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.