Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 2979

Introduced by Hon. Andres D. Salvacion, Jr. and Hon. Victor J. Yu

EXPLANATORY NOTE

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.

ANDI [ACION, JR. ICT


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

2979

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Honorable Andres D. Salvacion, Jr.

AN ACT
FURTHER AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 544, AS AMENDED,
OR THE CIVIL ENGINEERING LAW

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

SECTION 1.Sections 4, 13, 16 and 19 of Republic Act No. 544, as amended, are hereby
further amended to read as follows:

“Section 4.Powers and duties of the Board.— The Board 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 advanced 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 ducestecum 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, projects 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 this 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 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).CERTIFICATE OF SPECIALIZATION — 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
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 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
ENGINEERS BY THE BOARD OR ACCREDITED PROFESSIONAL
ORGANIZATION OF CIVIL ENGINEERS (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 of effect.

SECTION 3. Repealing Clause ~ All other laws, decrees, presidential issuances,
proclamations, and administrative regulations inconsistent with or contrary to the
provisions of this Act are hereby amended, modified or repealed accordingly.

SECTION 4.Effectivity Clause — This act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
complete publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation

Approved.