The Practice of Architecture in the
Entrusted
Philippines
• ARCHITECTURE has been around since the dawn
Maestro de Obras or practice as an architect
Master Builder
Escuela Practica y first academic school to
Professional de Artes y train these maestros
Oficio de Manila,1880.
Felix Roxas y Arroyo of first Filipino recorded
Binondo, Manila. architect
Liceo de Manila, 1900 first private school to
offer an academic title
for Maestro de Obras
of time. Yet, the practice of the architect still
seems to be unknown, especially to the public.
• The practice of architecture does not merely
involve drawing, designing, and making a work of
art, which the public commonly assume.
Drawing is just one aspect and is only a medium
used to translate an idea from the architect’s
mind to a creation that can be built.
• The official definition of architecture can be
found in Republic Act (RA) 9266 or “The
Architecture Act of 2004.”
o This is the art, science, and profession
of planning, designing and constructing
buildings in their totality, with due
account of their environment and in
accordance with the principles of
utility, strength, and beauty.
• Architecture as a profession came about only in
1921 when the first registration of architects was
implemented. In 1950, with Manila and the
whole country just starting to rebuild from the
ravages of the Second World War, RA 545 or
“The Architecture Law” was enacted to regulate
the local practice of architecture.
• Fast forward to March 17, 2004 and RA 9266
was enacted by Congress. The law provided for
a more comprehensive regulation of the
registration, licensing, and practice of
architecture, repealing the RA 545 and all other
laws inconsistent with its stipulations.
• Public safety is the objective of regulating the
design and construction of buildings. Architects
comply, consult, and adhere to existing
regulatory laws and all applicable codes in order
to properly protect and safeguard human lives
and its surroundings such as the National
Building Code of the Philippines, Fire Code of the
Philippines of 2008, The Accessibility Law, The
Architectural Code and many others.
with the safety of human lives vis-à-vis the use of
buildings, an architect can be held liable under
Article 1723 of the Civil Code should the
building he/she designed collapse within 15
years from its completion.
• Besides the general practice of architecture, an
architect can also render services in other
related fields of architecture depending on his
knowledge and experience such as heritage
conservation, green architecture, sustainable
architecture and so on and so forth.
History and Background
• Architecture, as practiced in the Philippines
during the Spanish era, was not by virtue of an
academic title. There were no architectural
schools in the country and the only architects
with academic degrees were Spaniards.
However, the first Filipino recorded architect
was Felix Roxas y Arroyo of Binondo, Manila.
• For the early 1930`s to the late 50`s, associations
of architects came and went, but three of these
survived until the early 70`s.
o League of Philippine Architects (LPA)
o Association of Philippine Government
Architects (APGA)
o Philippine Institute of Architects (PIA)
• Recognizing the need to formally integrate the
three architectural associations, APGA, LPA and
PIA each appointed three representatives to
form the Panel of Negotiation in May 1973. To
implement the terms of integration agreed upon
by the three architectural organizations, a 15
man Ad-Hoc Commission was authorized to
prepare the Constitution and By-Laws of the
newly integrated association. The new
integrated society was called, the United
Architects of the Philippines (UAP).
• UAP became the first accredited professional
organization on May 12, 1975, with the
professional regulation commission issuing
certificate no. 001 to the UAP as the duly
accredited professional organization for
architects in the Philippines. On June 12, 1976,
the UAP informed the Union Internationale des
Architectes (UIA) of the integration of the three
architectural organizations under the United
Architects of the Philippines and requested for
recognition of the UIA as its National Section in
the Philippines.
• On March 22-25, 1979, the UAP organized a
National Conference on Architectural Education
at the Development Academy of the Philippines
 in Tagaytay City. The result of the Conference
was the endorsement of a new ladder-type
curriculum for architectural education, which
was approved by the Ministry of Education and
Culture and adopted by schools and colleges of
architecture in the Philippines. The same year
saw the approval of the new Architects` National
Code by the Professional Regulation
Commission.
