Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS 
Third Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ______ 
Introduced by Hon. Christopher V.P. de Venecia, Hon. Angelo Marcos Barba, 
Hon. Deogracias Victor "DV" B. Savellano, Hon. Marlyn "Len" B. Alonte, Hon. 
Aloy Lim, Hon. Kristine Singson-Meehan, Hon. Ma. Lourdes T. Arroyo, Hon. 
Ann K. Hofer, Hon. Manuel T. Sagarbarria, Hon. Ronnie L. Ong, Hon. Lianda B. 
Bolilia, Hon. John Reynald M. Tiangco, Hon. Angelica Natasha Co, Hon. Alfred 
C. Delos Santos, Hon. Anthony Peter "Onyx" D. Crisologo, Hon. Vilma Santos-
Recto, Hon. Juan Miguel Macapagal Arroyo, Hon. Rufus B. Rodriguez, Hon.
Sarah Jane I. Elago, Hon. Joy Myra S. Tambunting, Hon. Sandra Y. Eriguel,
M.D., Hon. Luisa Lloren Cuaresma, Hon. Florida "Rida" P. Robes, Hon.
Rosanna "Ria" V. Vergara, Hon. Dan S. Fernandez, Hon. Alfred D. Vargas 
AN ACT 
ELEVATING THE REGULATION AND PRACTICE OF ARCHITECTURE 
IN THE PHILIPPINES, REPEALING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9266, 
AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Philippines has multiple international commitments governing trade in 
services that encompass State-regulated professions, including architectural 
services. These commitments include multilateral treaties such as the 1995 
World Trade Organization General Agreement on Trade in Services (WTO-GATS), 
effective January 2020; the various ASEAN Mutual Recognition Arrangements 
(MRA) among ten ASEAN states, with the 2007 MRA on Architecture; and the 
Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Architect Project undertaken by 21 
APEC economies, among others. In addition, bilateral agreements include the 
Japan-Philippines Economic Cooperation Agreement, which also contains 
provisions on trade in architectural services. 
However, protectionist policies from decades past, including the subject of this 
repeal by reenactment, R.A. No. 9266, the Architecture Act of 2004, are in direct 
conflict with the treaties the Philippines has entered, the objectives of which are 
to stimulate economic activity, promote trade, expand exports, and improve the 
September 17, 2021
9:32 am
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citizens' purchasing power through non-discriminatory access to markets and 
progressive liberalization. 
R.A. No. 9266 is one of several professional regulatory laws that has stymied 
professional advancement, which would have benefited our citizens. Instead, 
non-responsive policies have made Filipino professionals, including architects, 
much less competitive on the regional and world stages. 
Argument in favor of protectionism point to the Philippine Constitution and 
nationalism to justify disregard of international treaties, blocking market access 
to foreign service providers, and spurning foreign architecture education even 
from such exalted institutions as the University College London, Massachusetts 
Institute of Technology, Delft University of Technology, Harvard, Yale, and the 
National University of Singapore. 
The Philippine Supreme Court has rejected such thinking, upholding the validity 
of honoring the country's obligations to the WTO-GATS and similar treaties as 
concordant with the 1987 Philippine Constitution. 
In its dismissal dated May 2, 1997, of a petition against Philippine membership 
in the WTO for contravening the Constitution, the Supreme Court said: "The 
Constitution has not shown any unbalanced bias in favor of any business or 
enterprise, nor does it contain any specific pronouncement that Filipino 
companies should be pampered with a total proscription of foreign competition." 
Instead, the High Court maintained that "the fundamental law encourages 
industries that are 'competitive in both domestic and foreign markets,' thereby 
demonstrating a clear policy against a sheltered domestic trade environment but 
one in favor of the gradual development of robust industries that can compete 
with the best in the foreign markets.” 1 Citing examples of Filipino enterprises 
competing internationally, the Supreme Court added: “Given a free trade 
environment, Filipino entrepreneurs and managers…have demonstrated the 
Filipino capacity to grow and to prosper against the best offered under a policy 
of laissez faire.” 
Rather than developing into a robust industry, however, architecture in the 
Philippines has been overtaken by the vibrant practices of Indonesia, Malaysia, 
Singapore, and Thailand, which, in the 1960s to 1980s, looked to the Philippines 
for exemplary architecture that married the best of the West with the wisdom of 
our maestros and indigenous builders. 
Worse, the nationalist Filipino-first outlook has, over the years, degenerated into 
an unyielding isolationist stance, retreating from the global march towards 
borderless economies and discriminating even against Filipino professionals who 
have studied and trained abroad. 


This bill seeks to address the withered competitive spirit of the architecture 
profession and the ills of the architectural practice and regulatory regimes 
manifest in the last ten to fifteen years. The regulatory laws and implementing 
rules of each design profession have fostered acrimonious attitudes over turf, 
with each discipline attempting to appropriate for themselves services that are 
not necessarily proprietary to their work but are germane to the practice of other 
professions and non-regulated trades and occupations. 
Furthermore, the lack of accountability and transparency in regulation fueled by 
each profession's desire to increase their numbers has also engendered a 
deleterious lowering of standards that assail the very purpose of regulation, 
which is protecting the public interest and public service. 
In addition, this bill confronts policies enunciated by critical infrastructure, 
procurement, and regulatory agencies of the Philippine government that 
undermine the profession of architecture. By assigning architectural work of, for, 
and by the national and local governments to non-architects, such policies have 
negatively impacted the quality of our built environment and, subsequently, the 
quality of life engendered by these environs. 
All these are urgent matters the Legislature must promptly address. 
Thus, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
HON. CHRISTOPHER V.P. DE 
VENECIA 
HON. ANGELO MARCOS BARBA 
HON. DEOGRACIAS VICTOR "DV" 
B. SAVELLANO
HON. MARLYN "LEN" B. ALONTE 
HON. KRISTINE SINGSON-MEEHAN 


HON. ALFRED C. DELOS SANTOS 
HON. ANTHONY PETER "ONYX" D. 
CRISOLOGO 
HON. JUAN MIGUEL MACAPAGAL 
ARROYO 
HON. SARAH JANE I. ELAGO 
HON. JOY MYRA S. TAMBUNTING 
HON. SANDRA Y. ERIGUEL, M.D. 
HON. LUISA LLOREN CUARESMA 
HON. FLORIDA "RIDA" P. ROBES 


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS 
Third Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ______ 
Introduced by Hon. Christopher V.P. de Venecia, Hon. Angelo Marcos Barba, 
Hon. Deogracias Victor "DV" B. Savellano, Hon. Marlyn "Len" B. Alonte, Hon. 
Aloy Lim, Hon. Kristine Singson-Meehan, Hon. Ma. Lourdes T. Arroyo, Hon. 
Ann K. Hofer, Hon. Manuel T. Sagarbarria, Hon. Ronnie L. Ong, Hon. Lianda B. 
Bolilia, Hon. John Reynald M. Tiangco, Hon. Angelica Natasha Co, Hon. Alfred 
C. Delos Santos, Hon. Anthony Peter "Onyx" D. Crisologo, Hon. Vilma Santos-
Recto, Hon. Juan Miguel Macapagal Arroyo, Hon. Rufus B. Rodriguez, Hon.
Sarah Jane I. Elago, Hon. Joy Myra S. Tambunting, Hon. Sandra Y. Eriguel,
M.D., Hon. Luisa Lloren Cuaresma, Hon. Florida "Rida" P. Robes, Hon.
Rosanna "Ria" V. Vergara, Hon. Dan S. Fernandez, Hon. Alfred D. Vargas 
AN ACT 
ELEVATING THE REGULATION AND PRACTICE OF ARCHITECTURE 
IN THE PHILIPPINES, REPEALING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9266, 
AND 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 
GENERAL PROVISIONS 
Section 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as "The Philippine 
Architecture Act of 2022." 
Section 2. Statement of Policy. – The State recognizes the importance of 
architecture in nation-building and development. Hence, the State shall ensure 
that every practicing professional architect meets the minimum requirements to 
safeguard life, health, and property; foster their continuing professional growth 
and advancement; and continually review and improve the standards of 
regulation, professional service, and practice for Filipino architects to be socially 
and environmentally responsible and globally competitive. 
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Section 3. Definition of Terms. – As used in this Act, unless the context 
otherwise requires, the following terms shall be defined as follows: 
a. "Architecture" is the art and science or profession of planning, designing,
and realizing buildings and structures, taking into account their
environment and following the principles of utility, strength, and beauty;
b. "Professional Architect," “Registered Architect,” and “Licensed Architect”
means a natural person qualified by education, experience, examination,
and applied skills, who holds a valid Certificate of Registration issued by
the Professional Regulatory Board of Architecture and the Professional
Regulation Commission under this Act;
c. “Licensed Architect” also means a registered architect in possession of a
valid practicing license or Professional Identification Card issued by the
Professional Regulatory Board of Architecture and the Professional
Regulation Commission;
d. "Architect-of-record" means the architect registered and licensed under
this Act, who is directly responsible for the design of the project and who
shall assume the professional responsibility and civil liability for the
architectural documents he or she has signed and sealed;
e. "Architect-in-charge of construction" means an architect registered and
licensed under this Act, who is directly responsible and liable for the
construction supervision of the project;
f.
"Consulting Architect" means the specialist architect registered and
permitted to practice under this Act. He or she assumes no civil liability
under Article 1723 of the Civil Code unless he or she contravenes the legal
and professional functions of the Architect-of-Record; the Consulting
Architect shall assume the civil liability under the service agreement he or
she signs with a Client;
g. “Architectural documents” means legal or contract documents that only
registered and licensed architects can sign and seal, consisting, among
others, of site development plans; space and architectural programs; space
planning survey reports; space and stacking plans; architectural design
briefs; architectural drawings such as floor plans, partition plans, reflected
ceiling plans, roof plans, finish plans, wayfinding and signage plans, code
plans, coordination plans, perspectives, elevations, sections, and detail
drawings; furniture, furnishings, equipment, and other schedules,
perspectives, architectural technical specifications; architectural cost
estimates; and other instruments of service in any form;


h. “Interior Design Documents” means legal or contract documents that only 
registered and licensed interior designers or architects can sign and seal, 
consisting, 
among 
others, 
of 
schematics, 
design 
development, 
construction drawings, and specifications. Drawings may consist of floor 
plans, partition plans, reflected ceiling plans, and finish plans; wayfinding 
and signage plans; code plans; coordination plans; perspectives, elevations, 
sections, and detail drawings; furniture, furnishings, equipment, and 
other schedules; and details illustrating the design of non-load-bearing 
interior construction or alterations; 
 
i. “Architectural Firm” means a sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation, 
or one-person-corporation registered with the proper government agencies; 
 
j. “Registered Architectural Firm” means a juridical person duly registered 
with the Board, the Commission, and the Securities and Exchange 
Commission, engaged in providing architectural services on Philippine soil; 
 
k. "Registered Foreign Architect" means an architect who is not a Filipino 
citizen, is duly registered and licensed in his or her home country and is 
duly registered by the Board for the lawful practice of architecture on 
Philippine soil; 
 
l. “Architectural 
Interior” 
or 
“Interior 
Architecture” 
means 
the 
conceptualization, design, and realization of the indoor or enclosed areas 
of any building or structure, including those for retrofit or renovation work, 
which covers material, ventilation, ergonomics, all architectural and utility 
aspects, including the architectural lay-outing of all building engineering 
systems found therein, amongst other things; in short, interior 
architecture is the design of an interior in architectural terms; 
 
m. “Interior Design,” on the other hand, means the art and science of creating 
a functional and aesthetic interior environment that corresponds to the 
architecture of a space and supports the purpose and character intended 
for the interior spaces. It encompasses the analysis, planning, design, 
documentation, and management of non-structural, code-compliant, 
accessible, and inclusive interior environments to address the physical, 
mental, and emotional well-being of people; 
 
n. “Architectural Plans” means two-dimensional representations of an 
enclosed, semi-enclosed, or open area showing elements such as columns, 
beams, walls, partitions, floors, ceilings, doors, windows, stairs, roof, room 
designations, door and window callouts and schedules, the architectural 
layout of equipment, furnishings, furniture, specifications callouts, 
elevation references, drawing references and the like; the term shall also 
collectively refer to cross or longitudinal sections, elevations, site plans, 


roof plans, excavation plans, reflected ceiling plans, detail drawings, 
finishing schedules, working schedules, and the like;                                                  
 
o. “Architecture Practice” or “Practice of Architecture” means offering, 
providing, or being in responsible charge of professional services which 
require the application of the art and science of designing for the 
construction, enlargement, or alteration, in whole or in part, of a structure 
or group of structures, including the planning of their sites, their 
components and appurtenances and the spaces around them, wherein the 
safeguarding of life, health, property, and public welfare is concerned. 
 
The practice of architecture does not include the practice of engineering, 
although an architect may perform engineering work that is purely 
incidental to the practice of architecture. 
 
The practice of architecture includes interior architecture and, in the 
absence of an interior designer, the practice of interior design. 
 
