Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

16" CONGRESS.
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 1684

Introduced by REP. EVELINA G. ESCUDERO.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Civil Engineering Law, Republic Act No. 544, which was last amended 49
years ago, oversees the practice of Civil Engineering in the Philippines.

At present, the number of registered civil engineers has grown to over 100,000. The
role of a civil engineer has evolved due to globalization, transnational transactions and
cross-border practice. The challenge civil engineer now has to face is integrating the
socio-economic and environmental issues with the technical aspects of the construction
projects, whereas before the civil engineer was limited to the application of technical
knowledge with a boarder range of issues to deal with. The civil engineer is constantly
challenged to innovate, design and build developments in a manner that is
environmentally sound, socially acceptable, and globally competitive.

This bill, with its proposed amendments of the law, would like to achieve the
following objectives:

1, To attune the law to national development needs;

2. To strengthen the profession and enable civil engineers to deal with the
formidable challenges brought about by globalization and cross-boarder
practice;

3. To continually upgrade the level of competence of the civil engineers through:

‘a. peer recognition of specialization in civil engineering;
b. continuous professional development; and
c. the strengthening of the accredited professional organization of civil

engineers;

In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this proposed legislation is
earnestly sought.

EVELINA G. ESCUDERO


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

16" CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 1684

Introduced by REP. EVELINA G. ESCUDERO

AN ACT.
FURTHER AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 544, AS AMENDED, OR THE
CIVIL ENGINEERING LAW

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Sections 2, 4, 13, 16 and 19 of Republic Act No. 544, as amended,
are hereby further amended to read as follows:

Socerwausevn—

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“Section 2. Definition of Terms.

(a) The practice of civil engineering within the meaning and
intent of this Act shall embrace services in the form of consultation,
design, preparation of plans, specifications, estimates, erection,
installation and supervision of the construction of streets, bridges,
highways, railroads, airports and hangars, port works, canal
and shore improvements, lighthouses, and dry docks; buildings,
fixed structures for irrigation, flood protection, drainage, water
supply and sewerage works; demolition of permanent structures; and
tunnels. The enumeration of any work in this section shall not be
construed as excluding any other work requiring civil engineering
knowledge and application.

(b) The term “civil engineer” as used in this act shall mean a
person duly registered with the Board for Civil Engineers in the
manner as hereinafter provided.

(©) ACCREDITED PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATION
OF CIVIL ENGINEERS (APOCE) SHALL MEAN THE
PHILIPPINE INSTITUTE OF CIVIL ENGINEERS (PICE)
WHICH IS THE OFFICIAL NATIONAL ORGANIZATION
OF ALL REGISTERED CIVIL ENGINEERS IN THE
PHILIPPINES AS ACCREDITED BY THE PROFESSIONAL
REGULATION COMMISSION.”

“Section 4. Powers and duties of the Board. — The Board of
Examiners of Civil Engineers is vested with authority, conformable
with the provisions of this Act, to administer oaths, issue, suspend
and revoke certificates of registration for the practice of civil



engineering, [issue certificates of recognition to civil engineers
already registered under this Act for advance studies, research,
and/or highly specialized training in any branch of civil engineering,
subject to the approval of the Secretary of the Public Works and
Communications,] to investigate such violations of this Act and the
regulations, there-under as may come to the knowledge of the Board
and, for this purpose, issue subpoena and subpoena duces tecum to
secure appearance of witnesses in connection with the charges
presented to the Board, to inspect at least once a year educational
institutions offering’ courses in civil engineering, civil engineering
works, project or corporations, established in the Philippines and,
for safe-guarding of life, health and property, to discharge such
other powers and duties as may affect ethical and technological
standards of the civil engineering profession in the Philippines. For
the purpose of this act, the Director of the Public Works and/or his
authorized representative in the provinces and chartered cities shall
be ex-officio agents of the Board and as such shall be their duty to
help in the enforcement of the provisions of this Act.

The Board may[, with the approval of the Secretary of Public Works
and Communications issue] PROMULGATE. such rules and
regulations as may be deemed necessary to carry out the provisions
of this act. THE LATEST EDITION OF THE CIVIL
ENGINEERING CODE, THE MANUAL OF PROFESSIONAL
PRACTICE OF CIVIL ENGINEERS AS PREPARED BY THE
APOCE AND APPROVED BY THE BOARD SHALL FORM
PART OF THE IMPLEMENTING RULES AND
REGULATION: Board shall also adopt a code of ethics in
the practice of civil engineering and have an official seal to
authenticate its official documents.”

