DPWH 116th Anniversary

Today, 23 June 2014, is the celebration of the 116th Anniversary of the Department of Public Works and Highways or Kagawaran ng mga Pagawain at Lansangang Pambayan.

Below are the 12 Historical Facts of DPWH based on the DPWH website:

1. 1898 -  In 1896, after four (4) centuries of Spanish colonization, our Filipino forebears started the revolutionary movement and the struggle to gain freedom began.  On June 12, 1898, Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo declared the Philippine Independence in Kawit, Cavite.  The Organic Decree of the Philippine Revolutionary Government on June 23, 1898 issued by 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.
             Though once included in the Department of War, now Department of National Defense, its functions as builder and maintainer of roads, bridges and other public works structures are inherent in the present Department.  The inclusion of public works in the War and Department can be explained by the exigencies of the revolutionary period.  The construction of fortifications and trenches was needed in the cause for freedom which our heroes had fought for.
2. 1902 -   When Spain ceded the Philippines to the United States in 1898, the public works and activities were placed under the U.S. Army engineers.  By virtue of Act No. 83 passed by the Philippine Commission on February 6, 1901, public works and projects were placed under the “Provincial Supervisions”.  In 1902, the Philippine Commission passed Act Nos. 222 and 268 creating the Department of Commerce and Police which gave birth to the Bureau of Engineering and Construction of public works and the Bureau of Architecture and Construction of public buildings.
3. 1905 - Act No. 1401 of the Philippine Commission passed on October 4, 1905, abolished engineering districts and positions of district engineers.  On October 26 of the same year, however, by virtue of a Reorganization Act, the Bureau of Public Works was created and placed under the Department of Commerce and Police. Along with the economic growth of the country was the need for a more extensive road network that would penetrate the rural areas.  In order to achieve that end, provincial boards were created in 1907 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. 
4. 1916 - A significant headway in the growth of the DPWH was the first appearance of motor vehicles in the Philippine highways in 1910.  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.  To raise such needed funds, motor vehicles and drivers plying the highways were required to register with fee in 1921.  To keep pace with further development in transportation and communications, the Department of Commerce and Police was transformed into the Department of Commerce and Communications under Reorganization Act No. 2666 of 1916. 
5. 1931 -   More development for the Department took place in 1931 when the Philippine Legislature passed on May 1 of that year Act No. 4007, renaming the Department of Commerce and Communications as Department of Public Works and Communications.  This Act, however, did not state the proper composition and functions of the DPWC.
              During the inauguration of the Commonwealth Government on November 15, 1935, a reorganization of the DPWC was undertaken.  Under the set up, it was composed of the Bureau of Public Works, Ports, Aeronautics, Coast and Geodetic Survey, Metropolitan Water District Division of Marine, Railway and Repair Shop, National Radio Broadcasting, Irrigation Council and Board of Examiners for Civil, Mechanical, Chemical and Mining Engineers.
             In 1941, outbreak of World War II, the DPWC and other government offices were practically abolished due to dislocation of manpower, lack of funds, materials and equipment, installation of enemy administration and the setting up of resistance movement.
               Resuming its operation in 1946, the DPWC started with limited human resources, funds, materials and equipment.  An office of the U.S. Bureau of Public Roads was set up to cooperate with the Philippine Bureau of Public Works in implementing the highway program as authorized by the Philippine Rehabilitation Act of 1946.
6. 1951 -  The authority of the Department was further expanded when, in 1947, the Motor Vehicles Office was placed under its direct supervision.
               Under Executive Order No. 392 in 1951, the DPWC was again reconstituted to Department of Public Works, Transportation and Communications (DPWTC) to include the Bureaus of Public Works, Posts, Telecommunications, Motor Vehicles Office, Irrigation Council, Flood Control Commission, Radio Control Board, National Transportation Board and Government Quarters Committee.
               Taking cognizance of the social impact of the road network to national growth, the Philippine Highway Act of 1953 or Republic Act No. 917 providing for an effective highway administration, modified apportionment of highway funds and gave aid to provinces and cities for the improvement and maintenance of roads and bridges.
7. 1954 -  In relation to road and bridge construction and maintenance, the Bureau of Public Highways was created in 1954 by virtue of the Republic Act No. 1192 and placed under the Department of Public Works, Transportation and Communications.  This Act provided for a more effective management of the Philippine Highways under a Commissioner.  Active plans & programs were formulated & implemented.
               Upon the declaration of Martial Law on September 21, 1972, the Administration implemented the Integrated Reorganization Plan No. 1 on September 24, placing all the infrastructure functions of Bureaus and Offices under the DPWTC for simplicity and economy of operations.
8. 1974 - The former Bureau of Public Highways was expanded and restructured into the Department of Public Highways (DPH) for a more effective administration of the country’s highway system through Administrative Order No. 2, dated July 1, 1974.
9. 1976 -  With the shift in the form of government, national agencies were renamed from Departments to Ministries.  In 1976, DPWTC became Ministry of Public Works, Transportation and Communications (MPWTC) & DPH as Ministry of Public Highways (MPH).
10. 1979 - On July 23, 1979 under Executive Order No. 546, MPWTC was again restructured into two (2) Ministries – the Ministry of Public Works (MPW) and the Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC), integrating all bureaus and offices concerned with public works functions and activities under the Ministry of Public Works.  The same went true with all offices involved in transportation and communications which were placed under the supervision and administration of the Ministry of Transportation and Communications.
11. 1981 -  Under Executive Order No. 710 dated July 27, 1981, the Ministries of Public Works and Public Highways were merged for a more effective and sustained implementation of infrastructure projects.  Under the restructured set-up, the agency was known as the Ministry of Public Works and Highways (MPWH) with 14 regional offices, 94 districts and 60 city engineering offices, five (5) bureaus and six (6) service offices, in addition to corporations and councils attached to the Ministry for administrative supervision.
12. 1987 -  Finally, by virtue of Executive Order No. 124, dated January 30, 1987, the agency is now known as the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) with five (5) bureaus, six (6) services, 16 regional offices, 24 project management offices, 16 regional equipment services and 118 district engineering offices.
                As the primary engineering and construction arm of the government, the DPWH is 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.

