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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
First Regular Session 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
                  House Bill No. 1630 
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Introduced by REP. JESUS MANUEL “BONG” C. SUNTAY 
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EXPLANATORY NOTE 
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The quality of public infrastructure is a reflection of the values, priorities, and 
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institutional capacity of the State. In the Philippines, the design and functionality of 
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government buildings, parks, schools, health centers, and urban spaces profoundly 
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influence citizen well-being, accessibility, climate resilience, and cultural identity. 
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Despite this, local government units (LGUs) often implement vertical infrastructure 
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projects without the direct guidance of professional architects. The lack of 
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institutionalized architectural capacity within LGUs has contributed to a pattern of 
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substandard, inefficient, and in some cases, unsafe public structures. This persistent 
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gap undermines the intent of key laws such as the Local Government Code of 1991 
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(RA 7160), the Accessibility Law (BP 344), and the National Building Code (PD 
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1096), which envision integrated, inclusive, and context-sensitive planning at the 
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local level. 
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This measure proposes the establishment of a Local Office on Architectural Planning 
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and Design (LOAPD) in every province, city, and municipality. The office shall be led 
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by a registered and licensed architect who shall serve as the principal adviser on 
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spatial and vertical planning, architectural policy integration, and public 
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infrastructure quality. 
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The bill draws from and supports the objectives of: 
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1. Article II, Section 9 of the 1987 Constitution, which affirms the State’s duty to
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promote a just and dynamic social order through improved quality of life;
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2. The Philippine Development Plan (PDP) and AmBisyon Natin 2040, which
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have long called for livable communities and inclusive urban development;
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3. The United Nations New Urban Agenda and Sustainable Development Goal
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(SDG) 11, which emphasize participatory, safe, and sustainable human
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settlements.
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Key features of this measure include: 
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1. Requiring the formulation of a Local Architecture and Design Framework Plan
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(LADFP) aligned with each LGU’s Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP) and
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Comprehensive Development Plan (CDP);
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2. Mandating the architect’s participation in BAC technical working groups to 
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ensure design integrity in procurement;
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3. Promoting the use of universal design principles for accessibility and inclusive
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public space;
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4. Institutionalizing public design audits, participatory workshops, and
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community-responsive planning processes;
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5. Establishing a Local Architecture Fund under the LDF to support capacity
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building and planning activities;
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6. Ensuring compliance and monitoring through DILG, PRC, and the United
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Architects of the Philippines (UAP).
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Far from adding bureaucracy, this measure enhances governance by embedding 
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professional design expertise in public planning and infrastructure delivery. It 
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promotes accountability, sustainability, and aesthetic integrity in the built 
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environment—critical elements of human development and institutional trust. 
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In enacting this measure, Congress affirms that good architecture is not 
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ornamental—it is foundational to good governance. By bridging the long-standing 
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institutional gap between technical capacity and public infrastructure demand, we 
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pave the way for more inclusive, resilient, and dignified communities across the 
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archipelago. 
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REP. JESUS MANUEL “BONG” C. SUNTAY 
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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
First Regular Session 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
                   House Bill No. 1630 
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Introduced by REP. JESUS MANUEL “BONG” C. SUNTAY 
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AN ACT 
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MANDATING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN OFFICE ON 
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ARCHITECTURAL PLANNING AND DESIGN IN ALL PROVINCES, 
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CITIES, AND MUNICIPALITIES, DEFINING ITS FUNCTIONS, 
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PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
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Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
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Congress assembled: 
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SECTION 1. Short Title. 
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This Act shall be known as the “Local Architecture and Design Governance 
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Act.” 
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SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. 
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It is hereby declared the policy of the State to promote sustainable, inclusive, and 
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resilient built environments through architecture and design. The State recognizes the 
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essential role of professional architects in public planning and mandates the 
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institutionalization of Architectural Planning and Design Offices in all local 
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government units (LGUs). 
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SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. 
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For the purpose of this Act: 
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(a) Architect – A registered and licensed professional as defined under R.A. No.
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9266;
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(b) Public Architecture – Design and planning of public buildings, spaces, and
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facilities;
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(c) Universal Design – A design approach that ensures accessibility and usability by
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all persons regardless of ability;
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(d) Local Architecture and Design Framework Plan (LADFP) – A strategic document
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that guides the architecture and design priorities of an LGU over a three-year period,
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aligned with the CLUP and CDP.
