FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
) 
SENATE 
S.No. 2169 
Introduced by Senator JUAN MIGUEL F. ZUBIRI 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
, 
The enactment into law of Republic Act Number 8534, otherwise known 
as the "The Philippine Interior Design Act of 1998" was a welcome development 
in the practice of interior design in the Philippines. RA No. 8534 recognized the 
vital role of the interior design profession in the promotion of national interest and 
regarded the same as a full-pledged profession vital to the building and 
construction industry. However, the law was unsuccessful to institute pOlicies 
and regulatory measures to protect the interests of the Filipino professionals. ". 
And ten years after the law's passage, a lot of developments both in the 
local and international arenas have happened. Some of these developments 
pose serious problems and may have undermined the practice of interior design 
in the country and placed the professional Interior Designers in the Philippines at 
the losing end vis-a-vis the foreign practitioners and even Filipinos who posed as 
interior designers without the appropriate licenses and certifications . 
• 
The country's adoption of the General Agreement on Trade in 
Professional Services (GATPS) has had a tremendous effect in the practice of 
the interior design profession. For one, the widespread influx of large foreign 
firms and foreign designers and consultants in the design and construction 
arena, has reduced the local designers competitive edge. 
This bill seeks to replace RA 8534 and to regulate and modernize the 
practice of interior design in the Philippines to become at par with the 
international standards and at the same time, provide safety nets for the practice 
of the profession against foreign practitioners and those engaged in illegal 
practice. 
Thus, approval of this bill is earnestly requested. 
JU"""r-na 


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
) 
Hi J1. 21 P5:04: 
SENATE 
S. No. 2169 
Introduced by Senator JUAN MIGUEL F. ZUBIRI 
PHILIPPINE INTERIOR DESIGN ACT OF 2010 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
1 
2 
3 
ARTICLE I 
TITLE, POLICY, OBJECTIVES, TERMS AND SCOPE OF PRACTICE 
4 
SECTION 1. Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Philippine Interior Design 
5 
Act of 2010". 
6 
7 
SEC. 2. Statement of Policy. - The State recognizes the important role of the 
8 
interior design profession in nation-building. Towards this end, the State shall promote 
9 
the sustained development of professional interior designers, whose technical 
10 
competencies have been determined by honest and credible licensure examinations 
11 
and whose standards of professional service and practice are intemationally recognized 
12 
and considered globally competitive, brought about by regulatory measures and human 
13 
resource programs and activities that foster their professional growth and advancement. 
14 
15 
SEC. 3. Objectives. - This Act provides for and shall govern: 
16 
(a) The examination, registration and licensure of professional interior designers; 
17 
(b) The supervision, control and regulation of the practice of interior design; 
18 
(c) The development of the professional competence of interior designers 
19 
through continuing professional education; and 
• 
20 
(d) The integration of the interior design profession. 
21 
22 
SEC. 4. Definition of Terms. - For purposes of this Act, the following terms are 
23 
hereby defined: 
24 
(a) Interior design refers to the science and art of planning, specifying, selecting 
25 
and organizing the surface finishes and materials including furniture, furnishings and 