DPWH LOGO

DPWH CENTRAL OFFICE

References:
About Us Brief History 
Department of Public Works and Highways (Philippines) 

12 Tips For Work From Home To Work For You

Work From Home

Not every one is capable of doing work from home. Anyone can start work from home but only a few succeed and are able to maintain and sustain this alternative source of income. In light of this, here are some recommendations which you can apply if you work from home or if you have plans to work from home.

• Schedule.

• Creating a schedule is a good way for developing time management skills, and helps improves yourself to be well-organized and become a self-starter. The fact is that work from home release us from the traditional 9-to-5 or 8-to-5 schedule but working without any structure can seriously hurt your productivity according to entrepreneurs Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson in their book "Remote: Office Not Required." The recommendation is to divide your workday into three sessions, if possible, arranged to your liking: a "catch up" time to go through emails and read the news, a "collaboration" period when you work with coworkers on projects or talk about planning with your manager, and a "serious work" time when you get through the most difficult assignments of the day. Setting up a schedule makes it easier to maintain a distinction between your professional and personal lives. 

•  Savings.

• Even though you are working from home, you must consider saving part of your earnings to have a buffer in case of emergencies. Learn to have a savings goal by having a target amount of savings so that you will be motivated to save.

• Skills.

• Improve your technical skills because technical help is not always around when you encounter technical problems. You are left to your own devices if you encounter a technical glitch and you may be left alone wondering what to do. There are also some free and some paid softwares you can use for giving presentations and are really useful for you to become conversant such as Web-based meeting programs like GoToMeeting, Cisco WebEx, Join.me, TeamViewer or Google+ Hangouts.

• Paperwork.

• Get the proper business paperwork, with emphasis on "proper", especially for those who have small home business operations, proper tax registrations, business and occupational licenses and permits from different agencies are needed to operate legally. Also, you need to pay taxes in order to avoid future problems with tax agencies.

