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FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE } 
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REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
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First Regular Session 
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S. No. 
2008 
Introduced by Senator FRANCIS G. ESCUDERO 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Public Welfare and Proper Plumbing System are the concern of all. 
These are underscored in the plumbing works of buildings. It is necessary 
that plumbing design and installation be undertaken by people with 
adequate academic and technical background in accordance with sound 
engineering practice and generally accepted standards. 
Some forty years ago, 1955, Congress enacted R.A. 1378, otherwise 
known as the Plumbing Law, which regulates the trade of master plumbers. 
High School graduates with five years plumbing experience used to 
dominate the trade. With the advent of high rise buildings their numbers 
are dwindling but sustaining. Master Plumbers with engineering expertise 
are coming about. 
Since then the law has become outmoded with 
provisions that do not harmonize with the times: To date the practice of 
plumbing is still considered a trade, although the act of plumbing works has 
become more complex with the emergence and expansion of all types of 
buildings design and construction, coupled by the trend of urbanization, the 
proliferation of 
urban centers, and the subsequent complexity of 
architectural and engineering works these all the more spell out the demand 
for plumbing engineer. 
The burgeoning plumbing industry dramatizes the need for the 
participation of Plumbing Engineers with good academic background in 
engineering to cope up with the new technology required. The time has 
come, after two scores to upgrade the plumbing profession. R.A. 1378 must 
give way to a new law for Plumbing Engineers. Plumbing Engineering must 
be accorded professional acceptance and recognition. 
Section 1 (B), Item (15) of R.A. 6511, An Act Amending Republic Act 
465, An Act to Standardize the Examination and Registration Fees charged 
by the National Examining Boards, and the other purposes, provide and 
lists down the Profession of Plumbing Engineers as a preparation for the 
regulation of the profession. For this reason, registered engineers who are 
holders of Master Plumbers Certificate have responded to the call of the 
times and bonded themselves together under one roof, the Philippine 
Institute of Plumbing Engineers (PIPE). Their move was backed up by 
colleges and universities who recognized the importance of plumbing 


engineering by offering it as a distinct course. Congress has to come up 
with the law to elevate the plumbing trade to one of professional engineering 
and in the interest of public welfare. 
Approval of this bill is urgently requested. 


FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE } 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
} 
First Regular Session 
1 
S E N A T E  
S. No. 
2008 
Introduced by Senator FRANCIS G. ESCUDERO 
AN ACT REGULATING THE PRACTICE 
OF PLUMBING ENGINEERING 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
Be it enacted by SENATE and HOUSE OF REPRESENTATWES of the 
Philippines in Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Title - This Act shall be known as the "Philippine 
Plumbing Engineering Act". 
SECTION 2. Definition of Terms: 
(a) 
Practice of Plumbing Engineering - The practice of Plumbing 
Engineering is a professional and organized act of gathering 
physical data for an effective performance in the design and 
installation of plumbing systems of buildings and other 
structures. It shall embrace services, but not limited, to the 
following activities: 
(1) 
Consultations, 
designing, 
preparation 
of 
plans, 
specifications, estimates, erection, installation and 
supervision of plumbing work including the inspection 
and acceptance of materials used therein in connection 
with any of the following: 
a. Storm Drainage Piping Systems; 
b. Soil Waste and Vent Piping Systems; 
c. Hot and Cold Water Supply Piping System; 
d. Private Sewage Disposal Systems; and 
e. All other related p@ing installation within the building. 
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Extension, alteration and modifications of all pipings for 
furtures, equipment, appliances, and appurtenances in 
connection with any of the above scope. 
The enumeration of sub-section (1) and (2) above, shall 
not be construed as excluding any other work requiring 
plumbing knowledge and application. 
Engagement in the transfer of the knowledge and 
technology of plumbing engineering in any institution of 
learning; 
SECTION 3. Creation and Composition of the Board of Plumbing 
Engineering - There is hereby created a Board of Plumbing Engineering, 
hereinafter called the Board, to be composed of a chairman and two (2) 
members to be appointed by the President of the Philippines from a list of 
three (3) recomendees of the Professional Regulation Commission, 
hereinafter called the commission for each position, chosen in rank in the 
order of preference and from the list of five (5) nominees for each position 
submitted by the accredited Integrated National Organization of Plumbing 
Engineers and Master Plumbers. The first set of nominees for the first 
composition may be submitted by the present association of Plumbing 
Engineers unless the integrated shall have been set up for the purpose. The 
first composition shall be organized not later than six (6) months from the 
effectivity of this Act. 
