i)' . ',' 10 j:' 
FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First R.egular Session 
) 
) 
) 
(,)FfJC£ Or Ti'lt~ ';>f::Cr'~~'rAift''' 
'-T.i~· 
SENATE 
S. B. No. 2109 
Introduced by Senator FRANCIS G. ESCUDERO 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Civil Engineering Law, Eepublic 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 
constantl y 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 earnestly sought. 


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
) 
) 
) 
S. B. No. 2109 
V"f'{ '\! 
Introduced by Senator FRANCIS G. ESCUDERO 
AN ACT 
FURTHER AMENDING 
REPUBLIC 
ACT 
NO~ 544, 
AS 
AMENDED, OR THE CIVIL ENGINEERING LAW 
Be il enllcted by the Senllte Ilnd the I-louse of Representlltives of the Philippines 
in Congress IIssembled: 
SECTION 1. Sections 2, 4, 13, 16 and 19 of Republic Act No. 544, as 
amended, are hereby further amended to read as follows: 
"Section 2. Definilion ofTernzs. 
(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 [or 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 
shall be their duty to help in the enforcement of the 
provisions of this Act. 
The Board mayi, 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 LA TEST 
EDITION OF THE CIVIL ENGINEERING CODE, THE 
MANUAL OF PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE OF CIVIL 
ENGINEERS AS PREPARED BY THE APOCE AND 
APPROVED BY THE J,lOARD 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 
REGULA TION 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 ADVANCE 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, 
OTHER 
SPECIALIZATION 
MAY 
ADDITIONALLY 
BE 
RECOGNIZED BY THE APOCE. SPECIALISTS IN 
EACH 
RECOGNIZED 
BRANCH 
MA Y 
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 
RELEV ANT 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 REQUIREMENT." 
"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 JS NOT A MEMBER OF GOOD 
STANDING OF THE APOCE. In the vent 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." 
SEC. 2. 
Repealing Clause. - All other laws, decrees, presidential 
issuances, proclamations, and administrative regulations inconsistent wi th or 
contrary to the provisions of this Act are hereby amended, modified or 
repealed accordingly, specifically, among others, Executive Order No. 495 
dated 06 December 1992. 
SEC. 3. 
Separllbilily Clause. - In the event that any provision of 
this Act is declared void or unconstitutional such declaration shall not affect 
the validity of the unaffected prOVisions of this Act. 
SEC. 4. 
Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) 
days after its complete publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general 
circulation. 
ApprO'ued,