respectively.
• Father Esteban Martinez, the parish priest at
1587
that time, approached the Spanish Architect
Fort San Antonio Abad was built
Genero Palacios with a plan to build a fire and
earthquake-resistant church made entirely of
1586
steel. Ambeth Ocampo states that the present
Fort Nuestra Senora de Guia was designed and built San Sebastian church was ordered to knock
(1586-1587) by a Jesuit priest named Antonio down steel parts from Brussels, Belgium.
Sedeño. It was a circular fort meant to defend Manila’s
southern bayside boundary. It was considered as the
first fortress made of stone in Manila. 1632

• However, the fort fell in disrepair and by 1644 Puente Grande was the bridge to be erected across
the construction began for a new Baluarte the grand Rio del Pasig. This bridge is made of wood
(Baluarte De San Diego) which ended and connects Intramuros and Binondo. It always
between 1653 and 1663. underwent renovations and reconstructions as it was
• It was breached with a cannon during the always damaged by earthquakes. It was then
British Occupation in 1762 and was damaged renamed to Puente de España after the 1863
BS Civil Engineering – 2A | 1
earthquake. By 1875, it was replaced, widening its (Bureau of Communications and Transportation) were
spans. By the 1930s the bridge was replaced with a organized under a civil engineer known as “Director
neo-classical design by Juan Arellano and is now General”
called the Jones Bridge.
1875
1645 King ALFONSO XII of Spain promulgates the Royal
On November 30, 1945, Manila was devastated by a Decree directing the Office of the Inspector of Public
destructive earthquake. Works of the Philippines to submit a general plan for
the railroad in Luzon on June 25, 1875.
1686
The water system in Manila (now known as the Metro 1876
Manila Waterworks and Sewerage Systems – The General Plan for Railways was drawn up in
MWSS) has its beginning from the water works 1876 for the island of Luzon and included a network
constructed by Fr. Juan Peguero in 1686. totalling 1,730 kilometers. A 195.4 km. stretch of
track was constructed between Manila and Dagupan.
RIZAL PAMPANGA The most outstanding works carried out on the
railway system were the bridge over the great
The first irrigation The first artesian wells
Pampanga River and the building of Tutubán Manila
system was constructed were built in Betis,
in Tanay, Rizal by Fr. Pampanga by Fr. Station, in the Tondo district.
Jose Delgado. Manuel Camanes.
1878
The concession for constructing five tramways in
1846
Manila and its suburbs was approved.
The Pasig River Lighthouse was the first masonry-
built lighthouse erected in the Philippines. It was
1878-1918
first lit in 1846 and deactivated in 1992.
Founding of Carriedo Waterworks - Municipal
Waterworks was established by Governor Domingo
1852
Moriones, with money from a fund that by then had
Puente Colgante (meaning Suspension Bridge in
become legendary as the Carriedo Legacy. Don
Spanish, or hanging bridge) was the first
Francisco Carriedo y Peredo is a public-spirited
suspension bridge in Southeast Asia when it was
citizen, who left in his will the building of a Manila
completed in 1852. It was built and owned by
water system. However, Señor Carriedo did not live
Ynchausti y Compania, a business owned by Joaquin
long enough to see his legacy as he died in 1743.
de Ynchausti. He commissioned the design from
Basque engineer Matias Menchacatorre.
1880
The bridge was first named Puente de Claveria,
The school for Maestro de Obras called Escuela
likely in honor of the Governor-General of the
Practica y Artes Oficios de Manila was founded.
Philippines Narciso Clavería, who served from 1844 to
1849. The suspension bridge measured 110 metres
FIRST FILIPINO GRADUATES OF THE SCHOOL
(360 ft) long and 7 metres (23 ft) wide
Julio Hernandez (1891)
1867 Isidro Medina (1894)
The town council decided to take on the challenge of a Arcadio Arellano (1894)
project to supply fresh water to the whole of the city. Juan Carreon (1896)

1868
Obras Publicas (Bureau of Public Works and The completion of Puente de Convalecencia better
Highways) and Communicationes y Meteologia known as the Ayala Bridge.

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 inherent in the present Department. The inclusion of
1882 public works in the War and Department can be
The first public water fountain gushed forth its explained by the exigencies of the revolutionary
waters, and shortly after this, the technology of the period. When Spain ceded the Philippines to the
times was successful in providing Manila with a fresh United States in 1898, the public works and activities
water supply from sources upriver. were placed under the U.S. Army engineers.