Nothing contained in this Act shall be construed to prohibit a student, 
draftsman, designer, or employee from engaging in the practice of 
architecture provided that the practice is performed under the responsible 
charge, as defined in this Section, of a registered and licensed architect 
who shall assume the professional responsibility and civil liability for the 
architectural documents he or she has signed and sealed; 
  
p. “Architecture Scope of Practice” or “Scope of the Practice of Architecture” 
encompasses the provision of professional services that include but are 
not limited to: 
  
1.     Consultation, advice, investigation, evaluation, quality surveys, appraisals 
and adjustments, architectural and operational planning, site analysis, and 
other pre-design services; 
 
2.     Preparation of preliminary, technical, economic, and financial feasibility 
studies of plans, models, and project promotional services; 
 
3.     Planning, preliminary design studies, schematic design, design development, 
structural conceptualization; 
 
4.     Preparation of architectural drawings, working drawings, and specifications, 
bill of materials, cost estimates, general conditions, and bidding documents; 
 
5.     Contract administration; 
 
6.     Compliance with applicable development controls, codes and regulations, 
and assistance in the governmental review process; 


 
7.     Construction and project management, administration, supervision, 
coordination, and direction; 
 
8.     The planning and architectural lay-outing of building sites, the spaces 
within and surrounding such buildings or structures, housing design and 
community 
architecture, 
architectural 
interiors 
and 
space 
planning, 
architectural detailing, architectural lighting, acoustics, architectural lay-outing 
of mechanical, electrical, electronic, sanitary, plumbing, communications and 
other utility systems, equipment and fixtures; 
 
9.     Building programming, building administration, construction arbitration, 
and architectural conservation and restoration; 
 
10.  All works which relate to the scientific, aesthetic, and orderly coordination 
of all works and branches of the work, systems, and processes necessary for the 
realization of the project, whether for public or private use, in order to enhance 
and safeguard life, health, and property and the promotion and enrichment of 
the quality of life, the architectural design of engineering structures or any part 
thereof; and 
 
11.  All other works, projects, and activities that require the professional 
competence of an architect, including the teaching of architectural subjects and 
architectural computer-aided design; 
  
q. “Architectural Association" means an association or organization of 
professional architects registered with the Securities and Exchange 
Commission that fulfils the requirements to be a member of the IAPOA to 
be created by this Act; 
 
r. "Authorship" refers to the author or authors of a set of architectural 
documents whether made by them personally or under their immediate 
supervision; 
 
s. “Copyright” and “Copyright Ownership” shall refer to the intellectual 
proprietary rights retained by an architect over original works of 
authorship unless there is written stipulation to the contrary; "Copyright 
ownership" of a work of architecture shall include the right to control the 
erection of a building that reproduces the whole or a substantial part of 
the work either in its original form or in a form recognizably derived from 
the original; however, the copyright in any such work shall not include the 
right to control the reconstruction or rehabilitation of a building in the 
same style as the original to which the copyright relates; 
 
t. “Ownership” means the proprietary rights of a natural or juridical person 
who commissions an architect to provide architectural services, where 


ownership is confined to the use of the architectural documents only for 
the execution of the original project and not for the use, in whole or in part, 
in subsequent projects; 
u. “Board” refers to the Professional Regulatory Board of Architecture;
v. "Building" means a structure for habitation and other uses, for which the
architect shall prepare the architectural documents, which may include
“structural conceptualization,”  and for which the civil engineer shall
prepare the pertinent structural design and the civil works design for the
grounds or site, and for which the civil engineer may be jointly involved in
activities relating to the building and grounds document review and
permitting 
processes, 
construction, 
supervision, 
management,
administration, operation and management, and reconstruction;
w. “Certificate of Registration” means a document vesting the privilege on
natural and juridical persons to lawfully engage in the state-regulated
practice of architecture on Philippine soil;
x. “License” means the permission granted by the Commission under this Act
to an architect to lawfully supply architectural services in the Philippines;
y. “License” also refers to an official document attesting to such permission,
which, under this Act, is the Professional Identification Card or practicing
license;
z. “Professional Identification Card” or “PIC” means the official document or
practicing license attesting to the permission granted by the Professional
Regulation Commission  to persons registered under this Act for them to
lawfully supply architectural services in the Philippines. The PIC expires
after seven (7) years and must be renewed to verify that the bearer has
complied with this Act, has participated in continuing skill and knowledge
development as is expected of professionals, and is fit to practice;
aa. “Inactive” means a registered professional who has not renewed his or her 
Professional Identification Card or practicing license before its expiry date 
and shall therefore be prohibited from engaging in the practice of the 
profession until the PIC or practicing license is renewed; 
bb. 
“Commission” means the Professional Regulation Commission or 
PRC, a body created by R.A. No. 8981, the PRC Modernization Act of 2000, 
to maintain a high standard of admission to the practice of all state-
regulated professions, which shall remain attached to the Office of the 
President and shall not be relegated to any line agency. 


cc. “Competitive” or “Competitiveness” means the ability of a professional, 
business, or industry to deliver better value to customers than competitors. 
 
dd. 
“Continuing Professional Development” or “CPD” means the learning 
activities prescribed and recognized by the Professional Regulatory Board 
of Architecture for professional architects to engage in to develop and 
enhance their abilities;   
 
ee. “Continuing Professional Development Council” or “CPD Council” means 
the bodies created Republic Act No. 10912 to promote and ensure the 
continuous improvement of professionals per national, regional, and 
international standards of practice, under the supervision of the 
Professional Regulatory Board concerned; 
 
ff. “Development Controls” are a body of applicable international agreements, 
conventions, and standards, as well as Philippine laws and related 
executive issuances at the national and local levels, crafted with or without 
legislative oversight, intended to limit the level of physical development on 
both private property and on the permitted portions of the public domain 
encompassing the air, surfaces, and sub-surfaces above land and water. 
Such development controls and their implementing mechanisms are 
issued 
in 
executive 
orders, 
administrative 
orders, 
department 
administrative orders, memorandum circulars, zoning ordinances and 
special ordinances. In the event that that they contradict each other, the 
most stringent control prevails, that is, the standard that permits the least 
development, construction or negative intervention on both the natural 
and built environments; 
 
gg. “Diversified Experience” shall refer to the training program with increasing 
levels of responsibility supervised by registered and licensed architects 
that students or graduates of Architecture shall undertake as one of the 
qualifications for the licensure examination. “Diversified Architectural 
Experience” shall consist of three thousand nine hundred (3,900) hours of 
training or mentorship or its equivalent; 
 
hh. 
"Gross negligence" means conduct that demonstrates a reckless 
disregard of the consequences affecting the life or property of another 
person; 
 
ii. “Incompetence” means conduct which, in the practice of a profession, 
demonstrates a significant lack of ability, knowledge, or fitness to 
discharge a professional obligation; 
 
jj. “Negligence” means a deviation from the required standard of professional 
care resulting in negative consequences; 
 


kk. 
“Integrated Accredited Professional Organization for Architects” or 
“IAPOA” means a national umbrella organization duly registered with the 
Securities and Exchange Commission  and accredited by the Board and 
Commission, which shall be comprised of associations or organizations of 
professional architects separately registered with the Securities and 
Exchange Commission; 
ll. "Official Gazette" refers to the public journal and primary publication of
the Government of the Philippines and its website;
mm.
“Professional Responsibility” means directly or indirectly teaching,
advising, supervising, mentoring, evaluating, coaching or doing research
with a student, subordinate, or creative;
nn. 
“Register” means the official roster of registered professionals kept, 
updated, and published annually by the respective Professional 
Regulatory Boards; 
oo. “Register of Architects” means the official roster of registered professional 
architects kept, updated, and published annually by the Board; 
pp. 
“Register of Architecture Firms” means the official roster of 
registered architecture firms kept, updated, and published annually by the 
Board; 
qq. “Register of Foreign Architects” means the official roster of registered 
professional foreign architects as natural persons kept, updated, and 
published annually by the Board; 
rr. “Register of Practicing Architects” means the official roster of registered 
architects with a valid Professional Identification Card or practicing license 
kept, updated, and published annually by the Board; 
ss. “Responsible Charge” means the control over and detailed knowledge of 
the content of a technical submission during its preparation that is 
ordinarily exercised by a registered architect when applying the required 
standard of professional care; 
tt. “Service Agreement” means a duly notarized written contract or equivalent 
public instrument stipulating the scope of services and guaranteeing 
compensation of such services to be rendered by a professional duly 
registered and licensed under this Act; 
uu. 
“Site Planning” means the detailed site development planning of 
areas surrounding a building or structure or group of structures, but only 


within the property limits of the land on which such buildings or 
structures are to be erected; 
vv. “Structure” means a constructed arrangement of different interrelated
parts and systems with a fixed location on the ground that is designed to
bear loads, which may not necessarily be intended for human habitation
or occupancy; the term may also refer to the integrated support system of
a building referring to its foundation, superstructure and roof support;
ww. 
"Structural Conceptualization" means the conception, design, and 
development of the type, disposition, arrangement, and proportioning of 
the structural elements of architectural work, giving due consideration to 
safety, cost-effectiveness, functionality, and aesthetics; 
xx. “Structural Design” means the specialized area of civil engineering that
determines safe and economical specifications for a structure to ensure
that it will be sufficiently strong to carry its intended load and withstand
the internal and external forces acting on it;
yy. “Structural Elements” means those elements of a structure or building 
that resist forces and moments, and includes foundations, columns, 
beams, shear cores, structural walls, struts, ground anchors, slabs, 
trusses, staircases, load-bearing walls and all other elements designed to 
resist forces and moments, but does not include doors, windows, and non-
load bearing walls or partitions; 
zz. “Structural Work” means any external or internal load-bearing part of a 
building that is essential to the stability of the building or any part of it; 
aaa. 
“Treaties” and “Agreements" means the international bilateral or 
multilateral accords signed and entered into by the Philippine Government, 
with or without Senate ratification; 
bbb. 
“Urban Design” means the physical and systemic design undertaken 
by an architect or designer on a community and urban plane, more 
comprehensive than and an extension of the architecture of buildings, 
spaces between buildings, entourage, utilities, and movement systems; 
The Professional Regulatory Board of Architecture, subject to approval by the 
Professional Regulation Commission, may revise, exclude from, or add to the 
above-enumerated terms as the need arises to conform to the latest trends and 
developments in practice, provided that before adopting such, the Board shall 
publish the proposed revisions on its website and the Official Gazette, and allow 
the IAPOA, architectural associations, and the general public an opportunity to 
make representations to the Board within thirty (30) days of publication. 


ARTICLE II 
PROFESSIONAL REGULATORY BOARD OF ARCHITECTURE 
  
Section 4. Creation and Composition of the Professional Regulatory Board. 
– There is hereby created a Professional Regulatory Board of Architecture, 
hereinafter referred to as the Board, a collegial body under the supervision and 
administrative control of the Professional Regulation Commission, hereinafter 
referred to as the Commission. 
  
A.     The Board shall be composed of nine (9) members, seven (7) of whom 
are registered and licensed architects elected in the manner outlined in this 
Article and promulgated by the President of the Philippines. 
  
B.     Of the nine members, at least two (2) shall reside and practice in Luzon, 
at least one (1) shall reside and practice in the Visayas, and at least one (1) 
shall reside and practice in Mindanao. 
  
C.    Of the nine members, one (1) shall be a registered and licensed civil 
engineer nominated by the Professional Regulatory Board of Civil 
Engineering and chosen by the Board of Architecture in the manner outlined 
in this Article and promulgated by the President of the Philippines. 
  
D.    Of the nine members, one (1) shall be a registered and licensed interior 
designer nominated by the Professional Regulatory Board of Interior Design 
and chosen by the Board of Architecture in the manner outlined in this 
Article and promulgated by the President of the Philippines. 
  
E.     The Board shall be elected not later than six (6) months from the 
effectivity of this Act. 
  
  
Section 5. Qualifications and Disqualifications of Board Members, 
Nominating Persons, and the Electorate.                                                
  
A. The persons qualified to nominate, elect, and be elected as architect board 
members must be: 
  
1.  A citizen and resident of the Philippines; 
  
2. A registered architect with a valid Professional Identification Card or 
practicing license; 
  
3. An active practitioner of twenty (20) years by the date of the election, or 
a faculty member whose combined years of practice and teaching of 
architecture subjects in schools recognized by the Board amount to 


twenty (20) years on the date of the election, provided he or she has at 
least ten (10) years of practice. 
  
B. The Professional Regulatory Board of Civil Engineering shall nominate 
three civil engineers with active practices of twenty (20) years by the date 
of the election, or a faculty member whose combined years of practice and 
teaching of engineering subjects in schools amount to twenty (20) years on 
the date of the election, provided he or she has at least ten (10) years of 
practice; 
  
C. The Professional Regulatory Board of Interior Design shall nominate three 
interior designers with active practices of twenty (20) years by the date of 
the election, or a faculty member whose combined years of practice and 
teaching of interior design subjects in schools amount to twenty (20) years 
on the date of the election, provided he or she has at least ten (10) years 
of practice; 
  
D. Persons who are ineligible for election to the Board are: 
      
1.     Owners, partners, officers, instructors, and employees of any review 
institution offering classes in preparation for the licensure examination, 
and the spouse, parent, or child by blood, marriage, or adoption of the 
same; 
  
2.     A spouse, parent, or child by blood, marriage, or adoption of 
another 
Board 
member, 
an 
incumbent 
Commissioner 
of 
the 
Commission, or an incumbent trustee or officer of an architectural 
association or the Integrated Accredited Professional Organization for 
Architects” (IAPOA); and 
  
3.     Any person declared by competent authority insane or incompetent 
or sentenced by a court of justice for a crime involving moral turpitude. 
   
Section 6. Notice of Nomination and Nominations. – The Board shall cause 
a notice to be sent to the IAPOA and to every known architectural association 
registered with the SEC, informing them of the matters referred to in this Article, 
together with a nomination form, which shall be in such form as the Board may 
determine. 
  
The Board shall likewise describe a Board member’s qualifications, duties, and 
powers, as enumerated in this Article. 
  
