FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Second Regular Session 
) 
) 
) 
SENATE 
COMMITTEE REPORT NO. 
123 
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FEB 27 
1'2 :11 
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Submitted jointly by the Committees on Civil Service and Govemment Reorganization; Ways 
and Means; and Finance on fEB 2 1 2012 
Re: Senate Bill No. 
3139 
Recommending its approval in substitution ofS. No, 2169 
Sponsor: Senator Trillanes IV 
MR. PRESIDENT: 
The Committee on Civil Service and Govemment Reorganization; Ways and Means; and 
Finance to which was primarily and secondarily refelTed Senate Bill No, 2169, entitled: 
"PHILIPPINE INTERIOR DESIGN ACT OF 2010" 
have considered the same and have the honor to r$;Psr);,. i.t back to the Senate with the 
recommendation that the attached Senate Bill No, _-=v=-.1_;j_~",--- prepared by the Committee, 
entitled: 
AN ACT 
TO REGULATE AND MODERNIZE THE PRACTICE OF THE INTERIOR DESIGN IN 
THE PHILIPPINES, REPEALING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NUMBERED 
8534 OTHERWISE KNOWN AS AN ACT REGULATING THE PRACTICE OF 
INTERIOR DESIGN IN THE PHILIPPINES, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
be approved in substitution of Senate Bill No, 2169 with Senator Trillanes IV and the Committee 
on Rules as authors thereof. 
1 


Respectfully submitted: 
Chairpersons 
e on, Committee on Finance 
irp rson,Committee on Ways and 
Means 
AN~~LANESIV 
Chailperson, Committee on Civil Service and 
Govemment Reorganization 
Jvlember, Committee on Ways and Means 
~?!~~ 
ECTO 
'V' ~ 
Chairper n, Co mittee on Ways and Means 
Vice-O airp son, Committee on Finance 
Vice-Chairpersons 
{,l 
I~ 
j~ II I :'11 it ~,.jf:;;;v' 
EDGARDO J, ANG{ARA . 
GREGORIO B. HONASAN II 
Vice-Chailperson, Committee on Finance 
Vice-Chairperson, Committee on Civil Service 
Member, Committee on Ways and Means 
and Govemment Reorganization 
Jvlember, Committee on Finance; and 
Committee on Ways and Means 
Members 
TEOFISTO L. GUINGONA III 
Member, Committee on Ways and Means; 
~ommittee on Finance " 
L!'v~1 ll..}6't'J,lA,l};Q. -I /:(J~.el-'Pl 
Il .' i\Lultt -h.· 
IS~RGIO R. OSMENA III 
Member, Committee on Ways and Means; 
Committee on Finance 
FRANCIS "Chiz" G. ESCUDERO 
Member, Committee on Ways and Means; 
Committee on Finance 
MANUEL "LITO" M. LAPID 
Member, Committee on Civil Service and 
Gove11111ient Reorganization; Committee; on 
Ways and Means; Committee on Finance 
FRANCIS N. PANGILINAN 
Member, Committee on Civil Service and 
Govemment Reorganization; Committee on 
Ways and Means; Committee on Finance 
LOREN B. LEGARDA 
Member, Committee on Civil Service and 
Government Reorganization; Committee on 
Finance 
2 


N ~VILLA' 
JR. 
, Committee on Ways and Means; 
Committee on Finance 
MA 
Member, Committee on W ys and Means; 
Committee on Fil ance 
,/I, ~t./ 
PA~FIUfM:' LACS ON 
Memb~, C9mmittee on Finance 
_/ 
JOKER P. ARROYO 
Member, Committee on Ways and Means; 
Committee on Finance 
FERDINAND R 
ARF.OS, JR. 
Member, Committe on CivIl Service and 
Government Reorg lization; Committee on 
Finance 
MIRIAM DEFENSOR-SANTIAGO 
Member, Committee on Ways and Means; 
Committee on Finance 
PIA "COMPANERA" S. CAYETANO 
Member, Committee on Civil Service and 
Government Reorganization; Member, 
Committee on Ways and Means; Committee 
on Finance 
3 


~
,., 
/"",::=----::. 
71'-: 
__ 
Ex-Officio Members 
--V/{~~~~J. 
ALAN PE~PANERO" 
S. 
CAYETANO 
Senate Minority Floor Leader 
The Honorable JUAN PONCE ENRILE 
Senate President 
Senate Majority Floor eader 
4 


