Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

18th CONGRESS
First Regular Session

2337

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by REP. EVELINA G, ESCUDERO

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 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 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.

|. 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 and eross-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

© 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

_ Gaede!
INA G. ESCUDERO



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

18th CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No.2337

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:

SECTION I. 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 CIV!
ENGINEERS (APOCE) SHALL MEAN THE PHILIPPINE INSTITUT
OF CIVIL ENGINEERS (PICE) WHICH IS THE OFFICIAL NATIONAL
ORGANIZATION OF ALL REGISTERED CIVIL NEERS 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 —1N ORDER TO
ENCOURAGE THE CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
OF REGISTERED CIVIL ENGINEERS, THE ACCREDITED
PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATION OF CIVIL ENGINEER‘ (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, EXPERIENC
EDUCATION, AND TRAINING IN A RECOGNIZED BRANCH OF CIV}

ENGINEERING: PROVIDED, THAT AT THE INITIAL EFFECTIVITY.
OF THIS ACT, THE SPECIALIZATION OF CONSTRUCTION
MANAGEMENT AND ENGINEERING, GEOTECHNICAL

ENGINEER! RUCTURAL ENGINEERING, TRANSPORTATION
ENGINEERING, AND WATER RESOURCES AND HYDRAULICS
ENGINEERING SHALL BE SO RECOGNIZED. PROVI a
TI SPECIALIZATION MAY ADDITIONALLY BE RECOGNIZED
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 REQUIREMENT.”

“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 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 duiy 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 Et TERED
CIVIL ENGINEER BY THE BOARD OR ACCREDITED
PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR CIVIL ENGINEERING
(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 AC

EC. 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 event that any provision of this Act is declared void or
unconstitutional such declaration shall not affect the validity of the unaffected provisions of this Act

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,