A. Every qualified architect who desires to nominate a candidate for election 
as a member of the Board shall: 
  


1.
Enter his name as a nominator and sign on the nomination form
referred to above;
2.
Enter on the nomination form the name of the candidate and have
the consent of the candidate endorsed thereon;
3.
Enter on the nomination form the names of four (4) seconders for
the candidate and have the signatures of the seconders endorsed
thereon; and
4.
Submit the nomination form in the manner required by the Board,
together with such information and documents concerning the
candidate as the Board may require.
B. A nominator shall not nominate more candidates in any election than the
number of vacancies to be filled in that election.
Section 7. Criteria for Nominees and the Selection of Candidates. – The 
Board shall select a maximum of two (2) candidates per vacancy from the 
nominees based on the following criteria, whose weights the Board shall 
determine: 
A. Demonstrated experience
1.
Portfolio with project descriptions, year built, location, role in each
project;
2.
Photographs or renders;
3.
Varied typologies and large-scale projects;
4.
Published projects/articles;
B. Demonstrated leadership
1.
Positions held, including civic leadership roles, corporate Boards,
national councils, or committees;
2.
Willingness to listen and work collaboratively;
3.
Thinks strategically, manages complexity, and acts decisively;
4.
Effectively resolves conflict and demonstrates courage;
C. Demonstrated professionalism
1.
Demonstrates personal and professional integrity, trustworthiness,
ethics, and values;
2.
Demonstrates continuing skill and knowledge development;
3.
Displays self-awareness, open-mindedness, commitment to
confidentiality;
4.
Displays appropriate conduct in public;
D. Academic experience and background
1.
Courses one has taught, schools, and years;
2.
Doctorate and Master’s degree, if any;
3.
Bachelor’s degree;


E. Contribution to the industry 
1.     Speaking engagements at conferences, seminars, workshops; 
2.     Volunteerism; 
3.     Research, white papers; 
  
F. List of awards, citations; 
  
G. The diversity that he or she brings to the Board, unique experiences and 
perspectives, knowledge and understanding of issues facing the profession 
in the country, regionally, and globally; and 
  
H. Commitment to serve, spend time and actively participate in the Board’s 
responsibilities and initiatives. 
  
If there are no more valid nominations than the number of vacancies to be filled 
in any election, the Board shall declare the candidates nominated to be elected. 
  
By a supermajority vote of seven out of nine and subject to approval by the 
Commission, the Board may revise the above qualifications to anticipate and 
respond strategically to developments in architecture practice without lowering 
the qualifications for acceptable nominees and candidates. 
  
Section 8. Election Timetable and Conduct. 
  
A. Following Section 6 of this Article, the Board of Architecture shall: 
  
1.     Publish on its website and send notices to the IAPOA and every 
architectural association registered with the SEC, within fifteen (15) to 
forty-five (45) days from the effectivity of this Act, announcing, arranging 
for, and providing: 
  
a.     An election primer on the Professional Regulatory Board of 
Architecture to be created by this Act, its composition, functions, 
powers, responsibilities, and accountabilities, as described in this 
Article, and a nomination form which shall be in such form as the 
Board may determine, that includes the criteria for Nominees and 
Candidates, as described in Section 7 of this Article; 
  
b.     A call for nominations for fourteen (14) candidates, two 
candidates for every elective position to be filled; and the 
qualifications 
and 
disqualifications 
of 
Board 
members, 
nominating persons, and the electorate, as described in Section 5 
of this Article; 
  
c.      A series of meetings to be held within thirty (30) to sixty (60) 
days from the effectivity of this Act with the SEC-registered 


architectural associations to consult and discuss the election 
primer, the nomination form, the procedure for submitting 
nominations, how to select candidates from the eligible nominees, 
the conduct of the election, and related matters; 
  
d.     The period for submitting nominations, which the Board 
shall set within forty (40) to ninety (90) days of the effectivity of 
this Act; 
  
e.     The date of the announcement of fourteen (14) candidates, 
which the Board shall set one hundred (100) to one hundred 
twenty (120) days from the effectivity of this Act; 
  
f.       The date for the election of seven (7) new Board of 
Architecture members, which shall be set within one hundred 
eighty (180) to one hundred ninety (190) days from the effectivity 
of this Act; 
  
g.     The date of the announcement of election results, which shall 
be set not more than two (2) working days from the election date; 
  
2.     In the interest of transparency, publish timely updates and 
reminders on its website and send notices to the IAPOA and 
architectural associations on  developments regarding the election; 
  
3.     Simultaneously release the complete information submitted for the 
nomination of the fourteen (14) candidates and any further research 
into their qualifications to the public. 
  
B. Each of or at least five (5) SEC-registered architectural associations shall 
appoint one representative who meets the qualifications prescribed in 
Section 5 and is not a nominee to serve on a committee of election, which 
shall, only for the first election enabled by this Act: 
  
1.     Assist the Board in ascertaining the eligibility of nominees; 
2.     Approve the Board’s selection of the fourteen (14) best qualified 
candidates from the eligible nominees; 
3.     Assist and advise the Board on how to conduct a fast and reliable 
online vote by eligible voters and allow registered architects to monitor 
the elections and the vote count; and 
4.     Confirm the Board’s vote count and affirm the veracity of results 
upon the announcement of winning candidates; 
  
C. The Professional Regulatory Boards of Civil Engineering and Interior 
Design shall submit to the Architecture Board the names and 


qualifications of their three nominees to serve on the Architecture Board 
within one week of the election. 
  
D. For succeeding elections, the nine-member Board of Architecture created 
under this Act shall: 
  
1.     Set the date calling for nominations within July; 
  
2.     Determine the procedure and period for submitting nominations, 
which shall be held for a period of one month, within August to 
September; 
  
3.     Select candidates from eligible nominees and release information 
about the candidates, which shall be within September; 
  
4.     Require the IAPOA to conduct an election awareness campaign 
within October and November and monitor the IAPOA’s conduct to 
ensure fair and substantive discussion of issues and the release of 
correct information about the candidates; 
  
5.     Set a date for election within the last week of November or the first 
week of December; 
  
6.     Set the date and manner by which the election results will be 
announced, which shall not be more than two (2) working days after the 
election. 
  
  
Section 9. Terms of Office, Succession, Vacancies, Oath, and Schedule of 
First Board Meeting. 
  
A. Terms of office of the architect board members: 
  
1.   A board member’s term of office shall be three (3) years. He or she 
shall be eligible for re-election. 
  
2.   A board member is ineligible for re-election if the re-election would 
result in him or her holding office for three (3) consecutive terms. 
  
3.   A board member who has served for a continuous period of six years 
is eligible for re-election only after at least three (3) years have elapsed 
since he or she last served. 
  
4.   The term of office for the Vice-Chair shall be one year. The Vice-Chair 
then automatically succeeds the Chair. 
  


5.   The term of office for the Chair shall be one year. The Chair then 
automatically succeeds the Mentor. 
  
6.   The term of office for Mentor shall be one year. 
  
7.   The Vice-Chair shall assume the powers and duties of the Chair in 
his or her absence or disability, refusal or failure to act, and perform 
other duties properly assigned by the Chair or the Board. 
  
8.   The architect members of the first elected Board shall, within 15 days 
after the election, hold their first meeting and take the oath of office as 
prescribed by the Commission and file the same with the 
Commissioner. In succeeding years, they shall take their oath and hold 
their first meeting of the year every January. 
  
9.   The first agenda of the first meeting of the first Board of architect-
members created by this Act shall be: 
  
1. To elect the Board's Chair and Vice-Chair. Thereafter, the Board 
shall elect its Vice-Chair every January.  
  
2. To decide amongst themselves the length of their first term in office, 
to stagger the architect members’ terms of office: 
  
(i)   The Chair must agree to serve two years 
(ii)  The Vice-Chair must agree to serve three years 
(iii) Two members must agree to serve three years 
(iv)One member must agree to serve two years 
(v)  Two members must agree to serve one year 
  
3. To select the Civil Engineering and Interior Design representatives 
from the nominees submitted by their respective regulatory boards. 
Thereafter, the Board shall make its selection within the first week 
of January. The Board may request to interview the civil engineer 
and interior designer nominees beforehand if they so wish. 
  
B. Terms of office of civil engineer and interior designer members of the Board 
of Architecture: 
  
1.   The term of the civil engineer and interior designer selected by the 
Board of Architecture shall be three years. 
2.   The Board may choose to retain the civil engineer or interior designer 
board member for another three years. 
3.   The Board's civil engineer and interior designer members may not 
serve as Chair, Vice-Chair, or Mentor. 


4.   The civil engineer and interior designer board members may not serve 
on the Board for more than two consecutive terms. 
  
C.    A board member may resign at any time by notice in writing addressed 
to the Commission. 
  
D.    Where vacancies occur in an elected post other than by the expiry of the 
member's term of office: 
  
1.   The Board shall fill the vacancy as soon as practicable to ensure a 
nine-member board at all times. 
2.   The Board shall select a person to fill the vacancy from the pool of 
candidates of the last five elections. 
3.   When the outgoing Vice-Chair is unwilling to assume the office of 
Chair and resigns, the Board shall elect a Chair from among 
themselves; 
4.   When the outgoing Chair is unwilling to assume the post of Mentor 
and resigns, the Board shall appoint a previous board officer or the 
current board member who has served the longest to take the post. If 
no previous board officers are willing to assume the Mentor post and 
the Board's most senior member is the incoming Chair, the Mentor 
position shall remain vacant. 
  
E.     Where a vacancy occurs other than by the expiry of the civil engineer 
or the interior designer member's term of office— 
  
1.   The Board shall fill the vacancy as soon as practicable to ensure a 
nine-member Board at all times. 
2.   The Board shall select the replacement to fill the vacancy from 
previous nominees of the Professional Regulatory Board of Civil 
Engineering or the Professional Regulatory Board of Interior Design 
within the last five years or request the Board of Civil Engineering or 
Board of Interior Design to nominate a new batch of three nominees. 
  
F.     A person appointed to fill a vacancy holds the office only for the 
remainder of the term of his predecessor. 
  
Section 10. Suspension or Removal of Members of the Board. 
  
A.     The Board may, upon written and verified complaint and for good cause 
shown, after fifteen (15) days’ notice to any officer or member and after 
opportunity for hearing, suspend or remove the member by a majority vote 
of the other eight (8) members of the Board on any of the following grounds: 
  
1.     Neglect of duty or incompetence; 
  


2.     Violation or tolerance of the violation of this Act or its 
implementing rules and regulations or the Code of Ethical Conduct 
and Standards of Professional Practice; 
  
3.     Conviction of offenses in the revised Penal Code, Anti-Graft and 
Corrupt Practices Act, and those involving moral turpitude by a court 
of competent jurisdiction; and 
  
4.     Manipulation or rigging of the architecture licensure examination 
results, disclosure of secret and confidential information in the 
examination questions before the conduct of the said examination or 
tampering of grades; 
  
5.     Absence without leave from three consecutive meetings of the 
Board or Board and Commission committees, of which he or she is a 
member. 
  
B.     In the absence of a majority vote by the Board, a member may elevate 
the matter to the Commission, which shall conduct an administrative 
investigation guided by Section 7(s) of Republic Act No. 8981, otherwise 
known as "The PRC Modernization Act of 2000," the rules on the 
administrative investigation, and applicable provisions of the Revised Rules 
of Court. 
  
C.    The Commission shall resolve administrative complaints filed by any 
person against the Board, its Chair, or its members within one (1) month 
from the filing of the complaint. The Commission shall thereafter endorse its 
decision to the Office of the President for final disposition. The decision of the 
Office of the President, which shall be handed down within one month after 
the Commission’s endorsement, shall not preclude the complainant from 
filing a subsequent related complaint for adjudication by the court. 
  
D.    The Commission shall resolve criminal complaints filed by any person 
against the Board, its Chair, or its members within two (2) weeks from the 
date of receipt of the complaint. The Commission shall thereafter endorse its 
decision to the Department of Justice, which shall decide within one month 
after receipt of the Commission endorsement; 
  
E.     Special or administrative-cum-criminal complaints filed by any person 
against the Board, its Chair, or its members shall be filed directly with the 
office of the Ombudsman for resolution. 
  