1 
2 
3 
FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF TIlE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Second Regular Session 
) 
) 
) 
SENATE 
S.No. 3139 
(',' ,1, 
(In substitution of Senate Bill No. 2169) 
~;n,dl? 
'.< ,,)fhr L' ll: ;)1' 
:,. r' I r:Jf U 
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v 
Prepared by the Committees on Civil Service and Government Reorganization; Ways and 
Means; and Finance with Senator Trillanes IV and the Committee on Rules as authors 
thereof 
AN ACT 
TO REGULATE AND MODERNIZE THE PRACTICE OF THE INTERIOR DESIGN IN 
THE PHILIPPINES, REPEALING FOR TIlE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NUMBERED 
8534 OTHERWISE KNOWN AS AN ACT REGULATING THE PRACTICE OF 
INTERIOR DESIGN IN THE PHILIPPINES, 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 
TITLE, POLICY, OBJECTIVES, TERMS AND SCOPE OF PRACTICE 
4 
SECTION 1. Title.- This Act shall be known as the "Philippine Interior Design Act of 
5 
2012". 
6 
7 
SEC. 2. Statement of Policy.- The State recognizes the important role of the interior 
8 
design profession in nation-building. Towards this end, the State shall promote the 
9 
sustained development of professional interior designers, whose technical competencies 
10 
have been determined by honest and credible licensure examinations and whose standards 
11 
of professional service and practice are internationally recognized 
and considered globally 
12 
competitive, 
brought about by regulatory measures and 
human resource programs and 
13 
activities that foster their professional growth and advancement. 
14 
15 
SEC. 3. Objectives.- This Act provides for and shall govern: 
16 
(a) The examination, registration and licensure of professional interior designers; 
17 
(b) The supervision, control and regulation of the practice of interior design; 
1 


1 
(c) The development of the professional competence of interior designers through continuing 
2 
professional education; and 
3 
(d) The integration of the interior design profession. 
4 
5 
SEC. 4. Definition of Terms.- For purposes of this Act, the following terms are hereby 
6 
defined: 
7 
(a) Interior design refers to the sCience and art of planning, specifying, selecting and 
8 
organizing the surface finishes and materials including fumiture, furnishings and fixtures 
9 
and other interior design elements for the purpose of the interior space allocations to 
10 
suit, enhance and meet the intended function, movement and character for which the interior 
11 
of the building is designed. 
12 
(b) Professional interior designer refers to a natural person who holds a valid certifica:e 
13 
of registration ftnd a valid professional identification card issued by the Board and the 
14 
Commission pursuant to this Act. 
15 
(c) Commission refers to the Professional Regulatory Commission. 
16 
17 
SEC. 5. Scope of the Professional Practice of Interior Design.- The practice of interior 
18 
design is the act of planning, designing, specifying, supervising and providing general 
19 
administration and responsible direction to the functional, orderly and aesthetic arrangement and 
20 
enhancement of interior spaces. It shall include, but not be limited to, the following activities: 
21 
(a) Consultation, advice, direction, evaluation, budgetary estimates and appraisals; 
22 
(b) Schematic interior design development, design development, execution of professional 
23 
contract documents and programming of construction phases; 
24 
(c) Preparation of interior design plans, design drawings, interior construction details, and 
25 
technical specifications; 
26 
(d) Interior construction administration, supervision, coordination of alteration, preservation or 
27 
restoration of interior spaces; and 
28 
(e) All other works, projects and activities that require the professional competence of the 
29 
interior designer, including teaching of interior design subjects. 
30 
31 
The Board, subject to approval by the Commission, may revise, exclude from, or add to, the 
32 
above-enumerated acts or activities as the need arises to conform to the latest trends and 
33 
developments in the practice of interior design. 
2 


1 
2 
3 
ARTICLE II 
THE PROFESSIONAL REGULATORY BOARD OF INTERIOR DESIGN 
4 
SEC. 6. Creation and Composition of the Board of Interior Design.- There is herehy 
5 
created a Professional Regulatory Board of Interior Design, hereinafter referred to as the Board, 
6 
under the administrative control and supervision of the Professional Regulation Commission 
7 
(PRC), hereinafter referred to as the Commission, to be composed of a Chairman and two (2) 
8 
members to be appointed by the President of the Philippines from a list of two (2) 
9 
recommendees for each position submitted by the Commission, who in turn will be drawn from a 
10 
list of three (3) to five (5) nominees for each position recommended by the duly Accredited and 
11 
Integrated Professional Organization (AIPO) of Interior Designers. The new Board shall be 
12 
created within six (6) months from the effectivity of this Act. 
13 
14 
SEC. 7. Qualifications of the Chairman and Melllbers.- The Chainnan and members of 
o 
15 
the Board shall, at the time of their appointment, possess the following qualifications: 
16 
(a) Must be a citizen and resident of the Philippines; 
17 
(b) Must be a degree holder of Bachelor of Science in Interior Design (BSID), Bachelor of 
18 
Interior Design (BID) or Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA), major in Interior Design, or an 
19 
equivalent degree conferred by a school, academy, college or nniversity in the Philippines 
20 
or abroad that is recognized andlor accredited by the Philippine government; 
21 
(c) Must be a registered interior designer with a valid certificate of registration and professional 
22 
identification card and an active practitioner of interior design for not less than ten (l0) years 
23 
prior to appointment; 
24 
(d) Must not be a member of the faculty of any school, where a regular course in Interior Design 
25 
is being taught, or have pecuniary interest in, or administrative supervision over any such 
26 
institution oflearning; 
27 
(e) Must not be connected with a review center or with any group giving review classes or 
28 
lectures in preparation for the licensure examination; 
29 
(f) Must be a member in good standing of the duly accredited professional organization of 
30 
interior designers but not an incumbent trustee or officer thereof; and 
31 
(g) Has never been convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude, or a civil andlor criminal 
32 
offense. 
33 
3 


