SIXTEENTH CONGRESS )
OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES _)
Second Regular Session )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

5127

House Bill No.

Introduced by Rep. Susan A. Yap and Rep. Gary C. Alejano

EXPLANATORY NOTE

“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 ate 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, itis important that
architectural services ate 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 (“R.A. 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. Tt is envisioned to raise the level of
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 real intent of R.A. 9266 in protecting

2 Union Internationale des Architectes (UTA), UIA Accord on Recommended International
Standards of Professionalism in Architectural Practice
hitp:/ / www.aia.org/aiaucmp/ groups/aia/documents/ pdf/aias075164.pdf


and assuring the public that 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.

SUSAN A.
Representative, 2nd Distritt, Tarlac

Esentative, MAGDALO Partylist


SIXTEENTH CONGRESS )
OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES —_)
Second Regular Session )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

House Bill No. 51.27

Introduced by Rep. Susan A. Yap and Rep. Gary C, Alejano

2 AN ACT

3 TO STRENGTHEN THE ARCHITECTURE PROFESSION, AMENDING FOR
4 THE PURPOSE CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9266,

5 OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE ARCHITECTURE ACT OF 2004

6

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

9

10 SECTION 1. SEC. 3 (1) of Republic Act No. 9266 is hereby amended to include
11 the following terms:

12 (3) ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN - ALSO REFERRED TO AS

13 “DESIGN(S)” AS USED IN THIS ACT, MEANS THE

14 ILLUSTRATED CONCEPT THAT FOCUSES ON THE

15 FEATURES OR ELEMENTS OF BUILDING(S) OR

16 STRUCTURE(S) AND THE UTILIZATION OF THE SITE

v7 AND SPACE WITHIN AND SURROUNDING SUCH

18 BUILDING(S) OR STRUCTURE(S) AND UNIFIES THEM

19 INTO A COHERENT AND FUNCTIONAL WHOLE,

20 FOLLOWING A GENERALLY ACCEPTED APPROACH TO

21 ACHIEVE THE OBJECTIVE(S), ABIDING BY SET NORMS

2 AND CONSIDERING THE ARCHITECTURAL PRINCIPLES

2B OF UTILITY, STRENGTH AND BEAUTY, EXCLUSIVELY

24 PREPARED BY AN ARCHITECT;

25 (4) ARCHITECTURAL DOCUMENTS ~ ALSO REFERRED TO AS

26 “DOCUMENTS” AS USED IN THIS ACT, MEANS THE

7 ARCHITECTURAL DESIGNS, ARCHITECTURAL PLANS,

28 DRAWINGS, SPECIFICATIONS, TECHNICAL DOCUMENTS

29 AND OTHER INSTRUMENTS OF SERVICE PREPARED,

30 SIGNED AND SEALED EXCLUSIVELY BY AN ARCHITECT;

31


(5) ARCHITECTURAL PERMIT - MEANS A MANDATED
DOCUMENT ISSUED BY ANY REGULATING
GOVERNMENT ENTITY BASED ON ARCHITECTURAL
DOCUMENTS AUTHORIZING THE CONSTRUCTION OF
BUILDING(S) OR STRUCTURE(S) AND THE UTILIZATION
OF THE SITE 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 DEVELOPMENT 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
ARCHITECTURAL DETAILS PREPARED, SIGNED AND
SEALED EXCLUSIVELY BY AN ARCHITECT;

SECTION 2.

new provision which reads as follows:

st

0. Seal, Lssuance 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 telating to the construction or alteration of
buildings , shall accept or approve any architectural plans ot specifications

ISIVELY BY AN ARCHITECT and

which have not been prepared EX
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 SHALL BE.
D; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAY NO BUILDING PERMIT
SSUED WITHOUT ‘THE

OR SIMILAR IMPORT SHALL BE

20 (2) of Republic Act No. 9266 is hereby amended by adding a


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CORRESPONDING ARCHITECTURAL DESIGNS, PLANS AND
DOCUMENTS PREPARED EXCLUSIVELY AND SIGNED BY AN
ARCHITECT.

SECTION 4. Implementing Rules and Regulations, The Professional
Regulatory Board of 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 Coordinating 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 o 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.

repealed. All laws, decrees, executive orders, ageeements, rules and regulations or patts

43 of Republic Act No. 9266 is hereby

thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified

accordingly.

SECTION 17. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
complete publication in either the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general
circulation,

Approved,