TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
) 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez and 
Representative Maximo B. Rodriguez, Jr. 
House Bill No.  3846 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Any country aiming to stimulate growth and development most certainly always rely on 
building infrastructures to encourage investors and increase government spending on 
infrastructures projects. “Building” infrastructures towards sustainable growth and 
development, however, does not rely on a single industry or profession alone.  
A country that builds a resilient and sustainable community needs to and must rely on 
the collective action and competence of several professionals who work in the field of built 
environment, such as (i) architecture; (ii) interior design; (iii) landscape architecture; (iv) 
environmental planning; (v) geodetic engineering; (vi) civil engineering; (vii) electrical 
engineering; (viii) mechanical engineering; (ix) sanitary engineering; (x) master plumber; (xi) 
electronics engineering; and (xii) real estate services. 
Under this bill, “[t]he State recognizes the importance and contributions of the Built 
Environment Professions in nation-building and development. Hence, the State shall ensure 
that all practicing Built Environment Professionals meet the minimum requirements to 
safeguard the life, health, property, and welfare of the public, foster their continuing 
professional growth and advancement, encourage and enhance collaboration, and continually 
review and improve the standards of regulation, professional service, and practice towards 
Filipino Built Environment Professionals becoming socially and environmentally responsible, 
and globally competitive.” 
It is, thus, imperative to establish a council which shall have an administrative 
supervision on these Built Environment Professions. This is the objective of the proposed bill. 
The proposed bill aims to create a council of the built environment (“Council”) to (i) 
advise on policy matters concerning the interests of the public in the built environment; and 
(ii) oversee the regulation and facilitate collaboration and cooperation of Built Environment 
Professions. In relation to these objectives, the Council shall have the powers and functions 
pertaining to policy advisory, oversight, and collaborative platform.
Among others, it shall: 
i.
act in an advisory capacity on any and all matters concerning the built environment;
ii.
provide advice and consultation on national policy that could impact on the built
environment, human resource development in relation to the built environment
professions, and the recognition of new professions;
iii.
ensure the consistent application of policy for the Built Environment Professions
with regard to registration requirements of registered professionals, identifying key
elements of competence testing of registered professionals; establishment and
implementation of codes of conduct, and delineation of scope of services
August 20, 2025
8:00 am


iv.
promote coordination between the Commission on Higher Education and the
Academic Sectors for the Built Environment Professions in relation to the
accreditation of education institutions; and
v.
foster and encourage collaboration and cooperation between Built Environment
Professionals by setting up guidelines, terms of reference and standards.
With the foregoing salient provisions, the proposed bill will be able to help professionalize 
and promote synergy and cooperation among the built environment professions. 
In view of the foregoing, immediate approval of this measure is earnestly requested. 
RUFUS B. RODRIGUEZ 
  MAXIMO B. RODRIGUEZ, JR. 


TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
) 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez and 
Representative Maximo B. Rodriguez, Jr. 
House Bill No.  3846 
AN ACT  
CREATING THE “COUNCIL FOR THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT,” APPROPRIATING FUNDS 
THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
ARTICLE I  
GENERAL PROVISIONS 
Section 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as the "Council for the Built Environment 
Act". 
Section 2. Statement of Policy. – The State recognizes the importance and contributions of 
the Built Environment Professions in nation-building and development. Hence, the State shall 
ensure that all practicing Built Environment Professional meets the minimum requirements to 
safeguard life, health, and property, foster their continuing professional growth and 
advancement, encourage and enhance collaboration, and continually review and improve the 
standards of regulation, professional service, and practice towards Filipino Built Environment 
Professionals becoming socially and environmentally responsible and globally competitive. 
Section 3. Definition of Terms. – As used in this Act, unless the context otherwise requires, 
the following terms shall be defined as follows: 
a. Built Environment means the field within which the registered professionals practice;
b. Built Environment Professions means the following professions -
i.
Architecture;
ii.
Interior Design;
iii.
Landscape Architecture;
iv.
Environmental Planning;
v.
Geodetic Engineering;
vi.
Civil Engineering;
vii.
Electrical Engineering;
viii.
Mechanical Engineering;
ix.
Sanitary Engineering;
x.
Master Plumber;
xi.
Electronics Engineering; and
xii.
Real Estate Services.
c.
Council means the Council for the Built Environment created under Section 8 of this Act;
d. Professional means a person who is registered as such under any of the Professional
Regulatory Laws;


 
e. Professional Regulatory Laws refers to the legal framework governing the practice of 
specific profession; the legal charter creating and governing the various Boards, defining 
their functions and providing for the rules and policies that govern the practice of a specific 
profession; 
 
f. Accredited and Integrated Professional Organization (AIPO)refers to the concerned Board 
and PRC Accredited Integrated Professional Organization for a given profession which is 
specifically mandated by the provision of the PRL to integrate the professionals into one 
national organization and where membership therein by professionals is automatic and 
mandatory; 
 
g. Accredited Professional Organization (APO) refers to the PRC Accredited Professional 
Organization where membership therein by professionals is only voluntary; 
 
h. CHED refers to the Commission on Higher Education; 
 
i. 
MRA refers to Mutual Recognition Agreements between or among states; 
 
j. 
PRC refers to the Professional Regulation Commission; 
 
k. PRB refers to the Professional Regulatory Board. 
 
ARTICLE II 
ORGANIZATION OF MULTIPARTITE COUNCILS FOR BUILT ENVIRONMENT 
PROFESSIONS 
 
Section 4. Creation of Multipartite Councils for the Built Environment Professions. - A 
Multipartite Council for each of the Built Environment Professions (herein referred to as “MC”) 
is hereby created to be attached to the PRC. 
 
Section 5. Objectives of the MC.  -The objectives of the MC are to – 
a. Provide a platform to discuss policy concerns in the education, internship, 
professional regulation, and continuing professional development; and 
b. Promote and encourage collaboration between the different stakeholders in the 
regulation and practice of the Built Environment Professions. 
 
Section 6. Functions, Powers and Duties of the MC. The MC shall perform the following 
functions: 
a. Monitor local and international benchmarks in professional education, 
internship, regulation and practice; 
b. Study and evaluate educational innovations that shall lead to curriculum 
development; 
c. Regularly review the Subjects for Examination; 
d. Develop and regularly review the Table of Specifications for the Licensure 
Examination; 
e. Develop and regularly review Internship/Guidelines in the areas such as 
diversification of experience, duties and responsibilities of Mentors and 
collaborative work; 
f. Develop and regularly review Continuing Professional Development 
Guidelines; 
g. Develop and regularly review of Standards of Professional Practice in areas 
such as Scope of Services, Schedule of Fees, and inter-professional 
collaboration; and 


h. Develop and regularly review professional education, internship, regulation and 
practice standards in reference to the Philippine Qualifications Framework Act. 
 
Section 7. Composition of the MC. The MC shall be composed of the following –  
a. Chairperson of the Professional Regulatory Board; 
b. President of the AIPO; 
c. President of the Academic Organization (Deans and Heads of Schools) duly 
accredited by the PRC upon the recommendation of the CHED; 
d. One (1) representative from Private Practice; and 
e. One (1) representative from Government Practice. 
 
ARTICLE III 
ORGANIZATION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT 
 
Section 8. Creation of the Council of the Built Environment. –The Council of the Built 
Environment (herein referred to as the “Council”) is hereby created, to be attached to the PRC. 
 
Section 9. Objectives of the Council. -The Council is an overarching body that has the 
following objectives - 
a. Advise on policy matters concerning the interests of the public in the built 
environment, including but not limited to: 
i. 
sustainable development; 
ii. 
human resource development; and,  
iii. 
health, safety and environmental protection standards; 
b. Oversee the regulation of Built Environment Professions, providing guidance 
on: 
i. 
Required qualifications; 
ii. 
Standards of education; 
iii. 
Training and competence; 
iv. 
Promotion of professional status; and 
v. 
Uniform application of standards and guidelines set by the PRC; and 
c. Facilitate collaboration and cooperation of the Built Environment Professions 
with: 
i. 
Other Built Environment Professions; 
ii. 
Foreign Professionals; and 
iii. 
Non-professional creatives and artists. 
 