Important Dates and Events
1. June 1950
Passage of Republic Act (R.A.) No. 544, the Civil
Engineering (CE) law; the law does not mention that civil
engineers (CEs) can prepare, sign and seal architectural
plans and documents
2. June 1950
Passage of R.A. No. 545, the organic Architecture law; this
special law specifically mentions that only registered and
licensed architects can prepare, sign and seal architectural
plans and documents
3. June 1956
Passage of R.A. No. 1581, the amended Architecture law;
the amended portion specifically delineate the
responsibility and liability of the architect in contrast to
the CE; there is therefore no overlap in professional
function.
4. June 1956
Passage of R.A. No. 1582, the amended CE law; the
amended portion (Sec. 24) specifically delineate the
responsibility and liability of the CE in contrast to the
architect; there is therefore no overlap in professional
function
5. 1975
The United Architects of the Philippines (UAP)was formed
out of the union of the Philippine Institute of Architects
(PIA), the League of Philippine Architects (LPA) and the
Association of Philippine Government Architects (APGA)
6. Feb 1977
Promulgation of Presidential Decree (P.D.) No. 1096,
otherwise known as the 1977 National Building Code of
the Philippines (NBCP) by Philippine Pres. Ferdinand E.
Marcos
7. 1979
Publication and dissemination of copies of the
Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of P.D. No. 1096
by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)
and of part of the IRR of R.A. No. 1581 (the Amended
architecture law of 1956) i.e. the Architects’ National Code
(otherwise known as the UAP Documents 200 through
208) were promulgated by the Professional Regulation
Commission (PRC) in Sep 1979 as part of the IRR of R.A.
No. 1581/545 (the amended/ organic laws on architecture)
8. Mid-1980s
Architects who are Members of the National Legislature
i.e. Batasan Pambansa, led by Arch. Pentong Gaite and the
leading lights of the United Architects of the Philippines
(UAP), lobby for the passage of a new Architecture law
9. Early 1990s
Initial amendments to IRR of P.D. No. 1096; R.A. No. 7160
(The Local Government Code of 1991) becomes law;
surprisingly, its Article Seven Sec. 477 allows the
Municipal/ City Engineers (MCEs) of local government
units (LGUs) who are in charge of horizontal works, to act
simultaneously as the building official (BO) in charge of
vertical works; this turn of events has forged an apparently
unholy alliance
10. Currently, there is a legislative hearing and
coordination for the new and unified building
permit. As well as the call of architects on the
overlapping scope work of civil engineers on the
architectural drawings.
The Profession
The Architecture Act of 2004 (RA 9266)
• "Architecture" is the art, science or profession of
planning, designing and constructing building in
their totality taking into account their
environment, in accordance with the principles
of utility, strength and beauty.
• "Architect" means a person professionally and
academically qualified, registered and licensed
under this act with a Certificate of Registration
and Professional Identification Card issued by
the Professional Regulatory Board of
Architecture and the Professional Regulation
Commission, and who is responsible for
advocating the fair and sustainable
development, welfare and cultural expression of
society's habitat in terms of space, forms and
historical context.
 Architect-of-Record registered and licensed
architect, who is directly
and professionally
responsible for the total
design of the project for the
client and who shall assume
the civil liability for the
Services may include, but are not limited to:
plans, specifications, and
contract documents he/she A. planning, architectural designing and structural
has signed and sealed. conceptualization;
B. consultation, consultancy, giving oral or written
Architect-in-charge of registered and licensed
advice and directions, conferences, evaluations,
construction architect who is directly and
professionally responsible investigations, quality surveys, appraisals and
and liable for the adjustments, architectural and operational
construction supervision of planning, site analysis and other predesign
the project. services;
Consulting Architect registered and licensed C. schematic design, design development, contract
architect or permitted to documents and construction phases including
practice under RA9266, who professional consultancies;
is professionally and D. preparation of preliminary, technical, economic
academically qualified and and financial feasibility studies of plans, models
with exceptional or and project promotional services;
recognized expertise or E. preparation of architectural plans, specifications,
specialization in any branch
bill of materials, cost estimates, general
of architecture.
