Delivering Responsive Legal Advisory Service

To meet the increasing demand of workload in the Region, the Legal Division
(LD), which was previously known as Legal Staff- a small unit of the Office of the
Regional Director, became an independent and separate division early this year.
The LD of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Regional
Office 1 plays a significant role in managing and addressing the organization’s
internal legal affairs as well as of the projects being implemented and facilitated by
the Agency.
On internal matters, the Division closely coordinates with the Administrative
Division and the Agency’s Bids and Awards Committee in ensuring that all
transactions are complied with the regular processes provided by all applicable
policies and laws.
It provides its clients insightful and legal counsel in the course of project
management and implementation in tandem with the district engineering offices
(DEO) and different divisions of the regional office.
In addition, it is the LD that acts as the lawyer for the DPWH when providing
its opinions or advice on legal issues pertaining to contracts, including quality review
and preparation of legal instruments significant to its operation. It also represents
the Agency, in collaboration with the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG), during
court hearings, and in consultations and meetings for specific projects. Under this
function, it reviews internal documents, issuances, communications, and other
related documents of the officials and employees.
Among the specific accomplishments of LD for 2018 include:
 Reviewed right-of-way (ROW) documents from all the DEO for action
 More than 100 miscellaneous requests for speaking engagement, and other
legal research/assistance
 Contributed inputs on seven (7) House Bills from Sen. Maria Lourdes Nancy S.
Binay, the Committee Chairperson on Tourism; and Sen. Emmanuel D.
Pacquiao, the Committee Chairperson on Public Works and Sports
 Reviewed approximately 75 legal opinions and queries and/or comments,
memorandum of agreement, and civil cases
 Acted more than 20 complaints and/queries through social media (Facebook),
postal mail, E-mail, and 888 Presidential Complaint Center for action
 Assisted about 40 monitored walk-in clients submitting their requirements
 Two (2) special proceedings involving the Regional Office have been finally
concluded in favor of the government:
a. Salgado (Special Civil Action No. 070-C)
b. Villegas (Special Civil Action 075-C)
 Together with OSG, filed and defended the Regional Office in the following
expropriation cases which are still undergoing trial before various Regional
Trial Courts within Region 1:
 a. Flores (Special Civil Action No. 2992-19)
b. Ponco (Civil Case No. 2983-19
c. Daludado & Valdez (Civil Case No. 2982-19)
d. Pimentel (Specia Civil Action No. 7906-V-2018)

This year, the Division also facilitated the acquisition of ROW for the following 15
infrastructure projects and other physical assets including its transfer in the name of
DPWH:
o Bangui Bypass Road
o Cabugao-Nueva Era-Dangl as Road (Cabugao Section)
o Bantay- San Ildefonso Bypass Road
o Bantay-Vigan Diversion Road
o Bauang- San Fernando City- San Juan Bypass Road (San Juan Section)
o Bauang- San Fernando City- San Juan Bypass Road (Bauang Bridge)
o Agoo Diversion Road
o Villasis- Sto. Tomas Bypass
o Mangatarem- Sta. Cruz Road
o Villamil Bridge Widening
o Tagamusing Bridge Widening
o Camantiles Flood Control
o Lingayen Bypass Road
o Urdaneta Western Bypass Road (2018 and 2017)
o Osmena Bridge

With its mandate to render just, responsive prompt legal service and keep
abreast with the recent policies and laws, the Division sent representatives from
its workforce to attend several capacity building activities, like the Conference on
Major Legal and Administrative Issues and Concerns; Seminar on the IRR of
Republic Act 9184 otherwise known as the Government Procurement Act;
Training on Basic and Advance Microsoft Office; Seminar on Basic Records
Management; and Re-Orientation Course on the DPWH during the year.
Besides its regular roles, the Division is also an advocate in promoting an eco-
friendly working environment, for it has shown exemplary compliance to the
environmental programs/ policies and efforts on environment protection and
conservation during the 2018 DPWH Friendly Regional Office (Environmental
Management Program Sustainability) when awarded as the Eco-Friendliest Room
on June 23, 2018.
 Photos with caption

The ROW team of the LD visits the claimants from all the districts on a weekly
basis for the completion and submission of documentary requirements.
Atty. Clarence B. Rimando, the chief of the Legal Division, and staff receive the
plaque of recognition as the Eco-Friendliest Room during the awarding ceremony
on June 23, 2018.