SECTION 4. Qualifications of Members of the Board - A member 
of the Board shall at the time of his/her appointment, possess the following 
qualifications: 
Natural born citizen and resident of the Philippines; 
Must be at least forty (40) years of age; 
Must be a Plumbing Engineer holding a valid Certijicate of 
Registration and a valid Professional License as a Plumbing 
Engineer having a degree of Bachelor of Science in Engineering 
and 
an active practitioner in Master Plumber/Plumbing 
Engineerkg for not less than ten (1 0) years prior to appointment; 
Must not be a member of the faculty of any school, academy, 
institute, college or university where a regular course in Plumbing 
Engineering is being taught, nor have pecuniary interest in or 
administrative supervision over any such institution of learning; 
Must not, for a period of three (3) consecutive years prior to 
appointment, be connected with a review center or with any group 
or m y  association where review classes or lectures in preparation 
for the licensure examination are offered or conducted at the time 
of appointment; and 
d 


Ifl 
Must not have been convicted of any offense involving moral 
turpitude. 
SECTION 5. Term of Office - The members of the Board shall hold 
office for a term of three (3) years and until their successors shall have been 
appointed and qualified. Of the members of the Board first appointed under 
this Act, one (1) member shall be appointed and hold office for three (3) 
years; and one (1) member for two (2) years, one (1) member for one year. 
The Chairman or member of the Board may be re-appointed for 
another term but in no case shall he serve continuously for more than six 
(6) years. Each member of the Board shall qualify by taking the proper oath 
of office prior to the assumption in the performance of duties. 
Any vacancy occurring in the membership of the board within the 
term of a member shall be filled for the unexpired portion of the term only. 
SECTION 6. Compensation of the Board Members - The Chairman 
and members of the Board shall receive compensation and allowances 
comparable to the compensation and allowances received by existing 
Professional Regulatory Boards with Professional Regulation Commission 
(PRC), hereinafter referred to as the Commission, as provided for in the 
General Appropriations Act. 
SECTION 7. 
Vacancy and Removal of Board Members - Any 
vacancy occurring in the membership of the Board within the term of a 
member shall be filled for the unexpired portion of the term only. The 
President may remove any member of the Board, upon the recommendation 
of the Commission, on the following grounds: 
(a) 
(b) 
(c) 
Neglect of duty or incompetence; 
Violation or tolerance of the violation of this Act or the Code 
of Ethics or Technical Standards for Plumbing Engineers; 
Final judgment of a crime involving moral turpitude. 
He/She shall be given due notice and hearing where his/her right to 
be heard and to defend him/ herself, assisted by counsel, shall be respected 
in a proper administrative investigation the commission shall conduct. 
SECTION 8. 
Powers and Duties of the Boarb - The Board shall 
exercise the following specific powers, functions, duties and responsibilities: 
(a) To promulgate and adopt the rules and regulations 
necessary for carrying out the provisions of this Act; 
(b) To supervise the examination, registration, licensure and 
practice of Plumbing Engineering and Master Plumbing in the 
Philippines; 
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To administer oaths in connection with the successful 
examinees entering the practice of Plumbing Engineering and 
Master Plumbing; 
To issue the CertQcate of Registration to successful 
examinees; 
To issue, suspend, revoke, or reinstate the Certificate of 
Registration and Professional License for the practice of the 
Plumbing Engineering profession; 
To adopt an official seal of the Board; 
To look into the conditions affecting the practice of the 
professions and whenever necessa y, adopt such measures 
as may be deemed proper for the enhancement and 
maintenance of high professional and ethical standards of 
the professions; 
To ensure, in coordination m'th the Commission on Higher 
Education (CHED), that all educational institutions offering 
Plumbing Engineering education comply with the policies, 
standards and requirements of the course prescribed by 
CHED in the areas of curriculum, faculty, library and 
facilities; 
To prescribed and/or adopt a Code of Ethics and a Code of 
Technical Standards for the practice of the Plumbing 
Engineering professions; 
To hear and try administrative cases involving violations of 
this Act, its implementing rules and regulations, the Code of 
Ethics / Technical Standards and for the purpose, to issue 
subpoena and subpoena duces tecum to secure the 
appearances of witnesses and the production of documents 
in connection therewith; 
To prescribe guidelines for the Continuing Professional 
Education (CPE) program in coordination with the accredited 
integrated National Association of Professional Plumbing 
Engineers; 
To prepare, adopt issue or amend the syllabi of the subjects 
for examination. 
