Undersecretary Roberto R. Bernardo has more than thirty-six (36) years of experience as government civil engineer who rose from the ranks in the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) because of his distinctive knowledge, hard work, and dedication to public service.
Prior to his appointment as DPWH Undersecretary in November 29, 2017, he served various positions at the Department starting as a Civil Engineering Aide in 1986, then promoted to Associate Civil Engineer in 1987, Civil Engineer to Engineer II in 1989, Engineer III in 1993, Assistant District Engineer in 2001, District Engineer in 2002, and Assistant Regional Director in 2010. In 2013, he was requested by Manila City Mayor Joseph Ejercito Estrada to be the OIC-City Engineer on a secondment status. In August 2016, he was appointed by President Rodrigo Roa Duterte as DPWH Assistant Secretary.
From January 2018 to November 2021, he was the Undersecretary for Regional Operations in DPWH NCR, Regions IV-B, VI, VII, and VIII and spearheaded some of the high-impact projects of DPWH such as the Tacloban By-pass Road and Tide Embankment Project both in Tacloban City, the on-going implementation of the Metro Cebu Expressway, and the Rehabilitation of the Boracay Island in Aklan.
Currently, he is the Undersecretary for Regional Operations in NCR, Regions III, IV-A, IV-B, V, VI, VII, & VIII. As such, he has overall supervision and control over the operations of all Regional Offices in his areas of assignment, including all infrastructure projects implemented by the Department but funded under the budget of various line agencies i.e. school buildings, health centers, and farm-to-market roads.
Undersecretary Bernardo gained extensive knowledge and competence by attending various international conferences such as Seminar on Engineering and Construction Standard System and Application for Developing Countries held in Beijing, China in 2011, American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) International Program and 139th Annual ASCE Civil Engineering Conference held in Kansas City, Missouri, U.S.A in 2009, and Consultative Meeting with the Members of the Office of the Secretary for Works held in Hong Kong in 2008, and many other undertakings.
He is an active member of the Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers (PICE), Road Engineering Association of the Philippines (REAP), Road Engineering Association of Asia and Australasia (REAAA) and has regularly attended national conventions of these organizations.
Undersecretary Bernardo received in 2019 The Outstanding Mapuan (TOM) Award in the Specialized Fields of Endeavor in Government Service and in 2009 the Most Outstanding Alumnus Award for Government Service from the Mapua Institute of Technology (MIT), the institution where he completed his Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering in 1984. He also completed his Master in Business Management course at St. Francis of Assissi College in 1999.
In February 28, 2019, his appointment as a Career Executive Service Officer (CESO) Rank I was signed and approved by President Duterte.
He was born in the City of Malolos, Bulacan.
Responsibilities:
The Undersecretary for Regional Operations in NCR, NIR, Regions III, IV-A, IV-B, V, VI, VII, VIII and NIR shall have overall supervision and control over the operations of the said offices and all infrastructure projects implemented by the Department but funded under the budget of various line agencies i.e. school buildings, health centers, and farm-to-market roads in his area of assignment.
Other Assignments:
- Chairman of the DPWH Special Task Force for the Rehabilitation and Restoration of the Coastal and Marine Ecosystem of the Manila Bay
- Alternate Representative to the Boracay Inter-Agency Task Force
- Focal Person to the Dangerous Drug Board
- DPWH Principal Representative to the Construction Industry Authority of the Philippines (ClAP) Board
- DPWH Principal Representative to the Government Procurement Policy Board (GPPB)
- Alternate Representative to the Build Back Better Task Force (BBBTF)
- Chairperson of DPWH Task Force "Baklas Billboards"
- Chairperson of the Committee for Men Supporting Gender Equality (MSGE) Relative to Gender and Development (GAD)
- Focal Person for the Implementation of the Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Plan
- Vice Chairperson of the Committee on Decorum and Investigation of Sexual Harassment Cases
- Vice Chairperson of the Performance Governance System (PGS) Committee
- DPWH Principal Representative to the Inter-Agency Council for the Pasig River Urban Development