conditions and bidding documents
F. construction and project management, giving
General Practice of Architecture general management, administration,
supervision, coordination and responsible
• The act of planning and architectural designing, direction or the planning, architectural
structural conceptualization, specifying, designing, construction, reconstruction,
supervising and giving general administration erection, enlargement or demolition, renovation,
and responsible direction to the erection, repair, orderly removal, remodeling, alteration,
enlargement or alterations of buildings and preservation or restoration of buildings or
building environments and architectural design structures or complex buildings, including all
in engineering structures or any part thereof; their components, sites and environs, intended
the scientific, aesthetic and orderly coordination for private or public use;
of all the processes which enter into the G. the planning, architectural lay-outing and
production of a complete building or structure utilization of spaces within and surrounding such
performed through the medium of unbiased buildings or structures, housing design and
preliminary studies of plans, consultations, community architecture, architectural interiors
specifications, conferences, evaluations, and space planning, architectural detailing,
investigations, contract documents and oral architectural lighting, acoustics, architectural lay-
advice and directions regardless of whether the outing of mechanical, electrical, electronic,
persons engaged in such practice are residents sanitary, plumbing, communications and other
of the Philippines or have their principal office utility systems, equipment and fixtures;
or place of business in this country or another H. building programming, building administration,
territory, and regardless of whether such construction arbitration and architectural
persons are performing one or all these duties, conservation and restoration;
or whether such duties are performed in person I. all works which relate to the scientific, aesthetic
or as the directing head of an office or and orderly coordination of all works and
organization performing them; branches of the work, systems and process
necessary for the production of a complete
Scope of Practice building or structure, whether for public or
private use, in order to enhance and safeguard
• Encompasses the provision of professional
life, health and property and the promotion and
services in connection with site, physical and
enrichment of the quality of life, the
planning and the design, construction,
architectural design of engineering structures or
enlargement, conservation, renovation,
any part thereof; and
remodeling, restoration or alteration of a
J. all other works, projects and activities which
building or group of buildings.
require the professional competence of an
architect, including teaching of architectural
 subjects and architectural computer-aided
design;
The Practice
• No person shall practice architecture in this
country, or engage in preparing architectural
plans, specification or preliminary data for the
erection or alteration of any building located
within the boundaries of this country or use the
title "Architect," or display or use any title, sign,
card, advertisement, or other device to indicate
such person practices or offers to practice
architecture, or is an architect, unless such
person shall have received from the Board a
Certificate of Registration and be issued a
Professional Identification Card in the manner
hereinafter provided and shall thereafter
comply with the provisions of this Act. A foreign
architect or any person not authorized to
practice architecture in the Philippines, who
shall stay in the country and perform any of the
activities mentioned in Sections 3 and 4 of this
Act, or any other activity analogous thereto, in
connection with the construction of any
building/structure/edifice or land development
project, shall be deemed engaged in the
unauthorized practice of architecture.
• In the practice of architecture it is required to
undergo a licensure examination to be given by
the Board of Architecture in accordance with
the provisions of Republic Act No. 8981.
Qualifications of Applicant for Examination
1. He/she is a Filipino citizen or a citizen of a
foreign country qualified to take the examination
as provided for in this Act;
2. He/she is of good moral character;
3. He/she is a holder of a degree of Bachelor of
Science in Architecture conferred by a school,
college, academy or institute duly recognized
and/or accredited by the Commission on Higher
Education (CHED) and in addition has a specific
record of at least two (2) years or equivalent of
diversified architectural experience duly certified
by a registered/licensed architect: Provided,
however, That an applicant holding a Master’s
Degree in Architecture from a school, college,
university or institute recognized by the
government shall be credited one (1) year in
his/her practical experience; and
4. He/she has not been convicted of any criminal
offensive involving moral turpitude.
The licensure examination for architects shall cover, but
are not limited to, the following subjects:
1. History and Theory of Architecture; Principles of
Planning and Architectural Practice;
2. Structural Design, Building Materials, and
Architectural Specifications, and Methods of
Construction and Utilities;
3. Urban Design and Architectural Interiors; and
4. Architectural Design and Site Planning.
To be qualified as having passed the licensure
examination for architects, a candidate must obtain a
weighted general average of seventy percent (70%), with
no grade lower than fifty percent (50%) in any given
subject.