Section 11. Functions of the Board. – The Board shall exercise the following 
powers, functions, and responsibilities: 
  
A.     Administer and promulgate this Act fully; 


  
B.     Prescribe and adopt the rules and regulations necessary for carrying 
out the provisions of this Act, and amend or rescind past issuances and 
policies of the Board that contravene this Act, subject to the review and 
approval of the Commission, provided that before adopting such, the Board 
shall publish the proposed regulations or policies on its website and the 
Official Gazette, and allow architectural associations and the general public 
an opportunity to make representations to the Board within thirty (30) days 
of publication; 
  
C.    Grant, deny, suspend, revoke, annul, or reinstate the Certificate of 
Registration or the Professional Identification Card to ensure that only 
competent and fit natural and juridical persons shall practice architecture in 
the Philippines; 
  
D.    Approve, issue, limit, or cancel the registration of a foreign architect to 
practice architecture on Philippine soil; 
  
E.     Keep, maintain, and publish a Register of Architects, a Register of 
Practicing Architects, Register of Foreign Architects, and Register of 
Architecture Firms annually; 
  
F.     Prescribe the syllabi, prepare the questions, and advise the Commission  
on the administration, checking, and release of results of licensure 
examinations to ensure that only competent applicants pass, and for which 
the Board may consult professional and educational organizations as it 
thinks appropriate; 
  
G.    Monitor local and international benchmarks and conditions affecting 
the practice of architecture and adopt such measures as the Board deems 
necessary for the practice to attain and maintain globally competitive 
professional, technical, and ethical standards, and counsel the Commission  
on Higher Education (CHED) and architectural associations of the same in 
private and public communications, dialogue, and campaigns; 
  
H.    Within the first year of the effectivity of this Act, the Board, with the 
approval of the Commission, shall publish on its website and the Official 
Gazette an initial list of 200 Board-approved international architecture 
programs that are demonstrably superior to the country’s top architecture 
programs based on credible international accreditation, validation, rating, 
and ranking systems such as, but not limited to, those of the Singapore 
Board of Architects, the Royal Institute of British Architects, the National 
Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB), the National Council of Architectural 
Registration Boards (NCARB), Canberra Accord on Architectural Education, 
UNESCO-UIA Validation Council for Architectural Education, and the QS 
World University Rankings, for purposes of entitling Filipinos with foreign 


degrees to qualify for licensure examination and the approval of CPD courses 
taken abroad; 
  
Thereafter, the Board shall annually update and publish said list, adding 
only architecture programs recognized internationally to provide excellent 
architecture education and removing only those that have fallen from such 
stature or are demonstrably inferior by international standards to the 
Philippines’ top architecture programs; 
  
I.       Rationalize, counsel, and co-develop with the CHED its development 
plans, policies, requirements, priorities, and minimum standards for 
educational institutions offering architecture; 
  
J.      Establish and review rigorous criteria, building on the provisions of 
Section 25 of this Act,  by which the Board’s visiting teams shall assess the 
performance of educational institutions, and devise awards, incentives, and 
disincentives to spur schools to continually improve the quality of education, 
faculty, and facilities; and share the Board’s evaluations to guide the CHED 
in carrying out its program of incentives and sanctions; 
  
K.     Determine the requirements for Continuing Professional Education and 
Development (CPD) and approve, terminate, or reject CPD providers, their 
programs, courses, and activities to achieve and maintain internationally 
accepted standards, for which the Board may consult professional and 
educational organizations and direct the CPD Council as it thinks 
appropriate; 
  
L.     Hear and decide administrative cases involving charges of violations of 
this Act, its implementing rules and regulations, the Code of Ethical Conduct 
and Standards of Professional Practice. And for this purpose, issue subpoena 
ad testificandum and subpoena duces tecum to secure the attendance of 
witnesses and the production of documents in connection therewith, 
provided that the decisions, resolutions or orders of the Board shall, unless 
appealed to the Commission, become final and executory after fifteen (15) 
days from receipt of notice of judgment or decision. The Commission's 
decision may be appealed to the Court of Appeals following the procedure 
under the Rules of Court; 
  
M.    Prescribe a Code of Ethics and Code of Professional Standards 
consistent with the Philippine Constitution and global best practices; 
  
N.    Establish, by administrative rule, procedures for the assessment of fees 
for the administration of this Act; 
  
O.    Administer oaths in connection with the administration of this Act; 
  


P.     Adopt an official seal of the Board; 
  
Q.    Keep a record of Board proceedings and make an annual report to the 
President, copy-furnish the Commission, Secretary of Trade and Industry, 
Senate President, Speaker of the House, relevant legislative committees, and 
the CHED; and 
  
R.    Discharge such other duties and functions as necessary to improve the 
service of the Board, the Commission, and their committees; enhance the 
architecture profession; and continually upgrade architecture education. 
  
  
Section 12. Powers Of The Board. – The Board has the power to do all things 
necessary or convenient in connection with performing its functions, including 
the power: 
  
A.   With the approval of the Commission and the Secretary of Trade and 
Industry, to enter into arrangements with the appropriate registration 
authority of other countries and territories for the mutual recognition by the 
Philippines and that territory of the qualifications and standards adopted 
by each of the parties to the arrangement regarding the practice of 
architecture; 
  
B.   To appoint such committees from among its members, architects, and 
allied professionals as it thinks fit to assist or advise the Board on matters 
arising out of its functions under this Act; 
  
C.  To grant prizes and scholarships in connection with architecture, either 
alone or in conjunction with any person or organization; and 
  
D.  To accept grants, donations, or gifts from any source or raise funds by 
lawful means. 
  
Section 13. Meetings and Quorum of the Board. – Five (5) architect members 
shall form a quorum, and no business shall be transacted at any Board meeting 
unless a quorum is present. The Chair shall preside at any meeting of the Board. 
In his or her absence, the Vice-Chair shall preside over the meeting. The Board 
shall allow in-person, teleconference, and other means for members to attend 
the meetings, and cause proper records of its proceedings to be kept. 
  
Section 14. Annual Report. – Every first week of December, the Board shall 
submit an annual report to the President of the Philippines through the 
Commission, copy-furnish the Secretary of Trade and Industry, the Senate 
President, the Speaker of the House, the relevant legislative committees of the 
Senate and the House of Representatives, and the CHED, of the Board’s 
accomplishments, proceedings, and challenges in the previous year. 


  
Every other year, the annual report shall be a competitiveness report assessing 
Filipino professional architects, architecture schools, the Board, and the IAPOA 
vis à vis their counterparts in countries with whom the Philippines has, is 
negotiating, or desires to negotiate service trade treaties. 
  
The alternating biannual reports shall recommend measures to upgrade 
regulation and the practice and shall include and not be limited to the following 
matters: 
  
A.     Licensure: Comparative analysis of registration applicants, Board exam 
passers, scores, subjects where applicants are strong and weak, and 
recommendations for improvement; 
  
B.     Education: Quality assessment of architecture schools; their standing 
vis-à-vis those in the Board’s list of approved schools as defined in Section 
11. H; their improvement or deterioration, strengths, and weaknesses and 
how these may be enhanced and addressed; schools to be commended, 
warned, and, in the Board's opinion, be placed on probation or closed; 
recommendations to the CHED, the CHED’s response, and next steps; 
  
C.    Continuing Education: Quality assessment of Board-approved CPD 
activities available in the past year, based on reports submitted by the Board 
and the Commission’s CPD monitors’ and feedback from CPD takers; CPD 
providers to be commended, warned, suspended, or terminated; the Board’s 
directives and recommendations to the CPD Council and IAPOA; the CPD 
Council and IAPOA’s responses and next steps; 
  
D.    Regulation: Quality assessment of the Board’s and the Commission’s 
delivery of services to its constituents, such as the timely release of 
Certificates of Registration, Professional Identification Cards, approval of 
education and CPD equivalencies, and the like; 
  
E.     Discipline: an assessment of the numbers: 
  
1.   Of complaints received; 
2.   Of complaints determined to be legally sufficient; 
3.   Of complaints determined to be legally insufficient; 
4.   Of complaints dismissed; 
5.   Of complaints filed in court; 
6.   Of complaints determined to have a probable cause; 
7.   Of administrative complaints issued and the status of the complaints; 
8.   And nature of disciplinary actions taken by the Board; 
9.   And the amount of fines and penalties imposed; 
10.    And the amount of fines and penalties collected; 
11.    Of completed investigations; and 


12.    Of pending investigations; and 
  
F.     Collaboration: A summary of concerted efforts with other Professional 
Regulatory Boards, the IAPOA, associations of architecture and allied 
professions, the Design Center of the Philippines, other organizations or 
agencies that promote design in the built environment, and recommended 
future activities. 
  
Within one month after submission to the Commission, the Board shall publish 
the annual report in the Official Gazette and its website to be readily accessed 
by the general public. 
  
Section 15. Administrative Supervision of the Board, Custodian of its 
Records, Secretariat, and Support Services. – The Board shall be under the 
administrative supervision of the Commission. All records of the Board, 
including applications for examination and 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 
provide the secretariat and other support services to implement the provisions 
of this Act. 
  
Section 16. Compensation and Allowances of the Board. The board members 
shall receive compensation and allowances comparable to those received by 
existing regulatory boards under the Commission as provided for in the General 
Appropriations Act. 
  
Section 17. Code of Ethics and Professional Standards. – The Board shall 
keep the Code under review and amend its provisions when it considers 
appropriate to reflect the highest Filipino values and world standards for the 
profession. The Board shall consult professional bodies and other persons as the 
Board deems appropriate. Before issuing or amending the code, the Board shall 
publish the code on its website and in the Official Gazette, indicating its proposed 
revisions, and allow the IAPOA and the general public to make representations 
to the Board within 30 days of publication. 
  
Section 18. Registers. – The Board must keep and maintain at its office— 
  
A.     The following registers: 
  
1.   A Register of Architects containing the names of natural persons 
registered under this Act and any other particulars, as determined by 
the Board and the Commission; 
  
2.   A Register of Practicing Architects who have a valid Professional 
Identification Card (PIC) or practicing license; 
  


3.   A Register of Foreign Architects; and 
  
4.   A Register of Architecture Firms                  
  
B.     The Registers must be indexed appropriately and open for public 
inspection and information on the Commission's and the Board’s websites. 
  
C.    Necessary alterations shall be made on the appropriate registers to 
remove the names or indicate those registered persons who are inactive or 
have died. 
  
D.    The names of the architects whose Certificates of Registration have been 
revoked or suspended shall be marked on the Register only after the decision 
for such suspension or revocation has attained finality. 
  
E.     The Board and the Commission shall publish the updated Registers on 
their websites before January 30 every year. 
  
Section 19. Seal. – The Board’s seal may be altered or made anew by the Board 
as it deems fit. The seal shall be kept in the custody of the Chair and 
authenticated and used by him or the Vice-Chair acting in his absence. Any 
document sealed by the Board’s seal and authenticated as provided by the Board 
shall, until the contrary is proved, be regarded as validly executed. 
  
ARTICLE III 
EXAMINATION, REGISTRATION, AND LICENSURE 
  
Section 20. Examination Required. – Except as otherwise specifically allowed 
under this Act, all applicants for registration for the practice of architecture who 
are Filipino citizens shall be required to undergo a licensure examination to be 
given by the Board in such places and dates as the Commission may designate 
per Section 7(D) and the other relevant provisions of Republic Act No. 8981 or 
‘the PRC Modernization Act of 2000.’ 
  
Section 21. Qualifications of Applicant for Examination. – Any person 
applying for examination shall establish to the satisfaction of the Board that he 
or she: 
  
A.     Is a Filipino citizen or citizen of a foreign country qualified to take the 
examination as provided under this Act; 
  
B.     Is of good moral character; 
  
C.    Is a holder of a five-year Bachelor of Science, Master’s (MA or MS), or 
doctorate degree in Architecture obtained from: 
  


1.     An institution of learning in the Philippines duly accredited by 
the government; or 
  
2.     An international institution of learning of high international 
standing approved by the Board, as defined in Section 11.H; 
  
D. On the matter of approving baccalaureate, masteral, or doctorate  
Architecture degrees secured from foreign schools not on the Board’s list of 
approved schools, as defined in Section 11.H, the Board, in compliance with 
R.A. 11032, the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service 
Delivery Act of 2018,  shall: 
  
1.     Within seven (7) days of application, assess the equivalency or 
substance and  standard of the academic units earned overseas; 
conduct an oral interview and examination of the applicant to ascertain 
his or her knowledge of architecture; and prescribe the manner of 
earning additional academic credits and training to satisfy perceived 
deficiencies, if any; 
2.     Within nine (9) days of application, make the requisite 
endorsements to the CHED Technical Committee, which must concur 
with the Board’s findings within three (3) days from the Board’s 
endorsement; and 
3.     Issue the permit to take the licensure examination within three 
(3) days after the CHED Technical Committee’s concurrence. 
E.     Has completed three thousand nine hundred (3,900) hours of Diversified 
Architectural Experience with increasing levels of responsibility under the 
supervision or mentorship of registered and licensed architects or engineers, 
which includes real-life experience in the practice areas of: 
  
1.     Practice Management; 
2.     Project Management; 
3.     Programming and Analysis; 
4.     Project Planning and Design; 
5.     Project Development and Documentation; and 
6.     Construction & Evaluation; 
  
provided, however, that an applicant holding a Master’s (MS or MA) degree or 
Doctorate in Architecture in addition to a Baccalaureate in Architecture from 
recognized institutions of learning shall have one thousand five hundred 
(1500) hours of Diversified Architectural Experience credited to him or her; 
and 
  
F.     Has not been convicted of a crime or an offense involving moral turpitude. 
Or, if convicted, has paid his or her debt to society and compensatory or 
punitive damages, if any. 
  


Section 22. Subjects for Licensure Examination. – The Board shall prepare 
questions for a reliable and valid professional licensure examination that 
ensures only competent applicants shall pass. 
  
A.     The licensure examination for architects shall cover but not be limited 
to the following subjects: 
  
1.   History and Theory of Architecture; Principles of Planning and 
Architectural Practice; 
2.   Structural Design, Building Materials, and Architectural 
Specifications, and Methods of Construction and Utilities; 
3.   Urban Design and Architectural Interiors; and 
4.   Architectural Design and Site Development Planning. 
  
  
B.     Every year, the Board shall prescribe what it deems necessary to achieve 
and maintain the standard of rigor and reliability of the most credible 
international 
licensure 
exams, 
reviewing 
the 
following 
and 
other 
considerations as it sees fit: 
  
1.   Exam subjects; 
2.   Exam formats; 
3.   Administrative procedures such as, but not limited to: 
a.     Proctor-candidate ratio; 
b.     Examiner-candidate ratio; 
c.      Candidate briefing; 
d.     Test site; 
e.     Time allowed; 
f.       Inventory and storage of examination materials; and 
g.     Incident reports; 
4.   Minimum competence criteria developed by local, regional, and 
international practitioners; 
5.   The examination's reliability and validity, based on internationally 
accepted benchmarks for technical, professional, and legal standards; 
and 
6.   Appeals and re-examinations. 
  