1 
SEC. 8. Term ofOfJice.- The members of the Board shall hold office for a tenn of three 
2 
(3) years from the date of appointment or until their successors shall have been appointed and 
3 
qualified. They may be reappointed for another term of three (3) years immediately upon the 
4 
expiration of their term: Provided, That no member shall hold office for more than six (6) years 
5 
in his position as a chairman or as a member of the Board. 
6 
Of the members to be appointed for the new Board under this Act, one (l) member shall 
7 
hold office as Chairman for three (3) years; one (1) member for two (2) years; and one (1) 
8 
member for one (1) year. Each member of the Board shall take the proper oath prior to 
9 
assumption of duty. 
10 
11 
SEC. 9. Compensation of the Board Members.- The Chairman and members of the 
12 
Board shall receive compensation and allowances comparable to the compensation and 
13 
allowances received by existing regulatory boards under the Commission as provided for in the 
14 
General Appropriations Act. 
15 
16 
SEC. 10. Powers, FUllctions, Duties and Re,ponsibilities of the Board.- The Board 
17 
shall exercise the following specific powers, functions, dnties and responsibilities: 
18 
(a) Adopt, promulgate and administer the rules and regulations necessary for carrying out the 
19 
provisions of this Act; 
20 
(b) Supervise and regulate the registration, licensure and practice of the professional interior 
21 
designers in the Philippines; 
22 
(c) Administer oaths in connection with the administration ofthis Act; 
23 
(d) Issue, suspend, revoke or reinstate the certificate of registration or professional license for the 
24 
practice of the interior design profession; 
25 
(e) Adopt an official seal of the Board; 
26 
(f) Monitor the conditions affecting the practice of interior design and adopt such measures as 
27 
may be deemed proper for the enhancement of the profession and/or the maintenance of high 
28 
professional, ethical and technical standards; 
29 
(g) Ensure, in coordination with the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), that all other 
30 
educational institutions offering interior design comply with the policies, standards and 
31 
requirements of the course prescribed by the CHED in the areas of curriculum, faculty, 
32 
library and facilities; 
33 
(h) Prescribe and adopt a Code of Ethics and/or Code of Professional Standards for the practice 
34 
ofthe Interior Design profession; 
4 


1 
(i) Hear and try administrative cases involving violations of this Act, its implementing JUles and 
2 
regulations ORR), the Code of Professional Standards for the practice of the Interior 
3 
Designers profession and, for this purpose, to issue subpoena and subpoena duces tecum to 
4 
secure the appearance of witnesses and the production of documents in connection therewith; 
5 
G) Prescribe guidelines for the Continuing Professional Education (CPE) program for interior 
6 
designers in coordination with the accredited professional organization of interior designers; 
7 
(k) Prepare, adopt and issue the Table of Specifications (TOS) and syllabi of the subjects for 
8 
examination in the professional licensure examination for interior designers. Detennine and 
9 
prepare the questions for the examination, which shall strictly be within the scope of the 
10 
syllabi of the subjects of examination; and 
11 
(1) Discharge such other duties and functions as may be deemed necessary tor the enhancement 
12 
of the interior design profession and the upgrading, development and growth of interior 
13 
design education in the Philippines. 
14 
15 
SEC. 11. Grounds for Removal or Suspension of Board ChairmanIMember.- The 
16 
President of the Philippines, upon the recommendation of the Commission, after giving the 
17 
Chairman or the member of the Board an opportunity to defend himself/herself in an 
18 
administrative investigation conducted by the Commission, may remove or suspend him/her on 
19 
any of the following grounds: 
20 
(a) Gross neglect, incompetence or dishonesty in the discharge of his/her duty; 
21 
(b) Commission of the prohibited acts and/or violation of the provisions or commissions of the 
22 
offenses and/or grounds for disciplinary action provided in this Act and in the Revised 
23 
Penal Code, the Anti-Graft and Con'upt Practices Act, and other related laws; 
24 
(c) Manipulation or rigging of the licensure examination for interior designers, tampering with 
25 
the results, disclosure of secret and confidential information relating to the examination prior 
26 
to the conduct thereof, or manipulation/padding/shaving of grades and similar acts; and, 
27 
(d) Conviction of an offense involving moral turpitude. 
28 
29 
The Commission, in the conduct of the investigation, shall be guided by Section 7(s) of 
30 
Republic Act No. 8981, otherwise known as the PRC Modernization Act of 2000, the rules on 
31 
administrative investigation and the applicable provisions of the Revised Rules of Court. 
32 
33 
SEC.12. Administrative Supervision of the Board, Custodian of its Records, Secretariat 
34 
and Support Services. - The Board shall be under the administrative supervision of the 
5 


