MANUEL S.

ENVERGA UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

SYNTHESIS OF THE LAW THAT REGULATES THE

PRACTICE OF ENGINEERING PROFESSION

PEDERNAL, ROZHELLE M. DR. GUILLERMO M. RAGO JR.

SUBMITED BY SUBMITTED TO

FEBRUARY 10, 2019 MW / 8:00-9:30

DATE SUBMITTED SCHEDULE
 An Act to Regulate the Practice of Civil Engineering in the Philippines

REPUBLIC ACT NO. 544

CONGRESS OF THE PHILIPPINES
17 JUNE 1950

The Civil Engineering Act, Republic Act No. 544, which regulates civil engineering
practice in the Philippines, was last amended 55 years ago. Since then, the number of registered
civil engineers has risen to over 90,000 today. A new role for civil engineers has also emerged in
the light of globalization and cross-border practice. Whereas, before the civil engineer was
limited to the application of technical knowledge and skills to the successful implementation and
completion of projects, the civil engineer is now confronted with. The civil engineer is now
faced with the complexities of balancing socio-economic and environmental problems with the
technical aspects of construction projects. Civil engineers are constantly challenged to design
and build projects in a manner that is environmentally sound, socially acceptable and globally
competitive.

The bill aims to align the law with the needs of national development. Strengthening the
profession and allowing civil engineers to face the daunting demands of globalization and cross-
border practice. Continued improvement of the level of competence of civil engineers through:
peer recognition of civil engineering skills, continuing professional development and
strengthening of certified civil engineering professional organization.

To describe the profession of civil engineering by foreign nationals in the Philippines

more clearly. Promote the growth of the consulting sector by making it aware of the international
concept of multidisciplinary consulting services. Remove a clause that renders contracting multi-
disciplinary consulting services needlessly difficult, cumbersome and impracticable and that now
adversely affects the government's infrastructure to the degree that work and payments to
contracted parties for projects are suspended. To make the law better serve and protect the public
interest by creating a simple, reliable and feasible definition of professional and corporate
contractual responsibility in civil engineering practice.
 Article I
Title of the Act and Definition of Terms

This Act shall be known as the “Civil Engineering Law.” The following terms shall be
defined as follows, as used in this Act:

(a) Civil Engineering is a science or career in which knowledge of the mathematical and
physical sciences gained through study and practice is applied, with judgment, to the
use of natural and man-made resources and forces in the planning, design,
management, construction and maintenance of buildings, structures, installations and
utilities in their entirety, for the purpose of Progressive human well-being and usage,
environmental change, community life, business and transport, taking into account
issues such as accessibility, efficiency, economy, safety and environmental quality.

(b) Civil Engineer as used in this Act means a person duly registered with the Civil
Engineering Board in the manner provided for herein.

(c) The General Practice of Civil Engineering as specified in this Act shall include
services such as, but not limited to, consulting, planning, design, preparation, signing,
sealing of plans, requirements, estimates, erection, installation, demolition and
Supervision of the construction / demolition of civil engineering systems and
installations, including their parts, sites and surrounding areas such as, but not limited
to, streets, bridges, highways and railroads; airports and hangars; port works, canals,
river and shore enhancements, lighthouses and dry docks; offices, towers, signboards,
signage, chimneys, silos, containment structures and solid waste. The description of
any work in this section shall not be construed as excluding any other work involving
the knowledge and application of civil engineering.

(d) The term "Board" as used in this act shall mean the Board of Civil Engineering.

(e) The term "Commission" as used in this act shall mean the Professional Regulation
Commission ofthe Philippines.
 (f) The word "accredited professional organization of civil engineers" as used in this
Act shall mean the Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers (PICE), which is the official
national organization of all registered civil engineers in the Philippines accredited by
the Commission of Professional Regulations.

Article II
BOARD OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

Composition of Board

The Board of Examiners for Civil Engineers, hereinafter referred to as the Board of
Directors, shall be established within thirty days of the approval of this Act and shall be
composed of a Chairman and two Members appointed by the President of the Philippines
on the recommendation of the Commissioner of the PRC. The members of the Board shall
hold office for a period of three years from the date of election or until their successors
have been appointed and eligible. The first members of the Board named pursuant to this
Act shall hold office for the following terms: one member for one year; one member for
two years; and one member for three years. Every member of the Board of Directors shall
be eligible by taking the Proper oath of office before joining the execution of his duties.

Powers and Duties of the Board

Subject to the administrative oversight of the Commission, the Board shall be

empowered to administer, grant, suspend, revoke or reinstate certificates of registration and
professional identification card for the practice of civil engineering, and to issue and
revoke separate certificates of registration and professional identification card for the
practice of civil engineering.

Works, ventures or companies founded in the Philippines and, for the protection of
life, health and properties, to exercise such other powers and duties as may affect the
ethical and technical standards of the civil engineering profession in the Philippines.
 Qualifications of Board Members

At the time of its appointment, every member of the Board shall:

Be a citizen and resident in the Philippines. Be at least thirty years of age with good
moral character. Be a civil engineering graduate from a recognized and legally founded
school, department, college or university. Be a licensed civil engineer properly qualified to
practice civil engineering in the Philippines. Have studied civil engineering, with a
certificate as such, for a period not less than ten years prior to his appointment. Do not be a
member of the faculty of any academy, institute, college or university where a civil
engineering course is taught, or have a financial interest in such institutions. No former
faculty member of any college, college or university where civil engineering is taught can
become a member of the Board of Directors unless he has stopped teaching for at least
three consecutive years.

Annual Report

At the end of each fiscal year, the Board shall submit to the PRC a detailed report of
its activities and procedures during the period covered by the fiscal year ended. At the end
of each fiscal year, the Board shall submit to the PRC a detailed report on its activities and
procedures during the period covered by the fiscal year ended.

Article III
Examination and Registration

Applicants for registration certificates as civil engineers shall be tested, at the discretion of the
Commission, on the following subjects: mathematics, including arithmetic, plane and spherical
trigonometry, statistics, descriptive and solid geometry, differential and integral calculus, and
logical and applied mechanics; hydraulics; surveying.
 The Commissioner for Professional Regulation shall be the Executive Officer of the
Board of Directors and shall perform the assessments required by that Board. Secretary
and custodian of all documents, including review papers and minutes of consideration by
the Board of Directors.

As soon as this Act comes into force, any person wishing to practice the civil
engineering profession shall be required to obtain a certificate of registration in the manner
and under the conditions set out below. Any graduate of civil engineering from a
government-recognized school, academy, college or university who has passed a civil
service examination for a senior civil engineer and has been practicing or working in
government as such for a period of five years shall be exempted from the test.

Article IV
Enforcement of Act and Penal Provisions

Enforcement of the Act by officers of the law

It is the responsibility of all duly constituted law officers of state, provincial, city and
municipal governments, or any political subdivision thereof, to enforce and prosecute any
individual violating the provisions of this Act.Registration required

No person shall practice or offer civil engineering practice in the Philippines without
obtaining a proper certificate of registration from the Civil Engineers Board, unless
exempted from registration..

Article V
Miscellaneous Provisions

It shall be unlawful for any person to order or otherwise cause the creation,
reconstruction or modification of any building or structure intended for public gathering or
assembly, such as theaters, cinematographs, stadiums, churches or structures of a similar
nature, and any other engineering structures referred to in section two of this Act, except as
provided for in this Act. Designs, plans and specifications of the same have been drawn up
 under the authority of, and signed and sealed by, the licensed civil engineer, and unless the
design, reconstruction and/or modification is carried out under the direction and direct
supervision of the civil engineer. Plans and designs of buildings shall be approved as
provided for by the law or by the ordinance of a town or city.

If any section or portion of this Act is declared unconstitutional, these decisions shall not
invalidate the other provisions of this Act. This Act shall become effective upon its approval.