ROUSE OF REPRE

ENTATIVES

RECEIVED
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES, Sonn
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES DATE: eet
Quezon Ci Bia: LOT avn

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SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session
1510

REED ATON UNIT

House Bill No. BUS 8 OLX SERVICE

Introduced by MAGDALO Party-List Representative
HON. GARY C. ALEJANO

Explanatory Note

This bill was originally introduced as House Bill No. 5127 by the undersigned during the 16"
Congress.

Architects have been practicing their art and science since antiquity. The profession as we
know it today has undergone extensive growth and change. The profile of architects”
work has become more demanding, clients’ requirements and technological advances
have become more complex, and social and ecological imperatives have grown more
pressing. These changes have spawned changes in services and collaboration among the
many parties involved in the design and construction process

As professionals, architects have a primary duty of care to the communities they
serve, This duty prevails over their personal interest and the interests of their clients

Members of the architectural profession are dedicated to standards of
professionalism, integrity, and competence, and thereby bring to society unique
skills and aptitudes essential to the sustainable development of the built environment
and the welfare of their societies and cultures. Principles of professionalism are
established in legislation, as well as in codes of ethics and regulations defining
professional conduct

Given the public interest in a quality, sustainable built environment and the dangers
and consequences associated with the development of that environment, it is important
that architectural services are provided by properly qualified professionals for the
adequate protection of the public,”!

‘The recent natural calamities that the country experienced have amplified the need
for resilient, sustainable and well-planned communities. These kinds of communities
will greatly mitigate the effects of natural calamities in the lives of the Filipinos.
Undoubtedly, architects will play a crucial role in the development of new and existing
communities to be resilient, sustainable and well planned

The passage of Republic Act No. 9266, otherwise known as the Architecture Act of
2004, is a significant step in protecting and assuring the public that only Architects can
offer and provide architectural services. It is envisioned to raise the level of

* Union Internationale des Architects (UIA), UIA Accord on Recommended fenternational Standards of
Professionalism in Architectural Practice. http://www.aia. org/aiauemp/groups/ala/documents /pd f/alas0751
64. pdf


Philippine architecture in order to develop a built environment that is resilient,
sustainable and well planned, conducive for the advancement of the Philippine culture
to help promote the country as a center for business, culture and tourist destination in
Asia.

After a decade since its passage, however, the need to strengthen R.A. 9266 and
harmonize other laws affecting the practice of architecture has become evident. R.A.
9266 has not been fully implemented by government agencies due to the fact that other
laws have varying incompatible provisions. Consequently, the teal intent of R.A. 9266
in protecting and assuring the public chat only Architects can offer and provide
architectural services has not been realized.

In addition, the impending ASEAN integration has also manifested the need to
prepare the Filipino architect's qualifications to practice architecture in other
jurisdictions.

To protect public interest and to comply with the provisions of the ASEAN Mutual
Recognition Agreement, this bill seeks to strengthen the architecture profession in
the country through the amendment and repeal of specific provisions and the
introduction of architectural terms that will delineate the practice of architecture from
other professions.

In view of the foregoing, the urgent passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

/ALEJANO


REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
rst Regular Session

1510

House Bill No.

Introduced by MAGDALO Party-List Representative
HON. GARY C. ALEJANO

AN ACT
TO STRENGTHEN THE ARCHITECTURE PROFESSION,
AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9266, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE
ARCHITECTURE ACT OF 2004

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

SECTION 1. Sec. 3 (1) of Republic Act No. 9266 is hereby amended to

include the following terms:

(3) ARCHITECTURAL DESIGNS — ALSO REFERRED TO AS
IN THIS ACT, MEANS THE
ILLUSTRATED CONCEPT THAT FOCUSES ON THE FEATURES
MENTS OF BUILDING(S) OR STRUCTURE(S) AND THE
ND
s) AND
'OHERENT AND FUNCTIONAL
ACCEPTED APPROACH
TO ACHIEVE THE OBJECTIVES(S), ABIDING BY SET NORMS
HE ARCHITECTURAL PRINCIPLES OF
UTILITY, STRENGTH AND BEAUTY, EXCLUSIVELY

“DES

N(S)” AS USD

ORE
UTILIZATION OF THE SITE AND SPACE WITHIN
SURROUNDING SUCH BUILDING(S) OR STRUCTURI
UNIFIES THEM INTO A
WHOLE, FOLLOWING A GENERAL!