1 
Commission. All records of the Board, including applications for examination, administrative 
2 
and other investigative cases conducted by the Board shall be under the custody of the 
3 
Commission. The Commission shall designate the secretary of the Board and shall provide the 
4 
secretariat and other suppOli services to implement the provisions of this Act. 
5 
SEC. 13. Annual Report.- The Board shall, at the close of each calendar year, submit an 
6 
annual report to the President of the Philippines, through the Commission, giving a detailed 
7 
account of its proceedings and accomplishments during the year and making recommendations 
8 
for the adoption of measures that will upgrade and improve the conditions affecting the practice 
9 
of interior design. 
10 
11 
12 
13 
ARTICLE III 
EXAMINATION, REGISTRATION, CERTIFICATION, AND LICENSURE 
14 
SEC. 14. Passing of Licensure Examination Requirement.- Except as otherwise 
15 
specifically allowed under this Act, applicants for registration for the practice of interior design 
16 
shall be required to pass a professional licensure examination as provided for in this Act in such 
17 
places and on such dates as the Commission may designate in accordance with the provisions of 
18 
Section 7(d) of Republic Act No. 8981. 
19 
20 
SEC. 15. Qualifications of Applicants. - An applicant for the licensure examination for 
21 
interior designers shall satisfactorily prove that he/she possesses the following qualifications: 
22 
(a) Citizen of the Philippines or a foreign citizen whose country/state has a policy reciprocity 
23 
with the Philippines in the practice of interior design; 
24 
(b) Of good moral character; 
25 
(c) A holder of any of the following: 
26 
1. A degree in interior design obtained from a reputable institution of learning in the 
27 
Philippines 
recognized 
by 
the 
government 
and 
affiliated 
with 
a 
28 
school/college/university duly recognized or accredited by the CHED; 
29 
n. A degree in interior design obtained from a reputable institution of learning in a 
30 
foreign country/state; Provided, that the same is certified by the CHED as 
31 
equivalent to a Bachelor of Science in Interior Design obtained in the Philippines; 
32 
and 
33 
(d) Not convicted of an offense involving moral turpitude by a court of competent jurisdiction. 
34 
6 


1 
SEC. 16. Subjects for Licensure Examination.- The examination for interior design 
2 
shall basically cover the following subjects: 
3 
(a) Interim' Design; 
4 
(b) Furniture Design and ConstlUction; 
5 
(c) Materials of Design and Decoration; 
6 
(d) History of Arts and Interior Design; 
7 
(e) Interior Construction and Utilities, 
8 
(f) Color TheolY; and, 
9 
(g) Professional Practice and Ethics. 
10 
11 
Subject to the approval of the Commission, the said subjects, their TOS and their syllabi 
12 
may be amended by the Board in coordination with CHED, so as to confonn to technological 
13 
changes brought about by continuing trends in the profession, in coordination with the accredited 
14 
professional organization of interior design educators. 
15 
16 
SEC. 17. Rating in the Licensure Examination.- To be qualified as having passed the 
17 
Board examination for intelior designers, a candidate must obtain a weighted general average of 
18 
seventy percent (70%). 
19 
20 
SEC. 18. Report of Ratings.- The Board shall submit to the Commission the ratings 
21 
obtained by each candidate within twenty (20) days after the examination unless extended by 
22 
the Commission for just cause. Upon the release of the results of the examination, the Board 
23 
shall send by mail the rating received by each examinee at his given address using the mailing 
24 
envelope submitted dUling the examination. 
25 
26 
SEC. 19. Oath.- All successful candidates in the examination shall be required to take an 
27 
oath of profession before the Board or any government official authorized by the Commission to 
28 
administer oaths prior to entering the practice of the interior design profession. 
29 
30 
SEC.20. L;-suance of Certificate of Registration and Professional Identification Card. -
31 
A certificate of registration shall be issued to applicants who pass the examination for interior 
32 
designers subject to payment of registration fees. 
33 
The celtificate of registration as professional interior designer shall bear the signatures of 
34 
the Chairperson of the Commission and the Board members, stamped with the official seal, 
35 
indicating that the person named therein is entitled to practice the profession with all the 
7 


1 
privileges appurtenant thereto. This certiticate shall remam m full force and effect until 
2 
withdrawn, suspended or revoked, in accordance with this Act. 
3 
A certificate of registration bearing the registration number, date of issuance and expiry 
4 
date, dnly signed by the Chainnan of the Board, shall likewise be issued to every registrant who 
5 
has paid the required fees. This license will serve as evidence that the licensee can lawfully 
6 
practice his/her profession. 
7 
A professional identification card, whether new or for renewal, shall be released by the 
8 
PRC upon compliance with the requirements for the application or renewal of identification card 
9 
and upon presentation of the updated receipt of payment of annual membership dues of the 
10 
accredited professional organization of interior designers and proof of completion of the CPE 
11 
requirements. 
12 
Once registered, the interior designer may use "IDr." as his official appendage title. 
13 
14 
SEC. 21. Refusal to Register.- The Board shall not register any successful applicant for 
15 
registration who has been: 
16 
(a) Convicted of an offense involving moral turpitude by a couli of competent jurisdiction; 
17 
(b) Who has been found guilty of immoral or dishonorable conduct by the Board; 
18 
(c) Adjudged guilty for violation of the General Instructions to Examinees by the Board; and/or 
19 
(d) Declared of unsound mind by a court of competent jurisdiction. 
20 
21 
In refusing such registration, the Board shall give the applicant a written statement setting 
22 
forth the reasons therefore and shall file a copy thereof in its records. 
23 
24 
SEC. 22. Revocation or Suspension of the Certificate of Registration and Cancellation 
25 
of Temporary/Special Permit.- The Board shall have the power, upon notice and hearing, to 
26 
revoke or suspend the celiificate of registration of a registered and licensed interior designer or 
27 
to cancel a temporary/special permit granted to foreign interior designer, for violation of any 
28 
gronnds or causes in Section 21 of this Act, except (c) thereof and any ofthe following grounds: 
29 
(a) Violation of any provision of this Act, its IRR, Code of Ethics, the Code of Good 
30 
Governance, the Code of Professional Standards for the practice of interior design as well as 
31 
the policy measnres promulgated by the Board and/or the Commission; 
32 
(b) Perpetration and/or nse of frand in obtaining his/her certiticate of registration, professional 
33 
identification card or temporary/special pennit; 
34 
(c) Gross incompetence, negligence or ignorance resulting to death, injury or damage; 
8 


1 
(d) Refusal to join or to remain a member in good standing of the Accredited and Integrated 
2 
Professional Organization (AIPO) for interior designers; 
3 
(e) Neglect or failure to pay the annual registration fees for five (5) consecutive years; 
4 
(f) Knowingly aiding or abetting the illegal practice of a non-registered and licensed person by 
5 
allowing him/her to nse his/her certificate of registration and/or professIOnal identification 
6 
card and/or his or her temporary/special permit; 
7 
(g) Illegally practicing the profession during his/her suspension from the practice thereof; 
8 
(h) Addiction to a drug or alcohol abuse, impairing his/her ability to practice his/her profession 
9 
or being declared of unsound mind by a couli of competent jurisdiction; and 
10 
(i) Noncompliance with the CPE requirements, unless he/she is exempted therefrom, for the 
11 
renewal of his/her professional identification card. 
12 
The Board shall periodically evaluate the aforementioned grounds and amend, modify, 
13 
revise, exclude and/or add new ones as the circumstances and the developments in the profession 
14 
may require, subj ect to approval of the Commission. 
15 
Any person, firm or association may file charge/s in accordance with the provision of this 
16 
section against any registered interior designer or the Board may motu proprio investigate 
17 
violation of any of the abovementioned causes. Affidavit embodying the complaint shall be filed 
18 
together with the affidavits of witnesses and other documentary evidence with the Board though 
19 
the Legal and Investigation Office. Any motu proprio action of the Board to conduct an 
20 
investigation shall be embodied in a formal charge to be signed by at least majority of the 
21 
members of the Board. The rules on administrative investigation issued by the Commission shall 
22 
govern the hearing or investigation subject to applicable provisions of this Act, Republic Act No. 
23 
8981 and the Revised Rules of the Court. 
24 
25 
SEC. 23. Reissllance of Revoked Cert(ficate of Registration, Replacement of Lost or 
26 
Damaged Cert(ficate of Registration, Professional Identification Card or Temporary/Special 
27 
Permit.- The Board may, upon petition on meritorious grounds, reinstate or reissue a revoked 
28 
certificate of registration after two (2) years from the date of effectivity of the period for 
29 
revocation. The date of efIectivity of the period of revocation shall be reckoned fi-om the date of 
30 
receipt by the respondent of the final order or resolution revoking his or her registration or the 
31 
date of the sU11'ender by the respondent of his or her certificate of registration and professional 
32 
identification card, if it is still valid. 
33 
The Board may not reqnire the holder thereof to take another licensure examination. The 
34 
petitioner shall prove to the Board that the ground or grounds for the revocation of his/her 
9 


