THE PRACTICE OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
with whom the Client has a contract.
1.1 GENERAL
 this manual addresses the procurement of civil
engineering services for a quality project.
QUALITY
- is one satisfactorily meeting both the
expectations of the client or employer and the
requirements of the project.
- results from team effort and is measured by the
degree of satisfaction of all parties involved.
1.2 PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY
Standard of practice is for Civil Engineers to be given
responsibility for:
1. Studying
2. Conceiving
3. Designing
4. Observing Construction
5. Assisting in the programming for operating and
maintaining engineering work
 Civil Engineers shall conduct themselves in a
highly Professional Manner and Serve as
Faithful Trustees or agents of their client or
employers.
 Civil Engineers are therefore bound by the
Fundamental Canons of Ethics contained in this
manual.
 Care and protection of the environment is
paramount in the Civil Engineer’s work
engagement.
 Civil Engineers must always strive to maintain
the highest standard of Ethical Professional
Practice in their dealing with client employers,
employees, competitors and the community.
1.3 CLIENT-CIVIL ENGINEER RELATIONSHIP
PROPER RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN CIVIL ENGINEERS
AND THEIR PUBLIC AND PRIVATE CLIENTS
1. OBLIGATIONS OF THE CIVIL ENGINEER
2. OBLIGATIONS OF THE CLIENT
3. LIABILITY OF THE CIVIL ENGINEER AND THE CLIENT
-LIMITATION OR CIVIL ENGINEER’S
RESPONSIBILITY
-DAMAGES
4. SUSPENSION OR TERMINATION OF SERVICES
5. SETTLEMENT OF DISPUTES
6. OWNERSHIP OF DATA, DESIGNS AND DOCUMENTS
1.3.1 OBLIGATIONS OF THE CIVIL ENGINEER
1. The Civil Engineer shall perform Scope of the
services as stated in section 2.
2. The Civil Engineer shall exercise reasonable skill,
care and diligence in the performance of his
obligations.
3. The Civil Engineer shall act independently and,
as required by the contract, perform with
necessary skills and professional judgement,
when required to certify, decide or exercise
discretion between the Client and a Third party
4. The Civil Engineer is authorized to act as the
Client’s faithful agent when required but only as
implied in section 2 or implied in the contract
adopted for the project.
5. When aware of any matters which will change
or has changed the scope of the services, the
Civil Engineer shall give written notice to the
Client containing particulars of the change.
6. For Specified Staged Services, the Civil Engineer
shall not initiate or proceed with any
subsequent stage of the Services without the
approval of the Client.
7. When required, the Civil Engineer shall direct
and co-operate with all other professionals and
integrate their work where applicable into that
being undertaken by the Civil Engineer and
other professionals, but shall not be
professionally liable for their work.
8. The Civil Engineer may recommend specialist
suppliers and/or contractors to design and
execute certain parts of the works, in which
case the Civil Engineer shall co-ordinate the
design of such part or parts with the overall
design of the works but he shall be relieved of
all responsibility for the design, manufacture,
installation and performance of any such part or
parts of the works. The Civil Engineer shall not
be liable for acts of negligence, default or
omission by such person or persons.
9. The Civil Engineer shall notify the Client of any
interest the Civil engineer has which may
significantly conflict with the interests of the
Client under their Contract.
1.3.2 OBLIGATIONS OF THE CLIENT
1. The Client shall pay the Civil Engineer for his
Services, the amount of fees and expenses set
out in or determined in their agreement.
2. The Client shall provide the Civil Engineer within
reasonable time (that does not result in delay to
the provision of the Services), all information
required by the Civil Engineer in the
performance of his services and a decision in
writing on all matters properly referred to the
Client in writing.
3. The Client shall cooperate with the Civil
Engineer and shall not interfere with or
obstruct the proper performance of the
Services.
4. The Client shall, as soon as practicable, make
arrangements to enable the Civil Engineer to
enter the site and inspect facilities needed in
the performance of his services.
5. The Client shall arrange for the provision of
services from other professionals or others as
may be required and bear all costs.
6. When the Civil Engineer is required to
administer the work of other professionals or
other third parties who are directly contracted
by the Client or when the Civil Engineer is
required to act as Engineer-to-the-Contract for
any contract on behalf of the client then all
 instructions by the Client shall be given through
the Civil Engineer.