(m) To approve, issue, limit or revoke temporary special permit 
license to practice Plumbing Engineering; 
(n) Discharge such other duties and functions as may be 
deemed necessary for the enhancement of the Plumbing 
Engineering professions and the upgrading, development 
and growth of Plumbing Engineering education in the 
Philippines; 
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SECTION 9. Supervision of the Board, Custodian of its Records, 
Secretariat and Support Services - The Board shall be under the 
administrative supervision of the Commission. All records of the Board, 
including the application for examination, examination papers and results, 
minutes of deliberation, administrative cases and other investigations 
involving Plumbing Engineers shall be kept by the Commission. 
The Commission shall designate the Secretary of the Board and shall 
provide the secretariat and other support services to implement the 
provisions of this Act. 
SECTION 10. Annual Relport - The Board shall, at the close of each 
calendar year, submit an annual report to the President of the Philippines 
through the Professional Regulation Commission, giving detailed account of 
its recommendation for the adoption of measures that will upgrade and 
improve the conditions affecting the practice of Plumbing Engineering in the 
Philippines. 
SECTION 11. 
Examinations Required - All applicants for 
registration for the practice of Plumbing Engineering shall be required to 
undergo and pass a written technical examination provided for in this Act. 
SEC~XON 12. 
Qualifications of Applicant for Plumbing 
Engineering Examination - Every applicant for Plumbing Engineer 
examination shall establish the following: 
He/she is a citizen of the Philippines or a foreigner whose country 
state has reciprocity with the Philippines in the practice of the 
profession; 
Of Good Moral Character and; 
Within five yeas upori approval of this Act, a graduate of any BS 
degree in Engineering or Architecture may qualqy for the 
examination provided. 
That he/she is a graduate of Bachelor of Science in Plumbing 
Engineering in a school, academy, institute or college duly 
recognized by the Government. 
SECTION 13. Fraudulent Application - The Board may suspend or 
revoke a Certificate of Registration obtained through misrepresentation 
made in the application for examination. 
SECTION 14. 
Scope of Examinations - The examination for 
Plumbing Engineering shall basically cover the following subjects: 
a. 
Mathematics; 
b. 
Theory and Practice of Plumbing 


c. 
Hydraulic and Plumbing Principles 
d, 
e. 
Plumbing Design and Installation 
f. 
g. 
The said subjects and their syllabi maybe amended by the Board so 
as to conform to technological changes brought about by continuing trends 
in the profession. 
Plumbing Laws and National Codes 
Laws on Obligations and Contracts; 
Code of Ethics of the Profession 
SECTION 15. 
Rating in the Board Examination - To be qualified 
as having passed the board examination for Plumbing Engineers, a 
candidate must obtained a weighted general average of seventy (70%) with 
no grade lower than fifty-five percent (55%) in any given subject must take 
the examination in the subject or subjects where he/she obtained a grade 
below fifty-five percent (55Yo). 
SECTION 16. 
Report of Ratings - The board shall submit to the 
commission the rating obtained by each candidate within twenty (20) 
calendar days after the examination, unless extended for just cause. Upon 
the release of the results of the examination, the board shall send by mail 
the rating received by each examinee at his given address using the mailing 
envelope submitted during the examination. 
SECTION 17. 
Re - examination - An applicant who fails to pass 
the examination for the third time shall be allowed to take another 
examination only after the lapse of one year. 
SECTION 18. Oath - All successful candidates in the examinations 
shall be required to take an oath of profession before the Board or any PRC 
Official authorized by the PRC to administer oaths, prior to entering upon 
the practice of the Plumbing Engineering profession. 
SECTION 19. Certificate of Registration and Professional License 
- A Certificate of Registration' shall be issued to applicants who pass the 
examination for Plumbing Engineers subject to payment of registration fees. 
The Certificate of Registration of a Professional Plumbing Engineer 
shall bear the signatures of the Chairman of the Board and its member 
attested by the Secretary of the Professional Regulation Commission and 
stamped with the official seal of the Board indicating that the person named 
therein is a registered Plumbing Engineer. 
A professional license bearing the registration number, date of 
issuance, expiry date and duly signed by the Chairman of the Board, shall 
likewise be issued to every registrant, upon payment of the professional 
fees. No person shall practice Plumbing Engineering in the manner contrary 
to herein provided. A license is entitled to practice the profession with all 
the privileges appurtenant thereto until the expiration of the validity of his 
license. 
