FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
) 
SENATE 
S. No. 2042 
Introduced by Senator JUAN MIGUEL F. ZUBlRl 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The enactment into law of Republic Act Number 8534, otherwise known 
as the “The Philippine Interior Design Act of 1998 was a welcome development 
in the practice of interior design in the Philippines. RA No. 8534 recognized the 
vital role of the interior design profession in the promotion of national interest and 
regarded the same as a full-pledged profession vital to the building and 
construction industry. However, the law was unsuccessful to institute policies 
and regulatory measures to protect the interests of the Filipino professionals. 
And ten years after the law’s passage, a lot of developments both in the 
local and international arenas have happened. Some of these developments 
pose serious problems and may have undermined the practice of interior design 
in the country and placed the professional Interior Designers in the Philippines at 
the losing end vis-a-vis the foreign practitioners and even Filipinos who posed as 
interior designers without the appropriate licenses and certifications. 
The country’s adoption of the General Agreement on Trade in 
Professional Services (GATS) has had a tremendous effect in the practice of the 
interior design profession. For one, the widespread influx of large foreign firms 
and foreign designers and consultants in the design and construction arena, has 
reduced the local designers competitive edge. 
This bill seeks to regulate and modernize the practice of interior design in 
the Philippines to become at par with the international standards and at the same 
time, provide safety nets for the practice of the profession against foreign 
practitioners and those engaged in illegal practice. 
Thus, approval of this bill is earnestly requested. 
JUAN MIGUEL F. ZUBIRI 


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FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLlC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
) 
SENATE 
S. No. 2042 
~ 
~ 
~~ 
~ 
Introduced by Senator JUAN MIGUEL F. ZUBIRI 
AN ACT 
TO REGULATE AND MODERNIZE THE PRACTICE OF INTERIOR DESIGN IN 
THE PHILIPPINES, REPEALING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT 
NUMBER 8534, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS "THE PHILIPPINE INTERIOR 
DESIGN ACT OF 1998", APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR 
OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines 
in Congress assembled: 
ARTICLE I 
TITLE, POLICY, OBJECTIVES, DEFINITION OF TERMS 
AND SCOPE OF PRACTICE 
SECTION 1. Title. -This Act shall be known as the "The Philippine Interior 
Design Act of 2008". 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - The State recognizes the important 
role of the interior design profession in nation-building. Towards this end, the 
State shall promote the sustained development of professional interior designers, 
whose technical competencies have been determined by honest and credible 
licensure examinations and whose standards of professional service and practice 
are internationally recognized and considered globally competitive, brought about 
by regulatory measures and human resource programs and activities that foster 
their professional growth and advancement. 
SECTION 3. Objectives. -- This Act provides for and shall govern: 
(a) The examination, registration and licensure of professional interior 
designers; 
(b) The supervision, control and regulation of the practice of interior design; 
(c) The development of the professional competence of interior designers 
through continuing professional education (CPE); and 
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(d) The integration of the interior design profession. 
SECTION 4. Definifion 
of Terms. - For the purpose of this Act, the 
following terms are hereby defined: 
(a) Interior Design - is the science and act of planning, specifying, selecting 
and organizing the surface finishes and materials including furniture, 
furnishings and fixtures and other items of decor of an architectural 
interior for the purpose of the space allocations to suit, enhance and meet 
the intended function, movement and character for which the interior of 
the building is designed. 
(b) Professional Interior Designer - refers to a natural person who holds a 
valid certificate of registration and a valid professional identification card 
issued by the Board and the Commission pursuant to this Act. 
SECTION 5. Scope of the Professional Practice of Inferior Design. - The 
practice of interior design is the act of planning, designing, specifying, 
supervising and giving general administration and responsible direction to the 
functional, orderly and aesthetic arrangement and development of interior 
spaces. It shall include, but not limited to the following activities: 
(a) Consultation, advice, direction, evaluation, budgetary estimates and 
(b) Schematic interior designs, design development, professional contract 
appraisals; 
documents and programrning of construction phases; 
(c) Preparation of interior design plans, design drawings, interior construction 
(d) Interior construction administration, supervision coordination of alteration, 
details, and technical specifications; 
preservation or restoration of interior spaces; 
(e) The practice of interior design shall also include all other works, projects 
and activities which require the professional competence of the interior 
designer, including teaching of interior design subjects. The Board, subject 
to approval by the Commission, may revise, exclude from, or add to, the 
above enumerated acts or activities as the need arises to conform to the 
latest trend in the practice of interior design. 