Section 10. Mandate, Functions, and Powers of the Council. The Council shall exercise 
the following powers and functions: 
POLICY ADVISORY 
a. Act in an advisory capacity on any matter concerning the built environment, 
including, but not limited to: resource utilization, socio-economic development, 
public health and safety, and the environment; 
b. Provide advice and consultation on national policy that could impact on the built 
environment, human resource development in relation to the built environment 
professions, and the recognition of new professions; 
c. Comment, if necessary, on all proposed legislation impacting on health and 
safety in the built environment; 
OVERSIGHT 
d. Ensure the consistent application of policy for the Built Environment 
Professions with regard to - 
i. Registration requirements of registered professionals; 
ii. Key elements of competence testing of registered professionals; 
iii. Codes of conduct; 
iv. Delineation of scope of services; 


v. The principles upon which to base the Standards of Professional 
Practice and Schedule of Fees; 
vi. Standards of health, safety and environmental protection within the built 
environment; 
vii. The accreditation of APOs/AIPOS for the built environment professions, 
by approving the accreditation framework giving due recognition of the 
characteristics of each Built Environment Profession; 
viii. Establishment of education and training standards in terms of the 
Philippine Qualifications Framework Act; 
e. Act as an appeal body with regard to matters referred to it in terms of the PRLs 
regulating the Built Environment Professions; 
f. Receive and assimilate the annual reports of the PRBs, AIPOs and Academic 
Sectors and submit a summary to the Commissioner. 
COLLABORATION PLATFORM 
g. Promote coordination between the Commission on Higher Education and the 
Academic Sectors for the Built Environment Professions in relation to the 
accreditation of education institutions; 
h. Coordinate the establishment of MRAs for Built Environment Professionals, 
providing guidelines on the practice of Filipino Professionals abroad as well as 
Foreigner Professionals in the Philippines; 
i. 
Foster and encourage collaboration and cooperation between Built 
Environment Professionals by setting up guidelines, terms of reference and 
standards; 
j. 
Establish terms of engagement to facilitate the efficient and mutually beneficent 
collaboration of Built Environment Professional with Non-Professional creatives 
and artists. 
 
Section 11. Composition of Council. The Council shall be composed of exofficio members 
and regular members. 
The ex officio members of the Council are: 
a. Chairperson of the PRC; 
b. Chairperson of the CHED; 
c. Chairpersons of the PRBs of all Built Environment Professions; 
The regular members of the Council are: 
a. One (1) representative from each of the Multipartite Councils (non-PRB) of all 
Built Environment Professions; 
 
Section 12. Appointment of Members of the Council. The ex officio members of the 
Council, except the Chairperson of the PRC, who shall serve as Chairperson of the Council, 
may designate their respective next-in-rank officials as permanent alternates whose acts are 
considered as the acts of their principals.  
Every regular member shall be appointed by the President from a list submitted by the 
Chairperson of the PRC upon consultation with the other ex officio members of the Council, 
drawn from a nomination process resulting from public consultations with stakeholders 
engaged in each Built Environment Profession, nominating at least three (3) nominees for 
every regular member seat: Provided, That each of the nominees is not a holder of any 
government position and must have at least ten (10) years of experience in the profession 
which the nominee belongs to; Provided, further, That each of the nominees shall have been 
officially endorsed by the AIPO and the duly recognized association of academics of their 
profession; Provided, finally, That the list of nominees shall be vetted by a joint task force 
constituted by the Professional Regulation Commission and the Commission on Higher 
Education representing the professional and academic interests of the Filipino people, 
respectively. 


Section 13. Removal From Office. The Chairperson of the Council may remove a member 
of the Council from office on account of misconduct or inability to perform his or her duties 
after due process. 
 
Section 14. Disqualification, Vacation and Filling of Vacancies. A person may not be 
appointed as a member of the Council if that person - 
a. Is not a Filipino citizen and resident in the Philippines; 
b. Has been convicted of a criminal involving moral turpitude; 
c. Has in terms of this Act been found guilty by the Council of improper conduct; 
or 
d. Is not a registered professional. 
 
A member of the Council must vacate his or her office if he or she - 
a. Becomes disqualified from being appointed as a member of the Council; 
b. Resigns by written notice addressed to the Chairperson; 
c. Has, without leave of the Council, been absent for more than two consecutive 
meetings of the Council; 
d. Ceases to be permanently resident in the Philippines; or 
e. Is removed from office under Section 13 of this Act. 
 
If a member of the Council dies or vacates his or her office before the expiration of his 
or her term of office, the Chairperson must, within sixty (60) days from the date on which the 
vacancy occurred, appoint the person nominated by the Council, to fill the vacancy for the 
unexpired portion of the period for which that member was appointed. 
 