1887 1899
Construction of the Manila-Dagupan railroad was • From January 21, 1899 to May 7, 1899, with
started on July 31, 1887. Apolinario Mabini as President of the Cabinet
(i.e. Prime Minister), Gracio Gonzaga served as
1892 the Secretary of Public Welfare, which included
November 24, 1892 - The entire line of Manila to the transportation and communications portfolio.
Dagupan with a total length of 195.4 km was • When Mabini was replaced by Pedro Paterno as
completed. It was named as Ferrocarril De Manila A President of the Cabinet, among the seven
Dagupan. departments set up was the Communicaciones y
Obras Publicas (i.e. the Communications and
Two types of construction under the Spanish Regime: Public Works Department). Maximo Paterno was
appointed as Secretary of Public Works and
➢ Pavement of cut Spanish road, cut adobe stone Communications. Since then, Public Works,
pavement Transportation, and Communications have been
grouped into one department.
This was usually of adobe quality, probably used • Highways, bridges, schools, hospitals, and
because it is easily quarried, cut, and handled, the size government buildings steadily transformed the
used is called’’ordinario" 20 by 20 cm and 50 cm Philippine landscape.
long. This makes a very smooth and pretty pavement, • The Bureau of Engineering was placed under
but, where an ordinary amount of traffic is the supervision of American military engineers
encountered, wears very rapidly. by instruction of US Major General Elwell S.
Otis, the Military Governor of the Philippines, the
➢ Rubble-stone pavement, cobblestones ports were opened to commerce for all foreign
nations.
The pavement of cobblestone consisted of boulders
probably taken from river beds varying in size from 10
1900
to 30 cm in diameter. This type was very durable and
• The foundation of the Liceo de Manila, a private
lasting, so long as the individual stones retained their
institution offering academic courses for maestro
position in a bed of earth. Owing to the size used there
de obras and headed by Leon Ma. Guerrero. The
was no bond, and stones were easily displaced unless first private school to offer an academic title
covered with earth, sand, or gravel. This pavement for Maestro de Obras (the forerunner of formal
was very rough and, had a second or top course of education in architecture/engineering).
small gravel been used and bound together with a • The introduction of reinforced concrete in the
binding material, would have been in use today. Philippines was in the 1900s and its use in the
construction of the Masonic Temple (Grand
1898 Lodge of the Philippines), the first multi-structure
Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo created four (4) government in Escolta, Manila.
departments among which was the Department of
War and Public Works. Though once included in the
Early 1900s
Department of War, now the Department of National
The US government initiated the development of
Defense, its functions as builder and maintainer of
roadways in the Philippines connecting towns, cities
roads, bridges and other public works structures are
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and provinces. The popular Macadam Road type was • October 26, 1905 - The Bureau of Public Works
introduced. It gained acceptance because of an was created and placed under the Department of
abundant supply of stones and gravel. Commerce and Police.
• Act No. 1401 of the Philippine Commission
1901 passed on October 4, 1905, abolished
By virtue of Act No. 83 passed by the Philippine engineering districts and positions of district
Commission on February 6, 1901, public works and engineers.
projects were placed under the “Provincial Provincial boards were created in 1907 with the
Supervisions”. The 1901 municipal code (February 6, authority to collect double cedula taxes to finance the
1901) provided for popularly elected municipal board construction of provincial roads and bridges. In
members who were responsible for collecting taxes, addition, the national government appropriated
maintaining municipal properties, and undertaking P1,700,000 as aid to such constructions.
necessary construction projects.
1907
1902 May 18, 1907 – establishment of The Faculty of
• September 14, 1902 - Creation of the Academia Engineering of the University of Santo Tomas
de Arquitectura y Agrimensura de Filipinas (UST), the oldest engineering school in the
(AAAF) - first professional association of
Philippines. Don Ramon Irureta-Goyena headed
architecture and surveyors The Philippine
the USTCOE. The College was patterned after the
Commission passed Act Nos. 222 and 268
University of Havana in Cuba and was first set up at
creating the Department of Commerce and Police
the second floor of the old UST building in Intramuros.
which gave birth to the Bureau of Engineering and
Construction of Public Works and the Bureau of
Architecture and Construction of Public 1908
Buildings. UST-COE was reorganized and reopened its doors to
• December 8, 1902 - the first Railroad students but this time offered a three-year course for
Legislation Act (Philippine Commission Act architecture, civil engineering and electrical
No. 554) was passed granting the Manila Railroad engineering.
Company (MRRCo) the right to construct branch
lines. 1909
Construction of Wawa Dam (also known as
Montalban Dam) - is a gravity dam constructed
1903
over the Marikina River in the municipality of
AAAF changed the name of the association to
Rodriguez in Rizal province, Philippines.
Academia de Ingeniera ,Arquitectura, y
Agrimensura de Filipinas (AIAAF) – including civil
1910
engineers and surveyors.
• June 3, 1910 – appointment of Mr. W.J. Colbert
as acting Dean of the UP College of Engineering
1904
through a resolution passed by the Board of
The Academia merged with the Liceo and Regents of the University of the Philippines
established the Escuela de Ingeniera y • June 13, 1910 – The date of the appointment will
Arquitectura, which offered a five-year course in take effect thus creating the UP- College of
architecture and civil engineering. Engineering.
• Mr. Jose P. Katigbak - The first instructor to be
1905 appointed as an instructor in graphics
The Escuela de Ingeniera y Arquitectura ceased to (drawing) on a part-time basis.
operate after its first year of inception.

