FIFTEENTH CONGRESS )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
FIRST REGULAR SESSION

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Introduced by Honorable Rufus B. Rodriguez and
Honorable Maximo B. Rodriguez, Jr.

House Bill No__279'7

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Civil Engineering Law, Republic Act No. 544, which governs the practice of
Civil Engineering in the Philippines, was last amended 49 years ago.

Since then, the number of registered civil engineers has grown to over 100,000
today. A new role for the civil engineer has likewise evolved in the light of the
globalization and cross-boarder practice. Whereas before the civil engineer was
confined to the application of technical knowledge with a boarder 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, with its proposed amendments of the law, seeks to achieve the
following objectives:

1. To attune the law to national development needs;

2. To strengthen the profession and enable civil engineers to cope with the
formidable challenges brought about by globalization and cross-boarder
practice;

3. To continually upgrade the level of competence of the civil engineers
through:

‘a. peer recognition of specialization in civil engineering;

b. continuous professional development; and

c. the strengthening of the accredited professional organization of civil
engineers.

In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this proposed legislation is

eamestly sought. .

RUFUS B. RODRIGUEZ

MAXIMO B. RODRIGUEZ, JR.


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
FIRST REGULAR SESSION

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Introduced by Honorable Rufus B. Rodriguez and
Honorable Maximo B. Rodriguez, Jr.

House Bill No. 2797

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR OMNIBUS AMENDMENTS TO REPUBLIC ACT NO. 544,
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE CIVIL ENGINEERING LAW, AS AMENDED

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

Section 1. Sections 2, 4, 13, 16 and 19 of Republic Act No. 544, otherwise
known as the Civil Engineering Law, as amended, are hereby further amended to
read as follows:

“Section 2. Definition of Terms.

(a) The practice of civil engineering within the meaning and
intent of this Act shall embrace services in the form of consultation,
design, preparation of plans, specifications, estimates, erection,
installation and supervision of the construction of streets, bridges,
highways, railroads, airports and hangars, port works, canals, river
and shore improvements, lighthouses, and dry docks; buildings,
fixed structures for irrigation, flood protection, drainage, water
supply and sewerage works; demolition of permanent structures;
and tunnels. The enumeration of any work in this section shall not
be construed as excluding any other work requiring civil
engineering knowledge and application.

(b) The term “civil engineer’ as used in this act shall mean a
person duly registered with the Board for Civil Engineers in the
manner as hereinafter provided.

{C) ACCREDITED PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATION OF
CIVIL ENGINEERS (APOCE) SHALL MEAN THE PHILIPPINE
INSTITUTE OF CIVIL ENGINEERS (PICE) WHICH IS THE
OFFICIAL NATIONAL ORGANIZATION OF ALL REGISTERED


CIVIL ENGINEERS IN THE PHILIPPINES AS ACCREDITED BY
THE PROFESSIONAL REGULATION COMMISSION.”

“Section 4. Powers and duties of the Board. - The Board of
Examiners of Civil Engineers is vested with authority, conformable
with the provisions of this Act, to administer oaths, issue, suspend
and revoke certificates of registration for the practice of civil
engineering, [issue certificates of recognition to civil engineers
already registered under this Act for advance studies, research,
and/or highly specialized training in any branch of civil engineering,
subject to the approval of the Secretary of the Public Works and
Communications,] to investigate such violations of this Act and the
regulations, there-under as may come to the knowledge of the
Board and, for this purpose, issue subpoena and subpoena duces
tecum to secure appearance of witnesses in connection with the
charges presented to the Board, to inspect at least once a year
educational institutions offering courses in civil engineering, civil
engineering works, project or corporations, established in the
Philippines and, for safe-guarding of life, health and property, to
discharge such other powers and duties as may affect ethical and
technological standards of the civil engineering profession in the
Philippines. For the purpose of this act, the Director of the Public
Works and/or his authorized representative in the provinces: and
Chartered cities shall be ex-officio agents of the Board and as such
shail be their duty to help in the enforcement of the provisions of
this Act.

The Board mayf, with the approval of the Secretary of Public Works
and Communications issue] PROMULGATE such rules and
regulations as may be deemed necessary to carry out the
provisions of this act. THE LATEST EDITION OF THE CIVIL
ENGINEERING CODE, THE MANUAL OF PROFESSIONAL
PRACTICE OF CIVIL ENGINEERS AS PREPARED BY THE
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). CERTIFICATE OF SPECIALIZATION - IN
ORDER TO ENCOURAGE THE CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL
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,


AND TRAINING IN A RECOGNIZED BRANCH OF CIVIL
ENGINEERING: PROVIDED, THAT AT THE INITIAL
EFFECTIVITY OF THIS ACT, THE SPECIALIZATION OF
CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT AND _ ENGINEERING,
GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING, STRUCTURAL
ENGINEERING, TRANSPORTATION ENGINEERING, AND
WATER RESOURCES AND HYDRAULICS ENGINEERING
SHALL BE SO RECOGNIZED. PROVIDED FURTHER, THAT
OTHER SPECIALIZATION MAY ADDITIONALLY BE
RECOGNIZED BY THE APOCE. SPECIALISTS IN EACH
RECOGNIZED BRANCH MAY FORM A_ SPECIALTY
ORGANIZATION OF CIVIL ENGINEERS (SOCE): PROVIDED
FURTHER THAT THIS SOCE IS AFFILIATED TO AND
RECOGNIZED BY THE APOCE. PROVIDED FINALLY, 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 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
PROVISION 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 Examiners 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.”

“Section 16. Refusal to Issue Certificate — The Board of Examiners
for Civil Engineers shall not Issue a certificate to any person
convicted by a court of a competent jurisdiction of any criminal
offense involving moral turpitude, or to any person guilty of
immoral or dishonorable conduct, or to any person of unsound
mind. THE BOARD SHALL NOT ISSUE A CERTIFICATE TO
ANY PERSON WHO IS NOT A MEMBER OF GOOD STANDING
OF THE APOCE. In the event of a refusal to issue a certificate to
any person, the Board shall give to the applicant a written
‘statement setting forth its reason for such action, which statement
shall be incorporated in the records of the Board.”


“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 Twenty-nine
hundred and eighty-five, as amended, at the time this Act takes
effect, shall be automatically registered under the provisions hereof.
Certificates of registration held by such persons in good standing
shall have the same force and effect as though the same have
been issued under the provisions of this Act. CERTIFICATES OF
SPECIALIZATION ISSUED TO REGISTERED CIVIL ENGINEER
BY THE BOARD OR ACCREDITED PROFESSIONAL
ORGANIZATION FOR CIVIL ENGINEERING (APOCE) HELD BY
SUCH PERSONS IN GOOD STANDING SHALL HAVE THE
SAME FORCE AND EFFECT AS THOUGH THE SAME HAVE
BEEN ISSUED UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ACT.”

Section 2. Separability Clause. — Should any provision of this Act or any

part thereof be declared invalid, the other provisions, so far as they are separable

from the invalid ones, shall remain in full force and effect.

Section 3. Repealing Clause. - All laws, orders, issuances, rules and

regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified

accordingly.

Section 4. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
complete publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation

Approved,