Issuance and Use of Seal
• Each registrant hereunder shall, upon
registration, obtain a seal of such design as the
Board shall authorize and direct. Architectural
plans and specifications prepared by, or under
the direct supervision of a registered architect
shall be stampede with said seal during the life
of the registrant’s certificate, and it shall be
unlawful for any one to stamp or seal any
documents with said seal after the certificate of
the registrant named thereon has expired or has
been revoked, unless said certificate shall have
been renewed or re-issued.
• No officer or employee of this Republic.
Chartered cities, provinces and municipalities,
now or hereafter charged with the enforcement
of law, ordinances or regulations relating to the
construction or alteration of buildings, shall
accept or approve any architectural plans or
specifications which have not been prepared and
submitted in full accord with all the provisions of
this Act; nor shall any payments be approved by
any such officer for any work, the plans and
specifications for which have not been so
prepared and signed and sealed by the author.
• It shall be unlawful for any architect to sign
his/her name, affix his/her seal or use any other
method of signature on architectural plans,
specifications or other documents made under
another architect’s supervision, unless the same
is made in such manner as to clearly indicate the
part or parts of such work actually performed by
the former, and it shall be unlawful for any
person, except the architect-of-record, to sign
for any branch of work for any function of
architectural practice, not actually performed by
him/her. The architect-of-record shall be fully
 responsible for all architectural plans,
specifications and other documents issued under
his/her seal or authorized signature.
• Drawings and specifications duly signed,
stamped or sealed, as instruments of service, are
the intellectual properties and documents of the
architect, whether the object for which they are
made is executed or not, It shall be unlawful for
any person, without the consent of the architect
or author of said documents, to duplicate or to
make copies of said documents for use in the
repetition of and for other projects or buildings,
whether executed partly or in whole.
• All architectural plans, designs, specifications,
drawings and architectural documents relative
to the construction of a building shall bear the
seal and signature only of an architect registered
and licensed under this Act together with his/her
professional identification card number and the
date of its expiration.
Suspension and Revocation of Certificates of Registration,
Professional Identification Card or the Special/Temporary
Permit.
• has signed and affixed or permitted to be signed
or affixed his name or seal on architectural plans
and designs, specification, drawings, technical
reports, valuation, estimates, or other similar
documents or work not prepared by him/her or
not executed under his/her immediate
supervision; or
• has paid money except the regular fees provided
for to secure a Certificate of Registration; or
• has falsely impersonated a practitioner, or
former practitioner of alike or different name or
has practiced under an assumed, fictitious or
corporate name other than that of the
registered; or
• has aided or abetted in the practice of
architecture any person not duly authorized to
practice architecture in the Philippines; or
• has openly solicited projects by actually
undertaking architectural services without a
valid service agreement guaranteeing
compensation of services to be rendered and/or
has actually allowed himself/herself to be
exploited by undertaking architectural services
without a valid service agreement, both acts
being prejudicial to other architects registered
and licensed under this Act and inimical to the
interests of the profession; or
• has violated any provision of this Act, its
implementing rules and regulations, the Code of
Ethical Conduct and Standards of Professional
Practice.
Prohibition in the Practice of Architecture and Penal
Clause
• Any person who shall practice or offer to
practice architecture in the Philippines without
being registered/licensed and who are not
holders of temporary or special permits in
accordance with the provisions of this Act, or
• any person presenting or attempting to use as
his/her own the Certificate of
Registration/Professional Identification Card or
use seal of another or temporary or special
permit, or
• any person who shall give any false or forged
evidence or any kind to the Board or to any
member thereof in obtaining a Certificate of
Registration/Professional Identification Card or
temporary or special permit, or
• any person who shall falsely impersonate any
registrant of like or different name, or
• any person who shall attempt to use a revoked
or suspended Certificate of
Registration/Professional Identification Card or
cancelled special/temporary permit, or
• any person who shall use in connection with
his/her name or otherwise assume, use or
advertise any title or description tending to
convey the impression that he/she is an
architect when he/she is not an architect, or
• any person whether Filipino or foreigner, who
knowingly allows the use, adoption,
implementation of plans, designs or specification
made by any person, firm, partnership or
company not duly licensed to engage in the
practice of architecture, or any person who shall
violate any of the provisions of this Act.
