Week 2 Civil Engineering History

• The history of PUP Civil Engineering Program was discussed on Week 3: Introduction to Civil Engineering Canons.
• Please use your full name (Program Tear and Section_Surname, First Name, Middle Initial) – CE I-1 Dela Cruz, Juan M.
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• The earliest practices of civil engineering were in ancient Egypt and ancient Mesopotamia when humans first built a roof for its shelter.
• The construction of pyramids in Egypt were some of the first instances of large structure construction.
• Colosseum in Rome, Great Wall of China, Taj Mahal of India are examples of historical structures.
• The first major Roman road, the famed Appian Way or “queen of the roads”, was constructed to serve as a supply route between republican Rome and its allies in Capua during the Second Samnite War.
• Opus caementicium, or Roman concrete, paved the way for the architectural frenzies of the first Roman emperor Agustus.
• Roman concrete, though weaker than modern cement, is astonishingly long-lasting, remaining relatively intact even after centuries of exposure to sweater and other damaging elements.
• A group of civil engineers from the government sector formed the Philippine Society of Civil Engineers (PSCE) which was the first civil engineering organization in the Philippines with Engr Marcial Kasilag as its first president.
• In 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.
• 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 Irrigation Act of 1912 was passed under the American regime, the Government initiated policies to stimulate national economic growth through irrigation development.
• The Engineers and Architects Law (Act No. 2985) passed on February 23, 1921 created separate Board of Examiners for civil engineering and architecture.
• The first appearance of motor vehicles in the Philippine highways in 1910.
• Katigbak of the City Engineer’s Office of Manila, as instructor in graphics (drawing) on a part-time basis.
• Roads and bridges had to be kept in good condition at all times.
• The Escuela was closed in 1912.
• The Irrigation Act of 1912 regulated the appropriation of public waters, investigation, construction, operation and maintenance of irrigation systems.
• The Irrigation Division under the Bureau of Public Works (BPW) was established in 1908 (the friar lands were sold to govt which in turn were sold to the tenants in 1902).
• Due to the Engineers and Architects Law of 1921, Filipinos were allowed to practice as Architects and Engineers because of their experience as Maestro de Obras in the Spanish Period.
• There was a need for funds to keep the roads passable the whole year round.
• The term “Civil Engineering” came into use to describe engineering work that was performed by civilians for non-military purposes.
• The US government initiated the development of roadways in the Philippines connecting towns, cities and provinces.
• Transportation in the Philippines was largely dependent on trails, waterways, railroad, earth roads and partially-gravelled roads in the early 1900s.
• The popular Macadam road type was introduced in the Philippines in the early 1900s.
• The introduction of reinforced concrete in the Philippines was in the 1900s and its use in the construction of the Masonic Temple (Grand Lodge of the Philippines), the first multi-structure in Escolta, Manila, is a notable example.
• 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 Bill of 1902 (July 1, 1902) or the Philippine Organic Act authorized the Government of the Philippine Islands to provide for the needs of commerce.
• The 1901 municipal code (February 6, 1901) provided for popularly elected municipal board members who were responsible for collecting taxes, maintaining municipal properties, and undertaking necessary construction projects.
• 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.
• AAAF changed the name of association to Academia de Arquitectura, Ingeniera y Agrimensura de Filipinas (AIAAF) in 1903, including civil engineers and surveyors.
• By virtue of Act No. 83 passed by the Philippine Commission on February 6, 1901, public works and projects were placed under the “Provincial Supervisions”.
• This includes improving harbors, constructing maintaining bonded warehouses, wharves, piers, light-houses, signal and life-saving stations, buoys, and like instruments of commerce, as well as to adopt and enforce regulations.
• Highway in the Philippines at that time was a dream to most Filipinos.
• The first Railroad Legislation Act (Philippine Commission Act No. 554) was passed on December 8, 1902 granting the Manila Railroad Company (MRRCo) the right to construct branch lines.
• The first instructor to be appointed was Mr Jose P.