7. When aware of any matter which will change or
has changed the scope of the Civil Engineer’s
Services, the Client shall notify in writing within
7 days the Civil Engineer containing, as far as is
practicable, the particulars of the change.
1.3.3 LIABILITY OF THE CIVIL ENGINEER AND THE
CLIENT
• Civil Engineer shall only be liable to pay
damages to the client arising out of or in
connection with their Agreement if a breach of
duty of care is established against the Civil
Engineer.
• Client shall only be liable to pay damages to the
Civil Engineer if a breach of the Client’s duty to
the Civil Engineer is established against the
Client.
a) Limitation or Civil Engineer’s Responsibility
1. The Civil Engineer shall have no
responsibility or liability for costs, loss or
damage of whatsoever nature arising from
any errors in or omission from data,
documents, plans, design or specifications
not prepared by the Civil Engineer, or other
personnel under the direct control of the
Civil Engineer, and arising from any act or
omission or lack of performance or any
negligent or fraudulent act or omission by
the Client or any Other Consultant,
Contractor or supplier to the Client or any
employee or agent of the Client, Other
Consultants, Contractors or suppliers.
2. Not withstanding any recommendation or
lack of recommendation made by the Civil
Engineer to the Client, the Civil Engineer
shall not be held to have made any
warranty or promise as to the suitability,
competence or performance of any Other
Consultant, Contractor, supplier, or other
third party.
3. The Civil Engineer shall not be responsible
for the techniques, method, programmes,
sequences or procedures adopted by any
Contractor or other third party responsible
for executing any aspects of the Project, nor
for their performance on time, their failure
to carry out the work in accordance with
any contract documents or for any other
acts or omissions.
b) Damage
1. Damages payable shall be limited to the
amount of reasonably foreseeable loss and
damage suffered as a result of such breach.
2. The maximum amount of damages payable
in respect of liability, whether under the law
or contract, or otherwise, is limited to the
amount specified in the Specific Provision
or, if no such amount or provision is
specified, to the lesser of P300,000 or 10%
of the total amount of damages of the
portion of the work attributable to the Civil
Engineer’s breach of duty or twenty five
percent of the total of fees payable under
their agreement.
3. If found to be liable in circumstances where
the acts or omissions of a third party have
contributed to the loss or damage, the
proportion of damages payable by the party
found liable shall be limited to that
proportion which is attributable to that
party’s breach of duty, whether the claims
are made under contract or otherwise.
1.3.4 SUSPENSION OR TERMINATION OF SERVICES
• If circumstances arise for which the Civil
Engineer is not responsible and which make it
impractical or impossible for the Civil Engineer
to perform in whole or in part the Services in
accordance with their Agreement then the Civil
Engineer shall promptly notify the Client.
• The Client may suspend all or part of the
Services or terminate the Agreement by written
notice of not less than 30 days to the Civil
Engineer who shall immediately make
arrangements to stop the services and minimize
further expenditure.
The Civil Engineer by written notice of no less than 30
days may terminate the Agreement or at his and or her
discretion without prejudice to the right to terminate,
suspend the performance of the whole or part or the
Services under the following conditions:
1. When 30 days after the due date or payment of
any account the Civil Engineer has not received
payment of that part of it which has not by that
time been contested in writing, or
2. When Services have been suspended for a
period exceeding 6 calendar months, or if it is
clear to the Civil Engineer that it will be
impossible or impractical to resume the
suspended Services before the period of
suspension has exceeded six months.
1.3.5 SETTLEMENT OF DISPUTES
 If a dispute arises on either party, then that
party shall by notice in writing served on the
other party of the details of the dispute and
request that the dispute be resolved by
conciliation.
 If the matter in dispute is not resolved in
conciliation between the parties within the
prescribed time then the matter in dispute shall
be referred to arbitration.
1.3.6 OWNERSHIP OF DATA, DESIGNS AND
DOCUMENTS
 The design analyses, drawings, specifications
and reproductions thereof are instruments of
service owned by the Professional Engineer and
shall be used only for the specific project
covered by the agreement between the Client
and Engineer.
1.4 CIVIL ENGINEERING SERVICES
Services included:
1. Design, consultations and advice
2. Feasibility studies
3. Field investigations and engineering data
collection
4. Environmental assessments, impact statements
or Engineering reports
5. Opinions of probable construction cost
6. Preliminary and final designs, drawings,
specifications and construction bidding
documents
7. Assistance in securing construction bids and in
awarding contracts
8. Construction administration and observation
9. Arrangements for or performance of testing of
materials and equipment
10. Assistance in start-up, assessment of capacity,
and operation of facilities
11. Preparation of operation and maintenance
manuals
12. Appraisals and rate studies
13. Value engineering
14. Expert testimony
15. Assessment of risks
16. Structural remediation or rehabilitation
17. Project management and controls
18. Provision of supplemental temporary staff
19. Teaching
TALENTS OF VARIOUS DISCIPLINE OF PROFESSIONAL
CIVIL ENGINEERING FIRMS
1. Economists
2. Planners
3. Engineers and designers
4. Estimators
5. Architects
6. Scientists
7. Technical analysts
8. Specification writers
9. Drafters
10. Field representatives
11. Surveyors
PROGRAM MANAGEMENT
Program Manager
- performs specialized tasks necessary to the
development or construction of a specific
project
- develop, define and oversee the program,
prepare budgetary estimates of program costs,
prepare program schedules, evaluate and select
members of the program team, and provide
periodic program status reports
1.5 SPECIALIZATION IN CIVIL ENGINEERING
PICE (Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers)
– recognizes the initial five areas of
specialization.
– awards certificate that will consider
qualification for positions in the
respective areas of specialization
SPECIALIZATION OF CIVIL ENGINEERS AND CIVIL
ENGINEERING FIRMS
1. Structural and foundation
2. Geotechnical and environmental
3. Water resources and hydraulics
4. Transportation
5. Construction management and engineering
1.6 SELECTION OF A CIVIL ENGINEER
Engagement of a Civil Engineer
- one of the most important decisions to be
made during the development of an engineering project
Cost of the full range of engineering services
- not less than 1 to 2% of the life-cycle cost of
most construction projects
Continuity of service
- aids in developing a relationship between the
Civil Engineer and the client
1.6 SELECTION OF A CIVIL ENGINEER
Critical importance in selection of a Civil Engineer as a
consultant
1. qualifications
2. experience
3. reputation
4. quality of client service
Detailed scope of services greatly reduces the potential
for misunderstandings or confusion
PICE (Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers) supports
procedures such as those specified by CIAP Documents
101 and 102, Executive Order 164, and PD 1594
1.7 PRIME PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE
 guidelines in this manual refer specifically to
the engagement of engineering services where:
Consulting Civil Engineers – serves as prime
professional
Client – serves as owner of the project
1.8 EMPLOYMENT
 guidelines in this manual refer to Civil Engineers
employed by professional consulting firms,
government agencies, educational institutions,
construction firms, manufacturing and
commercial entities and other entities
1.9 DESIGN COMPETITION
 process through which a Civil Engineer is
selected above other competitors based on
proposal or innovative approach to solving a
client’s needs
1.10 CONTINGENCY BASIS OF EMPLOYMENT
Canon 5c or PICE Code or Ethics provides that
“Engineers may request, propose or accept professional
commissions on a contingency basis only under
circumstances in which their professional judgments
would not be compromised.”
1.11 PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE OF FOREIGN CIVIL
ENGINEERS
Foreign Civil Engineers are allowed by law (RA 8981) to
practice civil engineering in the Philippines under the
following instances:
1. The laws of the foreigner’s state allow the
citizens of the Philippines to practice civil
engineering on the same basis and grant the
same privileges as those enjoyed by the citizens
of such foreign state.
2. Allowed under international agreement.
3. Consultants to be engaged in foreign-funded,
joint venture or foreign-assisted projects of the
government.
4. Employees of Philippines or foreign private
institutions pursuant to law.
5. Civil Engineers who were former citizens of the
Philippines, who had been registered and issued
a certificate of registration and a professional
identification card prior to their naturalization
as foreign citizens, and who, while in the
country on a visit, sojourn or permanent
residence, desire to practice their profession.