EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
First Regular Session )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez _

1860

EXPLANATORY NOTE

House Bill No.

The Civil Engineering Law, Republic Act No. 544, which governs the practice of civil
engineering in the Philippines, was last amended 54 years ago.

Since then, the number of registered civil engineers has grown to over 130,000 today.
‘A new role for the civil engineer has likewise evolved in the light of globalization and cross-
border practice. Whereas before the civil engineer was confined to the application of
technical knowledge and skills in the successful implementation and completion of projects,
the civil engineer is now confronted with a broader 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, therefore, seeks to achieve the following objectives:

1. To attune the law to the needs for national development;
2. To strengthen the profession and enable the civil engineers to cope with the
formidable challenges brought about by globalization and cross-border practice;

3. To continually upgrade the level of competence of the civil engineers through:
a. peer recognition of specialization in civil engineering,
b. continuing professional development, and
c._ strengthening of the accredited professional organization of civil engineers;
4. To define more clearly the practice of civil engineering in the Philippines by foreign
nationals;
5. To make the law better serve and safeguard public interest by establishing a clear,
precise and practicable delineation of professional accountability in the civil
engineering practice.

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

(

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RUFUS/B. RODRIGU!

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EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
First Regular Session )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

troduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez

House Bill No. 2H)

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

“Section 4. Powers and duties of the Board. ~ The Board 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 advanced 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, projects 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 this 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 it 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
Highways and Communications issue] PROMULGATE such rules and
regulations as may be deemed necessary to carry out the provisions of this
act. THE CIVIL ENGINEERING CODE AND THE MANUAL OF
PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE OF CIVIL ENGINEERS AS PREPARED BY
THE ACCREDITED PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATION OF CIVIL
ENGINEERS (APOCE) AND APPROVED BY THE BOARD, SHALL FORM
PART OF THE IMPLEMENTING RULES AND REGULATIONS. The 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 EDUCATION AND
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
ADVANCED KNOWLEDGE, EXPERIENCE, EDUCATION, RESEARCH,
AND TRAINING IN A RECOGNIZED BRANCH OF CIVIL ENGINEERING:
PROVIDED, THAT AT THE INITIAL EFFECTIVITY OF THIS ACT, THE
SPECIALIZATIONS OF PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND CONSTRUCTION
ENGINEERING, ENVIRONMENTAL AND ENERGY ENGINEERING,
GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING, STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING,
TRANSPORTATION ENGINEERING, AND WATER ENGINEERING SHALL
BE SO RECOGNIZED. PROVIDED FURTHER, THAT OTHER
SPECIALIZATIONS MAY ADDITIONALLY BE RECOGNIZED BY THE
APOCE. SPECIALISTS IN EACH RECOGNIZED BRANCH MAY FORM A
SPECIALTY ORGANIZATION OF CIVIL ENGINEERS (SOCE); PROVIDED
FURTHER, STILL, THAT THIS SOCE IS AFFILIATED TO AND
RECOGNIZED BY THE APOCE. PROVIDED FINALLY, THAT 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 ADDITION TO AND NOT REPLACING HIS CIVIL ENGINEER
TITLE, IN THE SIGNING OF RELEVANT PLANS AND DOCUMENTS.

THE APOCE SHALL HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO SUSPEND OR REVOKE
A CERTIFICATE OF SPECIALIZATION PREVIOUSLY ISSUED ON
GROUNDS OF VIOLATION OF ANY OF THE PROVISIONS 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 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 REQUIREMENTS. ALL REGISTERED CIVIL ENGINEERS
MUST REMAIN MEMBERS IN GOOD STANDING OF THE APOCE TO BE
ABLE TO CONTINUE TO PRACTICE THE PROFESSION.”

“Section 19. Transitory Provisions — As soon as this Act takes effect, any
person desiring to practice the profession of civil engineering shall be
Tequired to obtain a certificate of registration in the manner and under the
conditions hereinafter provided. Alll 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 ENGINEERS BY THE
BOARD OR ACCREDITED PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATION OF CIVIL
ENGINEERS (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.”


SECTION 2. Separability Clause — Should any provision of this Act or any part thereof be
declared invalid, the other provisions, so far as they are separable from the invalid ones,

shall remain in full force of effect.
SECTION 3. 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.

SECTION 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,