Roberto Bernardo
Filipino civil engineer and government official
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Roberto R. Bernardo (born August 7, 1963) is a Filipino civil engineer and government official currently serving as Undersecretary for Regional Operations in Visayas, the National Capital Region (NCR), and Region IV-B under the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). With more than three decades of service, he is recognized for his contributions to public infrastructure and governance in the Philippines.[1]
Roberto R. Bernardo | |
|---|---|
 Official portrait, 2016 | |
| Undersecretary of Department of Public Works and Highways for Regional Operations in Visayas, NCR, and Region IV-B | |
| Assumed office August 2016 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | August 7, 1963 |
| Mapúa Institute of Technology (BS) Saint Francis of Assisi College | |
| Occupation | Civil engineer, government official |
Awards | Most Outstanding Alumnus Award for Government Service (Mapúa Institute of Technology, 2009) |
Early life and education
Bernardo was born in Malolos, Bulacan, on August 7, 1963. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the Mapúa Institute of Technology in 1984, completing the degree in only four and a half years. In 1999, he also completed a Business Management course at Saint Francis of Assisi College.[1]
Career
Bernardo began his career in 1986 as a Civil Engineering Aide at the DPWH. He steadily rose through the ranks, becoming:
- Associate Civil Engineer (1987)
- Engineer II (1989)
- Engineer III (1993)
- Assistant District Engineer (2001)
- District Engineer (2002)
- Assistant Regional Director (2010)
In 2013, Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada appointed him as OIC-City Engineer on secondment status.
He was appointed Assistant Secretary of the DPWH in August 2016 and later became Undersecretary for Regional Operations in Visayas, NCR, and Region IV-B. He holds the rank of Career Executive Service Officer (CESO) IV.
As undersecretary, he has supervision and control over DPWH regional offices in Visayas, NCR, and Region IV-B, including oversight of infrastructure projects funded by various line agencies, such as school buildings, health centers, and farm-to-market roads.[1]
Controversy
On August 8, 2025, Bernardo publicly denied allegations circulating on social media that linked him to corruption and claimed he had been dismissed from government service. He described the accusations as "malicious and completely false" and asserted that he had no pending administrative case. A certification issued by the DPWH Legal Service confirmed that Bernardo had no administrative charges filed against him.[2]
Bernardo clarified that he was on approved medical leave from July 28 to October 27, 2025, to undergo treatment for a spinal condition. He announced that his legal team would pursue cyber libel charges against those spreading the “false and defamatory” claims. DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan confirmed that no disciplinary case had been filed against Bernardo and reaffirmed the department’s commitment to professionalism and transparency.
On April 27, 2026, he is reported to return 1B pesos for his kickbacks taken from the Department of Public Works projects, as part of being accepted to the witness protection program. This confirms his involvement in corruption in the mentioned department, contrary to his earlier statements.[3]
International engagements
Bernardo has attended multiple international conferences, including:[1]
- Seminar on Engineering and Construction Standard System and Application for Developing Countries, Beijing, China (2011)
- ASCE 139th Annual Conference, Kansas City, Missouri, United States (2009)
- Consultative Meeting with the Office of the Secretary for Works, Hong Kong (2008)
Affiliations
He is an active member of the Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers (PICE) and the Road Engineering Association of the Philippines (REAP).[1]