C.    The Board may consult professional and educational organizations and 
contractors as it thinks appropriate. 
  
Section 23. Rating in the Licensure Examination. – For the three years upon 
effectivity of this Act, a candidate shall be considered to have passed the 
licensure examination when he or she has obtained a weighted general average 
of seventy percent (70%), with no grade lower than sixty percent (60%) in any 
given subject. 
  


However, three years after the effectivity of this Act, a candidate shall be 
considered to have passed the licensure examination when he or she has 
obtained a weighted general average of seventy-five percent (75%) with no grade 
lower than sixty-five percent (65%) in any given subject. 
  
Applicants who fail to pass the licensure examination may take the exam the 
following year. Repeaters must take the exam in its entirety, not just the parts 
of the exam they failed. 
  
An applicant who fails to pass the licensure examination for two (2) consecutive 
attempts shall not be allowed to take another exam until he or she takes a 
refresher course, subject to the guidelines set forth by the Board. 
  
Applicants who fail to pass the licensure examination three (3) times shall no 
longer be allowed to take the exam. 
  
On no account shall the Board lower the passing grades of the licensure 
examination or make the exam easier to pass. It shall, instead, regularly examine 
and prescribe how the Philippine licensure examination shall achieve and 
maintain the standard of rigor and reliability of the most credible international 
licensure exams. 
  
Section 24. Report of Ratings. – The Board shall submit to the Commission 
the ratings obtained by each candidate within fourteen (14) days after the 
examination unless extended for just cause. Upon the release of the examination 
results, the Board shall notify each examinee of their rating. 
  
Section 25. Closure or Suspension of Non-Performing and Under-
Performing Architecture Programs and Review School Courses. – The Board 
of Architecture shall rationalize, counsel, and co-develop with the Commission 
on Higher Education (CHED) its development plans, policies, requirements, 
priorities, and minimum standards for educational institutions offering 
architecture. 
  
A.     The Board shall review and establish rigorous criteria by which it shall 
assess the performance of educational institutions, and devise awards, 
incentives, and disincentives to spur schools to continually improve the 
quality of education, faculty, and facilities. 
  
B.     This Act hereby also vests the Board with jurisdiction over the activities 
of schools offering review courses for the architecture licensure examination. 
  
C.    Within two (2) years from the effectivity of this Act, the CHED shall order 
schools offering architecture programs to cease offering said program when: 
  


1.     Less than twenty percent (20%) of the school’s graduates taking 
the licensure exam during said two-year period pass; or 
2.     The school fails to satisfy the requirements set under the Board-
approved CHED Program Standards and Guidelines. 
D.    Within two (2) years from the effectivity of this Act, the Board shall order 
review schools offering pre-licensure review programs for architecture to 
cease offering said programs when the board exam passers from such review 
school do not reach ten percent (10%) of the number of exam takers from 
that school during said two-year period. 
E.     The decisions of the CHED and the Board on Subsections 25.A and 
25.B are not subject to review or appeal. 
F.     The Board shall, in consultation with the Integrated Accredited 
Professional Organization for Architecture (IAPOA) or with the five largest 
architectural associations, and with the approval of the Commission, within 
eighteen (18) months of the effectivity of this Act, prescribe other terms and 
conditions by which the Board, through the CHED, may suspend or revoke 
the accreditation of a school’s architecture program, and the terms and 
conditions under which a suspended or revoked accreditation may be 
reinstated. 
  
G.    Under no circumstance shall such terms and conditions be lightened to 
allow a lowering of standards in education and pre-licensure review. If the 
Board shall make any revisions to the criteria by which it assesses the quality 
of education, faculty, and facilities of educational institutions, the objective 
shall always be to help the Philippines produce professionals with credentials 
that stand up to the world’s best. 
  
Section 26. Oath. – Before entering the practice of the profession, all successful 
candidates in the examination shall take an oath of the profession before a 
member of the Board, a government official authorized by the Commission, or a 
person authorized by law to administer oaths. 
  
Section 27. Issuance of Certificates of Registration and Professional 
Identification Card. 
  
A.     Upon payment of the prescribed fee, the Board shall issue a Certificate 
of Registration to passers of the licensure examination. The certificate shall 
bear the signatures of the Commission Chair and board members and be 
stamped with the official seal, indicating that the person named therein is 
registered and thus entitled to practice architecture. Certification shall 
remain in full force and effect until suspended, revoked, or annulled under 
this Act. 
  
B.     Upon payment of the prescribed fee, the registered architect shall receive 
a Professional Identification Card (PIC) or practicing license bearing the 
architect’s registration number, the card’s date of issuance, and expiry date. 


The PIC expires every seven (7) years, and a valid PIC serves as evidence that 
the bearer is a living, registered, certified, and licensed architect who, to the 
knowledge of the Board and the Commission, has not violated this Act and 
has participated in continuing skill and knowledge development expected of 
professionals. 
  
C.    To renew one’s PIC or practicing license, the registered architect needs 
only to: 
  
1.     Pay the prescribed fee, 
  
2.     Submit a completed application form; and 
  
3.     Submit proof of completion of the prescribed CPD requirements 
within the seven (7) years before the PIC’s expiration. 
  
D. Following R.A. 11032, the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient 
Government Service Delivery Act of 2018, the Commission shall issue the 
renewed PIC within three (3) working days from application. If the 
Commission fails to approve or disapprove the original application or request 
for renewal of the PIC or practicing license within such prescribed processing 
time, said request for renewal shall be deemed approved, provided that all 
required documents have been submitted and all required fees have been 
paid. The acknowledgment receipt together with the official receipt for 
payment of all required fees issued to the applicant or requesting party shall 
be enough proof or has the same force and effect of the PIC or practicing 
license under this approval automatic mechanism. Registrants who wish to 
file complaints for the late release of their PIC may do so at the Commission’s 
Complaints Desk or the Anti-Red Tape Unit in the Civil Service Commission. 
  
E.     Under no circumstance shall membership certificates or requirements 
by the IAPOA or any architectural association be made a precondition for the 
renewal of the PIC or practicing license or proof of completion of CPD 
requirements. 
  
Section 28. Inactive and Active Status. – A registered architect who fails to 
renew his or her Professional Identification Card or practicing license before its 
expiry date shall be considered inactive. 
  
A.     There shall be no penalty for failure to renew one’s Professional 
Identification Card. 
  
B.     To return to active status, the inactive architect shall: 
  
1.     Pay the regular prescribed renewal fee charged to active 
practitioners; 


  
2.     Submit a completed application form, which shall be in such form 
as the Board may determine; 
  
3.     Provide satisfactory proof that he or she has maintained 
proficiency by completing two (2) years’ worth of CPD credits within 
two years before the date of application for the return to active status, 
unless otherwise approved by the Board or provided by Board rule. 
  
C. Following R.A. 11032, the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient 
Government Service Delivery Act of 2018, and as provided for in Subsection 
27. D of this Act, the Commission shall issue the renewed PIC within three 
(3) working days from application. 
  
D.    The Board may adopt additional rules providing for an inactive registered 
architect to return to active status provided that the Board shall not impose 
an application fee higher than the regular prescribed renewal fee of the PIC. 
In addition, the Board shall not require the applicant to fulfil more than two 
years' worth of CPD credits within the two years before the architect’s 
application for the return to active status. 
  
E.     Membership certificates or requirements by the IAPOA or any 
architecture association shall not be a precondition for an inactive registered 
architect to return to active practice. 
  
Section 29. Use of Seal and Signing of Architectural Documents. – A duly 
licensed architect shall stamp or affix the seal prescribed by the Board bearing 
his or her name, registration number, and title "Architect" on all architectural 
documents produced by him or her or prepared under his or her supervision. 
  
A.       Each registrant hereunder shall obtain a seal of such design as the 
Board authorizes and shall use said seal during the life of his or her 
Certificate of Registration, provided that he or she also has a valid 
Professional Identification Card or practicing license. 
  
B.       It shall be unlawful for anyone to stamp or seal any architectural 
documents after the registrant's certificate has been suspended or 
revoked or while the registrant is inactive, that is, does not have a valid 
Professional Identification Card (PIC) or practicing license. The use of the 
seal shall remain illegal until the registrant's certificate has been 
reinstated or re-issued and the registrant has renewed his PIC. 
  
C.       No officer or employee of this Republic now or hereafter charged with 
the enforcement of the law, ordinances, or regulations relating to the 
construction or alteration of buildings shall approve any architectural 
document that has not been signed and sealed in accord with this Act. 


Nor shall any such office approve any payment without the architect's 
Certificate of Registration number and the expiry date of his or her 
Professional Identification Card attesting to its validity. 
  
D.       It shall be unlawful for any architect to sign his or her name, affix his 
or her seal or use any other method of signature on architectural 
documents made by or under the supervision of another architect unless 
said architectural documents indicate the part or parts of such work 
performed by the former. 
  
E.       It shall be unlawful for any person, except the architect-of-record, to 
sign for any branch of work for any function of architectural practice not 
performed or supervised by him or her. The architect-of-record shall be 
fully responsible and liable for all architectural documents issued under 
his or her seal and authorized signature. 
  
F.       Drawings and specifications duly signed, stamped, or sealed as 
instruments of service are the intellectual properties and documents of 
the architect, whether the object for which they are made is executed or 
not. Therefore, it shall be unlawful for any person, without the consent 
of the architect or author, to duplicate or make copies of said documents 
for use in the repetition of and for other projects or buildings, whether 
executed partly or in whole. 
  
Section 30. Indication of Certificate of Registration, Professional 
Identification Card, and Professional Tax Receipt. – The architect shall be 
required to indicate his or her Certificate of Registration number, Professional 
Identification Card’s expiry date, including the Professional Tax Receipt number 
on the architectural and contract documents he or she signs. 
  
Section 31. Refusal to Issue Certificate of Registration and Professional 
Identification Card. 
  
A.     The Board shall not register and issue a Certificate of Registration or a 
Professional Identification Card to any person: 
  
1.     Who has entered false information or forged evidence, or 
committed or attempted to commit fraud, bribery, or concealment of a 
material fact in the application for examination, application for 
registration, application for renewal of the Professional Identification 
Card, or their supporting documents; 
  
2.     Whose qualification for examination under Section 21 has been 
withdrawn or cancelled by the school or authority that granted it; 
  


3.     Declared of unsound mind or so addicted to drug or alcohol as to 
impair the ability to practice, as determined by a court of competent 
jurisdiction; 
  
4.     Has been convicted of a crime or offense involving moral turpitude 
by a court of competent jurisdiction and has not yet paid his debt to 
society nor paid compensatory or punitive damages, if any, in full. 
  
B.     The Board may also refuse to issue a Professional Identification Card 
or practicing license if it is not satisfied that the applicant has complied with 
the prescribed requirements relating to Continuing Professional Development 
provided that the Board has approved a sufficient number CPD activities in 
which registered architects of varying levels of experience may participate 
throughout the year wherever they reside and work. 
  
C.    In refusing registration or renewal of the Professional Identification Card, 
the Board shall give the applicant a written statement within three (3) days 
of application setting forth the reasons therefor and shall file a copy thereof 
in its records. The Board shall not refuse registration for a political offense 
or one that would not, in its opinion, either from the nature of the offense or 
from the circumstances of the case, disqualify a person from practicing under 
this Act. 
  
D.    Any person whose registration or Professional Identification Card 
renewal has been refused by the Board may, within thirty (30) days after 
being notified of such refusal, appeal to the Commission Chair or the Office 
of the President and, after that, the regular courts, the Court of Appeals, and 
ultimately, the Supreme Court. 
  
Section 32. Suspension and Revocation of Certificates of Registration and 
Professional Identification Card. 
  
A.     The Board, after due notice and hearing, may suspend or revoke the 
Certificate of Registration or Professional Identification Card (PIC) of an 
architect, order his or her name removed from the Registers, publicly 
reprimand the architect, exact a fine, impose the costs of investigation and 
prosecution upon him or her, or dispense any combination of these sanctions 
taking into consideration the extent of participation, nature, effects, 
frequency, and seriousness of the violation, for any of the grounds and 
unlawful acts mentioned in Section 31 and hereunder: 
  
1.     Gross incompetence, negligence, or ignorance resulting in death, 
injury, or damage, as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction; 
  
2.     Manipulation or rigging of the architecture licensure examination 
results, disclosure of secret and confidential information in the 


examination questions before the conduct of the said examination or 
tampering of grades; 
  
3.     Presenting or attempting to use as one's own the Certificate of 
Registration, PIC, or seal of another; 
  
4.     Knowingly aiding or abetting an unlicensed person to use one's 
own or someone else's Certificate of Registration or PIC; 
  
5.     Impersonating a practitioner or former practitioner, or practicing 
under an assumed or fictitious name or corporate name; 
  
6.     Practicing on a revoked or suspended Certificate of Registration 
or PIC; 
  
7.     Practicing during inactive status; and 
  
8.     Violation of any provision of this Act, its IRR, the Code of Ethics 
and Standards Of Professional Practice, and the policies and measures 
promulgated by the Board or the Commission. 
  
B.     Any person, firm, or association may file charges following this Section 
against any registrant. In addition, the Board may, motu proprio, investigate 
the alleged violations under the following conditions: 
  
1.     Such charges shall be in writing and sworn to by the person 
making them and shall be filed together with the affidavits of witnesses 
and other documentary evidence with the Secretary of the board, 
through the legal and investigation office; 
  
2.     Any motu proprio action of the Board to conduct an investigation 
shall be expressed in a formal charge signed by a majority of the board 
members; 
  
3.     The rules on administrative investigations issued by the 
Commission  shall govern the hearing or investigation subject to 
applicable provisions of this Act, Republic Act no. 8981, and the 
revised rules of court; 
  
4.     Orders by the Board imposing discipline and the findings of fact 
and conclusions of law supporting that order are public records. The 
Board shall not privately reprimand the holder of any Certificate of 
Registration issued under this Chapter; 
  


5.     The Board shall not revoke or suspend any certificate or 
Professional Identification Card unless an opportunity of being heard 
either personally or in writing has been given to the person concerned; 
  
6.     The Board's decision shall, unless appealed to the Commission 
Chair, become final and executory after fifteen (15) days from receipt 
of notice of judgment or decision. The Commission Chair's decision 
may be appealed to the Office of the President; the Office of the 
President's decision may be brought before a court of competent 
jurisdiction, and subsequently to the Court of Appeals, and finally to 
the Supreme Court, per the procedures under the rules of court. 
  
7.     Once a suspension is served, the Certificate of Registration shall 
be automatically reinstated. 
  
C.    The Board shall periodically examine the grounds mentioned above and 
revise them under the implementing rules and regulations, subject to the 
approval of the Commission, provided that under Section 11.B of this Act, 
the Board shall publish the proposed revisions on its website and the Official 
Gazette, and allow the professional associations, and the public to make 
representations to the Board within thirty (30)   days of publication before 
adopting such changes. 
  
Section 33. Re-issuance or Replacement of Revoked or Lost Certificates of 
Registration or Professional Identification Cards. – The Board may, after the 
expiration of seven (7) years from the date of revocation of a Certificate of 
Registration, and upon application and for reasons deemed proper and sufficient, 
reinstate the validity of a revoked Certificate of Registration. In so doing, the 
Board may, in its discretion, exempt the applicant from taking another 
examination. 
  
A new Certificate of Registration or Professional Identification Card may be re-
issued to replace those lost, destroyed, or mutilated, subject to the rules 
promulgated by the Board and the Commission, upon payment of the required 
fees. 
  
ARTICLE IV 
PRACTICE OF ARCHITECTURE 
  
Section 34. Registration of Architects Required. – Subject to the provisions 
of this Act: 
  
A.     No person shall engage in the practice of architecture or in preparing 
architectural documents intended to govern the construction, enlargement, 
or alteration of any building or part of a building or structure located within 
the Philippines unless the person— 


  
1.     Is a registered architect who has in force a valid Professional 
Identification Card or practicing license; 
  
2.     Is doing so under the responsible charge of a registered architect 
with a valid Professional Identification Card; 
  
3.     Is a registered corporation or partnership; or 
  
4.     Is exempt under Section 35 of this Act. 
  
B.     No Filipino citizen shall use the words “registered,” “licensed,” 
"registered 
architect," 
“licensed 
architect,” 
“rehistradong 
arkitekto,” 
“lisensyadong arkitekto” “architectural services,” “architectural design” or 
any of their derivatives or translations into other languages or dialects, nor 
the abbreviations “Ar.” or “Arch.” in connection with his or her name, style, 
title, business designation, business name, or logo, or on plans, drawings, or 
specifications for buildings or parts of buildings that will lead to the belief 
that he or she may lawfully practice architecture on Philippine soil unless 
such person is a registered architect who has in force a valid Professional 
Identification Card. 
  
C.    Foreign architects who are duly registered and licensed in their country 
and Filipinos duly registered and licensed in architecture abroad may identify 
themselves as architects but shall not represent themselves as allowed to 
lawfully practice architecture on Philippine soil unless they are duly 
registered with the Board. 
  
D.    Nothing in this Act applies to landscape architects, naval architects, golf 
course architects, information technology architects, computer systems 
architect, and other occupations, so long as the use of the word “architect” 
does not lead to the belief that the persons are architects qualified to lawfully 
practice architecture on Philippine soil, as defined under this Act. 
  
Section 35. Exemption From Registration. – The exemptions provided by this 
Section do not entitle any person who does not hold a Certificate of Registration 
in architecture to hold himself or herself out to the public and media, advertise, 
or promote himself or herself as one who may lawfully practice architecture on 
Philippine soil. 
  
Any person, natural or juridical, exempted by this Section's provisions is not 
absolved from any civil or criminal liability that might otherwise accrue from the 
violation of this Act. 
  
A.     Exemptions: 
  


1.    Foreign architects who volunteer to assist the national or local 
government and non-government organizations during states of 
emergency, to aid in disaster mitigation, preparedness or 
response, or in relief, rescue, and recovery efforts; 
  
2.    Construction documents for the following structures do not 
require the signature or seal of a registered and licensed 
architect: 
  
a.   Any public building not exceeding one hundred square 
meters (100.0 sqm) in total gross floor area, provided that 
such a building complies with State-promulgated 
development controls and provided further that such a 
building shall not be used for any of the following 
purposes: 
  
(i)           Religious assembly; 
(ii)          Cinema or movie screenings; 
(iii)        Educational occupancies; 
(iv)        Health care; 
(v)         Correctional or detention facilities; 
(vi)        Hotel, lodging, or dormitory facilities; 
(vii)      Multifamily housing or apartment 
facilities; or 
(viii)     Facility classified as high-hazard; 
  
b.     Pre-engineered single-story buildings provided that the 
building shall not be used for any of the purposes in 
subsection A.1. a. above; 
  
c.      Any building enlargement or alteration which is to be 
used for farm purposes only not exceeding one hundred 
square meters (100.0 sqm) in total gross floor area (TGFA); 
and 
  
d.     Non-structural, non-load-bearing interior construction 
within existing or planned structures which were designed 
by a registered and licensed architect, where drawings and 
specifications are prepared by a registered interior designer 
with a valid PIC, who by sealing and signing such interior 
construction documents attests that the plans and 
specifications as submitted are in compliance with the 
applicable current building codes and regulations in effect. 
  
3.     Nothing herein contained shall prevent any person from preparing 
construction documents, designing or directing the designing of 


buildings for their personal use or for that of his or her family, unless 
such buildings are for public employment, assembly, or other 
occupancies by the public, in which case an architect shall be 
employed for the purpose. 
  
4.     Nothing in this Act shall be construed to prohibit any person from 
carrying out work in the construction or repairs of any single-story 
building or part thereof in which plans are not required by law to be 
submitted to a permitting authority, such as structures for farm 
purposes, waiting sheds, sheds, outhouses, children's playhouses, and 
the like. 
  
5.     Nothing in this Act shall prevent drafting technicians, students, 
clerks-of-work, superintendents, and other employees of those lawfully 
engaged in the practice of architecture under the provisions of this Act 
from acting under the responsible charge or instruction of their 
employer. 
  
6.     Nothing in this Act shall be construed as allowing public or private 
authorities with jurisdiction over national, local, and private permitting 
processes to permit non-architects to engage in the practice of 
architecture, or for such authorities to engage in the practice of 
architecture unless they have a valid PIC. 
  
B.     Jurisdiction: 
  
1.     The Board of Architecture shall have no jurisdiction over any 
person who is not a registered architect. 
  
2.     The Board may not conduct any administrative or disciplinary 
proceeding against any person who is not a registered architect; and 
  
3.     The Board may conduct a preliminary investigation, motu proprio 
or otherwise, the results of which, after approval by the Commission 
for release, may be used to absolve or charge a person for the criminal 
violations of this Act. 
  
Section 36. Vested Rights: Architects Registered When this Law is Passed. 
– All architects registered at the time this law takes effect shall automatically be 
registered under the provisions hereof, subject, however, to the provisions herein 
set forth as to future requirements. The Certificates of Registration and 
Professional Identification Cards held by such persons in good standing shall 
have the same force and effect as though issued after the passage of this Act. 
  


Section 37. Continuing Professional Development (CPD). – To learn best 
practices and enhance the industry’s competitiveness, all practicing architects 
shall maintain a program of Continuing Professional Development, provided that: 
  
A.     The registered architect, following the Board's guidelines, has the 
freedom to design his or her CPD program, which shall consist of and is not 
limited to: 
  
1.     CPD activities accredited or approved by the Board offered by local 
and international CPD providers accredited or approved by the Board; 
  
2.     Formal education, such as research, writing papers, Graduate 
Diploma, Master’s or Ph.D. degrees in architecture, interior design, 
interior 
architecture, 
human 
behavioral 
science, 
landscape 
architecture, environmental planning, urban design, engineering, 
heritage conservation and restoration, architectural history, art history 
and criticism, industrial design, aging-in-place, healthcare design, and 
other such courses, certification, and degrees that enrich the 
worldview and practice of the architect; 
  
3.     Work-based learning that demonstrates advancement in one’s 
role and scope of responsibility in architectural work or practice; or 
involvement in the design or construction of a new typology or scale of 
architecture or interior environment; 
  
4.     Professional activity, such as work in local or international 
professional organizations, giving presentations at conferences, 
developing specialist skills; and 
  
5.     Exposure, such as attending architecture festivals, winning 
international architectural, interior design and design competitions, 
taking educational architectural and design tours; 
  
B.     The Board shall rationalize the CPD guidelines to be consistent with the 
national agenda of promoting the creative industries and the global 
competitiveness of Filipino professionals, mindful of professional architects’ 
changing needs as they gain experience and exposure. 
  
C.    The Board shall ensure that there is a sufficient number of approved 
CPD activities in which registered architects of varying levels of experience 
may participate throughout the year wherever they reside and work. 
  
D.    The Board shall regularly review existing accredited and approved CPD 
providers and retain only those that provide relevant activities and, in the 
case of local CPD providers, can test and grade attendees for knowledge 
gained. 


  
E.     The Board shall institute a feedback mechanism where registered 
architects can express honest feedback on the content and execution of 
Board-accredited CPD activities and endeavor to respond in a timely manner 
to such feedback as necessary. 
  
Section 38. Prohibition in the Practice of Architecture and Penal Clause. – 
Any person in violation of Sections 29 or 32 of this Act, whether Filipino or 
foreigner, may be the subject of a criminal complaint filed before a prosecutor or 
the Department of Justice, or may be charged in court by the Commission after 
due preliminary investigation by the Board, UNDER ANY OF THE FOLLOWING 
PARAGRAPHS OR UNDER THE APPLICABLE PROVISIONS OF THE REVISED 
PENAL CODE. 
  
Upon conviction of misdemeanor UNDER PARAGRAPHS B, C, D, E, AND F OF 
SECTION 29, he or she shall be sentenced to a fine of not less than One Hundred 
Thousand Pesos (P100,000.00) or COMMUNITY SERVICE OF no less than three 
(3) months, or both, at the discretion of the court. 
  
Upon conviction of fraud and corruption UNDER ITEMS 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, AND 7 OF 
PARAGRAPH A OF SECTION 32 OF THIS ACT, he or she shall be sentenced to a 
fine of not less than Five Hundred Thousand Pesos (P500,000.00) or 
IMPRISONMENT OF no less than one (1) MONTH,  or both, at the discretion of 
the court. 
  
Any person or entity, whether public or private, Filipino or foreigner, who 
compels a registered architect to perform an architectural service without first 
executing a written contract or service agreement, shall be guilty of a 
misdemeanor and shall, upon conviction, be sentenced to a fine of not less than 
Five Hundred Thousand Pesos (P500,000.00) or a jail term of not less than ONE 
(1) MONTH,  or both, at the discretion of the court. 
  
Upon conviction of any violation contributing to or causing damage or injury, he 
or she shall be sentenced to a fine of not less than One Hundred Thousand Pesos 
(P100,000.00) or a jail term of not less than one (1) month, or both, at the 
discretion of the court. 
  
Upon conviction of any violation contributing to or causing death, he or she shall 
be sentenced to a fine of not less than One Million Pesos (P1,000,000.00) or 
IMPRISONMENT OF NOT LESS THAN SIX (6) MONTHS, or both, at the discretion 
of the court. 
  
Section 39. Ownership of Plans, Specifications, and other Contract 
Documents. – Architectural documents duly signed, stamped, or sealed as 
instruments of service are the intellectual property and documents of the 
architect, whether the object for which they are made is executed or not. 


  
A.     It shall be unlawful for any person to duplicate or to make copies of said 
documents for use in constructing or altering other buildings, whether partly 
or in whole, without the written consent of the architect or author of said 
documents. 
  
B.     Hardcopies copies and non-editable soft copies of architectural 
documents submitted for official permitting purposes shall remain the 
property of their respective owners and author-architects. 
  
C.    As far as practicable, all registered architects shall incorporate the above 
provisions in all contract documents and other instruments of service. 
  
D.    These architectural documents shall be properly archived after ten (10) 
years when the mandatory civil liability of both the architect and the 
constructor shall have fully expired. 
  
Section 40. Positions in Government and Government Projects Requiring 
the Services of Registered and Licensed Architects and Engineers. 
  
A.     The Civil Service Commission shall ensure that all existing and proposed 
positions in the national and local governments, whether career, permanent, 
temporary, or contractual, requiring the services of an architect shall be filled 
only by registered and licensed architects. 
  
1.     The Civil Service Commission shall, in collaboration with the 
Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), the Local 
Government Unit (LGU) concerned, and relevant agencies, create the 
mandatory positions of Provincial Architect, City Architect and 
Municipal Architect staffed by registered and licensed architects 
qualified by ten years’ active practice to oversee and review the planning, 
design, and implementation of provincial, city, and municipal public 
buildings and facilities such as offices, courts, schools, hospitals, clinics, 
firehouses, police stations, public markets, public housing, and the like. 
  
2.     The Civil Service Commission shall, in collaboration with the DILG, 
the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Department of 
Human Settlements and Urban Development, or any line agency tasked 
with overseeing the review of building plans, appoint and ensure that 
both and only registered and licensed architects and civil engineers are 
appointed to all LGU Office of the Building Official (OBO) key staff 
positions nationwide for each class of city and municipality, so that 
architects and civil engineers shall review architectural documents and 
civil engineering documents respectively. 
  