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SECTION 4. Creation of Local Office of the Architect. 
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Every province, city, and municipality shall create a Local Office on Architectural 
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Planning and Design (LOAPD) headed by a licensed architect with the rank of 
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Department Head. LGUs shall ensure that the position is funded, classified, and 
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included in their plantilla within two (2) years from the effectivity of this Act. 
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SECTION 5. Qualifications. 
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The appointed Architect shall: 
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Be a Filipino citizen and a registered architect under R.A. 9266; 
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Have at least five (5) years of relevant experience in planning, design, or 
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public works; 
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Possess managerial or supervisory competence as determined by the CSC and 
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PRC; 
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Not have been convicted of any crime involving moral turpitude. 
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SECTION 6. Functions and Responsibilities. 
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The LOAPD shall: 
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(a) Formulate and update the Local Architecture and Design Framework Plan 
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(LADFP) every three years; 
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(b) Advise the LGU on all public architecture, vertical infrastructure, building codes, 
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and spatial planning; 
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(c) Participate in the preparation of the Annual Investment Program (AIP) and Local 
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Development Plan; 
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(d) Certify compliance with BP 344 and Universal Design for public infrastructure; 
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(e) Represent the LGU in TWGs and BACs for all building-related procurement; 
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(f) Conduct Design with the People Workshops for participatory public design; 
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(g) Lead the architectural audit of existing public facilities every five (5) years; 
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(h) Coordinate with national agencies (DPWH, NHCP, HUDCC, etc.) on matters of 
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cultural heritage, climate resilience, and urban design. 
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SECTION 7. Creation of Position of Building Official. 
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All LGUs shall maintain a separate position for the Building Official, distinct from the 
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Local Architect, with clear delineation of responsibilities in accordance with the 
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National Building Code and R.A. No. 9266. Guidelines on plantilla creation and 
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qualification standards shall be issued jointly by the CSC and DILG within six (6) 
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months. 
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SECTION 8. Design Integration at the Barangay Level. 
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Cities and municipalities shall assign licensed architects on a barangay cluster basis to 
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provide design support for community halls, parks, day care centers, evacuation 
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centers, and other small-scale facilities. 
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SECTION 9. Architect’s Role in Public Procurement. 
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The LGU Architect shall be mandatorily included in all Bids and Awards Committee 
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(BAC) TWGs where architectural design, construction, or building services are 
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involved. No vertical infrastructure project may proceed without their written design 
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concurrence. 
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SECTION 10. Funding and Local Architecture Fund. 
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There is hereby created a Local Architecture Fund (LAF) under the Local Development 
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Fund (LDF), to be used exclusively for: 
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Hiring and capacity-building of the architect and support staff; 
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Preparation of the LADFP and architectural audits; 
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Engagement of design consultants and heritage experts; 
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Conduct of public design workshops. 
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Initial funding shall be sourced from the LGU’s current appropriations and shall be 
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supplemented by the national government through the General Appropriations Act 
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(GAA). 
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SECTION 11. National Monitoring and Reporting. 
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The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), in coordination with 
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the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) and the United Architects of the 
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Philippines (UAP), shall monitor compliance, collect implementation data, and submit 
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a consolidated report to Congress every year. 
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All LGUs shall submit annual reports including: 
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Updated LADFP; 
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Architectural program accomplishments; 
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Design audits conducted; 
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Public engagement activities; 
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Budget utilization. 
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SECTION 12. Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR). 
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Within ninety (90) days from the effectivity of this Act, the DILG, PRC, CSC, and UAP 
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shall convene a Technical Working Group to formulate the IRR, subject to public 
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consultation. 
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SECTION 13. Separability Clause. 
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If any provision of this Act is declared invalid or unconstitutional, the remainder shall 
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not be affected. 
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SECTION 14. Repealing Clause. 
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All laws, decrees, executive orders, and rules inconsistent with this Act are hereby 
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repealed or amended accordingly. 
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SECTION 15. Effectivity. 
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This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after publication in the Official Gazette or a 
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newspaper of general circulation. 
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Approved,  
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