SECTION 20. Seal and Use of Seal - (a) Each registrant shall, upon 
registration, obtain the seal of such design as the Board of Plumbing 


Engineering may adopt. Plans and specifications prepared by, or under the 
direct supervision of a registered Plumbing Engineer, shall be stamped with 
said seal during the validity of the professional license. NO person shall 
stamp or seal any document with the seal .of a registrant after his 
professional license has expired, lost its validity, unless he has been 
reinstated at the practice and/or unless his license has been renewed. 
fb) 
No officer or employee of the government, chartered cities, 
provinces and munic@alities now or hereafter charged with 
the enforcement of laws, ordinances or regulations relating 
to all Plumbing Engineering practices shall accept or 
endorse any plumbing plans or documents which have not 
been prepared and submitted in f i l l  accord with the 
provisions of this Act, nor shall any payment be approved 
by any such officer for any work, the plans and documents 
of which have not been prepared, signed and sealed by a 
duly licensed Plumbing Engineer. 
No Plumbing Engineer shall sign his name, af@ his seal or 
use any other method of signature on plans, specifications 
or other documents made by under another Plumbing 
Engineer’s supervision unless the same is made in such 
manner as to clearly indicate the part of such work actually 
performed by him; and no person, except the Plumbing 
Engineer in charge, shall sign for any branch of work or 
any function of Plumbing Engineering practice not actually 
performed by him. The Plumbing Engineer in-charge shall 
be fully responsible for all plans, specifications and other 
documents issued under his seal or authorized signature. 
The Board shall formulate, adopt and promulgate all necessary rules 
and regulations for the effective implementation of the provisions relating to 
the design of the seal, the signing and sealing of drawings, specifications, 
reports and other documents by Plumbing Engineers. 
(d) 
Plans and documents duly signed, stamped or sealed as 
instruments of service are the property and documents of 
the Plumbing Engineer. 
SECTION 21. Indication of License and Professional Tax Receipt 
- The Plumbing Engineer shall be required to indicate his professional 
license number, the duration of validity, including the professional tax 
receipt number and the official receipt number of the payment of his/her 
annual dues with the duly accredited organization on the documents he 
signs, uses in connection with the practice of his profession. 
SECTION 22. Grounds for Suspension and Revocation of License, 
Cancellation of Temporary / Special Permit - The Board shall have the 
power, upon due notice and hearing, to revoke or suspend the license of a 
Plumbing Engineer, or to cancel a temporary / special permit for any cause 
specified in the proceeding section, including but not limited to: 


The use or perpetration of any fraud deceit in obtaining a 
certificate of registration; 
For incompetence, negligence, or for abatement of the illegal 
practice of Plumbing Engineering; 
Violation of the provisions of this Act, its implementing rules and 
regulations and/or violation of the policies of the Board including 
the Code of Ethics for Plumbing Engineers. 
Provided, however, that such action of the Board shall, be subject to 
appeal to the Commission, within fifteen (15) days from written notice. 
SECTION 23. 
Vested Rights: Automatic Registration of 
Practicing Registered Master Plumbers 1 Plumbing Engineers - All 
practicing Master Plumbers / Plumbing Engineers who are registered at the 
time this Act takes effect shall automatically be registered. 
As per 
qualification enumerated in Sec. 30 sub-section (c). 
SECTION 24. Practice Not Allowed for Firms and Corporations - 
The practice of Plumbing Engineering is a professional service, admission to 
which shall be determined upon the basis of an individual's personal 
qualifications, for which the Plumbing Engineer is responsible for the 
correctness of the plumbing work. 
No firm, company, partnership, association or corporation may be 
registered or licensed as such for the practice of Plumbing Engineering. 
Provided, however, that persons properly registered and licensed as 
Plumbing Engineering may among themselves or with a person or persons 
properly registered and licensed as Plumbing Engineer may form and obtain 
registration with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) of a firm, 
partnership or association using the term "Plumbing Engineer", but nobody 
shall be a member, partner or associate unless he is a duly registered and 
licensed Plumbing Engineer, and the members who are Plumbing Engineers 
shall only render work and services proper for a Plumbing Engineers as 
defined in this Act. 
SECTION 25. 
Integration of Membership To One National 
Organization - Upon registration with the Board, the Registered Plumbing 
Engineers shall be integrated to one National Organization in accordance 
with the Rules of Integration adopted by the Supreme Court in integrating 
the members of the Philippine Bar. The members shall receive the benefits 
and privileges appurtenance thereto. Those who have been registered with 
the Board but not yet a member of the accredited organization at the time of 
the effectivity of this act, shall be allowed to register as member of the said 
organization within three(3) years after the effectivity of this act. 