3.     Architects aspiring for the LGU Building Official position shall be 
qualified by at least fifteen (15) years’ active practice in a wide variety of 
building typologies; unless there are other candidates qualified by more 
experience or greater responsibilities in a wider variety of building 
typologies. 
  
4.     Ensure, in collaboration with the DILG, the DPWH, or any line 
agency tasked with overseeing the review of building plans, that only 
registered and licensed architects qualified by ten years’ active practice 
shall head all the Architectural Divisions of all LGU Office of the 
Building Official (OBO) nationwide; 
  
5.     Ensure that both registered and licensed architects and civil 
engineers qualified by twenty (20) years of relevant experience shall 
always serve as the primary technical advisers to Bid and Award 
Committees in all public procurement activities relating to public 
buildings and facilities, whose qualifications must enable them to 
appreciate and assess not only financial feasibility but also the project’s 
vision and potential to positively impact civil life and the public’s 
wellbeing, productivity, and regard for the country. 
  
B.     All offices of the Executive, Legislative, and Judiciary, governors, heads 
of autonomous regions, and mayors of highly urbanized cities and 
independent cities shall always hire the best and most promising professional 
Filipino architects to design government buildings and offices, including 
embassies, to positively impact civil service and civil life, and elevate the 
public’s regard for the Philippine government through public architecture 
worthy of the nation and its people and representative of the finest 
contemporary Filipino architectural thought. 
  
C.    The Board and the IAPOA shall make it their responsibility to campaign 
and educate national and local government offices and agencies on this 
Section and the value of patronizing local qualified talent and fostering 
collaboration among architects, engineers, interior designers, landscape 
architects, other professionals in the allied arts, and creatives. 
  
Section 41. Limitation to the Registration of Companies, Corporations, 
and Partnerships. 
 
A. For a corporation to be registered and licensed to provide architectural 
services in the Philippines: 
  
1. Its constitution or memorandum of association must state that a 
primary purpose of the corporation is to provide architectural 
services; 
 


2. At least one director is a registered architect with a valid 
Professional Identification Card (PIC); 
 
3. The corporation’s articles of association must provide: 
 
a. The proportion or minimum number of board directors 
required to be registered architects or allied professionals, 
each with a valid PIC; 
 
b. That seventy-five percent (75%) of its officers, board of 
directors, and plantilla must be Filipino citizens residing in 
the Philippines; 
 
c. That under no circumstance shall ownership by foreigners 
exceed forty percent (40%); 
 
d. That none of its members that are architects or other State-
regulated professionals whose names have been removed from 
the registers of their respective Professional Regulatory 
Boards may serve as directors until their names have been 
reinstated in their respective registries; 
 
e. That none of its members that are architects or other State-
regulated professionals who have been suspended may serve 
as directors for so long as they remain suspended; 
 
4. The supply of architectural services shall be under the 
responsible charge and management of a corporate director who is 
a registered architect with a valid PIC and who is authorized by 
resolution of the corporation’s board of directors to make all final 
architectural decisions on behalf of the corporation; 
 
5. It must be insured against professional liability; and 
 
6. It shall pay the required registration and license renewal fees (in 
addition to the fees its directors or members pay as individual 
architects to register and renew their PICs). 
 
B. For a general professional partnership to be registered and licensed to 
provide architectural services in the Philippines: 
 
1. Its articles of partnership must state that a primary purpose of 
the corporation is to provide architectural services; 
 
2. At least one partner must be a registered architect with a valid 
Professional Identification Card (PIC); 


 
3. The corporation’s articles of partnership must provide: 
 
a. That no person shall be a partner unless he or she is a 
registered architect or an allied professional, each with a valid 
PIC; 
 
b. The required proportion or minimum number of partners 
that must be registered architects or allied professionals, each 
with a valid PIC; 
 
d. That seventy-five percent (75%) of its officers, partners, and 
plantilla must be Filipino citizens residing in the Philippines; 
 
e. That under no circumstance shall ownership by foreigners 
exceed forty percent (40%); 
 
f. That none of its members that are architects or other State-
regulated professionals whose names have been removed from 
the registers of their respective Professional Regulatory 
Boards may serve as partners until their names have been 
reinstated in their respective registries; 
 
g. That none of its members that are architects or other State-
regulated professionals who have been suspended may serve 
as partners or officers for so long as they remain suspended; 
 
4. A partner who is a registered architect with a valid PIC shall have 
responsible charge and manage the business of providing 
architectural services, and shall also be authorized by resolution of 
the partnership to make all final architectural decisions on behalf of 
the partnership; 
 
5. It shall pay the required registration and license renewal fees (in 
addition to the fees its partners or employees pay as individual 
architects to register and renew their PICs). 
 
C. For general or limited partnerships not consisting wholly of architects 
to be registered and licensed to provide architectural services in the 
Philippines: 
 
1. At least one partner shall be a registered architect who has in 
force a valid Professional Identification Card (PIC); 
 


2. The partnership is one in which only the registered architects and 
allied professionals, who each has in force a valid PIC, have a 
beneficial interest in the capital assets and profits of the partnership; 
 
3. At least sixty percent (60%) of its partners, officers, and plantilla 
must be Filipino citizens residing in the Philippines; 
 
4. Foreigners shall not comprise more than forty percent (40%) of 
the partners; 
 
5. The partnership's business of providing architectural services in 
the Philippines will be under the management and responsible 
charge of a partner who is a registered architect with a valid PIC; 
 
6. It shall pay the required registration and license renewal fees (in 
addition to the fees its partners pay as individual architects to 
register and renew their PICs). 
 
D. Any licensed company, corporation, or partnership shall furnish the 
Board an accurate report in writing within thirty (30) days of any changes 
in its constitution, memorandum of association, articles of partnership, 
purpose, board of directors, shareholders, members, or partners, 
providing the full particulars and reasons for the changes. 
 
E. Registered architects with responsible charge and who manage the 
business of providing architectural services shall be subject to the same 
professional conduct and competence standards as if they were personally 
supplying the architectural services. 
 
F. Where a license is granted or refused by the Board, any company or 
partnership, if aggrieved by the Board's decision, may appeal within thirty 
(30) days to the Commission, whose decision shall be final. 
 
G. The Board may revoke a license granted to a corporation, partnership, 
or limited liability partnership for failing to comply with conditions 
imposed by this Section or when its memorandum of association no longer 
includes or supports the limitations prescribed in this Section. The Board 
may also revoke a license when the Board has determined any of the 
following: 
 
1. The license was obtained by bribery, fraud, or misrepresentation; 
 
2. The concerned corporation, general partnership, general 
professional partnership, or limited partnership has ceased 
providing architectural services in the Philippines; 
 


3. That the corporation, general partnership, general professional 
partnership, or limited partnership has violated any provision of the 
code of professional conduct and ethics; 
 
4. The professional conduct and business dealings of any director, 
officer, or partner has demonstrated compelling grounds for 
believing that the corporation or partnership will not supply 
architectural services per the law and with honesty and integrity. 
 
J. The Board’s revocation order shall become effective thirty (30) days after 
the Board has served the corporation, partnership, or limited liability 
partnership concerned with a notice of its order. When the revocation 
becomes effective— 
 
1. The Board shall cause the notice of revocation to be published in 
the Official Gazette and on its website; 
 
2. Remove the name from the Register of the corporation, 
partnership, or limited liability partnership concerned; and 
 
3. The corporation, partnership, or limited liability partnership shall 
cease providing architectural services in the Philippines except, as 
provided in writing by the Board, to close down its business. 
 
K. The corporation, partnership or limited liability partnership served with 
a notice of revocation may, within thirty (30) days upon receipt, appeal to 
the Commission Chair or the Office of the President and, after that, the 
regular courts, the Court Of Appeals, and ultimately, the Supreme Court. 
 
L. Every license granted under this Section shall, unless earlier revoked, 
be valid for three (3) years. The Board shall determine within six months 
of the effectivity of this Act the fees and schedules for payment. 
 
M. Without prejudice to the preceding subsections, the Board may register 
and grant licenses to companies, corporations, or partnerships, subject to 
such other requirements or conditions as the Board deems fit to improve 
the competitiveness of the Filipino architect. The Board may revise or add 
conditions provided that it announces such changes or additions on its 
website at least thirty (30) days and allows the architecture associations 
and the general public to make representation to the Board before 
adopting said changes. 
 
Section 42. Foreign Architect Registration. – Foreign nationals who wish to 
perform professional services as architects, consulting architects, design 
consultants, or consultants in the Philippines on foreign-funded or assisted 
government projects or employed or engaged by foreign or Filipino contractors or 


private firms, shall register with the Board before performing any service covered 
by the scope of the practice of architecture, provided that: 
  
A.     The foreign architect’s work scope shall be allowed to include schematic 
design, 
design 
development, 
contract 
documentation, 
and 
design 
management only until the 31st of December, 2039; and shall be allowed to 
include only schematic design and design development until the 31st of 
December, 2044; 
  
1.     After which, by the 1st of January, 2045, the foreign architect’s 
allowed work scope shall include only schematic design and thereafter 
the foreign architect’s role shall be consultative and advisory only, 
reviewing the output of the architect-of-record; and 
  
2.     By the 1st of January, 2045, any extension of the foreign architect’s 
work scope beyond schematic design shall require the Board’s approval 
based on the project proponent’s justification that the foreign 
consultant’s expertise or level of expertise is not available in the 
Philippines; 
  
B.   The project proponent shall always engage the architect-of-record 
simultaneous with that of the foreign architect, and both firms shall work 
concurrently; 
  
C.   In the interest of technology transfer, the project proponent shall organize 
one seminar or workshop by the foreign architect for every year that the 
foreign architect is engaged, allowing the attendance of local architects, 
engineers, and architectural and engineering students beyond those engaged 
in the project; and include such condition in the service agreement with the 
foreign architect; 
  
D.    Whenever the foreign architect is engaged to perform only schematic 
design, the project proponent shall recognize and validate the Filipino 
architect's role by requiring as part of the service agreement with the foreign 
architect that the Filipino architect-of-record shall be acknowledged in all 
public events and sales, marketing, and press materials promoting the 
project, whether prepared or published locally or abroad; 
  
E. The foreign and Filipino architects working jointly on a project shall be 
responsible for public utilities and taxes due to the Philippine government, 
relative to their participation in or professional services rendered to the 
project. Similarly, all documentation expenses and residual earnings 
incurred in the shared project shall also be borne equitably by both. 
  
F. All work of the foreign architect shall be done outside of the Philippines 
except for occasional meetings and site visits; otherwise, the foreign firm will 


need to register as a Philippine business and shall abide by local business 
laws and taxes; 
  
G. The foreign architect shall be deemed as practicing architecture in the 
Philippines, whether the contract for professional services or any of the 
services are consummated in the Philippines or a foreign country; 
  
H.    The foreign national or firm shall conduct himself, herself, or itself in 
full accordance with the valid treaties, international agreements, or mutual 
arrangements the Philippines has entered into, which allows the foreign 
architect access to the Philippine market; 
  
I.   The foreign national or firm is legally qualified to practice architecture in 
his or her country, and his or her expertise is advantageous to our country, 
particularly concerning technology transfer and specialization; 
  
J.      The agencies, organizations, or individuals, whether public or private, 
who commission the foreign architect shall first secure the approval of the 
Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Trade and Industry for 
his or her registration application and credentials before the Board shall act 
on the application; and said the agency, organization, or individual should be 
responsible for securing the registration of the foreign architect from the 
Commission and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), 
according to the Commission's and DOLE's rules;  
 
Section 43. Professional Liability Insurance of a Person or Entity 
Registered by the Board.  
  
A.     Foreign nationals, including former Filipinos wanting to engage in the 
general practice of architecture, must secure their professional liability 
insurance, malpractice insurance, or their acceptable equivalent in bond 
form from local insurance providers, commensurate with the nature and 
magnitude of their project involvement and their compensation. In 
consultation with the IAPOA, the Board shall implement rules and 
regulations for such requirement for practice within nine (9) months from the 
effectivity of this Act. 
  
Professional liability insurance is a pass-on cost solely for the beneficiary's 
account, usually the building owner. It is to be renewed annually for a 
maximum period of fifteen (15) years reckoned from commencement of 
building occupancy, at the beneficiary's behest, again for the beneficiary's 
sole account. 
  
B.     The Board may, with the approval of the Commission, make rules 
requiring all or any of the following to take out and maintain insurance 


against liability for breach of professional duty in the course of supplying 
architectural services: 
1.     Any partnership consisting wholly of registered architects; 
2.     Any partnership or corporation applying for a license; 
3. Any registered architect applying for a Professional Identification 
Card or practicing license to engage in the practice of architecture on 
his account; 
4.  Any registered architect applying for a PIC or practicing license 
employed or about to be employed by Subsection 43. B. 1, 2, and 3 
above; and 
5.     Any other registered architect applying for a PIC or practicing 
license. 
C.    The Board may, with the approval of the Commission, prescribe the 
terms and conditions of insurance against professional liability under this 
Act or rules, including a minimum limit of indemnity.  
 
Section 44. Conflict of Interest. Professional architects, civil engineers, 
environmental planners, landscape architects, and interior designers shall avoid 
all conflicts of interest with a client or employer. 
 
If a conflict of interest is unavoidable, the professional architect, civil engineer, 
environmental planner, landscape architect, and interior designer shall 
immediately inform the client or employer of any business association, interest, 
or circumstance which may influence his or her professional judgment, decisions, 
practices, or quality of services. 
  
