Republic of the Philippines
DHouse of Representatives
Quezon City, Metro Manila

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House sittno, 1693

Introduced by REPRESENTATIVE AURELIO "DONG" D. GONZALES, JR.

AN ACT
MANDATING THE INTEGRATION OF THE NATIONAL BUILDING CODE OF THE
PHILIPPINES UNDER REPUBLIC ACT NO. 6541 ENTITLED “AN ACT TO ORDAIN AND
INSTITUTE A NATIONAL BUILDING CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES”, AS A MAJOR
SUBJECT IN THE CURRICULUM OF THE BACHELOR OF SCIENCE DEGREE PROGRAMS:
IN CIVIL ENGINEERING, MECHANICAL ENGINEERING, ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING,
‘SANITARY ENGINEERING, ELECTRONIC ENGINEERING, AND ARCHITECTURE, AND ITS
INCLUSION AS A TOPIC IN THE LICENSURE EXAMINATIONS FOR THESE
PROFESSIONS

EXPLANATORY NOTE

As stated no less in the preamble or explanatory clauses of the National Building Code of
the Philippines, the country's accelerating economic and physical development coupled with
urbanization and population growth, makes imperative the formulation and adoption of a national
building code which shall embody up-to-date and modern technical knowledge on building design,
construction, occupancy and maintenance. Section 2 of the Building Code also declares that it is
the policy of the State to safeguard life, health, property and public welfare, consistent with the
principles of sound environmental management and control; and to this end, make it the purpose
of the Code to provide for all buildings and structures, a framework of minimum standards and
requirements to regulate and control their location, site, design, quality of materials construction,
use occupancy and maintenance.

Itis sad to note however, that the noble intentions of the Building Code and the valuable
technical information embodied in the law and its Implementing Rules and Regulations, which |
understand is in the stage of amendments to make them conform to changing conditions,
especially on climate change, are not properly conveyed and inculcated in the minds of the
students in the academe in whose hands the future of our country on matters concerning the
design and construction of buildings be it a one storey, medium rise or high rise depend. This is
due to the fact that the Building Code is not prescribed as one of the subjects in courses in civil
engineering, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, sanitary engineering and
mechanical engineering which are the professional disciplines primarily concerned in building
design, construction, occupancy and maintenance.

Casualties arising from calamities such as the Manila Resort World casino building could
have been avoided or at least minimized had there been strict compliance to the requirements of
the Building Code.

Itis therefore absolutely necessary that the State in the exercise of its police power enact
a law through the legislature to make mandatory the integration of the National Building Code of
the Philippines as one of the subjects in the course of civil engineering, electrical engineering,
sanitary engineering, mechanical engineering and architecture.

REP. AURBLIO DONG” D. GONZALES, JR.
3" District, Pampanga


CONGRESS OF THE PHILIPPINES
NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO.

1693

Introduced by REPRESENTATIVE AURELIO "DONG" D. GONZALES, JR.

AN ACT
MANDATING THE INTEGRATION OF THE NATIONAL BUILDING CODE OF THE
PHILIPPINES UNDER REPUBLIC ACT NO. 6541 ENTITLED “AN ACT TO ORDAIN AND
INSTITUTE A NATIONAL BUILDING CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES”, AS A MAJOR
SUBJECT IN THE CURRICULUM OF THE BACHELOR OF SCIENCE DEGREE PROGRAMS:
IN CIVIL ENGINEERING, MECHANICAL ENGINEERING, ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING,
SANITARY ENGINEERING, ELECTRONIC ENGINEERING, AND ARCHITECTURE, AND ITS.
INCLUSION AS A TOPIC IN THE LICENSURE EXAMINATIONS FOR THESE
PROFESSIONS

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
assembled:

SECTION 1. This Act shall be known as the “National Building Code Integration Act”.

SECTION 2, It is the policy of the state to safeguard the life, health and property of its citizens
and promote public welfare, consistent with the principles of sound environmental management
and control embodied in the National Building Code. Towards this end, the State shall ensure that
those who practice the engineering and architecture professions shall receive necessary formal
instructions on, learn the latest know-how, regulations and technologies and be sufficiently trained
in ensuring the safety and integrity of structures, both building and nonbuilding.

SECTION 3, Pursuant to its mandate under Section 8 of Republic Act No. 7722 or the Higher
Education Act of 1994, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) is mandated to develop and
include in the curriculum of Bachelor of Science degree programs in Civil Engineering, Mechanical
Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Sanitary Engineering, Electronics Engineering and
Architecture the study of the National Building Code of the Philippines (NBCP) as a major subject
in the higher education curriculum of architecture and engineering courses.

SECTION 4, The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) is hereby mandated to include the
NBCP as a topic in the licensure examinations for the civil engineering, mechanical engineering,
electrical engineering, sanitary engineering, electronic engineering, and architecture professions.

SECTION 5, Within ninety (90) days from the effectivity of this Act, CHED shall, in consultation
with the PRC and other relevant stakeholders in higher education, promulgate the implementing
rules and regulations necessary to ensure the efficient and effective implementation of this Act.

SECTION 7, All laws, decrees, provisions of charters, executive orders, ordinances, rules and
regulations or other parts thereof contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are
repealed, amended or modified accordingly.

SECTION 8. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official Gazette
or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,