1 
certificate of registration no longer exists. For the grant of his/her petition, the Board shall issue a 
2 
Board Resolution subject to approval by the Commission. 
3 
A duplicate copy of lost certificate of registration, professional identification card or 
4 
temporary/special pennit may be reissued in accordance with lllles thereon and upon payment of 
5 
the prescribed fee therefor. 
6 
7 
SEC. 24. Nonpayment of the Annual Registration Fees.- The Board shall suspend a 
8 
registered interior designer from the practice of his/her profession for nonpayment of the annual 
9 
registration fees for five (5) consecutive years from his/her last or previous year of payment. 
10 
The resumption of his/her practice shall take place only upon payment of the delinquent fees plus 
11 
surcharges and interest and in accordance with the lllles of the Commission. The lllnning of the 
12 
five (5)-year period may be interlllpted upon written notice of the discontinuance of his/her 
13 
practice and surrender of his/her certificate of registration and professional identification card to 
14 
the Board and/or the Commission. 
15 
16 
SEC. 25. Vested Rights.- All practicing interior designers who are registered at the time 
17 
of the passage of this Act shall automatically be registered and issued certificates of registration, 
18 
subj ect to existing lllles and regulations. 
19 
20 
21 
22 
ARTICLE IV 
PRACTICE OF INTERIOR DESIGN 
23 
SEC. 26. Lawfitl Practitioners of Interior Design.- The following persons shall be 
24 
auth0l1zed to practice the interior design profession: 
25 
(a) Natural persons who are: 
26 
(1) Dnly registered and licensed as interior designers and holders of valid certificates of 
27 
registration and valid professional identification cards issued by the Board and the 
28 
Commission pursuant to this Act; and 
29 
(2) Holders of valid temporary/special permits issued by the Board and the Commission 
30 
to foreign licensed interior designers pursuant to this Act. 
31 
(b) Jnridical persons: 
32 
(l) Single proprietorship owned by a registered and licensed interior designer; 
33 
(2) General professional partnership duly registered with the Securities and Exchange 
34 
Commission (SEC) as professional pminership pursuant to the Civil Code and 
35 
composed of partners who are all duly registered and licensed interior designers; and 
10 


1 
2 
3 
4 
(3) Corporation whose chief executive officer (CEO) and other key officers are all 
registered and licensed interior designers may be duly registered with the SEC as 
engaged in the practice of interior design. 
5 
SEC. 27. Issuance and Use of Seal.- A duly registered interior designer shall sign and 
6 
affix the seal as approved and provided by the Board of Interior Design on all plans, 
7 
specifications and contract documents prepared by him/her and/or under his/her direct 
8 
supervision during the validity of his/her certificate of registration. 
9 
Officers and/or employees of the govemment, chartered cities, provinces, municipalities 
10 
now or hereafter charged with the enforcement of the laws, ordinances or regulations relating to 
11 
the construction or alteration of the interiors of buildings shall accept only those interior plans, 
12 
specifications, and contract documents which have been prepared by or under the supervision of 
13 
a duly licensed interior designer and signed and sealed by him/her and submitted in full accord 
14 
with the provisions of this Act. 
15 
Violation of the foregoing shall be ground for administrative and/or criminal action. 
16 
17 
SEC. 28. ProprietaIY Rights.- An interior designer shall el1ioy proprietary rights over all 
18 
drawings and specifications and other contract documents prepared by him/her resulting from his 
19 
professional labor and duly signed, stamped or sealed by him/her, as instruments of service, as 
20 
well as over the original concepts and designs contained and/or included therein. No person may 
21 
engage in any activity prejudicial to the proprietary rights of the interior designer, including the 
22 
reproduction of the contract work or substantial pOliion thereof, making any alteration, 
23 
distortion, mutilation, or other modification of, or any derogatory action in relation to, the 
24 
contract work and the detailed works contained therein, without the written consent of the 
25 
interior designer unless the said contract work is a commissioned piece of work duly paid for by 
26 
the person or party who/which commissioned the same in which case the said person or pmiy 
27 
shall have the right to alter, revise and/or modify the drawing, specification, design, concept 
28 
and/or contract works. 
29 
30 
SEC. 29. Foreigll Reciprocity.- No foreign interior designer shall be issued a cCliific<1te 
31 
of registration to practice the interior design profession or be entitled to any of the rights and 
32 
privileges under this Act unless the country of which he/she is a subject or citizen has a policy 
33 
which permits Filipino interior designers to practice within its territorial limits on the same basis 
34 
as the subjects or citizens of such foreign state or country. 
35 
11 


