TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
) 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez and 
Representative Maximo B. Rodriguez, Jr. 
House Bill No.  3843 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Civil Engineering Law, Republic Act No. 544, which governs the practice of civil 
engineering in the Philippines, was last amended 54 years ago. 
Since then, the number of registered civil engineers has grown to over 130,000 today.  
A new role for the civil engineer has likewise evolved in the light of globalization and cross- 
border practice.   Whereas before the civil engineer was confined to the application of technical 
knowledge and skills in the successful implementation and completion of projects, the civil 
engineer is now confronted with a broader 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 in a manner that is environmentally sound, 
socially acceptable, and globally competitive. 
This Bill, therefore, seeks to achieve the following objectives: 
1. To attune the law to the needs for national development;
2. To strengthen the profession and enable the civil engineers to cope with the
formidable challenges brought about by globalization and cross-border practice;
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, and
c.
strengthening of the accredited professional organization of civil engineers;
4. To define more clearly the practice of civil engineering in the Philippines by foreign
nationals;
5. To make the law better serve and safeguard public interest by establishing a clear,
precise and practicable delineation of professional accountability in the civil
engineering practice.
In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this Bill is earnestly sought. 
 RUFUS B. RODRIGUEZ 
  MAXIMO B. RODRIGUEZ, JR. 
August 20, 2025
8:00 am


TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session  
 
) 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez and 
Representative Maximo B. Rodriguez, Jr. 
House Bill No.  3843 
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: 
SECTION 1.  Sections 4, 13, 16 and 19 of Republic Act No. 544, as amended, are hereby 
further amended to read as follows: 
“Section 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 advanced studies, research, 
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 
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 this 
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 
Highways and Communications issue] PROMULGATE such rules and 
regulations as may be deemed necessary to carry out the provisions of this 
act. THE CIVIL ENGINEERING CODE AND THE MANUAL OF 
PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE OF CIVIL ENGINEERS AS PREPARED BY 
THE ACCREDITED PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATION OF CIVIL 
ENGINEERS (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 PROJECT 
MANAGEMENT 
AND 
CONSTRUCTION 
ENGINEERING, 
ENVIRONMENTAL AND ENERGY ENGINEERING, GEOTECHNICAL 
ENGINEERING, STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING, TRANSPORTATION 
ENGINEERING, 
AND 
WATER 
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 IS AFFILIATED TO 
AND RECOGNIZED BY THE APOCE.  PROVIDED FINALLY, THAT 
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 ADDITION TO AND NOT REPLACING HIS CIVIL 
ENGINEER 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 PROVISIONS 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. ALL REGISTERED 
CIVIL ENGINEERS MUST REMAIN MEMBERS IN GOOD STANDING OF 
THE APOCE TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO PRACTICE THE 
PROFESSION.” 
 
“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 SPECIALIZATION ISSUED TO REGISTERED CIVIL 


ENGINEERS BY THE BOARD OR ACCREDITED PROFESSIONAL 
ORGANIZATION OF CIVIL ENGINEERS (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.” 
 
SECTION 2.  Separability Clause – Should any provision of this Act or any part thereof be 
declared invalid, the other provisions, so far as they are separable from the invalid ones, shall 
remain in full force of effect.    
 
SECTION 3.  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. 
 
SECTION 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,