SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
Second Regular Session 
) 
" 
IL8 -2 ['6 :46 
SENATE 
S.No. 2623 
, 
\" 
' .. 
Introduced by Senator Antonio "Sonny" F. Trillanes IV 
AN ACT 
TO STRENGTHEN THE ARCHITECTURE PROFESSION, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE 
CERTAN PROVISIONS OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9266, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE 
ARCHITECTURE ACT OF 2004 
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 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 and the dangers 
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."l 
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 loves of the Filipinos. Undoubtedly, 
architects will playa crucial role in the development of new and existing communities to be 
resilient, sustainable and well planned. 
The passage of Republic Act No. 9266 ("RA 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 
Philippine architecture in order to develop a built environment that is resilient, sustainable 
1 Union Internationale des Architects (UIA), UIA Accord on Recommended ftnternational Standards of Professionalism in 
Architectural Practice. htl pj/~.{'.~!W .r)i,1 ,pnt Idi,1UCJ"fIO/g. 0{ lly,/di",~~iQr;urnr;nt:,jpf-{:' ,::J"f,;s07S 16'1 pdf 
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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 the government agencies due to the fact that other laws 
have varying incompatible provisions. Consequently, the real intent of R.A. 9266 in 
protecting 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 forgoing, the urgent passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
2 


SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
Second Regular Session 
) 
SENATE 
S.No. 
2623 
Introduced by Senator Antonio "Sonny" F. Trillanes IV 
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: 
1 
SECTION 1. SEC. 3 (1) of Republic Act No. 9266 is hereby amended to include the following 
2 
terms; 
3 
(3) ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN - ALSO REFERRED TO AS "DESIGN(S)" AS USED IN 
4 
THIS ACT, MEANS THE ILLUSTRATED CONCEPT THAT FOCUSES ON THE 
5 
FEATURES OR ELEMENTS OF 8UILDING{S) OR STRlJCTURE(S) AND THE 
6 
UTILIZATION OF THE SITE AND SPACE WITHIN AtofD SURROUNDING SUCH 
7 
BUILDING(S) OR STRUCTURE(S) AND UNIFIES THEM INTO A COHERENT AND 
8 
FUNCTIONAL WHOLE, FOLLOWING A GENEREALLY ACCEPTED APPROACH TO 
9 
ACHIEVE THE OBJECTIVE(S), ABIDING BY SET NORMS AND CONSIDERING THE 
10 
ARCHITECTURAL 
PRINICIPLES 
OF 
UTILITY, 
STRENGTH 
AND 
BEAUTY, 
11 
EXCLUSIVELY PREPARED BY AN ARCHITECT; 
12 
(4) ARCHITECUTRAL DOCUMENTS - ALSO REFERRED TO AS "DOCUMENTS" AS 
13 
USED IN THIS ACT, MEANS THE ARCHITECTURAL DESIGNS, ARCHITECTURAL 
14 
PLANS, DRAWINGS, SPECIFICATIONS, TECHNICAL DOCUMENTS, AND OTHER 
15 
INSTRUMENTS OF SERVICE PREPARED, SIGNED AND SEALED EXCLUSIVELY BY AN 
16 
ARCHITECT; 
17 
(5) ARCHITECTURAL PERMIT - MEANS A MANDATED DOCUMENT ISSUED BY ANY 
18 
REGULATING GOVERNMENT ENTITY BASED ON ARCHITECTURAL DOCUMENTS 
19 
AUTHORIZING THE CONSTRUCTION OF BUlLDING(S) OR STRUCTURE(S) AND THE 
20 
UTILIZATION OF THE SITE AND SPACE WIHTIN AND SURROUNDING SUCH 
21 
BUILDlNG(S) OR STRUCTURE(S); 
22 
(6) ARCHITECTURAL PLANS - ALSO REFERRED TO AS "PLANS" AS USED IN THIS 
23 
ACT MEAN THE LATERAL SECTION OR DIMENSIONAL REPRESENTATIONS OF A 
24 
PROPOSED 
DEVELOPMENT 
OR 
REDEVELOPMENT 
OF 
BUILDING(S) 
OR 
25 
STRUCTURE(S) AND THE UTILIZATION OF THE SITE AND SPACE WITHIN AND 
26 
SURROUNDING SUCH BUILDING(S) OR STRUCTURE(S) SHOWING fEATURES OR 
27 
ELEMENTS OF THE ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN SUCH AS THE FLOOR PLANS, 
28 
ELEVATIONS, CROSS AND LONGITUDINAL SECTIONS, PERPECTIVE, REFLECTED 
29 
CEILING PLAN, SITE DEVELOPMENT PLAN, ARCHITECTURAL INTERIORS, AND 
30 
OTHE ARCHITECTURAL DETAILS PREPARED, SIGNED AND SEALED ESCLUSIVELY 
31 
BY AN ARCHITECT; 
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1 
SECTION 2. SEC. 20 (2) of Republic Act No. 9266 is hereby amended by adding a new 
2 
provision which reads as follows: 
3 
SEC. 20. Seal, Issuance and Use of Seal. 
xxx 
4 
(2-A) No officer or employee of this Republic, chartered cities, provinces and 
5 
municipalities, now or hereafter charged with the enforcement of laws, ordinances 
6 
or regulations relating to the construction or alteration of buildings, shall accept or 
7 
approve any architectural plans or specifications which have not been prepared 
8 
EXCLUSIVELY BY AN ARCHITECT and submitted in full accord with all the 
9 
provisions of this Act. Nor shall any payments be approved by such officer for any 
10 
work, the plans and specifications for which have not been so prepared 
11 
EXCLUSIVELY and signed by an Architect. 
12 
UPON 
APPROVAL 
OF 
THE 
ARCHITECTURAL 
DOCUMENTS, 
THE 
13 
CORRESPODING ARCHITECTURAL 
PERMIT SHALL 
BE 
ISSUED; 
PROVIDED, 
14 
HOWEVER, THAT NO BUILDING PERMIT OR SIMILAR IMPORT SHALL BE ISSUED 
15 
WITHOUT THE 
CORRESPONDING ARCHITECTURAL 
DESIGNS, 
PLANS AND 
16 
DOCUMENTS PREPARED EXCLUSIVELY AND SIGNED BY AN ARCHITECT. 
17 
SECTION 3. Implementing Rules and Regulations. The Professional Regulatory Board of 
18 
Architecture (PRBoA), the Accredited and Integrated Professional Organization of 
19 
Architects, together with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), and the 
20 
Housing and Urban Development Coordination Council (HUDCC) is tasked to prepare the 
21 
Implementing Rules and Regulations (lRR) required for the implementation of this Act, the 
22 
IRR shall be promulgated within ninety (90) days upon approval of this Act. 
23 
SECTION 4. Separability Clause. - If, for any reason, any section or provision of this Act is 
24 
declared unconstitutional, or invalid, the other sections and provisions, which are not 
25 
affected by it, shall continue to be in full force and effect. 
26 
SECTION 5. Repealing Clause. - SEC. 43 of Republic Act No. 9266 is hereby repealed. All 
27 
laws, decrees, executive orders, agreements, rules and regulations or parts thereof 
28 
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
29 
SECTION 6. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its complete 
30 
publication in either the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
2