ACTICLE II 
THE PROFESSIONAL REGULATORY BOARD OF INTERIOR DESIGN 
SECTION 6. Creation and Composition of the Board of Interior Design. - 
There is hereby created a Professional Regulatory Board of Interior Design, 
hereinafter called the Board, under the administrative control and supervision of 
the Professional Regulation Commission, hereinafter referred to as the 
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Commission, to be composed of a chairman and two (2) members, to be 
appointed by the President of the Philippines, from a list of two (2) 
recommendees for each position submitted by the Commission, from a list of 
three (3) nominees for each position recommended by the duly accredited 
organization of interior designers. The new board shall be created within six (6) 
months from the effectivity of this Act. 
SECTION 7. Qualifications of the Chairman and Members. - The 
chairman and members of the Board shall, at the time of their appointment, 
possess the following qualifications: 
(a) Must be a citizen and resident of the Philippines; 
(b) Must be a holder of Bachelor's degree in Interior Design or Bachelor in 
Interior Design or Bachelor of Fine Arts major in Interior Design, conferred 
by a school, academy, college or university in the Philippines or abroad 
that is recognized and/or accredited by the Philippine government; 
(c) Must be a registered interior designer with a valid certificate of registration 
and professional identification card and an active practitioner of interior 
design for not less than ten ( I O )  years prior to appointment; 
(d) Must not be a member of the faculty of any school, where a regular course 
in Interior Design is being taught, nor have pecuniary interest in, or 
administrative supervision over any such institution of learning; 
(e) Must not be connected with a review center or with any group giving 
review classes or lectures in preparation for the licensure examination; 
(f) Must be a member in good standing of the duly accredited professional 
organization of interior designers but not a trustee or officer thereof. 
(9) Has never been convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude, or a civil 
and/or criminal offense. 
SECTION 8. Term of Office. - The members of the Board shall hold office 
for a term of three (3) years from the date of appointment or until their 
successors shall have been appointed and qualified. They may be reappointed 
for another term of three (3) years immediately upon the expiration of their term 
but not to exceed six years. 
Of the members to be appointed for the first Board under this Act, one (1) 
member shall hold office as Chairman for the (3) years; one (1) member for two 
(2) years; and one (1) member for one (1) year. Each member of the Board shall 
take the proper oath prior to assumption of duty. 
SECTION 9. Compensation of the Board Members. - The chairman and 
members of the Board shall receive compensation and allowances comparable 
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to the compensation and allowances received by existing regulatory boards 
under the Commission as provided for in the General Appropriations Act. 
SECTION I O .  Powers, Function, Duties and Responsibilities of the Board. 
- The Board shall exercise the following specific powers, functions, duties and 
responsibilities: 
(a) Adopt, promulgate and administer the rules and regulations necessary for 
carrying out the provisions of this Act; 
(b) Supervise and regulate the registration, licensure and practice of the 
(c) Administer oaths in connection with the administration of this Act; 
(d) Issue, suspend, revoke or reinstate the certificate of registration or 
professional interior designers in the Philippines; 
professional license for the practice of the interior design profession; 
(e) Adopt an official seal of this Board; 
(f) Monitor the conditions affecting the practice of interior design and adopt 
such measures as may be deemed proper for the enhancement of the 
profession and/or the maintenance of high professional, ethical and 
technical standards; 
(9) Ensure, in coordination with the Commission on Higher Education 
(CHED), that all other educational institutions offering interior design 
comply with the policies, standards and requirements of the course 
prescribed by the CHED in the areas of curriculum, faculty, library and 
facilities; 
(h) Prescribe and/or adopt a code of Ethical and Professional Standards for 
the practice of the interior design profession; 
(i) Hear and try administrative cases involving violations of this Act, its 
implementing rules and regulations, the Code of Ethics for Professional 
Interior Designers and for this purpose, to issue subpoena and subpoena 
duces tecum to secure the appearance of witnesses and the production of 
documents in connection therewith; 
(j) Prescribe guidelines in the Continuing Professional Education (CPE) 
program in coordination with the accredited professional organization of 
Interior Designers; 
(k) Prepare, adopt and issue the syllabi of the subject for examination by 
determining and preparing the questions, which shall strictly be within the 
scope of the syllabi of the subject of examination; 
(I) Discharge such other duties and functions as may be deemed necessary 
for the enhancement of the interior design profession and the upgrading, 
development and growth of interior design education in the Philippines. 
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SECTION 
11. Grounds for Removal or Suspension of Board 
ChairmadMember. - The President of the Philippines, upon the recommendation 
of the Commission, after giving the Chairman or the member of the Board an 
opportunity to defend himselWherself in an administrative investigation conducted 
by the Commission, may remove or suspend himlher on any of the following 
grounds: 
(a) Gross neglect, incompetence or dishonesty in the discharge of hidher 
duty; 
(b) Violation of any of the causes/grounds/and the prohibited acts provided in 
this Act and the offenses in the Revised Penal Code, the Anti-Graft and 
Corrupt Practices Act, and other laws; 
(c) Manipulation or rigging of the licensure examination for interior designers 
results, disclosure of 
secret and confidential information on the 
examination questions prior to the conduct thereof, or tampering of 
grades. 
The Commission, in the conduct of the investigation, shall be guided by 
Sec. 7 (s) of R.A. No. 8981, the rules on administrative investigation, and the 
applicable provisions of the New Rules of Court. 
SECTION 12. Administrative Supervision of the Board, Custodian of its 
Records, Secretariat and Supporf Services. - The Board shall be under the 
administrative supervision of the Commission, All records of the Board, including 
applications for examination, administrative and other investigative cases 
conducted by the Board shall be under the custody of 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 13. Annual Report - The Board shall, at the close of each 
calendar year, submit an annual report to the President of the Philippines, 
through the Commission, giving a detailed account of its proceedings and 
accomplishments during the year and making recommendations for the adoption 
of measures that will upgrade and improve the conditions affecting the practice of 
interior design. 
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EXAMINATION, REGISTRATION, CERTIFICATION, AND LICENSURE 
SECTION 14. Passing of Licensure Examination Requirement. - Except 
as otherwise specifically allowed under this Act, applicants for registration for the 
practice of interior design shall be required to pass a licensure examination as 
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provided for in this Act in such places and dates as the Commission may 
designate in accordance with the provisions of Sec. 7 (d) of R.A. No. 8981. 
SECTION 15. Qualifications of Applicants. - An applicant for the licensure 
examination for interior designers shall satisfactorily prove that he/she possesses 
the following classifications: 
(a) Citizen of the Philippines or a foreign citizen whose country/state has 
reciprocity with the Philippines in the practice of interior design; 
(b) Of good moral character; 
(c) A holder of a bachelor’s degree in interior design duly recognized or 
accredited by the CHED and conferred by a schookollageluniversity duly 
authorized by the government or its equivalent degree obtained by either 
a Filipino or foreign citizen from an institution of learning in a foreign 
country/state, provided it is duly recognized and/or accredited by the 
CHED; and 
(d) Not convicted of an offense involving moral turpitude by a court of 
competent jurisdiction. 
SECTION 16. Subject for Licensure Examination. - The examination for 
interior design shall basically cover the following subjects: 
1. Interior Design; 
2. Furniture design and Construction; 
3. Materials for Decoration/and color theory; 
4. History of Arts and Interior Design; 
5. Interior Construction; 
6. Professional Practice and Ethics. 
The said subjects and their syllabi may be amended by the Board SO as to 
conform to technological changes brought about by continuing trends in the 
profession, in coordination with the accredited council of interior design 
educators. 
SECTION 17. Registration Without Examination. - Any of the following 
persons may register as interior designer without examination within two (2) 
years of the effectivity of this Act: 
(a) All interior designers who have taken at least sixty (60) units of major 
interior design subjects for the last ten ( I O )  years prior to the effectivity of 
the Interior Design Act of 1998 and who can show proof of continuous 
practice; 
(b) All registered and duly licensed architects who had been practicing interior 
design for ten (IO) years prior to the effectivity of the Interior Design Act of 
1998 and who can show proof of practice. 
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Nothing in this Act shall be construed to effect or prevent the practice of 
any other legally recognized profession or to disqualify those who have been 
considered registered, qualified and actually performing acts constituting the 
legitimate practice of interior design before the effectivity of the Interior Design 
Act of 1998, from engaging in the practice of interior design: Provided, that those 
who are situated before the effectivity of the Interior Design Act of 1998, shall 
apply for registration with and be registered by the Board, without need of 
passing the examination required under the Interior Design Act of 1998. 
SECTION 18. Rating in the Licensure Examination. - To be qualified as 
having passed the Board examination for interior designers, a candidate must 
obtain a weighted general average of seventy percent (70%). 
SECTION 19. Report of Ratings. - The Board shall submit to the 
Commission the ratings obtained by each candidate within twenty (20) days after 
the examination unless extended by the Commission 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 20. Oath. - All successful candidates in the examination shall 
be required to take an oath of profession before the Board or any government 
official authorized by the Commission to administer oaths prior to entering the 
practice of the interior design profession. 
SECTION 21. lssuance of Certificate of Registration and Professional 
identification Card. - A certificate of registration shall be issued to applicants who 
pass the examination for interior designers subject to payment of registration 
fees. 
The certificate of registration as professional interior designer shall bear 
the signatures of the Chairman of the Commission and Board Members, stamped 
with the official seal, indicating that the person named therein is entitled to 
practice the profession with all the privileges appurtenant thereto. This certificate 
shall remain in full force and effect until withdrawn, suspended or revoked, in 
accordance with this Act. 
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, who has paid the required fees. This license will serve 
as evidence that the licensee can lawfully practice his profession. 
A professional identification card, whether new or for renewal, shall be 
released by the PRC upon compliance with the requirements for the application 
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or renewal of identification card and upon presentation of the updated receipt of 
payment of annual membership dues of the accredited professional organization. 
SECTION 22. Refusal to Register. - The Board shall not register any 
successful applicant for registration with or without license examination who has 
been: 
(a) Convicted of an offense involving moral turpitude by a court of competent 
(b) Found guilty of immoral or dishonorable conduct by the Board, 
(c) Summarily adjudged guilty for violation of the. General Instructions to 
jurisdiction, 
Examinees by the Board, and 
(d) Declared of unsound mind by the court of competent jurisdiction. 
In refusing such registration, the Board shall give applicant a written 
statement setting forth the reasons therefore and shall file a copy thereof in its 
records. 
SECTION 23. Revocation and Suspension of the Cerfificate of 
Registration and Cancellation of Temporary/Specia/ Permit. - The Board shall 
have the power, upon notice and hearing, to revoke or suspend the certificate of 
registration of a Registered and Licensed Interior Designer or to cancel a 
temporarylspecial permit granted to foreign Interior Designer, for violation of any 
of the grounds or causes in Section 22 of this Act, except (c) thereof and any of 
the following grounds: 
(a) Violation of a provision of this Act, its IRR, Code of Ethics, Code of Good 
Governance, Code of Technical Standards for the practice of interior 
design, policy, and measure of the Board and/or the Commission; 
professional identification card, temporary/special permit; 
(b) Perpetration or use of fraud in obtaining hidher certificate of registration, 
(c) Gross incompetence, negligence or ignorance resulting to death, injury or 
damage; 
(d) Refusal to join or to remain member in good standing of the Accredited 
Professional Organizations (APO); 
(e) Neglect or failure to pay the annual registration fees for five (5) 
consecutive years; 
(f) Non-payment of the annual registration fees for five (5) consecutive 
years; 
(9) Aiding or abetting the illegal practice of a non-registered and licensed 
person by allowing him/her to use his certificate of registration and/or 
professional identification card or hidher special/temporary permit; 
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(h) Illegally practicing the profession during hidher suspension from the 
practice thereof; 
(i) Addicted to a drug or alcohol abuse impairing hidher ability to practice 
his/her profession or declared with unsound mind by a court of a 
competent jurisdiction; 
(j) Non-compliance with the CPE requirement, unless he/she is exempted 
therefrom, for the renewal of hidher professional identification card; 
The Board shall periodically evaluate the afore-mentioned grounds and 
revise or exclude or add new ones as the need arises subject to approval by the 
Cornmission. 
Any person, firm or association may file charge/s in accordance with the 
provision of this Section against any registrant, or the Board may investigate 
violation of any of the above mentioned causes. Affidavit-complaint shall be filed 
together with the affidavits of witnesses and other documentary evidence with the 
Board though the Legal and Investigation Office. The motu proprio move to 
conduct an investigation shall be embodied in a formal charge to be signed by at 
least majority of the members of the Board. The rules on administrative 
investigation issued by the Commission shall govern the hearing or investigation 
subject to applicable provisions of this Act, R.A. No. 8981 and the Rules of the 
court. 
SECTION 24. Reissuance of Revoked Certificate of Registration, 
Replacement of Lost or Damage Certificate of Registration, Professional 
Identification Card or Temporary/Special Permit. - The Board may upon petition 
reissue a revoked certificate of registration after two (2) years from the effectivity 
of the period for revocation, which is the date of surrender of the said certificate 
and/or the professional identification card if still valid to the Board and/or the 
Commission. The Board may not require the holder thereof to take another 
licensure examination. The petitioner shall prove to the Board that helshe has 
valid reasonls to practice hislher profession. For the grant of hidher petition, the 
Board shall issue a Board Resolution subject to approval by the Cornmission. 
Duplicate copy of lost certificate of registration, professional identification 
card or temporary/special permit may be reissued in accordance with rules 
thereon and upon payment of the prescribed fee therefore. 
SECTION 25. Non-payment of the Annual Regisfration Fees. - The Board 
shall suspend a registered interior designer from the practice of hidher 
profession for non-payment of the annual registration fees for five (5) consecutive 
years from its last or previous year of payment. The resumption of hidher 
practice shall take place only upon payment of the delinquent fees plus 
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surcharges and interests, and in accordance with the rules of the Commission. 
The running of the five-year period may be interrupted upon written notice about 
the discontinuance of his practice and surrender of hidher certificate of 
registration to the Board and/or the Commission. 
SECTION 26. Vested Rights. - All practicing interior designers who are 
registered at the time the Interior Design Act of 1998 was signed into law, shall 
automatically be registered. 
ARTICLE IV 
PRACTICE OF INTERIOR DESIGN 
SECTION 27. Lawful Practitioners of Interior Design. - The natural 
persons and juridical persons who shall be authorized to practice the interior 
design profession: 
1. Natural persons who are: 
(a) Duly registered and licensed as interior designers and holders of valid 
certificates of registration and valid professional identification cards issued 
by the Board and the Commission pursuant to this Act; and 
(b) Holders of valid temporarylspecial permits issued by the Board and the 
Commission to foreign licensed interior designers pursuant to this Act. 
2. Juridical persons: 
(a) Single proprietorship whose owner is a registered and licensed interior 
(b) Partnership which is duly registered with the Securities and Exchange 
Commission (SEC) as professional partnership pursuant to the Civil Code 
and composed of all partners who are all duly registered and licensed 
interior designers; 
designer; 
(c) Corporation duly registered with the SEC as engaged in the practice of 
interior design and with the majority of the Board of Directors who are all 
registered and licensed interior designers as well as key Chief Executive 
Officer (CEO); 
(d) These juridical persons shall also be registered with the Board and the 
Commission in accordance with the rules and regulations thereon. 
SECTION 28. Seal, Issuance, and Use of Seal. - A duly registered interior 
designer shall affix the seal approved by the Board of Interior Design on all plans 
and specifications prepared by, or under his direct supervision. 
Each registrant shall, upon registration, obtain the seal of such design as 
the Board of Interior Design may adopt. Plan and specifications prepared by, or 
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under the direct supervision of a registered interior designer, shall be stamped 
with said seal during the validity of the professional license. 
No officer or employee of the government, chartered cities, provinces, 
municipalities now or hereafter charged with the enforcement of laws, ordinances 
or regulations relating to the construction or alteration of the interiors of buildings, 
shall accept or endorse any interior plans or specifications which have not been 
prepared and submitted in full accord with the provisions of this Act, nor shall any 
payment be approved by any such officer for any work, the plans and 
specifications of which have not been so prepared, signed and sealed by a duly 
licensed interior designer. 
Violation of the foregoing shall be ground for administrative and/or criminal 
action. 
SECTION 29. Foreign Reciprocify. - No foreign interior designer shall be 
issued a temporary license to practice the interior design 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 interior designers to practice within its territorial limits on the same basis 
as the subjects or citizens of such foreign state or country. 
SECTION 30. Practice through Temporary/Special Permit. - 
1. Foreigners intending to work in the Philippines to perform professional 
services as interior designers or consultants whether employed 
through official foreign funded or foreign assisted projects initiated by 
the government, or engaged by private Filipino firms, foreign 
contractors or firms shall first secure a special temporary permit from 
the Professional Regulation Commission through the Board of Interior 
Design specifically authorizing him to practice on the special project or 
commission named therein, provided further that: 
(a) Helshe is legally and professionally qualified and registered to 
(b) His/her expertise is unique and useful to the Philippines, resulting 
in the transfer of information and technology. The establishment of 
international standards in design, and of sharing of other 
specialized skills. 
(c) Foreign duly licensed nationals shall be required to work with a 
Filipino counterpart that has been in continuous practice of interior 
design for at least ten ( I O )  years. Professional fees and services, 
and expenses of documentation pertaining to the project shall be 
shared by both foreign and Filipino interior designers, including 
practice interior design in his own country. 
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liabilities and taxes due to the Philippine government, if any, 
according to their participation in, or professional services rendered 
to the project. 
2. A foreign interior designer shall be also required to work in every case 
with a duly licensed Filipino counterpart whose competence and 
integrity have been established by the Board of Interior Design on the 
basis of uniform standards contained in their implementing rules and 
regulations. 
3. Foreign and Filipino firms working jointly on a special project shall 
divide the professional fees and other charges collected from said 
project equitably, similarly, all documentation expenses, taxes and 
other liabilities incurred on the shared project shall also be borne 
equally by both foreign and Filipino firms. 
4. Foreigners working jointly, thus, shall sign contracts, designs and other 
credits 
together 
with 
his 
Filipino 
counterpart 
firm, 
due 
acknowledgement shall at all times be accorded both firms throughout 
international media, including electronic and other transmission of 
intellectual property and other proprietarial rights, including all residual 
earnings shall also be equitably shared between foreign and local 
firms. 
5. Foreign design firms or individuals practicing in the Philippines before 
the promulgation of this Act are required to comply with the 
requirements established by the Board of Interior Design in its 
implementing rules and regulations within the timetable it stipulates 
therein. 
6. Any violations of these requirements or other illegal practices 
undertaken by either foreign design firms or their Filipino counterparts 
shall be punishable by law or under the implementing rules and 
regulations of the Board of Interior Design. 
SECTION 31. lndicafion of Numbers, Certificate of Registration, 
Professional tax Receipt, and APO Membership. - The interior designer shall be 
required to indicate hidher Certificate of Registration Number and Date of 
Issuance, the expiry of hidher current Professional Identification Card, the 
Professional Tax Receipt Number and Date, and his/her APO Membership 
Number and Date with Official Receipt Number and Date of Membership 
payment (AnnuallLifetime) on the documents helshe signs, uses, or issues in 
connection with the practices of his/her interior design profession. 
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SECTION 32. Roster oflnferior Designers. - The Board shall prepare and 
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maintain a roster of the names, residence and/or office address of all registered 
interior designers which shall be updated annually in cooperation with the APO, 
indicating therein the status of the certificate of registration, professional 
identification card, and APO membership, whether valid, inactive due to death or 
other reasons, delinquent, suspended or revoked. The said roster shall be 
conspicuously posted within the premises of the Commission and the information 
therefrom made available to the public upon inquiry or request. 
SECTION 33. lntegration of the lnterior Designers. - The interior 
designers shall be integrated into one (1) national organization of interior 
designers that is duly registered with the SEC. The Board of Interior Design 
subject to approval by the Commission shall accredit the said organization as the 
one and only integrated and accredited professional organization of interior 
designers. All interior designers whose names appear in the Registry Book of 
Interior Designers shall ipso facto or automatically become members thereof and 
shall receive therefrom all the benefits and privileges upon payments of APO 
membership fees and dues. 
A membership in an affiliate organization of interior designers shall be 
barred. 
ARTICLE V 
FINAL PROVISIONS 
SECTION 34. Penal Clause. - Any person who shall commit any of the 
A. Local Practitioner 
following acts: 
1) Practicing interior design without a valid certificate of registration 
and/or a valid professional identification card or a valid 
temporary/special permit; 
2) Attempting to use the seal, certificate of registration and/or 
professional identification card of a registered interior designer or 
temporary/special permit issued to foreign (professional); 
3) Abetting the illegal practice of interior design by an unregistered or 
unauthorized person; 
4) Impersonating a registered interior designer or a holder of a 
special/temporary permit; and 
5) Violating any provision of this Act or implementing rules and 
regulations thereof shall be, upon conviction, be penalized by a fine 
of not less than Three Hundred Thousand Pesos (Php 300,000.00) 
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nor more than One Million Pesos (Php1,000,000.00), and 
revocation of the certificate of registration and professional license 
or imprisonment of not less than six (6) months nor more than three 
(3) years, or both fine and imprisonment at the discretion of the 
court. 
B. Foreign Practitioner/Firm 
The penalty of foreign design firm or individuals for illegal practice 
shall be a minimum of fifteen percent (15%) of gross fees under five 
Million Pesos (Php 5,000,000.00) and a minimum of ten percent (10%) 
of gross fees above Five Million Pesos (Php 5,000,000.00) in addition 
to payment of back taxes to the Philippine government, imprisonment 
of not less than six (6) months nor more than three (3) years, or both 
fine and imprisonment or permanently banned from further practice in 
the Philippines, at the discretion of the court. 
SECTION 35. Enforcement. - The Professional Regulation Commission 
shall be the enforcement agency of the Board. As such, the Commission shall 
implement the concerned provisions of this Act, enforce its implementing rules 
and regulations as adopted by the Board, conduct investigations on complaints 
including violations of the Code of Conduct of the profession and prosecute when 
so warranted. 
SECTION 36. Funds. - The funds or budget for the implementation of this 
Act shall be included in the annual budget of the Commission under the General 
Appropriations Act, provided that the amount incurred for 
its initial 
implementation shall be charged against the Commission's current year's 
appropriation. 
SECTION 37. Transitory Provision. - The incumbent Board shall, in an 
interim capacity, continue to function by carrying out the provisions of the Act 
without need for the issuance of new appointments for the Chairman and 
members thereof until the first Board created under this Act shall have been 
constituted or organized pursuant thereto. 
SECTION 38. lmplemenfing Rules and Regulations. - The Board, with the 
approval of the Commission, shall adopt and promulgate such rules and 
regulations to implement the provisions of this Act, which shall be effective after 
fifteen (15) days following its publication in the Official Gazeffe or in a major daily 
newspaper of general circulation. 
SECTION 39. 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 hereof, but such judgment shall be 
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merely confined to the clause, provision, paragraph or part directly involved in the 
controversy in which such judgment has been rendered. 
SECTION 40. Repealing Clause. - Republic Act No.8534 is hereby 
repealed. All other laws, decrees, executive orders and administrative issuances 
and parts thereof which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby 
modified, superseded or repealed accordingly. 
SECTION 41. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect-fifteen (15) days 
following its complete publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) 
newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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