1 
fixtures and other interior design elements for the purpose of the interior space 
2 
allocations to suit, enhance and meet the intended function, movement and character 
3 
for which the interior of the building is designed. 
4 
(b) Professional interior designer refers to a natural person who holds a valid 
5 
certificate of registration and a valid professional identification card issued by the Board 
6 
and the Commission pursuant to this Act. 
7 
8 
SEC. 5. Scope of the Professional Practice of Interior Design. - The practice 
9 
of interior design is the act of planning, designing, specifying, supervising and providing 
10 
general administration and responsible direction to the functional, orderly and aesthetic 
11 
arrangement and enhancement of interior spaces. It shall include, but not be limited to, 
12 
the following activities: 
13 
(a) Consultation, advice, direction, evaluation, budgetary estimates and appraisals; 
14 
(b) Schematic interior design development, design development, execution of 
15 
professional contract documents and programming of construction phases; 
16 
(c) Preparation of interior design plans, design drawings, interior construction 
17 
details, and technical specifications; 
18 
(d) Interior construction administration, supervision coordination of alteration, 
19 
preservation or restoration of interior spaces; and 
20 
(e) All other works, projects and activities which require the professional competence 
21 
of the interior designer, including teaching of interior design subjects. 
22 
23 
The Board, subject to approval by the Commission, may revise, exclude from, or 
24 
add to, the above-enumerated acts or activities as the need arises to conform to the 
25 
latest trend in the practice of interior design. 
26 
27 
ARTICLE II 
28 
THE PROFESSIONAL REGULATORY BOARD OF INTERIOR DESIGN 
29 
30 
SEC. 6. Creation and Composition of the Board of Interior Design. - There is 
31 
hereby created a Professional Regulatory Board of Interior Design, hereinafter referred 
32 
to as the Board, under the administrative control and supervision of the Professional 
33 
Regulation Commission (PRC), hereinafter referred to as the Commission, to be 
34 
composed of a Chairperson and two (2) members to be appointed by the President of 
35 
the Philippines from a list of two (2) recommendees for each position submitted by the 
36 
Commission, and from a list of three (3) nominees for each position recommended by 
37 
the duly accredited professional organization of interior designers. The new Board shall 
38 
be created within six (6) months from the effectivity of this Act. 
2 


1 
2 
SEC. 7. Qualifications of the Chairperson and Members. - The Chairperson 
3 
and members of the Board shall, at the time of their appointment, possess the following 
4 
qualifications: 
5 
(a) Must be a citizen and resident of the Philippines; 
6 
(b) Must be a degree holder of Bachelor of Science in Interior Design (BSID), 
7 
Bachelor of Interior Design (BID) or Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA), major in 
8 
Interior Design, or an equivalent degree conferred by a school, academy, 
9 
college or university in the Philippines or abroad that is recognized and/or 
10 
accredited by the Philippine government; 
11 
(c) Must be a registered interior designer with a valid certificate of registration 
12 
and profeSSional identification card and an active practitioner of interior 
13 
design for not less than ten (10) years prior to appointment; 
14 
(d) Must not be a member of the faculty of any school, where a regular course 
15 
in Interior Design is being taught, or have pecuniary interest in, or 
16 
administrative supervision over any such institution of learning; 
17 
(e) Must not be connected with a review center or with any group giving review 
18 
classes or lectures in preparation for the licensure examination; 
19 
(f) 
Must be a member in good standing of the duly accredited professional 
20 
organization of interior designers but not a trustee or officer thereof; and 
21 
(g) Has never been convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude, or a civil 
22 
and/or criminal offense. 
23 
24 
SEC. 8. Term of Office. - The members of the Board shall hold office for a term 
25 
of three (3) years from the date of appointment or until their successors shall have been 
26 
appointed and qualified. They may be reappointed for another term of three (3) years 
27 
immediately upon the expiration of their term: Provided, That no member shall hold 
28 
office for more than six (6) years. 
29 
Of the members to be appCiinted for the first Board under this Act, one (1) 
30 
member shall hold office as Chairperson for three (3) years; one (1) member for two (2) 
31 
years; and one (1) member for one (1) year. Each member of the Board shall take the 
32 
proper oath prior to assumption of duty. 
33 
34 
SEC. 9. Compensation of the Board Members. -
The Chairperson and 
35 
members of the Board shall receive compensation and allowances comparable to the 
36 
compensation and allowances received by existing regulatory boards under the 
37 
Commission as provided for in the General Appropriations Act. 
38 
3 


