Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City
NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session
HOUSE BILL`No.   5674
Introduced by HONORABLE LUIS N. CAMPOS, |R.
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Article  IL  Section  20  of  the  Constitution  declares  ``[t]he  State  recognizes  the
indispensable role of the private sector,  encourages  private enterprise,  and provides
incentives to needed investments''.
In line with the foregoing, it has been a concern of many building owners and
managers within Makati City that there is a need to revise the scope of responsibilities
of Mechanical Engineers.
As times modernize and technology develops at unprecedented rates there is a
need  to  revise  our  laws.  Under  Republic  Act  No.  8495  (the  Philippine  Mechanical
Engineering Act of 1998) there is a limit on the responsibilities of Mechanical Engineers.
This affects the number of available engineers that are required to maintain elevators
and similar equipment. Given the growth in the number of buildings with elevators,
escalators, and similar equipment, coupled with the improved merhahisms within the
same machines,  there is a need to revise R.A.  No. 8495 to be able to cope with the
current times.
This bill seeks to revise the scope of responsibilities of Mechanical Engineers to
address the foregoing issues and to update R.A. 8495 to help not just the private sector
but also government buildings that require the services of Mechanical Engineers.


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City
NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session
HOUSE BILL`No.   5674
Introduced by HONORABLE LUIS N. CAMPOS, JR.
AN ACI' AMENDING REpuBLIC Acr No. 8495 oTHERwlsE KNoWN AS `TIIE
pHILlpplNE MEcllANlcAL ENGINEERING Acr oF 1998" TO UPDATE THE scopE
OF RESPONSIBILITIES 0F MECRANICAL ENGINEERS
Be  it  enacted  by  the  Senate  and  House  Of Represe'i'itatives  Of  the  Phdippines  in  Ongress
assembled.
SECTION  1.  Section  33,  Article  IV  of  R.A.  No.  8495  otherwise  known  as  ``The
Philippine Meehahical Engineering Act of 1998" is hereby revised as follows:
"Section 33. Field of Action Authorized for Each Category: Prohibition. It
shall be unlawful for any person, unless authorized under this Act
XXX
(d) to operate, tend or maintain, or be in{harge of the operation, tending,
or maintenance of any mechanical works, projects, plant of 100 kw.,  or
more but not more than 500 kw unless he is a duly hicensed Professional
Mechanical Engineer, Mechanical Engineer or Certified Plant Mechanic.
(e) to operate, tend, or maintain or be in{harge of the operation, tending,
or maintenance of any mechanical equipment,  machinery or process for
any  mechanical works,  projects or plants  of over 500 kilowatts but not
more than 3000 kw unless he is a duly hiceused Professional Mechanical
Engineer or Mechanical Engineer.


(f) to operate, tend or maintain, or to be in charge of the operation, tending
or maintenance of any mechanical equipmerty machinery, process for any
mechanical works, projects or plants of over 3000 KW unless he is a duly
licensed Professional Mechanical Engineer."
SEC.  2. Section 34, Article IV of R.A.  No. 8495 otherwise known as ``The Philippine
Mechanical Engineering Act of 1998" is hereby revised as follows:
``Section 34.  Personnel  Required  in Mechanical  Plant.  Every  mechanical work
project or plant in operation shall have no less than the following complement of
resident  licensed  professional  mechanical  engineer,  mechanical  engineer  or
certified plant mechanic:
(a) 100 kw or over but not more than 500 kw: one (1) certified plant mechanic, or
one  (1)  mechanical  engineer,  or  one  (1)  professional  mechanical  engineer.
Provided, that every mechanical work, project, or plant in this category operating
in more than one shift every twenty four hours,  shall have in addition to the
minimum personnel herein required, at least one (1) certified plant mechanic, of
each and every additional shift.
(b) Over 500 KW but not more than 3000 KW: one (1) mechanical engineer or one
(1)  professional  mechanical  engineer:  Provided,  that  every  mechanical  work,
project or plant in this category operating in more than one shift every twenty-
four (24) hours shall have, in addition to the minimum personnel herein required
at least one (1) mechanical engineer in{harge of each and every additional shift.
(c) Over 3000 KW one (1) professional mechanical engineer: Provided, that every
mechanical work, project or plant in this category operating in more than one
shift  every  twenty-four  (24)  hours  shall  have,  in  addition  to  the  minimum
personnel herein required at least one (1) professional mechanical engineer in-
chaLrge of each and every additional shift FOR CRITICAL ESTABLISHMENTS
AND AT LEAST ONE (1) MECHANICAL ENGINEER IN{IIARGE 0F EACH
AND EVERY SHIFT FOR NON-CRITICAL ESTABLISHMENTS.


(D)   A  SUPERVISING   PROFESSIONAL  MECIIANICAL  ENGINEER  IN-
Cr+ARGE      S[+ALL      BE      ALLOwrED      T0      SUPERVISE      MULTIPLE
ESTABLISHMENTS    UNDER   TIIE    NON-CRITICAL    CLASSIFICATION
PROVIDED    TIIAT    MECIIANICAL    ENGINEERS    IN-CIIARGE    ARE
REQulRED   FOR   EACH   AND   EVERY   SHIFT.   TIIE   BOARD   SrlALL
PROVIDE    THE    GUIDELINES     FOR    THE     QUALIFICATION    AND
ENGAGEMENT  0F THE  SUPERVISING  PROFESSIONAL  MECIIANICAL
IN-CHARGE    AND    DEFINE    THE    CRITICAL    AND    NON-CRITICAL
CIASSIFICATI0NS 0F ESTABLISHMENT.
(E)     THE     BOARD     IN     CONSULTATION    WITH    THE     INDUSTRY
STAKEHOLDERS SIIALL REVIEW AND AMEND THE CATEGORIES AND
CIASSIFICATI0N EVERY THREE (3) YEARS WIIEN NECESSARY".
SEC.  3.  If  any  provisions  of  this  Act  is  declared  void  and  unconstitutional,  the
remaining provisions hereof not affected thereby shall remain in full force and effect.
SEC. 4. All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulation or pars thereof inconsistent with
this Act are hereby repealed or amended accordingly.
SEC. 5. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in two national
newspapers of general circulation.
Approved,