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The first appearance of motor vehicles was also 1919-1954
observed during this year thus roads must be kept in Metropolitan Water District was founded.
good condition at all times.
1921
1911 • February 23, 1921 – Public Act No. 2985 or the
The AIAAF was dissolved when the civil engineers Engineers and Architects Law was passed. The
(and other engineering professionals) withdrew to law created a separate Board of Examiners for
form their own professional organization (The civil engineering and architecture. Due to this law,
Philippine Society of Engineers), but not before it Filipinos were allowed to practice as Architects
has struggled for the passage of an Engineers and and Engineers because of their experience as
Maestro de Obras in the Spanish Period.
Architects Law.
• Public Act No. 2985 empowered the Secretary of
Commerce and Communication to appoint
1912
members of the boards of the architecture and
The Irrigation Act of 1912. This regulated the
engineering professions.
appropriation of public waters, investigation,
construction, operation and maintenance of irrigation
systems. It also regulated the appropriation of public 1928
waters, prescribed rules on water rights and provided Formation of Philippine Society of Civil Engineers
for the securing of payments for irrigation services, (PSCE) with Engr. Marcial Kasilag as its first
from the beneficiaries. president. He also received the honor of holding PRC
Registration Number 1 for Civil Engineers.
1914
Communal irrigation systems (CIS) were simple 1930s
structures. The earliest on record is as far back as Puente Colgante Bridge was replaced by a modern
1914, mostly located in the Ilocos area of northern steel arch bridge during the early 1930’s. It was
Philippines and known as the zanjera. renamed Quezon Bridge after Manuel L. Quezon,
• The term zanjera is derived from the Spanish the president of the Philippines at that time.
term for “turnout” and used locally to refer to a
cooperative irrigation society the function of 1931
which was to secure a stable and reliable supply Renaming of the Department of Commerce and
of water for its members. Most zanjeras may have Communications as the Department of Public Works
two or more sitios or barrios. Membership may and Communications.
comprise of all land owners or tenants or a
combination of both. Water from these systems 1935
was usually obtained from river diversions by • Act No. 4211 was enacted which allowed under-
bamboo and rock structures-the "brush dam". aged persons to take the board exam on the
Being temporary structures, the community was condition that they will not practice their
brought together in its reconstruction on a profession until they reached the required age of
regular basis. 21.
• November 15, 1935 – During the inauguration of
18 January 1917 – 03 October 1922 the Commonwealth Government. a
Gov. Gen. Francis. B. Harrison appointed Cebu reorganization of the DPWC was undertaken.
Under the setup, it was composed of the Bureau
governor Dionisio Jakosalem as Secretary of
of Public Works, Ports, Aeronautics, Coast and
Commerce and Communication. The construction of
Geodetic Survey, Metropolitan Water District
roads and public buildings marked his administration
Division of Marine, Railway and Repair Shop,
as governor of Cebu. He is credited with having linked National Radio Broadcasting, Irrigation Council
the southern and northern parts of the province with and Board of Examiners for Civil, Mechanical,
roads. Chemical and Mining Engineers.
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1937 II, the American occupiers changed the name to
Philippine Association of Civil Engineers (PACE) Highway 54.
was formed from a group of civil engineers in the
private sector with Engr. Enrique Sto. Tomas Cortes
1941
as its first president.
At the outbreak of World War II, the Department of
Public Works and Communications (DPWC) and other
Objective:
government offices were practically abolished due to
Elevate the standards of the profession, encourage
the dislocation of manpower, lack of funds, materials
research and engineering knowledge and technology,
and equipment, installation of enemy administration
foster fellowship among members, and promote
and the setting up of resistance movement.
interrelation with other technological and scientific
Societies. 24 December 1941 - 01 August 1944
Since PACE is more active than PSCE, it led to the President Manuel Quezon issued Executive Order
transfer of members from PSCE to PACE. No. 396 which made The Department of Public Works
and Communication became the Department of
1938
National Defense, Public Works, Communications and
• Statutes for the practice of architecture from
Labor, with Basilio Valdes as Secretary.
engineering separated by law – National
Assembly Bill No. 1850.
1942
• January 31, 1938 – Operation of the first Bicol
Quintin Paredes served as Minister of Public Works
Train
and Communications under President Jose P. Laurel.
• May 8, 1938 – Inauguration of the Unified System
Operation in Caliraya Dam started in 1942
of Railroad from San Fernando La Union in the
north and Legazpi in the South. although its construction began in 1939.
After the Second World War, the Philippines
continued the rehabilitation and construction of
1939 roads, bridges, buildings, and other infrastructures.
Construction of Caliraya Dam started. Caliraya
Dam is an embankment dam located in the town of 1945
Lumban province of Laguna, in the Sierra Madre Executive Order no. 27 - The Department of National
Mountain Range of the Philippines. Defense and Communications was again named
• Lake Caliraya - a reservoir created by the dam, Department of Public Works and Communications
initially supplied one of the oldest in February 27, 1945.
hydroelectric plants in the Philippines.
1946
1940 The Department of Public Works and Communications
Highway 54 (currently EDSA) serves as a lifeline for (DPWC) started with limited human resources, funds,
hundreds of thousands of Filipinos passing or doing materials and equipment.
business in Metro Manila. It stretches 54 km. It passes
through five cities Pasay, Makati, Mandaluyong, 1947
Quezon City, and Caloocan. Its southern endpoint is at The Motor Vehicles Office was placed under DPWC’s
the rotunda near the SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City direct supervision.
while its northern point is at Monumento in Caloocan
1948
City near the Andres Bonifacio monument.
The country’s premiere airport, Manila
• It was constructed by engineers led by
International Airport Authority was originally a US
Florencio Moreno and Osmundo Monsod
where it was first named as North and South Air Force base until 1948, when it was turned over to
Circumferential Road. But at the end of World War

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the Philippine government’s National Airport 1954
Corporation. • Bureau of Public Highways was created in 1954
by virtue of the Republic Act No. 1192 and
1950-1956 placed under the Department of Public Works,
Construction of Ambuklao Dam began in July 1950 Transportation and Communications.
and opened on December 23, 1956. It was the • June 15, 1954 - R.A. No. 1080 was enacted to
biggest and highest in the Far East. It is made of make bar and board exam (passers) equivalent to
earth and rockfill which measures 129 meters in First-Grade Civil Service eligibility.
height and 452 meters in length. The elevation of its
crest is 758 meters and the roadway that runs through 1955-1970
the top of the dam has an elevation of 756 meters. The National Waterworks and Sewerage System
gross storage capacity of the dam’s reservoir is Authority (NAWASA) was created through RA
327,170,000 cubic meters and it has a usable storage 1383.
capacity of 258,000,000 cubic meters.
1956
1950 The Civil Aeronautics Administration (CAA) was
June 17, 1950 - the Architects (Philippine Institute transferred to the Department of Public Works,
of Architects) prepared and lobbied for the passing of Transportation & Communications.
the first Architect’s law (RA 545) while the Civil • June 16, 1956 – the Civil Engineering Law was
Engineers (Philippine Association of Civil amended by RA 1582.
Engineers), the Civil Engineering law (RA 544). • The Architecture Law was amended by RA 1581.
They jointly celebrated the passing of their respective
laws at the Manila Hotel Winter Garden.
1959
By virtue of Republic Act 2140, the highway was
1951
renamed in honor of Epifanio de los Santos, a
President Elpidio Quirino under Executive Order No.
famous statesman of the province of Rizal.
392 in 1951, the DPWC was again reconstituted to the
Department of Public Works, Transportation and
1960s
Communications (DPWTC) to include the Bureaus of
Shortage of projects in the country have resulted to an
Public Works, Posts, Telecommunications, Motor
influx of Filipino architects and engineers’ migration
Vehicles Office, Irrigation Council, Flood Control
to the US and Europe which started in the 60′s.
Commission, Radio Control Board, National
Inexpensive labor and be able to communicate in
Transportation Board and Government Quarters
English of these Filipino professionals made them
Committee.
attractive to be hired by these developed countries.
• The Philippine Highway Act of 1953 or
Many architects and engineers have established their
Republic Act No. 917 provided for an effective
own firms. Due to their numbers, Filipino architects
highway administration modified apportionment
and engineers globally have formed their own groups
of highway funds and gave aid to provinces and
cities for the improvement and maintenance of and made alliances with other Filipino associations.
roads and bridges. The North Luzon Expressway (NLE or NLEx), which is
formerly called the North Diversion Road and Manila
National Airport Corporation was abolished. North Expressway (MNEX), known as Radial Road 8 ,
ownership and management of the airport fell to the a 2 to 8 -lane-limited -access toll expressway that
Civil Aeronautics Administration (CAA) under the connects Metro Manila to the provinces of the Central
Department of Commerce & Industry. Luzon region in the Philippines, was built in 1960 s. It
has a total length of 84 km and is maintained by
Tollway Management Corporation.