1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
7 
8 
9 
10 
11 
12 
13 
14 
15 
16 
17 
18 
19 
20 
21 
22 
23 
24 
25 
26 
27 
28 
29 
30 
31 
32 
33 
34 
35 
36 
37 
SEC. 10. Powers, Functions, Duties and Responsibilities of the Board. -
The Board shall exercise the following specific powers, functions, duties and 
responsibilities: 
, 
(a) Adopt, promulgate and administer the rules and regulations necessary for 
carrying out the provisions of this Act; 
(b) Supervise and regulate the registration, licensure and practice of the 
professional interior designers in the Philippines; 
(c) Administer oaths in connection with the administration of this Act; 
(d) Issue, suspend, revoke or reinstate the certificate of registration or 
professional license for the practice of the interior design profession; 
(e) Adopt an official seal of the Board; 
(f) Monitor the conditions affecting the practice of interior design and adopt such 
measures as may be deemed proper for the enhancement of the profession 
and/or the maintenance of high professional, ethical and technical standards; 
• 
(g) Ensure, in coordination with the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), 
that all other educational instructions offering interior design comply with the 
policies, standards and requirements of the course prescribed by the CHED 
in the areas of curriculum, faculty, library and facilities; 
(h) Prescribe and/or adopt a Code of Ethical and Professional Standards for the 
practice of the Interior Design profession; 
(i) Hear and try administrative cases involving violations of this Act, its 
implementing rules and regulations (lRR), the Code of Ethics for Professional 
Interior Designers and, for this purpose, to issue subpoena and subpoena 
duces tecum to secure the appearance of witnesses and the production of 
documents in connection therewith; 
U) Prescribe guidelines in the Continuing Professional Education (CPE) program 
in coordination with the accredited professional organization of interior 
designers; 
(k) Prepare, adopt and iSSUE) the syllabi of the subject for examination by 
determining and preparing the questions, which shall strictly be within the 
scope of the syllabi of the subject of examination; and 
(I) Discharge such other duties and functions as may be deemed necessary for 
the enhancement of the interior design profession and the upgrading, 
development and growth ofinterior design education in the Philippines. 
SEC. 
11. 
Grounds 
for 
Removal 
or 
Suspension 
of 
Board 
Chairperson/Member. - The President of the Philippines, upon the recommendation of 
the Commission, after giving the Chairperson or the member of the Board an 
4 


,; 
1 
opportunity to defend himself/herself in an administrative investigation conducted by the 
2 
Commission, may remove or suspend him/her on any of the following grounds: 
3 
(a) Gross neglect, incompetence or dishonesty in the discharge of his/her duty; 
4 
(b) Violation of any of the causes/grounds and the prohibited acts provided in this 
5 
Act and the offenses in the Revised Penal Code, the Anti-Graft and Corrupt 
6 
Practices Act, and other laws; and 
7 
(c) Manipulation or rigging of the licensure examination for interior designers results, 
8 
disclosure of secret and confidential information on the examination questions 
9 
prior to the conduct thereof, or tampering of grades. 
10 
11 
The Commission, in the conduct of the investigation, shall be guided by Section 
12 
7(s) of Republic Act No. 8981, otherwise known as the PRC Modernization Act of 2000, 
13 
the rules on administrative investigation and the applicable provisions of the new Rules 
1:4 
of Cou rt. 
15 
16 
SEC. 12. Administrative Supervision of the Board, Custodian of its 
17 
Records, Secretariat and Support Services. -
The Board shall be under the 
18 
administrative supervision of the Commission. All records of the Board, including 
19 
applications for examination, administrative and other investigative cases conducted by 
20 
the Board shall be under the custody of the Commission. The Commission shall 
21 
designate the secretary of the Board and shall provide the secretariat and other support 
22 
services to implement the provisions of this Act. 
23 
24 
SEC. 13. Annual Report. - The Board shall, at the close of each calendar year, 
25 
submit an annual report to the Pre~ident of the Philippines, through the Commission, 
26 
giving a detailed account of its proceedings and accomplishments during the year and 
27 
making recommendations for the adoption of measures that will upgrade and improve 
28 
the conditions affecting the practice of interior design. 
29 
ARTICLE III 
30 
EXAMINATION, REGISTRATION, CERTIFICATION, AND LICENSURE 
31 
32 
SEC. 14. Passing of Licensure Examination Requirement. -
Except as 
33 
otherwise specifically allowed under this Act, applicants for registration for the practice 
34 
of interior design shall be required to pass a licensure examination as provided for in 
35 
this Act in such places and dates as the Commission may designate in accordance with 
36 
the provisions of Section 7(d) of Republic Act No. 8981. 
5 


; 
1 
SEC. 15. Qualifications of Applicants. -
An applicant for the licensure 
2 
examination for interior designers shall satisfactorily prove that he/she possesses the 
3 
following qualifications: 
4 
(a) Citizen of the Philippines or a foreign citizen whose country/state has 
5 
reciprocity with the Philippines in the practice of interior design; 
6 
(b) Of good moral character; 
7 
(c) A holder of a bachelor's degree in interior design or its equivalent degree duly 
8 
recognized 
or 
accredited 
by 
the 
CHED 
and 
conferred 
by 
a 
9 
school/college/university duly authorized by the government or its equivalent 
10 
degree obtained by either a Filipino or foreign citizen from an institution of 
, 
11 
learning in a foreign country/state: Provided, That it is duly recognized and/or . 
12 
accredited by the CHED; and 
13 
(d) Not convicted of an offense involving moral turpitude by a court of competent 
14 
jurisdiction. 
15 
16 
SEC. 16. Subjects for Licensure Examination. - The examination for interior 
17 
design shall basically cover the following subjects: 
18 
(a) Interior Design; 
19 
(b) Furniture DeSign and Construction; 
20 
(c) Materials for Decoration and Color Theory; 
21 
(d) History of Arts and Interior Design; 
22 
(e) Interior Detailing and_Construction; and 
23 
(f) Professional Practice and Ethics. 
24 
25 
The said subjects and their syllabi may be amended by the Board so as to 
, 
26 
conform to technological changes brought about by continuing trends in the profession, 
27 
in coordination with the accredited council of interior design educators. 
28 
29 
SEC. 17. Rating in the Licensure Examination. - To be qualified as having 
30 
passed the Board examination for· interior designers, a candidate must obtain a 
31 
weighted general average of seventy percent (70%). 
32 
33 
SEC. 18. Report of Ratings. - The Board shall submit to the Commission the 
34 
ratings obtained by each candidate within twenty (20) days after the examination unless 
35 
extended by the Commission for just cause. Upon the release of the results of the 
36 
examination, the Board shall send by mail the rating received by each examinee at his 
37 
given address using the mailing envelope submitted during the examination. 
38 
6 


1 
SEC. 19. Oath. - All successful candidates in the examination shall be required to 
2 
take an oath of profession before the Board or any government official authorized by the 
3 
Commission to administer oaths prior to entering the practice of the interior design 
4 
profession. 
5 
6 
SEC. 
20. 
Issuance of Certificate of Registration 
and Professional 
7 
Identification Card. - A certificate of registration shall be issued to applicants who 
8 
pass the examination for interior designers subject to payment of registration fees. 
9 
The certificate of registration as professional interior designer shall bear the 
10 
signatures of the Chairperson of the Commission and Board members, stamped with 
11 
the official seal, indicating that the 'person named therein is entitled to practice the 
12 
profession with all the privileges appurtenant thereto. This certificate shall remain in full 
13 
force and effect until withdrawn, suspended or revoked, in accordance with this Act. 
14 
A certificate of registration bearing the registration number, date of issuance and 
15 
expiry date, duly signed by the Chairperson of the Board, shall likewise be issued to 
16 
every registrant who has paid the required fees. This license will serve as evidence that 
17 
the licensee can lawfully practice his/her profession. 
18 
A professional identification card, whether new or for renewal, shall be released 
19 
by the PRC upon compliance with the requirements for the application or renewal of 
20 
identification card and upon presentation of the updated receipt of payment of annual 
21 
membership dues of the accredited professional organization and proof of completion of 
22 
the CPE requirements. 
23 
Once registered, the interior designer may use "lOr." As his official appendage 
24 
title. 
25 
26 
SEC. 21. Refusal to Register. - The Board shall not register any successful 
27 
applicant for registration with or without licensure examination who has been: 
28 
(a) Convicted of an offense involving moral turpitude by a court of competent 
29 
jurisdiction; 
30 
(b) Found guilty of immoral or dishonorable conduct by the Board; 
31 
(c) Summarily adjudged guilty for violation of the General Instructions to Examinees 
32 
by the Board; and 
33 
(d) Declared of unsound mind by a court of competent jurisdiction. 
34 
35 
In refusing such registration, the Board shall give the applicant a written 
36 
statement setting forth the reasons therefore and shall file a copy thereof in its records. 
37 
7 