“SECTION 4 (A). CERTIFICATE OF SPECIALIZATION — IN
ORDER TO ENCOURAGE THE CONTINUING
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF REGISTERED CIVIL
ENGINEERS, THE ACCREDITED PROFESSIONAL
ORGANIZATION OF CIVIL ENGINEERS (APOCE) BY THE
PROFESSIONAL REGULATION COMMISSION SHALL BE
VESTED WITH AUTHORITY CONFORMABLE WITH THE
PROVISIONS OF THIS ACT, TO ISSUE A CERTIFICATE
OF SPECIALIZATION TO A_ REGISTERED CIVIL
ENGINEER WHO HAS DEMONSTRATED HIS ADVANCE
KNOWLEDGE, EXPERIENCE, EDUCATION, AND
TRAINING IN A RECOGNIZED BRANCH OF CIVIL
ENGINEERING: PROVIDED, THAT AT THE INITIAL
EFFECTIVITY OF THIS ACT, THE SPECIALIZATION OF
CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT AND ENGINEERING,
GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING, STRUCTURAL
ENGINEERING, TRANSPORTATION ENGINEERING, AND
WATER RESOURCES AND HYDRAULICS ENGINEERING
SHALL BE SO RECOGNIZED. PROVIDED FURTHER,
OTHER SPECIALIZATION MAY ADDITIONALLY BE
RECOGNIZED BY THE APOCE. SPECIALISTS IN EACH
RECOGNIZED BRANCH MAY FORM A SPECIALTY
ORGANIZATION OF CIVIL ENGINEERS (SOCE):



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PROVIDED FURTHER THAT THIS SOCE IS AFFILIATED
TO AND RECOGNIZED BY THE APOCE. PROVIDED
FINALLY, THERE IS ONLY ONE SOCE FOR EACH
RECOGNIZED BRANCH OF CIVIL ENGINEERING,
WITHOUT PREJUDICE TO MEMBERSHIP IN OTHER
VOLUNTARY PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS. THE
HOLDER OF SUCH CERTIFICATE OF SPECIALIZATION
MAY USE THE SPECIALIST TITLE IN THE SIGNING OF
RELEVANT PLANS AND DOCUMI s.

THE APOCE SHALL HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO
SUSPEND OR REVOKE A_ CERTIFICATE OF
SPECIALIZATION PREVIOUSLY ISSUED ON GROUNDS
OF VIOLATION OF ANY OF THE PROVISION OF THIS
ACT.”

“Section 13. Oath of Civil Engineers. ~ All successful candidates in
the examination shall be required to take a professional oath before
the Board Examiners of Civil Engineers or other government
officials authorized to administer oaths, prior to entering upon the
practice of the civil engineering profession. ALL REGISTERED
CIVIL ENGINEERS SHALL ALSO TAKE THEIR OATH AS
MEMBERS OF THE ACCREDITED PROFESSIONAL
ORGANIZATION OF CIVIL ENGINEERS (APOCE) AND
SHALL COMPLY WITH ALL THEIR MEMBERSHIP
REQUIREMENT.”

“Section 16. Refusal to Issue Certificate — The Board of Examiners
for Civil Engineers shall not Issue a certificate to any person
convicted by a court of a competent jurisdiction of any criminal
offense involving moral turpitude, or to any person guilty of
immoral or dishonorable conduct, or to any person of unsound
mind. THE BOARD SHALL NOT ISSUE A CERTIFICATE
TO ANY PERSON WHO IS NOT A MEMBER OF GOOD
STANDING OF THE APOCE. In the vent of a refusal to issue a
certificate to any person, the Board shall give to the applicant a
written statement setting forth its reason for such action, which
statement shall be incorporated in the records of the Board.”

“Section 19. Transitory Provisions. As soon as this Act takes effect,
any person desiring to practice the profession of civil engineering
shall be required to obtain a certificate of registration in the manner
and under the conditions hereinafter provided. All civil engineers
duly licensed under the provisions of Act Numbered Twenty-nine
hundred and eighty-five, as amended, at the time this Act takes
effect, shall be automatically registered under the provisions hereof.
Certificates of registration held by such persons in good standing
shall have the same force and effect as though the same have been
issued under the provisions of this Act. CERTIFICATES OF
SPECIALIZATION ISSUED TO REGISTERED CIVIL
ENGINEER BY THE BOARD OR ACCREDITED

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PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR CIVIL

ENGINEERING (APOCE) HELD BY SUCH PERSONS IN

GOOD STANDING SHALL HAVE THE SAME FORCE AND

EFFECT AS THOUGH THE SAME HAVE BEEN ISSUED

UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ACT.”

SEC.2. Repealing Clause. — All other laws, decrees, presidential issuances,
proclamations, and administrative regulations inconsistent with or contrary to the

provisions of this Act are hereby amended, modified or repealed accordingly,

specifically, among others, Executive Order No. 495 dated 06 December 1992.

SEC.3. __Separability Clause. — In the event that any provision of this Act is
declared void or unconstitutional such declaration shall not affect the validity of the

unaffected provisions of this Act.

SEC. 4. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days
after its complete publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved.