REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House BILLNo.___ 4074

Introduced by Hon. ANGELO B. PALMONES,

EXPLANATORY NOTE

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

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, cross-
boarder practice and the advent of climate change. 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 in a 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;

2. To strengthen the profession and enable civil engineers to cope with the formidable
challenges brought about by globalization, cross-boarder practice and the impacts of
climate change:

3. To continually upgrade the level of competence of the civil engineers through:

peer recognition of specialization in civil engineering;
b. continuous professional development; and
¢. the strengthening of the accredited professional organization of civil engineers;

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

ANGELO B. PALMONES -


REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 40

Introduced by Hon. ANGELO B. PALMONES

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 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, airports and hangars, port works, canals,
river and shore improvements, lighthouses, 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 ENGINEERS (PICE) WHICH IS THE OFFICIAL NATIONAL
ORGANIZATION OF ALL REGISTERED CIVIL ENGINEERS IN THE
PHILIPPINES AS ACCREDITED BY THE PROFESSIONAL
REGULATION COMMISSION.”

“Section 4. Powers and duties of the Board. ~The Board of Examiners 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 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, 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.”

“SECTION 4 (A). CERTIFICATE OF SPECIALIZATION — IN ORDER TO.
ENCOURAGE THE CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL 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 ADVANCE KNOWLEDGE, EXPERIENCE,
EDUCATION, AND TRAINING IN A RECOGNIZED BRANCH OF
CIVIL ENGINEERING: PROVIDED, THAT AT THE INITIAL,
EFFECTIVITY OF THIS ACT, THE SPECIALIZATION OF
CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT = AND —_ ENGINEERING,
GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING, STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING,
‘TRANSPORTATION ENGINEERING, AND WATER RESOURCES AND.
HYDRAULICS ENGINEERING, GREEN CONSTRUCTION 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 ENGINEERS (SOCE):
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
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 PROVISION
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
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 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.”

“Section 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, or 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 event 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,
CERTIFICATES OF SPECIALIZATION ISSUED TO REGISTERED
CIVIL ENGINEER BY THE BOARD OR ACCREDITED
PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR CIVIL ENG! 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.”

Approved: