Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 4848

Introduced by HON. JOY MYRA S. TAMBUNTING

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to amend Republic Act No. 544 (or the Civil Engineering Law) to allow for 1)

attunement of the law to meet demands for national development, 2) strengthening of the

profession and ensuring professionals are prepared for challenges brought about by

globalization and cross-boarder practice and 3) continued upgrading of the level of

competence of civil engineers; 4) defining more clearly the practice of civil engineering in the

Philippines by foreign nationals; 5) establishing a clear, precise and practicable delineation of
professional accountability in the civil engineering practice.

This proposed measure is based on House Bill No. 1860 which was filed by Hon. Maximo B.
Rodriguez Jr. during the 17" Congress.

On behalf of the people of Parafiaque City’s Second District, and for the common good of the
Filipino people, the approval of the said measure is earnestly sought.

{00d

)Y MYRA S. TAMBUNTING
2nd District, Parafiaque City


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. 4848

Introduced by HON. JOY MYRA S. TAMBUNTING

(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 tecumto 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 SPECIAL
TY 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 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 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,