2. Professional architects, civil engineers, environmental planners, landscape 
architects, and interior designers may not solicit or accept any gratuity, material 
favor, or benefit of any substantial nature from any party, agent, servant, or 
employee who is not a client or employer in connection with any project for which 
the professional is performing, or has contracted to perform professional services. 
This solicitation or acceptance includes, but is not limited to, any act, article, 
money, or other item which is of such value in proportion to the professional 
services that its acceptance creates a clandestine obligation on the part of the 
professional or otherwise compromises the ability of the registered architect, civil 
engineer, environmental planner, landscape architect, or interior designer to 
exercise independent judgment. 
  
3. Notwithstanding subsection (2), professional architects, civil engineers, 
environmental planners, landscape architects, and interior designers may 
receive a fee or commission for the sale or the supervision of installation of 
property or fixtures, but may not receive both a fee and a commission without 
the express consent of the client. 
  
4. Members of the Regulatory Boards of Architecture, Civil Engineering, 
Environmental Planning, Landscape Architecture, and Interior Design shall not 


have any pecuniary interest in or be associated with any review center or any 
group giving review classes in preparation for the licensure examination while 
serving on the Board until for one year after leaving their post. 
 
ARTICLE V 
INTEGRATION OF THE ARCHITECTURE PROFESSION 
  
Section 45. Integration of the Architecture Profession. – The architecture 
profession shall be served and represented by one national organization 
accredited by the Board, subject to the approval by the Commission, as the 
Integrated and Accredited Professional Organization of Architects (IAPOA), 
provided that: 
  
A. The IAPOA, being a creation of law, shall be a quasi-public entity whose 
use of the monies, funds, and assets it collects or generates shall be 
subject to audit by the Commission on Audit; 
 
B. Within three (3) months  of the effectivity of this Act, the organization 
serving as the IAPOA under R.A. 9266 shall post on its website and submit 
to the Board of Architecture a financial report with supporting documents 
accounting for the total IAPOA fees it has collected and all the transactions, 
purchases, investments, and agreements it made as the IAPOA since the 
effectivity of this Act; The financial report shall include an income 
statement, balance sheet, and cash flow statement with a summary of 
figures; 
  
C. Within three months (3) months and seven (7) days of the effectivity of this 
Act, the accreditation of the organization appointed as the IAPOA under 
R.A. 9266 shall be revoked to allow for the creation and accreditation of a 
reconstituted IAPOA. Upon the revocation of its accreditation, the 
organization shall no longer be allowed to impose or collect IAPOA fees 
and it shall turn over all the monies it generated from IAPOA fees since 
the effectivity of this Act to the IAPOA created under this Act; 
  
D. The IAPOA created under this Act shall be— 
  
1. Registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) as a 
non-profit, non-stock corporation governed by bylaws in full 
accordance with the spirit and letter of this Act and providing for the 
democratic election of its officials; 
 
2. Composed of associations of professional architects, each registered 
with the SEC; 
  
E. The number of seats in the IAPOA board of directors shall be limited to 
fifteen (15), and the architecture associations with a minimum 


membership of fifty (50) living registered architects as of the effectivity of 
this Act shall be automatically assigned one (1) board seat in the IAPOA; 
  
F.  For the umbrella organization to be accredited by the Board of 
Architecture as the Integrated and Accredited Professional Organization 
of Architects— 
  
1.     It shall prepare its bylaws following its mandate as stated herein 
and submit the same for the Board of Architecture’s inspection and 
approval; 
  
2.     The total collective membership of its architecture associations-
members must represent at least a majority or more than fifty percent 
(50%) of living registered Filipino architects without repeat-counting 
registered architects who have membership in multiple organizations; 
and 
  
3.     The total collective membership of its architecture associations-
members must demonstrate a fair representation of living registered 
architects from the Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao regions, with no less 
than eighteen percent (18%) of total membership based outside of the 
National Capital Region in Luzon, no less than eighteen percent (18%) 
based in the Visayas, and no less than eighteen percent (18%) based 
in Mindanao; or a plan of action to achieve such representation within 
twenty-four (24) months of its accreditation; 
  
G.  No changes may be made to the IAPOA’s bylaws without first securing 
the Board of Architecture’s approval and furnishing the Board with an 
accurate report in writing on the full particulars of the changes and the 
reasons therefor; 
  
H.  The IAPOA shall, within three (3) days of changing its membership and 
board of directors, furnish the Board of Architecture an accurate report 
in writing of the full particulars of the changes; 
  
I.  The IAPOA shall be mandated to: 
  
1.     Engage and cultivate the intellectual capital of Filipino architects 
by creating opportunities for the exchange of ideas, consideration, 
study, and thought leadership on:  
  
a.     The art, science, and practice of architecture; 
b.     All questions and issues relating to the competitiveness 
and advancement of the regional and global standings of the 
Filipino architect;  


c.      Uplifting the human experience and improving 
productivity through the designed and built environment; and 
d.     Creative innovation and collaboration with allied 
professions and other creatives; 
  
2.     Survey, consult, and discuss the needs and concerns of registered 
architects from each region of the country to identify appropriate 
responses to the problems affecting them, always considering the 
public interest, public service, the goal of advancing the global 
competitiveness of registered Filipino architects, and the added value 
of collaboration with allied professionals and other creatives; 
  
3.     Represent, articulate, and effectuate the views and opinions of 
registered architects on architectural matters of all kinds, especially in 
the areas of the academe, competitiveness of Filipino architects, 
governance, regulation, and the promotion of Filipino architecture and 
architects locally and internationally; 
  
4.     Improve the technical proficiency and entrepreneurial skills of 
registered architects; 
  
5.     Devote funds of the IAPOA to undertake publication and research 
work, including statistics on matters of interest to the profession; 
  
6.     Devote funds of the IAPOA to conduct and promote architectural 
fairs, exhibitions of exemplary architectural works, competitions, and 
awards with the Board, through its assigned member, sitting on the 
jury of all major IAPOA-initiated competitions and awards; assist 
professional architects to join prestigious local and international 
competitions; and to establish or contribute to scholarships and 
charitable funds for deserving persons; 
  
7.     Collaborate with and arrange for affiliation and agreements with 
foreign and international associations, societies, corporations, or other 
bodies relating to architectural matters, the construction industry, and 
related concerns to elevate Philippine architecture and design 
innovation and expose the IAPOA, its member organizations, and the 
registered architects they represent to best practices and world 
standards; 
  
8.     Collaborate with professional associations, AIPOs of civil 
engineering, environmental planning, interior design, and landscape 
architecture, and various agencies on design-related initiatives and 
events; 
  


9.     Create linkages with the business sector, the educational sector, 
government institutions, and the public to cultivate an informed 
demand to employ and invest in excellent architecture and design; 
  
10.  Acquire and regularly disseminate among its members accurate 
information on local and international issues and events relating to 
and affecting the profession, as well as the IAPOA’s representations, 
transactions, and undertakings conducive to the attainment of its 
mandate as stated herein; 
  
11.  Submit to the Board of Architecture before June 15 every year and 
make available for the general public’s perusal on the IAPOA’s website 
by July 15 every year: 
  
a.     An annual census of the IAPOA’s membership with a 
census of each professional organization’s members; including, 
as far as practicable, information of subsections J.2 and J.3 of 
this Section; 
b.     An annual plan of activities designed to fulfil its mandate 
as stated herein, with stated objectives and proposed budget; 
c.      An accomplishment report of activities conducted versus 
planned, and objectives met and unmet; 
d.     A financial report that includes an income statement, 
balance sheet, and cash flow statement with a summary of 
figures over the past ten years and a comparison of financial 
trends from the current and previous two years; the report shall 
also include details on donations received, grants distributed, 
and investments, backed by official supporting documents. 
  
J. The Board shall suspend or revoke the IAPOA’s accreditation when: 
  
1.     The IAPOA inflates its accomplishments or enters false 
information or forged evidence in its annual census, annual plans, 
accomplishment report, financial report, or official supporting 
documents; 
2.     The collective membership of its juridical members fails to account 
for more than fifty percent (50%) or the majority of living Filipino 
registered architects for twelve (12) consecutive months; and 
3.     It fails to secure membership reflecting a fair representation of 
living registered architects from the Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao 
regions as prescribed in Subsection 45.G.3 within twenty-four (24) 
months of accreditation, and when it is unable to maintain such 
representation for twelve (12) consecutive months; 
  
K. The Board of Architecture shall, in consultation with the IAPOA and with 
the approval of the Commission, within six (6) months of the accreditation 


of the IAPOA, prescribe other terms and conditions by which the Board 
may suspend or revoke the IAPOA’s accreditation, hold wrongdoers and 
incompetents accountable, deter future misconduct and abuse of power, 
support and promote best practices in leadership and good governance in 
the IAPOA, and the terms and conditions under which a suspended or 
revoked accreditation may be reinstated. In addition, the Board shall 
consult or direct the IAPOA to consult other organizations or experts on 
best practices in leadership and good governance as it deems necessary. 
  
L. Except in the event of revocation due to the offenses or shortcomings 
enumerated in Subsection 45.J, the IAPOA accreditation shall be for a five 
(5)-year period, renewable thereafter every five (5) years: 
  
1.   At the end of the fourth (4th) year, the Commission shall undertake an 
audit of the IAPOA performance during the previous four years, whereby 
the Commission is tasked to draw up such performance audit rules; 
2.   The Commission performance audit must be transmitted to the IAPOA 
three (3) months before the expiry of the five-year accreditation period, 
during which the IAPOA shall assess its performance to make an 
undertaking to fully address all issues and concerns raised in the 
performance audit within one (1) year; 
3.   In the event of failure by the IAPOA to satisfy its undertaking relative 
to the performance audit, the Commission shall take immediate steps to 
suspend the IAPOA, until further notice; 
4.   Should the IAPOA still fail to address the matters raised in the 
performance audit within a period of eighteen (18) months after 
suspension, the IAPOA accreditation by the Commission shall be 
revoked for cause; and 
5.   As part of the process to reverse the revocation of the IAPOA 
accreditation, the Commission shall hold a stakeholder conference to 
ascertain other steps to be taken, that may include considerations of 
reorganizing the IAPOA as necessary.  
 
  
In consultation with the IAPOA and with the approval of the Commission, the 
Board may revise or add to the terms mentioned above for the IAPOA to follow 
the best practices of the best architectural associations in the world. 
  
ARTICLE VI 
FINAL PROVISIONS 
  
Section 46. Stream of Regulations Not Limited to the Implementing Rules 
and Regulations. – Within nine (9) months after the election of the members of 
the Board of Architecture, subject to the approval of the Commission, the Board 
shall adopt and promulgate the implementing rules and regulations (IRR), Code 
of Ethical Conduct and Standards of Professional Practice, Architect’s Guidelines, 
Manuals of Procedure, and the like, to carry out the provisions of this Act. 


  
Such IRR, Code of Ethical Conduct and Standards of Professional Practice shall 
be effective within forty-five (45) days following their publication on the Board’s 
and the Commission’s website and in the Official Gazette or two (2) major daily 
newspapers of general circulation, provided that before adopting such, the Board 
shall allow the IAPOA, architects, and the general public to make representations 
to the Board within thirty (30) days of publication, per Section 12.B of this Act. 
  
The Board and the Commission shall reject provisions and revisions to the IRR, 
Code of Ethical Conduct and Standards of Professional Practice, and resolutions 
and regulations that lower the standards of licensure, registration, the profession, 
practice, and the international competitiveness of Filipino architects. 
  
Section 47. Appropriations. – The Chairperson of the Professional Regulation 
Commission shall immediately include in the Commission programs the 
implementation of this Act, the funding of which shall be included in the annual 
General Appropriations Act. 
 
Section 48. Act Not Preventing Other Professionals. – This Act shall not be 
construed to prevent the practice of any other legally recognized profession. 
  
Contract administration by architects as part of design-build services by 
architects shall continue to enjoy the exemption under Sec. 14 of R.A. No. 4566, 
the Contractor’s License Law of 1965. 
  
Section 49. Enforcement of the Act. – It shall be the primary duty of the 
Commission and the Board to fully enforce the provisions of this Act. All duly 
constituted law enforcement agencies and officers of national, provincial, city, or 
municipal government or of any political subdivision thereof shall, upon the call 
or request of the Commission or the Board, render assistance in enforcing the 
provisions of this Act and prosecuting any person violating the provisions of the 
same. The Secretary of Justice or his duly designated representative shall act as 
legal adviser to the Commission and the Board and render legal assistance as 
may be necessary for carrying out the provisions of this Act. 
  
Any person may bring before the Commission, the Board, or the officers 
mentioned above cases of illegal practice or violations of this Act committed by 
any person or party. As such, complaints about the criminal violation of this Act 
can also be brought directly to the local prosecutor's office for disposition. 
  
For cases of illegal practice lodged before the Board, the Board shall assist the 
Commission in the preliminary investigation and in filing the appropriate 
charges through the concerned prosecution office following the law and the Rules 
of Court. 
  


Section 50. Separability Clause. – If any clause, provision, paragraph, or part 
of this Act shall be declared unconstitutional or invalid, such judgment shall not 
affect, invalidate or impair any other part hereof, but such judgment shall be 
merely confined to the clause, provision, paragraph, or part directly involved in 
the controversy in which such judgment has been rendered. 
  
Section 51. Repealing Clause. – Republic Act No. 545, as amended by Republic 
Act No. 9266, is hereby repealed by re-enactment, and all other laws, orders, 
rules and regulations or resolutions or parts thereof inconsistent with the 
provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
 
Section 52. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days 
following its publication in the Official Gazette or two (2) newspapers of general 
circulation. 
  
Approved,