1 
SEC. 22. Revocation or Suspension of the Certificate of Registration and 
2 
Cancellation of Temporary/Special Permit. - The Board shall have the power, upon 
3 
notice and hearing, to revoke or suspend the certificate of registration of a registered 
4 
and licensed interior designer or to cancel a temporary/special permit granted to foreign 
5 
interior designer, for violation of any of the grounds or causes in Section 22 of this Act, 
6 
except (c) thereof and any of the following grounds: 
7 
(a) Violation of a provision of thi's Act, its IRR, Code of Ethics, the Code of Good 
8 
Governance, the Code of Technical Standards for the practice of interior design, 
9 
policy, and measure of the Board and/or the Commission; 
10 
(b) Perpetration or use of fraud in obtaining his/her certificate of registration, 
11 
professional identification card or temporary/special permit; 
12 
(c) Gross incompetence, negligence or ignorance resulting to death, injury or 
13 
damage; 
14 
(d) Refusal to join or to remain a member in good standing of the Accredited 
15 
Professional Organization (APO); 
16 
(e) Neglect or failure to pay the annual registration fees for five (5) consecutive 
17 
years; 
18 
(f) Aiding or abetting the illegal practice of a non-registered and licensed person by 
19 
allowing him/her to use his/her certificate of registration and/or professional 
20 
identification card or his/her temporary/special permit; 
21 
(g) Illegally practicing the profession during his/her suspension from the practice 
22 
thereof; 
23 
(h) Addicted to a drug or alcohol abuse, impairing his/her ability to practice his/her 
24 
profession or declared with unsound mind by a court of competent jurisdiction; 
25 
and 
26 
(i) Noncompliance with the CPE requirement, unless he/she is exempted therefrom, 
27 
for the renewal of his/her professional identification card. 
28 
29 
The Board shall periodically evaluate the aforementioned grounds and revise or 
30 
exclude or add new ones as the need arises, subject to approval of the Commission. 
31 
Any person, firm or association may file charge/s in accordance with the prOVision 
32 
of this section against any registrant, or the Board may investigate violation of any of the 
• 
33 
abovementioned causes. Affidavit-complaint shall be filed together with the affidavits of 
34 
witnesses and other documentary evidence with the Board though the Legal and 
35 
Investigation Office. The motu proprio move to conduct an investigation shall be 
36 
embodied in a formal charge to be signed by at least majority of the members of the 
37 
Board. The rules on administrative investigation issued by the Commission shall govern 
8 


1 
the hearing or investigation subject to applicable provisions of this Act, Republic Act No. 
2 
8981 and the Rules of the Court. 
3 
4 
SEC. 23. Reissuance of Revoked Certificate of Registration, Replacement 
5 
of Lost or Damaged Certificate of Registration, Professionalldentificalion Card or 
6 
Temporary/Special Permit. - The Board may, upon petition, reinstate or reissue a 
7 
revoked certificate of registration after two (2) years from the effectivity of the period for 
8 
revocation, which is the date of surrender of the said certificate and/or the professional 
9 
identification card if still valid to the Board and/or the Commission. The Board may not 
10 
require the holder thereof to take another licensure examination. The petitioner shall 
11 
prove to the Board that he/she has valid reason/s to practice his/her profession. For the 
12 
grant of his/her petition, the Board shall issue a Board Resolution subject to approval by 
13 
the Commission. 
14 
A duplicate copy of lost certificate of registration, professional identification card 
15 
or temporary/special permit may be reissued in accordance with rules thereon and upon 
16 
payment of the prescribed fee therefor. 
17 
18 
SEC. 24. Nonpayment of the Annual Registration Fees. - The Board shall 
19 
suspend a registered interior designer from the practice of his/her profession for 
20 
nonpayment of the annual registration fees for five (5) consecutive years from his/her 
21 
last or previous year of payment. The resumption of his/her practice shall take place 
22 
only upon payment of the delinquent fees plus surcharges and interest and in 
23 
accordance with the rules of the Commission. The running of the five (5)-year period 
24 
may be interrupted upon written notice about the discontinuance of his/her practice and 
25 
surrender of his/her certificate of registration to the Board and/or the Commission. 
26 
27 
SEC. 25. Vested Rights. - All practicing interior designers who are registered at 
28 
the time of the passage of this Act shall automatically be registered and issued 
29 
certificates of registration. 
30 
ARTICLE IV 
31 
PRACTICE OF INTERIOR DESIGN 
32 
SEC. 26. Lawful Practitioners of Interior Design. - The following persons shall 
33 
be authorized to practice the interior design profession: 
34 
(a) Natural persons who are: 
35 
(1) Duly registered and licensed as interior designers and holders of valid 
36 
certificates of registration and valid professional identification cards issued 
37 
by the Board and the Commission pursuant to this Act; and 
9 