1 
SEC. 30. Practice through Telllpormy/Special Permit.- (a) Foreigners intending to 
2 
work in the Philippines to perform professional services as interior designers or consultants 
3 
whether employed through official foreign-funded or foreign-assisted projects initiated by the 
4 
government, or engaged by private Filipino or foreign contractors and/or firms shall first secure a 
5 
temporary/special permit £i'om the PRe through the Board of Interior Design specifically 
6 
authorizing him/her to practice on the special project or commission named therein: PrOVided, 
7 
That: 
8 
(1) He/She is legally and professionally qualified and registered to practice interior 
9 
design in his/her own country; and 
10 
(2) His/Her expertise is unique and useful to the Philippines, resulting in the transfer of 
11 
infonuation and technology, the establishment of international standards in design, 
12 
and the sharing of other specialized skills. 
13 
(b) The foreign interior designer shall be required to work in every case with a duly 
14 
licensed Filipino counterpart who has been in continuous practice of intel10r design for at least 
15 
ten (10) years and whose competence and integrity have been established by the Board of 
16 
Interior Design on the basis of uniform standaTds contained in their IRR. 
17 
(c) The foreign and Filipino interior designers working jointly on a special project shall 
18 
divide the professional fees and other charges from said project equitably, according to 
19 
their participation in or professional services rendered to the project. Similarly, all 
20 
documentation expenses, taxes and other liabilities incurred on the shared project shall also be 
21 
borne equitably by both foreign and Filipino interior designers. 
22 
(d) Foreigners working jointly with Filipino interior designers shall sign contract~, 
23 
designs and other credits together with hislher Filipino counterpmi. Both foreign and Filipino 
24 
intelior designers shall at all times be acknowledged in all marketing and promotional materials 
25 
and reportorial compliance for the project, whether prepared and/or submitted locally or abroad. 
26 
All residual earnings shall also be equitably shared between foreign and local interior designers. 
27 
(e) Foreign design fin11s or individuals practicing in the Philippines before the 
28 
promulgation of this Act are required to comply with the requirements established by the Board 
29 
of Interior Design in its IRR within the timetable it stipulates therein. 
30 
(f) Any violation of these requirements or other illegal practices undertaken by either 
31 
foreign design firms or their Filipino counterparts shall be punishable by law and/or the IRR 
32 
issued by the Board ofInterior Design. 
33 
SEC. 31. Indication of Numbers: Certificate of Registration, Professional Tax Receipt 
34 
alld AIPO Membership.- The interior designer shall be required to indicate his/her certificate of 
35 
registration number and date of issuance, the expiry of his/her current professional identification 
12 


1 
card, the professional tax receipt number and its date of issuance, and his/her ArpO membership 
2 
number and date with official receipt number and date of membership payment (annualilifetime) 
3 
on all the documents he/she signs, uses or issues in connection with the practice of hisll1er 
4 
interior design profession. 
5 
6 
SEC. 32. Roster oj Interior Designers.- The Board shall prepare and maintain a roster of 
7 
the names, residence and/or office address of all registered interior designers which shall be 
8 
updated annually in cooperation with the ArpO, indicating therein the status of the certificate of 
9 
registration, professional identification card and AIPO membership, whether valid, delinquent, 
10 
suspended or surrendered or terminated due to death or other reasons. The said roster shall be 
11 
conspicuously posted within the premises of the Commission and the information therefrom 
12 
made available to the public upon inquiry or request. 
13 
14 
SEC. 33. Integration oj the Interior Designers.- The interior designers shall be 
15 
integrated into one (1) national organization of interior designers that is duly registered with 
16 
the SEC. The Board of Interior Design, subject to approval by the Commission, shall accredit 
17 
the said organization as the one and only Accredited and Integrated Professional Organization 
18 
(AIPO) of interior designers. All interior designers whose names appear in the Registry Book of 
19 
Interior Designers shall ipso Jacto or automatically become members thereof and shall receive 
20 
therefrom all the benefits and privileges due to members upon payment of AIPO membership 
21 
fees and dues. 
22 
Membership in other organizations of Interior Designers shall not be barred. 
23 
24 
25 
26 
ARTICLE V 
FINAL PROVISIONS 
27 
SEC. 34. Pellal Clause.- The following acts shall be punished by a fine of not less than 
28 
Three hundred thousand pesos (Php300,OOO.OO) but not more than One million pesos 
29 
(Phpl,OOO,OOO.OO) or imprisonment of not less than six (6) months but not more than three (3) 
30 
years, or both fine and imprisonment, at the discretion of the COUlt. 
31 
32 
(a) Local Practitioner. -
33 
(I) Practicing interior design, rendering work and consultations or rendering equivalent 
34 
services as interior designer as defined in this Act or using the title "Interior 
35 
Designer", "Interior Design Consultant", "Interior Design Stylist", or "Interior 
13 


