Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

15™ CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILLNO.__ 2200

Introduced by REP. SALVADOR H. ESCUDERO II

EXPLANATORY NOTE

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

Since then, the number of registered civil engineers has grown to over 100,000 today

‘A new role for the civil engineer has likewise evolved in the light of the globalization and
cross-boarder practice. Whereas before the civil engineer was confined to the application of
technical knowledge with a boarder range of issues to deal with, the civil engineer now has to
face the challenges of integrating the socio-economic and environmental issues with the
technical aspects of the construction projects. The civil engineer is constantly challenged to
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, seeks to achieve the following
objectives

1. To attune the law to national development needs;

2, To strengthen the profession and enable civil engineers to cope 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:
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.
E+E,
SALVADOR H. ESCUDERO IIL

Representative
1" District, Sorsogon


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

15" CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILLNO.__ 2200

Introduced by REP. SALVADOR H. ESCUDERO III

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

“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, canals, river 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 10
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 aflect 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 REGULATIONS. The Board shal!
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 _ENGINEERI
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): 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 DOCUMENTS.

THE APOCE SHALL HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO SUSPEND
OR REVOKE A CERTIFICATE OF SPECIALIZATIO!
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 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,