The Official Website of the Department of Transportation and Communications

History of DOTC

Foundation and Growth (1979 – 1986)
Jose P. Dans

On July 23, 1979, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC) was 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) as an answer to a growing awareness of the need to redefine the roles and priorities of each ministry.

The Transition Years (1986-1987)
Hernando B. Perez

The assumption to power of Corazon C. Aquino initiated a major overhaul of the bureaucracy through the replacement of cabinet ministers and reorganization of their respective ministries. On February 26, 1986, Congressman Hernando B. Perez was designated as the Minister of the MOTC. Due to the prevailing atmosphere during that time, Minister Perez continued the projects initiated by the past administration.

The Technocratic Years (1987- 1989)
RAINERIO O. REYES

March 1987 saw the installation of Rainerio O. Reyes, a technocrat, as the Minister of the MOTC. Immediately after, the MOTC was reorganized pursuant to Executive Order Nos. 125, and 125-A to effect the reorganization of the Ministry. Consequently, MOTC was transformed into a Department.

The Changing Years (1990 - 1992)
OSCAR M. ORBOS---ARTURO C. CORONA---PETE NICOMEDES PRADO

Recent economic drawbacks and the desire of the Aquino government to further strengthen and streamline the functions of government to ensure faster and better delivery of basic services and minimize red tape, however, brought about the issuance of Republic Act No. 7078 (CY 1991 General Appropriations Act) which reduced the number of undersecretaries and assistant secretaries in all departments in the government and thus, further changed the DOTC's organizational structure.

The Years of Multi-Modal Strategy (July 1992 - March 1996)
JESUS B. GARCIA

The election of Fidel V. Ramos in 1992 set our country on a journey towards the status of NIChood ensuring that in the process of getting there, Filipinos would share in the aspiration of the government and later partake of the fruits of its toil. During the first three years of the Ramos Administration, the DOTC was under the helm of Secretary Jesus B. Garcia, a lawyer/businessman. These years marked a significant growth in term of investments, facilities and technology.

The Year of Strategic Redirection (April 1996 - April 1997)
AMADO S. LAGDAMEO

The short stint of Harvard-educated Secretary Amado S. Lagdameo, Jr. with the Department has contributed in the modernization of transport and communications. His “strategic redirection” thrust realigned the development of the railway and maritime transport. He was the brainchild of a future concept of a nationwide link-up in land and water modes of transportation. During his term, the LRT III project along EDSA entered the critical construction stage.

The Year of Consensus Building (April 1997- January 1998)
ARTURO T. ENRILE

On April 14, 1997, the DOTC was placed under new stewardship of Ret. AFP Chief of Staff Arturo T. Enrile. This gentleman who proved to be a hero ahead of his time by thwarting what could have potentially erupted into an uncontrolled bloodbath - and consequently a total collapse of a floundering national economy - right in the heart of the country's premier financial district was the best choice as leader of a mammoth department like the DOTC.

Year of Empowerment and Liberalization
JOSEFINA TRINIDAD-LICHAUCO

Secretary Josefina-Trinidad Lichauco assumed the top leadership of the DOTC upon the untimely demise of Secretary Arturo T. Enrile on January 14, 1998. The stewardship of the Department fell into the highly capable hands of Secretary Lichauco who has an enviable academic background coupled with a rich professional experience in handling the affairs of the Department. She was mainly responsible for the liberalization and the breaking of monopolies in the country's communications facilities during her term as Undersecretary for Communications.

Year of Regeneration (1998-2001)
VICENTE C. RIVERA

The assumption to the Presidency of former action film hero, Joseph E. Estrada gave way for the installation of former Congressman Vicente C. Rivera, Jr. as DOTC Secretary. This gentleman from Bulacan was an ideal choice for the department's top post having been an Administrator of the Civil Aviation Administration (CAA) now Air Transportation Office and a true public servant.

A Year of Innovative Direction (2001 – 2002)
PANTALEON D. ALVAREZ

A former member of the House of Congress, lawyer Pantaleon D. Alvarez was PGMA's choice for the DOTC top post. Best known for his program, “Oks na Oks sa DOTC” which is an acronym for “Organisado, Kalinisan, Seguridad” Secretary Alvarez sought the vision of providing organized, clean, secure and safe facilities and network management in the transportation and communications sectors.

A continuing commitment towards a strong republic (2002 – 2010)
LEANDRO M. MENDOZA

The assumption of Secretary Leandro R. Mendoza in 2002 has led to the full commitment of employees and officials of the department, to become a staunch partner towards creating a strong republic. Under his stewardship, the DOTC has harnessed private sector support by streamlining approval processes and initiated capacity building in terms of improving the expertise of key personnel, and established a customer-oriented approach promoting public-private partnership.

ANNELI R. LONTOC