SECTION 26. Foreign Reciprocity - No foreign Plumbing Engineer 
shall be issued a temporary license to practice the Plumbing Engineer shall 
be issued a temporary license to practice the Plumbing Engineering 
profession or consultancy thereof or be entitled to any of the rights and 
privileges under this Act unless the country of which he is a subject or 


citizen specifically permits Filipino Plumbing Engineers to practice within its 
territorial limits on the same basis as the subjects or citizens or such 
foreign state or country. 
ARTICLE VI 
GENERAL PROVISIONS 
SECTION 27. 
Implementing Rules and Regulations - Subject to 
the approval of the Commission, the Board shall adopt and promulgate 
such rules and regulations, including the Code of Ethics for Plumbing 
Engineers to carry out the provisions of this Act, which shall be effective 
after thirty (30) days following their full publication in the Official Gazette or 
in a major daily newspaper of general circulation. 
SECTION 28. Funding - Such sums as may be necessary to carry 
out the provisions of this Act shall be included in the General 
Appropriations Act of the year following its enactment into law and 
thereafter. Provided, however, that fifty percent (50%) of the fees derived 
from examination, registration and licenses shall be utilized by the Board of 
defray its administrative and other operational expenses, including the 
enhancement of the Plumbing Engineering profession. 
SECTION 29. 
Enforcement - The Professional Regulation 
Commission shall be the enforcement agency of the Board. As such, enforce 
its implementing rules and regulations as adopted by the Board, conduct 
investigations upon complaints, including violations of the Code of Conduct 
of the profession and prosecute when so warranted. 
SECTION 30. 
Transitory Provisions - (a) The existing Board of 
Master Plumbing shall continue to function in the interim until time as the 
new Board shall be duly constituted pursuant to this Act. 
(b) 
Examination for Master Plumber shall cease to be 
conducted upon effectivity of this Act. 
(c) 
Certificate of Registration without Examination shall be 
issued within a grace period of two (2) years by the Board 
first constituted to applicant W h o  meet the qualifications 
and requirements enumerated hereunder: 
(dl 
Registered Master Plumber to Professional Plumbing 
Engineer: 
d.a That he is a citizen of the Philippines and at least twenty 
d.b That he is of good moral character; 
d.c That he is aphysically and mentally healthy; 
d.d That he is a registered and licensed Master Plumber at 
the same time he is registered and licensed engineer and 
architect; 
one (21) years old; 
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d.e That he is a registered and licensed Master Plumber with 
at least two (2) years of college in Engineering and 
Architecture, two (2) years of plumbing experience 
acceptable to the Board; or 
d. f That he is a registered and licensed Master Plumber with 
at least three (3) years of college in Engineering or 
Architecture and one (I) year experience acceptable to the 
Board; or 
d.g That he is a registered and licensed Master Plumber with 
at least four (4) years experience in plumbing acceptable 
to the Board; or 
d.h That he is a registered and licensed Master Plumber with 
at least two (2) years plumbing experience and CPE units 
earned as prescribed by the CPE Council and approved 
by the Board; 
d.i That he is a registered and licensed Master Plumber with 
a combination of college work, plumbing experience and 
CPE units earned as shall be prescribed and approved by 
the Board. 
(e) 
A registered and licensed Master Plumber who does not 
qualify for automatic registration for Plumbing Engineer as 
provided for in the preceding paragraph (d), sub-section 
(c.c), Section 30, Article VI are therefore required to take the 
Bachelor Science in Plumbing Engineering course to qualify 
for the Plumbing Engineering examination. 
SECTION 31. 
Penalties - In addition to the administrative 
sanctions, any of the provisions of this Act, upon conviction, be penalized by 
a fine of not less than Fifty thousand pesos (@ 50,000.00) nor more than 
Two hundred thousand pesos (9 200,000.00) or imprisonment of not less 
than six (6) years, or both such fine and imprisonment, at the discretion of 
the court. 
SECTION 32. 
Separability Clause - If any clause, provision, 
paragraph or part hereof shall be declared unconstitutional or invalid, such 
judgment shall not affect, invalidate or impair any other part thereof, but 
such judgment shall merely be confined to the clause, provision, paragraph 
or part directly involved in the controversy upon which such judgment has 
been rendered. 
SECTION 33. Repealing Clause - Republic Act No. 1378 is hereby 
repealed. All other laws, decrees, National Codes, executives orders, letter 
of instructions and other administrative issuances and parts thereof which 
are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby modified, 
suspended or repealed accordingly. 
Effectivity - This act shall take effect fifteen (15) 
days following its publication in full in the Official Gazette or major daily 
newspaper of general circulation in the Philippines, whichever is earlier. 
SECTION 34. 
Approved,