1 
(2) Holders of valid temporary/special permits issued by the Board and the 
2 
Commission to foreign licensed interior designers pursuant to this Act. 
3 
(b) Juridical persons: 
4 
(1) Single proprietorship whose owner is a registered interior designer; 
5 
(2) Partnership duly registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission 
6 
(SEC) as professional partnership pursuant to the Civil Code and 
7 
composed of all partners who are all duly registered interior designers; 
8 
and 
9 
(3) Corporation whose key chief executive officers (CEOs) and majority of the 
10 
Board of Directors are all registered and licensed interior designers may 
11 
be duly registered with the SEC as engaged in the practice of interior 
12 
design. 
13 
14 
Juridical persons shall also be registered with the Board and the Commission in 
15 
accordance with the rules and regulations thereon. 
16 
17 
SEC. 27. Seal, Issuance, and Use of Seal. - A duly registered interior designer 
18 
shall sign and affix the seal duly approved and provided by the Board of Interior Design 
19 
on all plans, specifications and contract documents prepared by, or under his/her direct 
20 
supervision during the validity of his/her certificate of registration. 
21 
Officers or employees of the government, chartered cities, 
provinces, 
22 
municipalities now or hereafter charged with the enforcement of the laws, ordinances or 
23 
regulations relating to the construction or alteration of the interiors of buildings shall 
24 
accept only those interior plans, specifications and contract documents which have 
25 
been prepared, signed and sealed by a duly licensed interior designer and submitted in 
26 
full accord with the provisions of this Act, plans and specifications of which have not 
27 
been so prepared, signed and sealed by a duly licensed interior designer. 
28 
Violation of the foregoing shall be ground for administrative and/or criminal 
29 
action. 
30 
31 
SEC. 28. Intellectual Property Rights. - Drawings and specifications and other 
32 
contact documents duly signed, stamped or sealed, as instruments of service, and all 
33 
the works included therein, are the intellectual property of the interior designer. Any 
34 
person is prohibited from engaging in any activity prejudicial to the intellectual property 
35 
rights of the interior designer, including the reproduction of the contract work or 
36 
substantial portion thereof, and making any alteration, distortion, mutilation, or other 
37 
modification of, or any derogatory action in relation to, the contract work and the works 
38 
therein, prejudicial to and without the written consent of the interior designer. 
10 


1 
2 
SEC. 29. Foreign Reciprocity. - No foreign interior designer shall be issued a 
3 
certificate of registration to practice the interior design profession or be entitled to any of 
4 
the rights and privileges under this Act unless the country of which he/she is a subject 
5 
or citizen specifically permits Filipino interior designers to practice within its territorial 
6 
limits on the same basis as the subjects or citizens of such foreign state or country. 
7 
8 
SEC. 30. Practice Through Temporary/Special Permit. -
(a) Foreigners 
9 
intending to work in the Philippines to perform professional services as interior 
10 
designers or consultants whether employed through official foreign-funded or foreign-
11 
assisted projects initiated by the government, or engaged by private Filipino, foreign 
12 
contractors or firms shall first secure a temporary/special permit from the PRe through 
13 
the Board of Interior Design specifically authorizing him/her to practice on the special 
14 
project or commission named therein: Provided, further, That: 
15 
(1) He/She is legally and professionally qualified and registered to practice 
16 
interior design in his/her own country; 
17 
(2) His/Her expertise is unique and useful to the Philippines, resulting in the 
18 
transfer of information and technology. The establishment of international 
19 
standards in design, and of sharing of other specialized skills; and 
20 
(3) Duly licensed foreign nationals shall be required to work with a Filipino 
21 
counterpart who has been in continuous practice of interior design for at 
22 
least ten (10) years. Professional fees and services, and expenses of 
23 
documentation pertaining to the project shall be shared by both foreign and 
24 
Filipino interior designers, including liabilities and taxes due to the Philippine 
25 
government, if any, according to their participation in, or professional 
26 
services rendered to the project. 
27 
(b) 
A foreign interior designer shall be required to work in every case with a duly 
28 
licensed Filipino counterpart whose competence and integrity have been 
29 
established by the Board of Interior Design on the basis of uniform standards 
30 
contained in their IRR. 
31 
(c) 
Foreign and Filipino firms working jointly on a special project shall divide the 
32 
professional fees and other charges collected from said project equitably. 
33 
Sirnilarly, all documentation expenses, taxes and other liabilities incurred on the 
34 
shared project shall also be borne equally by both foreign and Filipino firms. 
35 
(d) 
Foreigners working jointly with Filipino firms shall sign contracts, designs and 
36 
other credits together with his/her Filipino counterpart. Both foreign and Filipino 
37 
firms shall at all times be acknowledged in international tri-media on proprietarial 
11 