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1960s – 1980s 1971-1997
“The Automobile Age” Road construction became a June 19. 1971 – RA 6234 was enacted - It dissolved
matter of priority of the government under the slogan: the National Waterworks and Sewerage System
“This nation is on Wheels.” (NAWASA) and created in its place the Metropolitan
Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS). MWSS
1960 was thus given the mandate to ensure an
The International Bureau of Weights and uninterrupted and adequate supply and distribution
Measures prepared a system of units designated the of potable water for domestic and other purposes at
“Systeme Internationale d’ Unites” with the just and equitable rates.
abbreviation SI, for worldwide adoption.
1972
1961 PACE President Engr. Cesar A. Caliwara, exerted
September 30, 1961 – the founding of the effort to merge PACE and PSCE.
Association of Structural Engineers of the
Philippines Completion of a control tower and a 1973
terminal building for the exclusive use of international • May 25, 1973 - Presidential Decree No. 198,
passengers at the southwest intersection of the also known as The Provincial Water Utilities
runways later known as the Manila International Act of 1973, was signed into law.
Airport. • June 1973 – President Ferdinand Marcos issued
Presidential Decree 223, creating the
1961-1967 Professional Regulation Commission (PRC)
Angat Dam located at Norzagaray, Bulacan started its regulating all professions and accrediting only
construction in November 1961 and opened on one organization to represent each profession.
October 16, 1967, with a height of 131 meters, length • December 11, 1973 - The Securities and
of 568 meters and base width of 550 meters. The Exchange Commission (SEC) issued Registration
Certificate No. 53896 to the PHILIPPINE
source of the dam is the Angat River, with a capacity of
INSTITUTE OF CIVIL ENGINEERS, INC. (PICE).
850 million cubic meters.
This is the culmination and fulfilment of the vision
of the merge of PACE and PSCE.
1963
June 22, 1963 - Creation of the National Irrigation
Administration under RA 3601 which was signed by 1974
Pres. Diosdado Macapacal. It is a government-owned • February 1974 – First election of PICE Officers
and controlled corporation tasked with the where Engr. Cesar Caliwara became its first
development and operation of Irrigation Systems all president. Provincial Chapters were also
over the country. organized in order to unite all Civil Engineers in
the Philippines.
1964 • July 1, 1974 - Through Administrative Order
June 20, 1964 – Change the name of Manila Railroad No. 2, The former Bureau of Public Highways was
expanded and restructured into the Department
Company (MRRCo) to Philippine National
of Public Highways (DPH) for a more effective
Railways (PNR) under the enactment of RA 4156.
administration of the country’s highway system.
1970s
“Marcial Law Years” 1975
There were already 591 national and municipal ports • May 20-24, 1975 – First International
plus 200 private ports scattered all over the country convention in the Philippines
necessitating the need for long-range planning and • August 13, 1975 – PRC Recognized PICE the only
rationalization of port development. official organization of civil engineers in the
Philippines with Accreditation No. 007
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• PD No. 693 - Authorizing the Construction of the Ministry of Public Works (MPW) and the Ministry of
Magat River Multipurpose Project in Isabela, Transportation and Communications (MOTC).
Providing for the Financing thereof.
• PD No. 757 – Creation of National Housing 1980
Authority (NHA) to oversee housing development President Marcos founded the Rural Waterworks
on a national level. Development Corporation (RWDC), responsible for
• PD No. 505 – the creation of the Philippine Ports water supply in areas where neither MWSS nor LWUA
Authority, which was subsequently amended by carries out the service or assists the LGUs,
PD No. 857 in December 1975. respectively. The RWDC was expected to create rural
System Internationale (SI) system of units was water supply associations in order to construct,
mandated in the Philippines under a Presidential operate, and maintain their own water supply systems
Decree by Pres. Marcos. in communities with fewer than 20,000 inhabitants.
March 20, 1980 - Martial Law executed Letter of
