Department of Transportation and Communications (Philippines)

Department of Transportation and Communications
Kagawaran ng Transportasyon at Komunikasyon
Department overview
Formed January 23, 1899
Superseding agency
  • Transportations and Communications
Headquarters The Columbia Tower, Ortigas Avenue, Wack-Wack, Mandaluyong, Metro Manila
Annual budget ₱52.9 billion (2015)[1]
Department executive
Website www.dotc.gov.ph

The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) (Filipino: Kagawarán ng Transportasyón at Komunikasyón) is the executive department of the Philippine government responsible for the maintenance and expansion of viable, efficient, and dependable transportation and communications systems as effective instruments for national recovery and economic progress.

The department is responsible for the country's land, air, sea and communications infrastructure.

The headquarters is the Columbia Tower in Mandaluyong City, Metro Manila.[2]

History

From 1899 to 1979 all transportation and communications activities were integrated into the structure and activities of what is now today the Department of Public Works and Highways.

Early history

On July 28, 1979, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC), headed by Minister José P. Dans Jr. was formally created pursuant to Executive Order No. 546. Under this Executive Order, the Ministry of Public Works, Transportation and Communications (MPWTC) was divided into two separate ministries: The Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC) and the Ministry of Public Works and Highways (MPWH).

The MOTC became the primary policy, planning, programming, coordinating, implementing and administrative entity of the executive branch of the government in the promotion, development and regulation of a dependable and coordinated network of transportation and communication systems.

The infrastructure projects undertaken during this period included:

It was also during this period that the motor vehicle registration and control was improved with the introduction of permanent vehicle license plates and the staggered registration system. A bus leasing program provided an additional 1,000 new buses in Metro Manila.

The operations of both the Philippine National Railways and the Metro Manila Transit Corporation were improved and expanded. At the same time, the Manila South Line of the PNR serving the Bicol Region was rehabilitated.

Post-EDSA 1986

On February 26, 1986, just after the 1986 EDSA Revolution, Congressman Hernando B. Pérez was appointed Minister of Transportation and Communication by President Corazon C. Aquino.

In March 1987, technocrat Rainerio O. Reyes, was appointed Minister of MOTC. Immediately after, the MOTC was reorganized pursuant to Executive Order Nos. 125, and 125-A. With these Executive Orders, the MOTC was made into a Department, under the Executive branch of the Government.

Under Secretary Reyes, the quasi-judicial functions of the Department were transferred to the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, which was created through Executive Order No. 202.

Under Fidel V. Ramos

Jesus B. Garcia was appointed Secretary of the DOTC by President Fidel V. Ramos. Under Garcia, new entrants were allowed in the landline and cellular phone services, dilapidated taxi cabs were also phased out in favor of brand new and late model units.

Present

At present, the DOTC is expected to pursue numerous projects as part of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's thrust of improving and expanding the country's infrastructure to promote tourism and investment, as outlined in her 2006 State of the Nation Address.

Attached agencies

Secretaries of Transportation and Communications

Proposed reorganization

Bills in the Philippine Congress were filed creating a new executive department named Department of Information and Communications Technology. As proposed in the bill, it will inherit the agencies Information Technology, Electronics and Communications Council (ITECC), National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), Telecommunications Office (TelOf), National Printing Office (NPO), Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB), Optical Media Board (OMB), government corporations Philippine Postal Office (PhilPost), People's Television Network (PTV-4), Radio Philippines Network (RPN-9), Intercontinental Broadcasting Corporation (IBC-13), Philippine Broadcasting Service (PBS-Radyo ng Bayan). Due to the absence of an enabling law, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo created the Commission on Information and Communications Technology absorbing the ITECC, NTC, PhilPOST and TelOf.

References

  1. ↑ "GAA 2015" (PDF). DBM. Retrieved 22 January 2015.
  2. ↑ "Directory" (Archive). Department of Transportation and Communications. Updated as of 4 March 2015. Retrieved on September 17, 2015. "The Columbia Tower, Brgy. Wack-wack, Ortigas Avenue, 1555 Mandaluyong City, Philippines"

External links

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