Civil Engineering Orientation in the Philippines PDF

BECC0703 – Civil Engineering Orientation DURING SPANISH TIME The walled city in Intramuros was established by the Spaniards as a model community. The Friar Architects/Engineers during that time were the ones who built the government buildi...

BECC0703 – Civil Engineering Orientation DURING SPANISH TIME The walled city in Intramuros was established by the Spaniards as a model community. The Friar Architects/Engineers during that time were the ones who built the government buildings, bridges, residential and other structures, incorporated European standards in engineering and architectural installations. During the 18th and 19th centuries, Filipino engineers were assigned the task of maintaining, repairing and/or remodelling infrastructure systems in all “pueblos” or towns including churches, convents and government buildings. Maestro de Obras were called by the Ilustrados or the elite group to build structures in villas and mansions. 1868 The Bureau of Public Works and Highways (Obras Publicas) and Bureau of Communications and Transportation (Communicationes y Meteologia) were organized under a civil engineer known as “Director General”. 1890 School for Maestro de Obras called Escuela Practica y Professional de Artes y Oficios de Manila was founded. FIRST PHILIPPINE REPUBLIC The Organic Decree issued by Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo establishing the Philippine Revolutionary Government created four (4) government departments among 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. When Spain ceded the Philippines to the United States in 1898, the public works and activities were placed under the U.S. Army engineers. 1899 The Malolos Constitution was ratified during a general assembly of Congress, and the first Council of Government of the First Philippine Republic was created with Apolinario Mabini as President of the Cabinet (i.e. Prime Minister). When Mabini was replaced by Pedro Paterno as President of the Cabinet, seven departments were set up and among them was the Comunicaciones y Obras Publicas (i.e. the Communications and Public Works Department). Since then, Public Works, Transportation, and Communications have been grouped into one department. History of Civil Engineering – The Start of Civil Engineering in the Philippines  BECC0703 – Civil Engineering Orientation DURING AMERICAN REGIME 1900 Foundation of the Liceo de Manila. This is the first private institution offering academic course for maestro de obras and headed by Leon Ma. Guerrero. February 6, 1901 Public works and projects were placed under the “Provincial Supervisions” by virtue of Act No. 83 passed by the Philippine Commission. The 1901 municipal code provided for popularly elected municipal board members who were responsible for collecting taxes, maintaining municipal properties, and undertaking necessary construction projects. 1902 The first professional association of architecture and surveyors was born on September 14, 1902 with the creation of the Academia de Arquitectura y Agrimensura de Filipinas (AAAF). 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. 1903 AAFF changed the name of association to Academia de Ingenieria, Arquitectura y Agrimensura de Filipinas (AIAAF) – including civil engineers and surveyors. AIAAF merged with the Liceo and established the Escuela de Ingeniera y Arquitectura, which offered a five-year course in architecture and civil engineering. It eased to operate after a year of inception. In 1908, it was reorganized and reopened its doors to students but this time offered a three-year course for architecture, civil engineering and electrical engineering. However, it was closed in 1912. 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. History of Civil Engineering – The Start of Civil Engineering in the Philippines  BECC0703 – Civil Engineering Orientation May 18, 1907 The Faculty of Engineering of the University of Santo Tomas (UST) was established as School of Civil Engineering with one program offering leading to the degree of Master of Science in Civil Engineering (MSCE). It is the oldest engineering school in the Philippines. During the early years of U.S. occupation, most of the civil engineers in our country came from America. The College was patterned after the University of Havana in Cuba and was first set up at the second floor of the old UST building in Intramuros. 1910 The Board of Regents of the University of the Philippines, in a resolution passed on June 3, 1910, appointed Mr. W.J. Colbert as acting Dean of the College of Engineering. His appointment was set to effect on June 13, 1910 thereby creating the College of Engineering. Dean Colbert was authorized to prepare the curriculum and select the necessary teaching personnel for the new course. Initially, a four-year course leading to the degree of Bachelor of Science with an additional degree of Civil Engineer upon completion of an extra year of study was approved. 1911 The AIAAF was dissolved when the civil engineers (and other engineering profession) withdrew to form their own professional organization (The Philippine Society of Engineers), but not before it has struggled for the passage of an Engineers and Architects Law. 1916 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. It consists of the Bureau of Commerce and Industry, Bureau of Supply, Bureau of Public Works, Bureau of Posts, Bureau of Labor and Bureau of Coast and Geodetic Survey. February 23, 1921 The Engineers and Architects Law (Act No. 2985) passed. The law created separate Board of Examiners for civil engineering and architecture. They were schooled abroad as civil engineers and architects. Due to this law, Filipinos were allowed to practice as Architects and Engineers because of their experience as Maestro de Obras in the Spanish Period. Public Act No. 2985 was enacted empowering the Secretary of Commerce and Communication to appoint members of the boards of the architecture and engineering professions. The Act, which contained very general provisions on the regulation of engineering and architecture, was later amended by Acts No. 3159 and 3182. History of Civil Engineering – The Start of Civil Engineering in the Philippines