1976 Instruction 1000 – the Malacanang edict of having just
• With the shift in the form of government, national one organization for each profession to be accredited
agencies were renamed from Departments to by the Professional Regulations Commission.
Ministries. July 12, 1980 - Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) as
• The Department of Public Works, Transportation a government agency was created with its chairman
and Communications (DPWTC) became the was the then First Lady and Governor of Metro Manila,
Ministry of Public Works, Transportation and Imelda Romualdez Marcos.
Communications (MPWTC) & Department of
Public Highways (DPH) as the Ministry of Public 1981
Highways (MPH). MPW and MPH were merged to become The Ministry
• The National Water Resources Board (NWRB) of Public Works and Highways (MPWH) In as early as
was created through the National Water Code of 1981, the Philippine Board of Examiners for the
the Philippines (Water Code of the Philippines) to Various Licensure Examinations for the Practice of
coordinate policies concerning water resources.
Engineering and Architecture began to use the new
system of units, SI.
1977
February 19, 1977 - PD 1096 – “National Building 1982
Code of the Philippines” and its Implementing Rules October 27, 1982 – inauguration of the Magat Dam. It
and Regulations was signed by Pres. Marcos. was Southeast Asia’s first large multipurpose dam.
The dam is part of the Magat River Multipurpose
1978 Project (MRMP) which was financed by the World
• April 7, 1978 – PD 1350 was promulgated Bank and whose purpose is to improve on the existing
allowing applicants for citizenship to take the Magat River Irrigation System (MARIS) and to triple
board exam pending the approval of their the production of rice in the Cagayan River basin.
petition.
• June 11, 1978 – PD 1594 – “Prescribing 1983
Policies, Guidelines, Rules and Regulations for Magat Dam started to operate in 1983
Government Infrastructure Contracts” was
promulgated. 1987
January 30, 1987 - Executive Order No. 124 - the
1979 Ministry of Public Works and Highways (MPWH) is
July 23, 1979 – Executive Order No. 546 - MPWTC now known as the Department of Public Works and
was again restructured into two (2) Ministries – the Highways (DPWH) with five (5) bureaus, six (6)
services, 16 regional offices, 24 project management
offices, 16 regional equipment services and 118
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district engineering offices. the DPWH is responsible 30/35 (per subject) to 100 problems per subject
for the planning, design, construction and effective for May 2012 CE Board Exams. Meaning,
maintenance of infrastructures such as roads and there are 100 problems per subject or 300-item board
bridges, flood control systems, water resource exam questions.
development projects and other public works in
accordance with national objectives. 2013
• August 17, 1987 – RA No. 6639 – MIA was August 23, 2013 - Republic Act 10609 or the
Renamed to Ninoy Aquino International Airport Protection of Students’ Right to Enroll in Review
Centers Act of 2013 was signed into law.
1991
Civil Engineering Week – for the period of November
3 – 9,1991. It was declared by Malacañang through
Proclamation No. 799 on September 20, 1991, by Pres.
Corazon C. Aquino.

1993
• May 29, 1993 - The Board of Civil Engineering (at
PRC) held its first fully computerized (board)
examinations.
• November 9, 1993 – Results were released.

1995
February 28, 1995 - the Syllabi for the Subjects in the
Civil Engineering licensure examinations were
promulgated.

2000
December 5, 2000 – RA 8981: Professional
Regulations Commission (PRC) Modernization Act
of 2000 was enacted and signed into law by Pres.
Joseph Ejercito Estrada.

2006
Since the November 2006 CE Board Exam, the
Professional Regulation Commission has released
only the Top 10 Board Exam Performers and stopped
releasing the 11th to 20th places.
• Executive Order No. 566 issued by President
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo dated September 8,
2006, directing the Commission on Higher
Education to regulate the establishment and
operation of review centers and similar entities.

2012
March 2012 - the Board of Civil Engineering wrote to
the Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers (PICE) that
the board exam questions will be increased from
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