1 
and intellectual property rights. All residual earnings shall also be equitably 
2 
shared between foreign and local firms. 
3 
(e) 
4 
Foreign design firms or individuals practicing in the Philippines before the 
promulgation of this Act are required to comply with the requirements established 
5 
by the Board of Interior Design in its IRR within the timetable it stipulates therein. 
6 
(f) 
7 
8 
9 
Any violation of these requirements or other illegal practices undertaken by either 
foreign design firms or their Filipino counterparts shall be punishable by law or 
under the IRR of the Board of Interior Design. 
10 
SEC. 31. Indication of Numbers: Certificate of Registration, Professional Tax 
11 
Receipt and APO Membership. - The interior designer shall be required to indicate 
12 
his/her certificate of registration number and date of issuance, the expiry of his/her 
13 
current professional identification card, the professional tax receipt number and date, 
14 
and his/her APO membership numb~r and date with official receipt number and date of 
15 
membership payment (annuaillifetime) on the documents he/she signs, uses or issues 
16 
in connection with the practice of his/her interior design profession. 
17 
18 
SEC. 32. Roster of Interior Designers. - The Board shall prepare and maintain 
19 
a roster of the names, residence 'and/or office address of all registered interior 
20 
designers which shall be updated annually in cooperation with the APO, indicating 
21 
therein the status of the certificate of registration, professional identification card and 
22 
APO membership, whether valid, delinquent, suspended or revoked or inactive due to 
23 
death or other reasons. The said roster shall be conspicuously posted within the 
24 
premises of the Commission and the information therefrom made available to the public 
25 
upon inquiry or request. 
26 
27 
SEC. 33. Integration of the Interior Designers. - The interior designers shall 
28 
be integrated into one (1) national organization of interior designers that is duly 
29 
registered with the SEC. The Board of Interior Design, subject to approval by the 
30 
Commission, shall accredit the said organization as the one and only integrated and 
31 
accredited professional organization of interior designers. All interior designers whose 
32 
names appear in the Registry Book of Interior Designers shall ipso facto or 
33 
automatically become members thereof and shall receive therefrom all the benefits and 
34 
privileges upon payment of APO membership fees and dues. 
35 
A membership in an affiliate organization of Interior Designers shall not be 
36 
barred. 
37 
ARTICLE V 
38 
FINAL PROVISIONS 
12 


