FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC)
OF THE PHILIPPINES, )
First Regular Session }

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

4456

House Bill No.

Introduced by Rep. Aurelio “Dong” D. Gonzales Jr.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Civil Engineering Law, Republic Act No. 544, which governs the practice of Civil
Engineering in the Philippines, was last amended by RA 1582 about 55 years ago.

Since then, the number of registered civil engineers has grown to over 100,000. A
new role for the civil engineer has likewise evolved in the light of globalization, cross-
border practice and climate change. Whereas the civil engineer's role used to be
confined to the application of technical knowledge with a broad 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 asperts 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, with its proposed amendments of the law, secks to achieve the following
objectives:

1. Toattune the law to national development needs;

2. To strengthen the profession and enable civil engineers to cope with the
formidable challenges brought about by globalization, cross-border practice,
and climate change issues;

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 including research; and

¢. the strengthening of the accredited professional organization of civil
engineers;

As a licensed civil engineer who recognize the need for these important changes,
Lurge for the immediate passage of this proposed legislation

1D. GONZALES, JR.


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC}
OF THE PHILIPPINES, )
First Regular Session )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

House Bitl No._ 4456

Introduced by Rep. Aurelio “Dong” D. Gonzales Jr.

AN ACT
FURTHER AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 544, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE CIVIL
ENGINEERING LAW, AS AMENDED.

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

SECTION 1. Sections 2, 4, 13, 16 and 19 of Republic Act No. 544, as amended, are
hereby further amended to read as follows:

“Section 2. Definition of Terms

(a) The practice of civil engineering within the meaning and
intent of this Act shall embrace services in the form of consultation,
design, preparation of plans, specifications, estimates, erection,
installation and supervision of the construction af streets, bridges,
highways, railroads, airports and hangars, port works, canals, river
and shore improvements, lighthouses, and dry docks; buildings,
fixed structures for irrigation, flood protection, drainage, water
supply and sewerage works; demolition of permanent structures;
and tunnels. The enumeration of any work in this section shall not
be construed as excluding any other work requiring civil
engineering knowledge and application.

(b} The term “civil engineer” as used in this act shall mean a
person duly registered with the Board of Civil Engineers in the
manner as hereinafter provided.

(C) ACCREDITED PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATION OF CIVIL
ENGINEERS (APOCE) SHALL MEAN THE PHILIPPINE INSTITUTE OF
CIVIL ENGINEERS (PICE) WHICH IS THE OFFICIAL NATIONAL
ORGANIZATION OF ALL REGISTERED CIVIL ENGINEERS IN THE
PHILIPPINES AS ACCREDITED BY THE PROFESSIONAL REGULATION
COMMISSION.”


registered under this Act for advanced studies, research, and/or
highly specialized training in any branch of civit engineering, subject
to the approval of the Secretary of the Public Works and
HIGHWAYS[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 the 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 [Communications] HIGHWAYS [issue] PROMULGATE such rules
and regulations as may be deemed necessary to carry out the
provisions of this act. THE LATEST EDITION OF THE CIVIL
ENGINEERING CODE, THE MANUAL OF PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE
OF CIVIL ENGINEERS AS PREPARED BY THE 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
CONSTRUCTION = MANAGEMENT AND ENGINEERING,
ENVIROENERGY ENGINEERING, GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING,
STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING, TRANSPORTATION ENGINEERING,
AND WATER RESOURCES AND HYDRAULIC 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 1S AFFILIATED TO

ANIN DEFAGMITEN AY THE ADNEE  DeMANEN ciMAlty THAT


‘SPECIALIST 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 PROVISION 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.”

“Section 16. Refusal to Issue Certificate - The Board of Civil
Engineers shall not issue a certificate to any person convicted by a
court of a competent jurisdiction of any criminal offense involving
moral turpitude, or to any person guilty of immoral or dishonorable
conduct, or to any person of unsound mind. THE BOARD SHALL
NOT ISSUE A CERTIFICATE TO ANY PERSON WHO IS NOT A
MEMBER OF GOOD STANDING OF THE APOCE. In the event of a
refusal to issue a certificate to any person, the Board shall give to
the applicant a written statement setting forth its reson for such
action, which statement shall be incorporated in the records of the
Board.”

“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 SPECIAUZATION ISSUED TO REGISTERED CIVIL
ENGINEERS BY THE BOARD OR ACCREDITED PROFESSIONAL
ORGANIZATION FOR CIVIL ENGINEERING (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.”