REPUBLIC ACT NO. 1192 - AN
ACT TO CREATE THE BUREAU OF PUBLIC HIGHWAYS, ABOLISHING THE DIVISION OF
HIGHWAYS OF THE BUREAU OF PUBLIC WORKS |
Section 1.
Creation and chief officials of the Bureau of Public Highways. – There
is created in the Department of Public Works and Communications an
office to be known as the "Bureau of Public Highways," which shall have
one chief to be designated as the Commissioner of Public High- ways who
shall be appointed by the President of the Philippines with the consent
of the Commission on Appointments and shall receive an annual
compensation of nine thousand six hundred pesos. He shall, upon
appointment, take and file the oath prescribed by law for public
officers, shall be bonded in accordance with the Public Bonding Law in
the sum of twenty-five thousand pesos, and shall be subject to removal
by the President for neglect of duty or for nonfeasance or malfeasance
in office.cralaw No person shall be appointed Commissioner of Public Highways unless he is a competent civil engineer, a graduate of an engineering college duly recognized by the Government, with at least fifteen years experience in highway and bridge construction, maintenance and repair.cralaw Any reference made in any act, executive order, administrative order, proclamation, rules or regulations to the Bureau of Public Works or to the Division of Highways of said Bureau in relation to construction, improvement, maintenance or repair of public roads, streets or highways of other activities connected therewith, shall hereafter be understood to be a reference to the Bureau of Public high- ways herein created: Provided, That no additional administrative expenditures for the operation of the Bureau of Public highways created under this Act shall be drawn from the general funds, such expenditures being proper charges against the allotments already set aside under section six, paragraph (a), of Republic Act Numbered Nine hundred and seventeen, known as the "Philippine Highway Act of 1953." Sec. 2. Powers, duties, functions andms of the Bureau in general. – The Bureau of Public Highways shall have the following powers, duties, functions andms in general; (a) The planning of a national highway program and the administration of large highway construction expenditures; (b) The conducting of research and investigation studies, including studies of highway administration, legislation, finance, economics, transport, construction, operation, maintenance, utilization, and safety, and of street of high- way traffic control; investigations and experiments in the best methods of road making, especially by the use of local materials; studies of types of mechanical plants and appliances used for road building and maintenance, and of methods of road repair and maintenance suited to the needs of different localities; (c) The survey, construction, care, maintenance, improvement and repair of national roads, express highways through cities, main rural highways, and the establishment of a highway system connecting the principal metropolitan areas and important industrial centers, and a system of secondary or farm to market roads; (d) The giving of advice to the President of the Philippines, the Congress, and the Secretary of Public Works and Communications upon matters pertaining to public highways; (e) The making of needful preliminary investigation, plans and specifications for the construction or repair of national roads, the obtaining of bids for contract work, the acceptance of rejection of the same and the awarding of contracts therefor; (f) The preparation of plans and estimates with reference to provincial and municipal roads, the letting of contracts therefor, and supervision over the construction, improvement maintenance, and repair thereof; (g) The supervision over the engineering features of streets throughout the Philippines, whether pertaining to the National Government or to any political subdivision thereof; (h) To cooperate with the department or departments concerned in the construction of roads in national forests, national parks and other areas belonging to the National government.cralaw Sec. 3. Powers and Duties of the Commissioner. –
The Commissioner of Public Highways shall possess the powers conferred
generally on bureau chiefs, shall have full control, management,
supervision, administration, and direction of the Bureau, and shall be
responsible for the carrying out of the activities thereof. In
particular, he shall be directly responsible for: (1) the
administration of Republic Act Numbered Nine hundred seventeen,
otherwise known as the Philippine Highway Act of 1953; (2) preparation
of long-range programs of highway development, improvement and
construction; (3) formulation of uniform practices for the physical
design of highway facilities; (4) direction of research in matters of
highway planning, location, design, construction and maintenance,
including the testing of materials and the proper and efficient use of
highway equipment; (5) promotion of sane economy in the expenditure of
highway funds, utilization of supplies and materials, preservation of
property and equipment, and management operations; (6) preparation of
annual budgets of proposed expenditures for construction,
reconstruction, and improvement work; (7) causing minutes of his acts
to be kept; and (8) supervising the signing of vouchers, orders for
supplies, materials, and any other expenditures.cralaw Sec. 4. Duties of the Chief Highway Engineer. –
The Chief Highway Engineer, aside from duties assigned to his office
under section five hereof, shall assist the Commissioner in carrying
out the activities of the Bureau. In particular, he shall be directly
responsible for: (1) coordinating the various phases of planning,
location, design, construction and maintenance of public highways; (2)
coordinating matters of line and grade with the services on design of
bridges and railroad crossings; (3) coordinating matter of research and
specifications with other highway services; (4) checking and passing on
final awards of contracts; and (5) reviewing and passing on highway
budgets prepared by the corresponding division or service.cralaw Sec. 5. Organization. – Until properly determined
by the Government Survey and Reorganization Commission created under
Republic Act Numbered Nine hundred ninety-seven, the present
organization and personnel of the Division of Highways in the Bureau of
Public Works shall continue to function under the Bureau of Public
Highways created by this Act, exercising the same powers and duties as
are already assigned to the different offices of the said division
under Republic Act Numbered Nine hundred seventeen.cralaw Sec. 7. Medical supplies and attendance for employees of the Bureau. – When officers and employees of the Bureau of Public Highways are engaged on authorized highway construction, reconstruction, improvement, repair or maintenance at places where usual medical attendance is not accessible, the Commissioner of Public Highways may, with the approval of the Department Head, request the Secretary of Health to assign such physicians in the Government service as in his judgment may be necessary for the best interest of the service.cralaw Sec. 8. Abolition of the Division of Highways of the Bureau of Public Works. – The Division of Highways of the Bureau of Public Works, as reorganized pursuant to the provisions of the Philippines highway Act of 1953, is abolished, and its personnel, unexpended appropriations, records, supplies, materials, equipment and other properties are transferred to the Bureau of Public Highways herein created. The powers, duties and functions heretofore exercised and performed by the said Division shall hereafter be exercised and performed by the Bureau of Public highways in so far as they are not inconsistent with this Act and the regulations issued thereunder.cralaw Sec. 9. Regulations. – The Secretary of Public
Works and Communications shall issue such rules and regulations as may
be necessary to carry out the purposes of this Act. Section 11. Date of effectivity. – This Act shall
take effect on the first day of July, nineteen hundred fifty-four.cralaw Approved: August 25, 1954 |