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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO, 3884

Introduced by REP. EVELINA G.

;CUDERO.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

‘The Civil Engineering Law. Republic Act No. 544, which governs the pre
Engineering in the Philippines, was last amended 49 years ago.

tice of Civil

Since then, the number of registered civil engineers has grown to over 100,000 today. A new
role for the civil engineer has likewise evolved in the light of the globalization and cross-boarder
practice. Whereas before the civil engineer was confined to the application of technical knowledge
with a boarder 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 aspects of the
construction projects. ‘The civil engineer is constantly challenged to design and build developments
ina manner that is environmentally sound, socially acceptable, and globally competitive.

This bill, with its proposed amendments of the law, seeks to achieve the following objectives:

1. To attune the law to national development needs;
To strengthen the profession and enable civil engineers to cope with the formidable
challenges brought about by globalization and cross-boarder practice;
3. To continually upgrade the level of competence of the civil engineers through:
a. peer recognition of specialization in civil engineering;
b. continuous professional development; and
c. the strengthening of the accredited professional organization of civil engineers;

v

In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this proposed legislation is earnestly
sought



epublic of the Phill
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVE

‘TEENTH CONGRESS
irst Regular Session

3884

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by REP, EVELINA G. ESCUDERO

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

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

ECTION 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 of streets, bridges, highways, railroads, a ind hangars, port
works, canals, river and shore improvements, | 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 for Civil Engineers in the manner as hereinafter
provided,

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

ction 4. Powers and duties of the Board. - The Board of
Civil Engineers is vested with authority, conformable with the provisions of


this Act, to administer oaths, issue, suspend and revoke certificates of
registration for the practice of civil engineering, [issue certificates of
recognition to civil engineers already registered under this Act for advance
studi arch, and/or highly specialized training in any branch of civil
engineering, subject to the approval of the Secretary of the Public Works and
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 swdpoena 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, project 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 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 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,

CONTINUING — PROF!

ACCREDITED PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATION OF CIVIL
ENGINEERS (APOCE) BY THE PROFESSIONAL REGULATION
COMMISSION SHALL BE VESTED WITH AUTHORITY
z H THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ACT, TO
ISSUE A CERTIFIC: SIALIZATION TO A REGISTERED
CIVIL ENGINEER WHO HAS DEMONSTRATED HIS ADVANCE
KNOWLEDGE. EDUCATION, AND TRAINING IN A
RECOGNIZED BRANCH OF CIVIL ENGINEERING: PROVIDED,
THAT AT THE INITIAL EFFECTIVITY OF ACT, THE
SPECIALIZATION OF CONSTRUCTION MANAG! iT AND
N' RING, GEOTECHNICAL EN! RING, STRUCTURAL
EERING, TRANSPORTATION ENGINEERING, AND WATER
RESOUR¢ AND HYDRAULICS ENGINEERING SHALL BE SO
RECOGNIZED. PROVIDED FURTHER, OTHER SPECIALIZATION
MAY ADDITIONALLY BE RECOGNIZED BY THE APOCE.
SPECIALISTS IN EACH RECOGNIZED BRANCH MAY FORM A
SPECIALTY ORGANIZATION OF CIVIL ENGINE (soc
PROVIDED FURTHER THAT THIS SOCE IS AFFILIATED TO AND
RECOGNIZED BY THE APOCE. PROVIDED FINALLY, THERE IS
ONLY ONE SOCE FOR EACH RECOGNIZED BRANCH OF CIVIL



ENGINEERING, WITHOUT PREJUDICE TO MEMBERSHIP IN
OTHER VOLUNTARY PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS, THE
HOLDER OF SUCH CERTIFICATE OF SPECIALIZATION MAY USE
THE SPECIALIST TITLE IN THE SIGNING OF RELEVANT PLANS
AND DOCUM S.

1E APOCE SHALL HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO SUSPEND OR
A CERTIFICATE OF SPECIALIZATION PREVIOUSLY
ON GROUNDS OF VIOLATION OF ANY OF THE
SION OF 1 ACT.”

tion 13. Oath of Civil Engineers. ~ All successful candidates in the
examination shall be required to take a professional oath before the Board
Examiners of Civil Engineers or other government officials authorized to
administer oaths, prior to entering upon the practice of the civil engineering
profession, ALL REGISTERED 2 BERS SHALL ALSO
TAKE THEIR OATH S EMBERS OF THE ACCREDITED
PROPESSIONAL ORGANIZATION OF CIVIL ENGINEERS (APOCE)
AND SHALI OMPLY WITH ALL THEIR MEMBERSHIP
REQUIREMENT.

tion 16. Refusal to Issue Certificate — The Board of Examiners for 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, o 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 vent of a refusal to issue a certificate to any person, the
Board shall give to the applicant a written statement setting forth its reason 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. Cl CATES OF SPECIALIZATION ISSUED
TO REG D CIVIL R BY THE BOARD OR
ACCREDITED PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR CIVIL
ERING (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.”



SEC. 2. Repealing Clause. ~ All other laws, decrees, presidential issuances, proclamations,
and administrative regulations inconsistent with or contrary to the provisions of this Act are hereby
amended, modified or repealed accordingly, specifically. among others, Executive Order No, 495
dated 06 December 1992.

SEC. 3. Separability Clause, ~ In the &
or unconstitutional such declaration shall not af
Act.

cnt that any provision of this Act is declared void
the validity of the unaffected provisions of this

SEC. 4, Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its complete
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved.