SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES) 
First Regular Session 
) 
SENATE 
S.B.No.~11 
Introduced by Senator Franklin M. Orilon 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
-'tmdl' 
!@ff .. uf~h.>mrl.~. 
'13 
AUG -5 AlO :02 
The Civil Engineering Law, Republic Act No. 544, which governs the practice of civil 
engineering in the Philippines, was last amended 54 years ago. 
Since then, the number of registered civil engineers has grown to over 130,000 today. A 
new role for the civil engineer has likewise evolved in the light of globalization and cross- border 
practice. 
Whereas before the civil engineer was confined to the application of technical 
knowledge and skills in the successful implementation and completion of projects, the civil 
engineer is now confronted with a broader range of issues to deal with. The civil engineer now 
has to face the challenges of integrating the socio-economic and environmental issues with the 
technical aspects of the construction projects. 
The civil engineer is constantly challenged to 
design and build developments in a manner that is environmentally sound, socially acceptable, 
and globally competitive. 
This Bill, therefore, seeks to achieve the following objectives: 
1. To attune the law to the needs for national development; 
2. To strengthen the profession and enable the civil engineers to cope with the formidable 
challenges brought about by globalization and cross-border practice; 
3. To continually upgrade the level of competence of the civil engineers through: 
a. peer recognition of specialization in civil engineering, 
b. continuing professional development, and 
c. strengthening of the accredited professional organization of civil engineers; 
4. To define more clearly the practice of civil engineering in the Philippines by foreign 
nationals; 
5, To make the law better serve and safeguard public interest by establishing a clear, 
precise and practicable delineation of professional accountability in the civil engineering 
practice. 
In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this Bill is earnestly sought. 


SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES) 
First Regular Session 
) 
SENATE 
1211 
S.B.No. __ 
'13 
AUG -5 A1D:02 
. 
ltEC'Ehr<:o IW:_"1I-_ 
Introduced by Senator Franklin M. Drilon -
-
1 
AN ACT 
2 
FURTHER AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 544, AS AMENDED, 
3 
OR THE CIVIL ENGINEERING LAW 
4 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
5 
Congress assembled: 
6 
SECTION 1. Sections 4, 13 and 19 of Republic Act No. 544, as amended, are hereby 
7 
further amended to read as follows: 
8 
"Section 4. Powers and duties of the Board_ - The Board of Civil Engineers is 
9 
vested with authority: conformable with the provisions of this Act, to administer 
. 10 
oaths, issue, suspend and revoke certificates of registration for the practice of civil 
11 
engineering, [issue certificates of recognition to civil engineers already registered 
12 
under this Act for advanced studies, research, and/or highly specialized training in 
13 
any branch of civil engineering, subject to the approval of the Secretary of the 
14 
Public Works and Communications,] to investigate such violations of this Act and 
15 
the regulations, there under as may come to the knowledge of the Board and, for 
16 
this purpose, issue subpoena and subpoena duces tecum to secure appearance 
17 
of witnesses in connection with the charges presented to the Board, to inspect at 
18 
least once a year educational institutions offering courses in civil engineering, civil 
19 
engineering works, projects or corporations, established in the Philippines and, for 
20 
safe-guarding of life, health and property, to discharge such other powers and 
21 
duties as may affect ethical and technological standards of the Civil engineering 
22 
profession in the Philippines. For this purpose of this act, the Director of the Public 


1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
7 
8 
9 
10 
11 
12 
13 
14 
15 
16 
17 
18 
19 
20 
21 
22 
23 
24 
25 
26 
27 
28 
Works and/or his authorized representative in the provinces and chartered cities 
shall be ex-officio agents of the Board and as such it shall be their duty to help in 
the enforcement of the provisions of this Act. . 
The Board may [, with the approval of the Secretary of Public Works and Highways 
and Communications issue] PROMULGATE such rules and regulations as may be 
deemed necessary to carry out the provisions of this act. THE CIVIL 
ENGINEERING CODE AND THE MANUAL OF PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE OF 
CIVIL ENGINEERS AS PREPARED BY THE ACCREDITED PROFESSIONAL 
ORGANIZATION OF CIVIL ENGINEERS (APOCE) AND APPROVED BY THE 
BOARD, 
SHALL FORM PART OF THE IMPLEMENTING RULES AND 
REGULATIONS. The Board shall also adopt a code of ethics in the practice of 
civil engineering and have an official seal to authenticate its official documents. 
SECTION 4(A). 
CERTIF/CA TE OF SPEC/AUZA TlON -
IN ORDER TO 
ENCOURAGE 
THE 
CONTINUING 
PROFESSIONAL 
EDUCATION 
AND 
DEVELOPMENT 
OF REGISTERED CIVIL ENGINEERS, THE ACCREDITED 
PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATION OF CIVIL ENGINEERS (APOCE) BY THE 
PROFESSIONAL REGULATION COMMISSION SHALL BE VESTED WITH 
AUTHORITY CONFORMABLE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ACT, TO 
ISSUE A CERTIFICATE OF SPECIALIZATION TO A REGISTERED CIVIL 
ENGINEER WHO HAS DEMONSTRATED HIS ADVANCED KNOWLEDGE, 
EXPERIENCE, EDUCATION, RESEARCH, AND TRAINING IN A RECOGNIZED 
BRANCH OF CIVIL ENGINEERING; PROVIDED, THAT AT THE INITIAL 
EFFECTIVITY 
OF 
THIS 
ACT, 
THE 
SPECIALIZATIONS 
OF 
PROJECT 
MANAGEMENT AND CONSTRUCTION ENGINEERING, ENVIRONMENTAL AND 
ENERGY ENGINEERING, GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING, STRUCTURAL 
ENGINEERING, 
TRANSPORTATION 
ENGINEERING, 
AND 
WATER 
ENGINEERING SHALL BE SO RECOGNIZED. 
PROVIDED FURTHER, THAT 
OTHER SPECIALIZATIONS MAY ADDITIONALLY BE RECOGNIZED BY THE 


/ 
1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
7 
8 
9 
10 
11 
12 
13 
14 
15 
16 
17 
18 
19 
20 
21 
22 
23 
24 
25 
26 
27 
APOCE. 
SPECIALISTS IN EACH RECOGNIZED BRANCH MAY FORM A 
SPECIALTY ORGANIZATION OF CIVIL ENGINEERS (SOCE); PROVIDED 
FURTHER, STILL, THAT THIS SOCE IS AFFILIATED TO AND RECOGNIZED BY 
THE APOCE. PROVIDED FINALLY, THAT THERE IS ONLY ONE SOCE FOR 
EACH 
RECOGNIZED 
BRANCH 
OF 
CIVIL 
ENGINEERING, 
WITHOUT 
PREJUDICE TO MEMBERSHIP IN OTHER VOLUNTARY PROFESSIONAL 
ORGANIZATIONS. 
THE 
HOLDER 
OF 
SUCH 
CERTIFICATE 
OF 
SPECIALIZATION MAY USE THE SPECIALIST TITLE, IN ADDITION TO AND 
NOT REPLACING HIS CIVIL ENGINEER TITLE, IN THE SIGNING OF 
RELEVANT PLANS AND DOCUMENTS. 
THE APOCE SHALL HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO SUSPEND OR REVOKE A 
CERTIFICATE OF SPECIALIZATION PREVIOUSLY ISSUED ON GROUNDS OF 
VIOLATION OF ANY OF THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ACT." 
"Section 13. 
Oath of Civil Engineers. ..:. All successful candidates in the 
examination shall be required to take a professional oath before the Board of Civil 
Engineers or other government officials authorized to administer oaths, prior to 
entering upon the "practice of the" civil engineering profession. 
ALL 
REGISTERED CIVIL ENGINEERS SHALL ALSO TAKE THEIR OATH AS 
MEMBERS OF THE ACCREDITED PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATION OF CIVIL 
ENGINEERS (APOCE) AND SHALL COMPLY WITH ALL THEIR MEMBERSHIP 
REQUIREMENTS. ALL REGISTERED CIVIL ENGINEERS MUST REMAIN 
MEMBERS IN GOOD STANDING OF THE APOCE TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE 
TO PRACTICE THE PROFESSION." 
"Section 19. Transitory Provisions - As soon as this Act takes effect, any person 
desiring to practice the profession of civil engineering shall be required to obtain a 
certificate of registration in the manner and under the conditions hereinafter 
provided. All civil engineers duly licensed under the provisions of Act Numbered 


1 
Twenty-nine hundred and eighty-five, as amended, at the time this Act takes 
2 
effect, shall be automatically registered under the provisions l1ereof. Certificates 
3 
of registration held by such persons in good standing shall have the same force 
4 
and effect as though the same have been issued under the provisions of this Act. 
5 
CERTIFICATES OF SPECIALIZATION ISSUED TO REGISTERED CIVIL 
6 
ENGINEERS 
BY 
THE 
BOARD 
OR 
ACCREDITED 
PROFESSIONAL 
7 
ORGANIZATION OF CIVIL ENGINEERS (APOCE) HELD BY SUCH PERSONS 
8 
IN GOOD STANDING SHALL HAVE THE SAME FORCE AND EFFECT AS 
9 
THOUGH THE SAME HAVE BEEN ISSUED UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF 
10 
THIS ACT." 
11 
SECTION 2. Separability Clause - Should any provision of this Act or any part thereof be 
12 
declared invalid, the other provisions, so far as they are separable from the invalid ones, shall 
13 
remain in full force of effect. 
14 
SECTION 3. 
Repealing Clause -
All other laws, decrees, presidential issuances, 
15 
proclamations, and administrative regulations inconsistent with or contrary to the proviSions of this 
16 
Act are hereby amended, modified or repealed accordingly. 
17 
SECTION 4. 
Effectivity Clause -
This act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
18 
complete publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
19 
Approved,