Section 15. Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson. The Council shall be chaired by the 
Chairperson of the PRC. 
The Council shall elect a deputy chairperson among the regular members.  
The regular members of the Council shall serve for a term of six (6) years, unless 
sooner separated from the service due to death, voluntary resignation, or removal for cause. 
In case of death, resignation, or removal for cause, their replacements shall serve only the 
unexpired terms of the replaced members. Of the first set of regular members, eleven (11) 
shall hold office for a term of three (3) years and the remaining eleven (11) for a term of six 
(6) years. 
The regular members of the Council shall receive per diem every meeting in 
accordance with existing rules and regulations. 
 
Section 16. Meetings of the Council. The Council shall meet at least once every six (6) 
months, or as often as necessary at the call of the Chairperson or majority of the members. 
Members of the Council who cannot physically attend or vote at Council meetings can 
participate and vote through remote communication technologies or other electronic means 
such as videoconferencing, teleconferencing, or other alternative modes of communication 
that allow them reasonable opportunities to participate. A majority of the incumbent members 
of the Council shall constitute a quorum to do business. 
 
Section 17. Executive Committee.  The Council shall have an Executive Committee 
consisting of the Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson of the Council and not more than three 
other members elected by the Council. The Council may appoint alternate members to the 
Executive Committee. 
A member of the Executive Committee - 
a. Serves on the executive committee for a period of one year; 
b. May be re-elected; and 
c. Remains in office until his or her successor is elected. 
No two members of the Executive Committee shall come from the same Built 
Environment Profession. 


The Executive Committee must hold a meeting as and when necessary, but at least 
four (4) times per year. 
 
Section 18. Powers of the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee shall exercise 
the following powers: 
a. Ensure that the resolutions of the Council are carried out; 
b. Consider any matter delegated to it by the Council in terms of any law, and to 
advise the Council in connection therewith; 
c. Exercise or perform any power, duty or function delegated to it by the Council; 
and 
d. Report at every ordinary meeting of the Council on the activities of the 
Executive Committee. 
 
Section 19. Committees of Council. The Council may establish any Committee to - 
a. Assist it in the performance of its functions; or 
b. Investigate and make recommendations on matters relating to any of its 
functions. 
The Council shall designate a Chairperson for any such Committee, and determine the 
quorum for meetings. The Council shall also determine the terms of reference of the 
Committees. 
 
Section 20. Secretariat and Staff. The Council -  
a. shall establish a Secretariat; and 
b. may employ such staff, as it may deem necessary, for the carrying out of its 
functions, on such conditions, including the payment of remuneration and 
allowances, as it may determine, and may dismiss any person so appointed. 
 
Section 21. Delegation of Powers. The Council may, delegate any power, duty or function 
conferred or imposed on it by this Act to - 
a. A Committee established under Section 19; 
b. The Executive Committee elected under section 17; 
c. The Chairperson of the Council or any member of the Council; or 
d. Any officer of the Council. 
 
Section 22. Reporting. The Council shall furnish the Commissioner an Annual Report with 
regard to the functions and affairs of the Council including, but not limited to: 
a. a report regarding the execution of the functions of the council; 
b. a report regarding the envisaged strategies of the council; and 
c. such other information as the Commissioner may from time to time determine. 
 
Section 23. Delineation of Scope of Work and Terms of Reference for Collaboration. The 
Council must, after receipt of the recommendations submitted to it by the MCs in terms of the 
Professional Regulatory Laws -  
a. Determine policy with regard to the identification of work for the different Built 
Environment Professions; 
b. Consult with any person, body or industry that may be affected by the 
identification of work in terms of this section; 
c. Identify the scope of work for every Built Environment Profession; and 
d. Establish terms of reference for collaboration between Built Environmental 
Professionals, Foreign Professionals and Non-Professional creatives and 
artists. 
 
 
 
 


ARTICLE IV 
FINAL PROVISIONS 
 
Section 24. Appropriations. The amount necessary for the immediate implementation of this 
Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act. 
 
Section 25. Implementing Rules and Regulations. The Professional Regulation 
Commission, the Commission on Higher Education, together with the Professional Regulatory 
Boards and AIPOs of the Built Environment Professions are tasked to prepare the 
Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) required for the implementation of this Act. The 
IRR shall be promulgated within ninety (90) days upon approval of this Act. 
 
Section 26. Separability Clause. If, for any reason, any section or provisions of this Act is 
declared unconstitutional, or invalid, the other sections and provisions, which are not affected 
by it, shall continue to be in full force and effect. 
 
Section 27. Repealing Clause. All laws, decrees, executive orders, agreements, rules, and 
regulations, or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or 
modified accordingly. 
 
Section 28. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after is complete publication 
in either the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
 
 
Approved,