AND CONSIDERING

PREPARED BY AN ARCHITECT;

(4) ARCHITECTURAL DOCUMENTS- ALSO REFERRED TO AS
AS USED IN THIS ACT, MEANS THE
TURAL DESIGNS, ARCHITECTURAL — PLANS,
DRAWINGS, SPECIFICATIONS, TECHNICAL DOCUMENT AND
ER INSTRUMENTS OF SERVICE PREPARED, SIGNED AND

“DOCUMENT!
ARCHITE:

oT
SEALED EXCLUSIVELY BY AN ARCHITECT;

(5) ARCHITECTURAL PERMIT
DOCUMENT ISSUED BY ANY REGULATING GOVERNM
ENTITY BASED ON ARCHITECTURAL DOCUMED

AUTHORIZING THE CONSTRUCTION OF BUILDING(S) OR

1

MEANS A MANDATED
NT



addin;

Regi

STRUCTURE(S) AND THE UTILIZATION OF THE STATE AND
SPACE WITHIN AND SURROUNDING SUCH BUILDING(S) OR
STRUCTURE(S);

(6) ARCHITECTURAL PLANS- ALSO REFERRED TO AS
“PLANS” AS USED IN THIS ACT MEANS THE LATERAL
SECTION OR DIMENSIONAL REPRESENTATIONS OF A
PROPOSED DEVELOPMET OR REDEVELOPMENT OF
BUILDING(S) OR STRUCTURE(S) AND THE UTILIZATION OF
THE SITE AND SPACE WITHIN AND SURROUNDING SUCH
BUILDING(S) OR STRUCTURE(S) SHOWING FEATURES OR
ELEMENTS OF THE ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN SUCH AS THE
FLOOR PLANS, ELEVATIONS, CROSS AND LONGITUDINAL
SECTIONS, PERSPECTIVE, REFLECTED CEILING PLAN, SITE
DEVELOPMENT PLAN, ARCHITECTURAL INTERIORS, AND
OTHER ARCH RAL DETAILS PREPARED, SIGNED AND
SEALED EXCLUSIVELY BY AN ARCHITECT;

ction 2. Sec. 20 (2) of Republic Act No. 9266 is hereby amended by
a new provision which reads as follows

Sec. 20. Seal, Issuance and Use of Seal.- xxx

(2-A) No officer or employee of this Republic, chartered cities, provinces
and municipalities, now or hereafter charged with the enforcement of laws.
ordinances or regulations relating to the construction or alteration of
buildings, shall accept or approve any architectural plans or specifications
which have not been prepared EX! JSIVELY BY AN ARCHITECT
and submitted in full accord with all the provisions of this Act. Nor shall
any payments be approved by such officer for any work, the plans and
specifications for which have not been so prepared EXCLUSIVELY and
signed by an Architect

UPON APPROVAL OF THE ARCHITECTURAL
DOCUMENTS, THE CORRESPONDING ARCHITECTURAL
PERMIT SHA SUED; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT NO.
PERMIT OR SIMILAR IMPORT SHALL BE ISSUED
U THE CORRESPONDING — ARCHITECTURAL
DESIGNS, PLANS AND DOCUMENTS PREPARED
EXCLUSIVELY AND SIGNED BY AN ARCHITECT.

Section 4. Implementing Rules and Regulations, The Professional
latory Board or Architecture (PRBoA), the United Architects of the

Philippines (UAP), together with the Department of Public Works and Highways

(DPWH), and the Housing and Urban Development Coord

ing Council

(HUDCC) is tasked to prepare the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR)
required for the implementation of this Act. The IRR shall be promulgated within
ninety (90) days upon approval of this Act.


Section 5. Separability Clause.- If, for any reason, any section or
provision of this Act is declared unconstitutional , or invalid, the other sections
and provisions, which are not affected by it, shall continue to be in full force and
effect

Section 6, Repealing Clause.- Sec. 43 of Republic Act No. 9266 is hereby
repealed. All laws, decrees, executive orders, agreements, rules and regulations or
parts thereof inconsistent with the provision of this Act are hereby repealed or
modified accordingly

Section 7, Effectivity.- The Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
complete publication in either the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspaper of
general circulation

Approved,