1 
SEC. 34. Penal Clause. - The following acts shall be punished by a fine of not 
2 
less than Three hundred thousand pesos (Php300,000.00) but not more than One 
3 
million pesos (Php1,000,000.00) and revocation of certificate of registration or 
4 
imprisonment of not less than six (6) .months but not more than three (3) years, or both 
5 
fine and imprisonment at the discretion of the court. 
6 
(a) Local Practitioner. -
7 
(1) Practicing interior design, rendering work and consultations or rendering 
8 
equivalent services as interior designer as defined in this Act or using the 
9 
title "Interior Designer", "Interior DeSign Consultant", "Interior Design 
10 
Stylist", or "Interior Design" in any signage, calling card, advertisement or 
• 
11 
any other mode of publicity without a valid certificate of registration and/or 
12 
a valid professional identification card or a valid temporary/special permit; 
13 
(2) Attempting to use the seal, certificate of registration and/or professional 
14 
identification card of a registered interior designer or temporary/special 
15 
16 
17 
18 
permit issued to foreign professional; 
(3) Abetting the illegal practice of interior design by an unregistered or 
unauthorized person; 
(4) 
Impersonating 
a registered 
interior deSigner or a holder of a 
19 
temporary/special permit; and 
20 
(5) Violating i3ny provision of this Act or the IRR thereof. 
21 
(b) Foreign Practitioner/Firm. -
Foreign interior design firm or individuals who 
22 
shall be found to be illegally practicing their profession shall be penalized with a fine of a 
23 
minimum of fifteen percent (15%) of gross fees under Five million pesos 
24 
(Php5,000,000.00) and a minimum of ten percent (10%) of gross fees above Five 
25 
million pesos (Php5,000,OOO.OO) in addition to payment of back taxes to the Philippine 
26 
government, imprisonment of not less than six (6) months but not more than three (3) 
27 
years, or both fine and imprisonment or permanent ban from further practice in the 
28 
Philippines at the discretion of the court. 
29 
30 
Section 35. Civil Liability, -
The Interior Designer shall assume full 
31 
responsibility for the contract work within six (6) months from the final acceptance by the 
32 
Client and shall be held responsible for any damage or destruction of the works except 
33 
those occasioned by force majeure. The Interior Designer shall be fully responsible for 
34 
the safety, protection, security and convenience of his clients/user, personnel, third 
35 
parties, and the public at large, as well as the works, equipment installation and the like 
36 
to be affected by his work. 
37 
The liability period for defects in the projects shall be six (6) months from final 
38 
acceptance by the Client. During this period, the Interior Designer shall undertake the 
13 


1 
repair works, at his own expense, of any damage to the projects on account of the use 
2 
of materials of inferior quality within ninety (90) days from the time the client has issued 
3 
a notification of the need to undertake repair. In case of failure or refusal to comply with 
4 
this mandate, the client shall undertake such repair works and shall be entitled to full 
5 
reimbursement of expenses incurred therein upon demand. 
6 
Any Interior Designer who fails to comply with the preceding paragraph shall suffer 
7 
suspension or any appropriate penalty to be determined by the Board. 
8 
9 
SEC. 36. Enforcement. -
The Commission shall implement the concerned 
10 
proviSions of this Act, enforce its IRR as adopted by the Board, conduct investigations 
lIon complaints including violations 'of the Code of Conduct of the profession and 
12 
prosecute when so warranted. 
13 
14 
SEC. 37. Appropriations. The Chairperson of the PRC shall immediately include 
15 
in the Commission's program the implementation of this Act, the funding of which shall 
16 
be included in the annual General Appropriations Act. 
17 
18 
SEC. 38. TranSitory Provisions. - The incumbent Board shall, in an interim 
19 
capacity, continue to function by carrying out the provisions of this Act without the need 
20 
to issue new appointments for the Chairperson and members thereof until the first 
21 
Board created under this Act shall have been constituted or organized pursuant thereto. 
22 
23 
SEC. 39. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Board, with the approval 
24 
of the Commission, shall adopt and promulgate such rules and regu lations to implement 
25 
the provisions of this Act, which shall be effective after fifteen (15) days following its 
26 
publication in the Official Gazette or in a major daily newspaper of general circulation. 
27 
28 
SEC. 40. Separability Clause. - If any clause, provision, paragraph or part hereof 
29 
shall be declared unconstitutional or invalid, such judgment shall not affect, invalidate or 
30 
impair any other part hereof, but such judgment shall be merely confined to the clause, 
31 
provision, paragraph or part directly involved in the controversy in which such judgment 
32 
has been rendered. 
33 
34 
SEC. 41. Repealing Clause. - Republic Act No. 8534 is hereby repealed. All 
35 
other laws, decrees, executive orders and administrative issuances or parts thereof 
36 
which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby modified, superseded 
37 
or repealed accordingly. 
38 
14 


1 
SEC. 42. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following its 
2 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
3 
4 
Approved, 
15