Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. _ 4846

Introduced by HON. JOY MYRA S. TAMBUNTING

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Architecture is the art and science that incorporates aesthetics and ever emerging
technologies in designing and creating habitable spaces and experiences. As a professional,
an architect is both an artist responsible for endowing a certain structure with beauty and a
Practitioner that design and supervises the erection of structures. An architect works towards
ensuring the sustainability of the built space and the welfare and needs of the community.

It is imperative for the State to reeducate society about the roles and functions of architects,
and what they do for society. This proposed measure seeks to strengthen and protect the
architecture profession to prevent illegal practitioners from copying, adopting, and
implementing their work. This bill shall include specific architectural terms that will distinguish
the practice of architecture from other professions; and require that architectural designs,
plans and documents prepared exclusively and signed by an Architect are required before any
building permit may be issued.

This proposed measure is based on House Bill No. 23 which was filed by Hon. Francis Gerald
Abaya 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.

6 le flay

” JOY MYRA S. TAMBUNTING
2nd District, Parafiaque City


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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. SOB

Introduced by HON. JOY MYRA S. TAMBUNTING

AN ACT STRENGTHENING THE ARCHITECTURE PROFESSION, AMENDING FOR
THE PURPOSE CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF REPUBLIC ACT NUMBERED NINE
THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED SIXTY-SIX (R.A. No. 9266), OTHERWISE KNOWN AS
THE "ARCHITECTURE ACT OF 2004"

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
assembled:

SECTION 1. SEC. 3(1) of Republic Act No. 9266 is hereby amended to include the following
terms after paragraph (14) to be denominated as paragraphs (15), (16), (17), and (18):

"SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. As used in this Act, the following terms shall be defined
as follows:

1) x

14) XxX

15) ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN - ALSO REFERRED TO AS "DESIGN" IN THIS ACT,
MEANS THE ILLUSTRATED CONCEPT THAT FOCUSES ON THE FEATURES OR
ELEMENTS OF BUILDINGS OR STRUCTURES AND THE UTILIZATION OF THE
SITE AND SPACE WITHIN AND SURROUNDING SUCH BUILDINGS OR
STRUCTURES AND UNIFIES THEM INTO A COHERENT AND FUNCTIONAL
WHOLE, FOLLOWING A GENERALLY ACCEPTED APPROACH TO ACHIEVE THE
OBJECTIVES, ABIDING BY SET NORMS AND CONSIDERING THE
ARCHITECTURAL PRINCIPLES OF UTILITY, STRENGTH AND BEAUTY,
EXCLUSIVELY PREPARED BY ARCHITECT;

16) ARCHITECTURAL DOCUMENT - ALSO REFERRED TO AS "DOCUMENT" AS USED
IN THIS ACT, MEANS THE ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN, ARCHITECTURAL PLAN,
DRAWING, SPECIFICATION, TECHNICAL DOCUMENT AND OTHER
INSTRUMENTS OF SERVICE PREPARED, SIGNED AND SEALED EXCLUSIVELY
BY AN ARCHITECT;

17) ARCHITECTURAL PERMIT - MEANS A MANDATED DOCUMENT ISSUED BY ANY
REGULATING GOVERNMENT ENTITY BASED ON ARCHITECTURAL
DOCUMENTS AUTHORIZING THE CONSTRUCTION OF BUILDINGS OR
STRUCTURES AND THE UTILIZATION OF THE STATE AND SPACE WITHIN AND
SURROUNDING SUCH BUILDINGS OR STRUCTURES;

18) ARCHITETCURAL PLAN - ALSO REFERRED TO AS "PLAN" AS USED IN THIS
ACT MEANS THE LATERAL SECTION OR DIMENSIONAL REPRESENTATIONS
OF A PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT OR REDEVELOPMENT OF BUILDINGS OR
STRUCTURES AND THE UTILIZATION OF THE SITE AND SPACE WITHIN AND


SURROUNDING SUCH BUILDINGS OR STRUCTURES SHOWING FEATURES OR
ELEMENTS OF THE ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN SUCH AS THE FLOOR PLANS,
ELEVATIONS, CROSS AND LONGITUDINAL SECTIONS, PERSPECTIVE,
REFLECTED CEILING PLAN, SITE DEVELOPMENT PLAN, ARCHITECTURAL
INTERIORS, AND OTHER ARCHITECTURAL DETAILS PREPARED, SIGNED AND
‘SEALED EXCLUSIVELY BY AN ARCHITECT;

SECTION 2. Sec. 20 (2) of Republic Act No. 9266 is hereby amended by adding a new
provision which read as follows:

Sec. 20. Seal, Issuance and Use of Seal. -%xx

(2A) No officer or employee of this Republic, chartered cities, provinces and
municipalities, now or hereafter charged with the enforcement of laws, ordinances or
regulations relating to the construction or alteration of buildings, shall accept or
approve any architectural plans or specifications which have not been prepared
EXCLUSIVELY BY AN ARCHITECT and submitted in full accord with all the provisions
of this Act. Nor shall any payments be approved by such officer for any work, the plans
and specifications for which have not been so prepared EXCLUSIVELY and signed by
an Architect.

UPON APPROVAL OF THE ARCHITECTURAL DOCUMENTS, THE CORRESPONDING
ARCHITECTURAL PERMIT SHALL BE ISSUED; PROVIDED, HOWEVER THAT NO
BUILDING PERMIT OR SIMILAR IMPRT SHALL BE ISSUED WITHOUT THE
CORRESPONDING ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN, PLAN, AND DOCUMENT PREPARED
EXCLUSIVELY AND SIGNED BY AN ARCHITECT.

SECTION 3. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, presidential proclamations, executive
orders, rules and regulations or parts thereof inconsistent herewith, are hereby repealed or
modified accordingly.

SECTION 4, Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is held invalid or declared
unconstitutional, the other provisions which are not affected thereby shall remain valid and
subsisting.

SECTION 5. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its complete

publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general circulation, whichever
‘comes first.

Approved,