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NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
Third Regular Session 
)
ilDffllj’ of !l ? -? ■
24 JUL29 P4:24
SENATE 
S. No. 27HR
Introduced by Senator MARK A. VILLAR
AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR THE CREATION OF A DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS 
AND HIGHWAYS REGIONAL OFFICE - BANGSAMORORO AUTONOMOUS 
REGION IN MUSLIM MINDANAO (BARMM) AND THE FIVE (5) NEW 
DISTRICT ENGINEERING OFFICES (DEOs)f APPROPRIATING FUNDS 
THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The Philippines is prone to tropical storms due to its geographical 
location which generally produce strong winds, heavy rains, and flooding of large 
areas. Consequently, it brings heavy casualties to human life and destructions to 
agricultural crops, properties, and infrastructures.
The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) was one 
of the places that was severely affected when Severe Tropical Storm "Paeng" hit the 
Philippines, leaving the country with significant devastation. Although there exist a 
Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Regional Project Management 
Office for the BARMM, there is an absence of a DPWH Regional Office and District 
Engineering Office (DEO) for the Bangsamoro region.
In the situation briefing held to discuss the effects of "Paeng", President Marcos 
Jr. recommended the creation of District Engineering Offices under the DPWH 
including the establishment of a DPWH Regional Office for the BARMM to expedite 
repairs of bridges and national roads after the onslaught of natural calamities.
In line with this, the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) Parliament 
adopted Resolution No. 346 supporting the call of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" 
Marcos Jr. to create and organize said offices.
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4


Notably, Republic Act No. 11054 also known as the Organic Law for the 
Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao which created the BARMM was 
designed to address the grievances, sentiments, and demands of Muslims in the 
region. It gives the Bangsamoro government an asymmetrical relationship with the 
national government, as the BARMM will have more autonomy than other regions in 
the country.
This measure proposes the creation of a DPWH Regional Office and DEOs in 
BARMM in order to cater to the timely and efficient implementation of national 
infrastructure programs and projects in the region. Upon the establishment of the said 
offices, the DPWH will handle the direct implementation of all national infrastructure 
for BARMM funded thru General Appropriations Act (GAA) while the Ministry of Public 
Works shall handle local infrastructure development.
It will be advantageous for both the National and Bangsamoro Government 
particularly in the performance of the DPWH's mandates under Section 37, Article XIII 
of R.A. No. 11054, fast-track the recovery, rehabilitation, and development of the 
BARMM. Likewise, it will help ease the relief efforts of the National Government, 
especially on the mobilization of goods and services to most affected areas during 
calamities.
Thus, it is only right to establish engineering offices as well as the DPWH 
Regional Office to make services accessible to the localities and provide better public 
service to the people of BARMM.
In view of the foregoing, the approval of this bill is earnestly sought.
MARK A. VILLAR


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
Third Regular Session 
)
SENATE 
s. No. 275R
’ '(©ffiti* ot I’ 'tr ?
24 JUL 29 ? 4 -24
Introduced by Senator MARK A. VILLAR
AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR THE CREATION OF A DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS 
AND HIGHWAYS REGIONAL OFFICE - BANGSAMORO AUTONOMOUS 
REGION IN MUSLIM MINDANAO (BARMM) AND THE FIVE (5) NEW 
DISTRICT ENGINEERING OFFICES (DEOs), APPROPRIATING FUNDS 
THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
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Section 1. Creation. The Regional Office - Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in
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Muslim Mindanao, herein after referred to as "DPWH RO-BARMM" is hereby created
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and shall become the 17th Regional Office under the Department of Public Works and
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Highways. The seat of office shall be in Zamboanga City, taking into consideration of
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its advantageous logistical location and being in the center of the concerned provinces
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comprising the Bangsamoro Region.
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The DPWH RO-BARMM shall be under the control and supervision of the
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Department of Public Works and Highways.
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Sec. 2. Composition. -The DPWH RO-BARMM shall be composed of a Regional
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Office and five (5) District Engineering Offices (DEO) to be classified as 2nd Class DEOs
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under its jurisdiction.
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The DEOs shall consist of five (5) new District Engineering Offices to be created,
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namely: (i) Sulu District Engineering Office (DEO); (ii) Tawi-Tawi DEO; (iii)


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Maguindanao de Norte DEO; (iv) Maguindanao de Sur DEO; and (v) Lanao de Sur
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DEO.
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Sec. 3. Appropriations. -The amount necessary for the initial implementation of
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this Act shall be charged against the savings or current year's appropriations of the
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DPWH. Thereafter, such sums as may be necessary for the continued implementation
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of this Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.
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Sec. 4. Functions of the Regionai Office. —The DPWH RO-BARMM shall provide
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the overall supervision and administration of technical, financial, human resource and
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administrative functions of the Region and all District Engineering Offices under its
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jurisdiction, including but not limited to the following:
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(a) Plan, design, fund, implement, supervise and oversea the construction and
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maintenance of national roads, bridges, flood control systems, water supply and other
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national public works and infrastructure projects in the Bangsamoro Autonomous
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Region.
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(b) Through the representation of the Regional Director and/or any authorized
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official, participate in the convening of the Intergovernmental Infrastructure
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Development Board (IIDB), created by virtue of Article VI Section 6 of R.A. No. 11054,
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and coordinate with the Ministry of Public Works (MPW) under the Bangsamoro
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Government, in order to identify the national infrastructure programs needed by the
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Bangsamoro Autonomous Region.
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(c) Perform other technical, operational, administrative, and financial functions
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in accordance with the existing functions of other Regional Offices of the Department
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of Public Works and Highways, but only limited to those relevant to national
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infrastructure programs and projects in the Bangsamoro Region.
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Sec. 5. Functions of the District Engineering Offices. — The five (5) newly
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created District Engineering Offices shall provide the overall supervision and
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administration of the technical, financial, human resource and administrative activities
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of the District Engineering Office, including but not limited to:
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(a) Plan, design, fund, and implement the construction and maintenance of
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national roads, bridges, flood control systems, water supply and other national public
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works and infrastructure projects in the engineering district under its jurisdiction.


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(b) Perform other technical, operational, administrative, and financial functions
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in accordance with the existing functions of other District Engineering Offices of the
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Department of Public Works and Highways, but only limited to those relevant to
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national infrastructure in the Bangsamoro Region.
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Sec. 6. Existing Personnel of DPWH Regional Project Management Office. - The
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existing employees of Department of Public Works and Highways Regional Project
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Management Office (DPWH-RPMO) for the BARMM shall enjoy a security of tenure
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and be absorbed by the DPWH Regional Office and District Engineering Offices in
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accordance with their staffing patterns and the selection process as prescribed under
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Republic Act No. 6656, otherwise known as the "Government Reorganization Law".
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Sec. 7. Issuance of Agency Code. - Pursuant to the existing accounting and
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auditing rules, regulations, and policy of the National Government, the DBM shall issue
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the corresponding agency code for the DPWH RO-BARMM and the five (5) new District
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Engineering Offices, to allow them to program and procure goods, services, and civil
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works necessary for the operation of the said offices.
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Sec. 8. Separability Clause. - If any part, section, or provision of this Act is held
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invalid or unconstitutional, other provisions not affected thereby shall remain in full
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force and effect.
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Sec. 9. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, issuances, rules, and
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regulations contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby
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repealed, amended, or modified accordingly.
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Sec. 10. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
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publication in at least two (2) newspaper of national circulation.
Approved,