• Insurance.

• Do not forget about insurance. Try to find out the regulations regarding home business insurance because you also need to protect your valuable equipment against theft or injury to yourself. 

• Dress.

• Get dressed. Although business attire is not necessary, you still need to work using a decent dress and not pajamas. Choose something that makes you feel good. Wear colors such as yellow, orange, and purple which reflect creative auras and has psychological benefits. This is another way for you to have boundaries between work and relaxation.

• Workspace.

• Find a workspace. Designate a room exclusively for your office or workspace. If this is not feasible, then find a  corner or other empty space that will serve as a workspace for you. Whatever you do, never bring work to bed. The best work-at-home jobs are often ones that demand a quiet space where there are few distractions. Try to make the "area" for purposes of work only.

• Out.

• Go out and work outside.
  
  Try to change the aura of work occasionally by going to the nearest coffee shop, bookstore, library, or park which is especially effective for boosting your creativity level. 

• Socialize.

• In person, if you have extra time, get off the computer, put your phone away, and socialize. Participate in conferences, retreats, seminars, workshops or meet up with friends for coffee or lunch. 

• Network.

• Network electronically by getting active in Social Media groups like LinkedIn groups that relate to your work, employer, alma mater, past employers, or other interests that suits you. You can comment on posts and add your own two cents which shows a part of your expertise and gives you a virtual feeling of being connected to a community. But be careful of photos that you posts because it might be use unknowingly by others and might lead to you being scrutinize by others. 

• Creativity.

• Routine is a slow process of creative suicide and in order to avoid boring yourself to death, try to develop a new technique for your routine by downloading a new software, decorating your workspace, calling instead of e-mailing, discovering a potential partnership, reading books, attending workshops or taking on an intimidating challenge which can get your creative juices overflowing again.

• Break.

• Take a break. A break is one of the biggest advantage you have if you work from home. Sitting for long periods of time without a pause is personally and profesionally unhealthy. Try to go for a walk, have lunch at the table, reserve an hour for reading magazines or newspapers or prepare your dinner. Never take a break that consist of more screen time. It's not good for your eyes. It's bad for your health. Try to relax. Get some fresh air. Walking rejuvenates us and stretching helps boost our energy. If you are tempted to do a mid-afternoon nap, if you have a budget, consider working at a local coffee shop or library. According to the book "Remote: Office Not Required" by the entrepreneurs Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson, "It sounds counterintuitive, but the presence of other people, even if you don't know them, can fool your mind into thinking that being productive is the only proper thing to do."

The Book "Remote: Office Not Required" available at Amazon

References:

9 Tips For Staying Motivated When You Work From Home

How To Make Working From Home More Productive
10 Tips For Working From Home

Working from home: 6 tips to ensure productivity

Remote: Office Not Required

Remote: Office Not Required Hardcover 

My Biggest Takeaway on 37Signals’s New Book on Remote Work (Hint: It’s Not Technology)

A Book in 5 Minutes: “Remote: Office Not Required” by Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson

12 Ways to Avoid Conflicts in the Office

Below are 12 ways on how to avoid conflicts in the office as shared by Management expert Michael LeBoeuf in his book Working Smart: How to Accomplish More in Half the Time:

1. Make the effort to be an effective communicator. Understand the true meaning of what people say.
2. Be open. When you are perceptive to the opinion and feelings of others, they will not be defensive.
3. Present criticisms in a spirit of kindness, helpfulness and tact. Focus on the behavior that needs correcting, not the person.
4. Be assertive, not aggressive.
5. Mind your own business.
6. Live and let live. One man's right ends where another man's nose begins.
7. Keep your cool. Delay an explosive emotion.
8. Remember that arguing for the sake of arguing is a needless waste of time.
9. Don't belittle or ridicule another person's achievements.
10. Don't be a prophet of gloom and doom.
11. If a major ongoing, unavoidable conflict hinders your work or someone else's, discuss it with those involved.
12. To work less and accomplish more, remember this: It is easier to work with people than to work against them.