1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
7 
8 
9 
10 
Design" or the official appendage title "IDr." in any srgnage, calling card, 
advertisement or any other mode of publicity without a valid certificate of registration 
and/or a valid professional identification card or a valid temporary/special permit; 
(2) Using or attempting to use the seal, certificate of registration and/or professional 
identification card of a registered interior designer or temporary/special permit issued 
to foreign professional; 
(3) Abetting the illegal practice of interior design by an unregistered or unauthorized 
person; and, 
(4) Impersonating a registered interior designer or a holder of a temporary/special permit; 
11 
(b) Foreign Practitioner/Firm. - The responsible officers of a foreign interior design fin11 
12 
and/or a foreigner who shall be found f,>uilty of illegally practicing the interior design profession 
13 
shall be penalized with a fine equivalent to thirty percent (30%) of their gross fees in addition to 
14 
payment of back taxes due to the Philippine government, if any, and imprisonment of not less 
15 
than six (6) months but not more than three (3) years, or both fine and imprisonment as well as 
16 
permanent ban from practice in the Philippines, at the discretion of the court. 
17 
18 
( c) Violation of any provision of this Act or the IRR thereof. 
19 
20 
SEC. 35. Civil Liability.- The Interior Designer shall assume full responsibility for the 
21 
contract work within one (1) year from the final acceptance by the Client and may be held 
22 
responsible for any damage or destruction of the works except those occasioned by force 
23 
majeure. The Interior Designer shall be fully responsible for the safety, protection, security 
24 
and convenience of his clients/user, personnel, third palties, and the public at large, as well 
25 
as the works, equipment installation and the like to be affected by his work. 
26 
The liability period for defects in the projects shall be one (1) year from final acceptance 
27 
by the Client. DUling this period, the Interior Designer shall undertake the repair works, at 
28 
his/her own expense, of any damage to the projects arising [rom his/her design and/or 
29 
specifications, within forty-five (45) days from the time the client has issued a notification of 
30 
the need to undertake repair. In case of failure or refusal to comply with this mandate, the 
31 
Client may undertake such repair works and shall be entitled to full reimbursement of 
32 
expenses incurred therein upon demand. 
33 
The failure of the responsible interior designer with the preceding paragraph shall be a 
34 
ground for administrative disciplinary action for which he/she can be held liable for suspension 
35 
or any appropriate penalty as may be deten11ined by the Board. 
14 


1 
2 
SEC. 36. EI1forcement.- The Commission shall implement the concerned provisions of 
3 
this Act, enforce the IRR as adopted by the Board, conduct investigations on complaints 
4 
including violations of the Code of Conduct of the profession and prosecute the same when so 
5 
warranted. 
6 
7 
SEC. 37. Appropriations.- The Chairperson of the PRC shall immediately include in the 
8 
Commission's program the implementation of this Act, the funding of which shall be included 
9 
in the annual General Appropriations Act. 
10 
11 
SEC. 38. Transitory Provisions.- The incumbent Chairman and members of the Board 
12 
shall, in an interim capacity, continue to function as such until the Chairman and members of the 
13 
new Board created under this Act shall have been appointed, constituted and/or organized 
14 
pursuant thereto. 
15 
16 
SEC. 39. Implementing Rules and Regulations.- The Board, with the approval of the 
17 
Commission, shall adopt and promulgate such implementing rules and regulations (IRR) it may 
18 
deem appropriate within ninety (90) days from its constitution. The same shall take effect after 
19 
fifteen days from its publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general 
20 
circulation in the country. 
21 
22 
SEC. 40. Separability Clause.- If any clause, provision, paragraph or part hereof shall be 
23 
declared unconstitutional or invalid, the same shall not affect, invalidate or impair any other paJi 
24 
hereof, aJ1d shall be merely confined to the clause, provision, paragraph or part directly involved 
25 
in the controversy in which such jUdgment has been rendered. 
26 
27 
SEC. 41. Repealing Clause - Republic Act No. 8534 is hereby repealed. All other laws, 
28 
decrees, executive orders and administrative issuances or parts thereof which are inconsistent 
29 
with the provisions of this Act are hereby modified, superseded and/or repealed accordingly. 
30 
31 
SEC. 42. Effectivity.- This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following its publication 
32 
in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation in the country. 
Approved, 
15