• Code of Ethical Conduct and Standards of
Professional Practice, or any policy of the Board
and the Commission, shall be guilty of
misdemeanor and charged in court by the
Commission and shall, upon conviction be
sentenced to a fine of not less than One hundred
thousand pesos (P100,000.00) but not more
than Five Million pesos (P5,000,000,00) or to
suffer imprisonment for a period not less than
six (6) months or not exceeding six (6) years, or
both, at the discretion of the Court.
Prohibition in the Practice of Architecture.
• Any person or entity, whether public or private,
Filipino or foreigner, who/which shall entice,
 compel, coerce, require or otherwise force an
architect registered and licensed under this Act
to undertake/perform any service under the
general practice of architecture as defined under
this Act, without first executing a written
contract/service agreement, shall be guilty of a
misdemeanor and shall, upon conviction be
sentenced to a fine of not less than Two hundred
thousand pesos (P200,000.00) or to suffer
imprisonment for a period not exceeding six (6)
years, or both, at the discretion of the Court.
The Virtues and Values of an Architect
“May the Architect be high-minded; not arrogant, but
faithful; Just, and easy to deal with, without avarice; Not
let his mind be occupied in receiving gifts, But let him
preserve his good name with dignity.” -Marcus Vitruvius
Pollio
Core Values of the Architect
• Architects are trained in universal design
principles, and how they are applied holistically
in the development of a building, street-scape,
or town plan, or in any other design challenge.
This is our critical edge, but only if we stand up
as a profession and enforce those principles in
the built environment and regain the public’s
trust that these things are important to
everyone’s quality of life.
Here are a few historically consistent core values of the
true architect that other building professionals, project
managers, developers, contractors, planners generally do
not share:
• Wisdom: Understanding the meaning and
application of core values in the Vitruvian axiom
“commodity, firmness, delight” (firmitas, utilitas
and venustas), (Function, Stability, Aesthetics).
• Creativity: Continuous use of imagination both in
problem solving, and artistic expression; with
drawing, painting, sculpture, and practical study
of the sister arts, adding to the richness of their
solutions
• Resourcefulness: Modelling design and building
technologies after nature’s own laws of order,
and striving for unique solutions that wed
together the highest ideals of beauty and
practical utility
• Leadership: Providing artful guidance and
oversight throughout project, like a conductor
leading an orchestra
• Integrity: Ability to uphold authentic building
traditions and architectural principles without
copying superficial styles; expressing truth in
material and structure
• Prudence: Critical judgment, deep insights and a
level of discretion that comes from a
comprehensive understanding of the whole
• Enlightenment: Strong desire to educate the
public on the meaning and value of the
architects work in creating high quality,
sustainable environments; and to nurture their
apprentices so they might carry the torch of
architecture into the future.
The Architect's Code of Ethics
UAP DOC. 200
CODE OF ETHICAL CONDUCT
" I shall work with this general objective - that my duty is not only to myself,
but also to my Country and God."
" I shall uphold the ideals and follow the norms of conduct of a noble
profession and endlessly endeavor to further its just ends."
"I shall humbly seek success not through the measure of solicited personal
publicity, but by industrious application to my work, strive to merit a
reputation for quality of service and for fair dealing."
"I shall ask from all, fair remuneration for my services while expecting and
asking no profits from any other source."
"I shall hold the interest of my Client over and above any self-interest for
financial returns."
"I shall exercise my professional prerogatives always with impartiality and
disinterestedness."
"I shall avoid any private business investments or venture which may tend
to influence my professional judgment to the detriment of the trust placed
upon me."
"I shall inspire by my behavior the loyalty of my associates and subordinates
and take upon me the mentorship of the aspirants to the profession."
"I shall confine my criticisms and praises within constructive and
inspirational limits and never resort to these means to further malicious
motives."
"I shall dedicate myself to the pursuit of creative endeavor towards the goal
of enlightened Art and Science, generously sharing with colleagues, friends
and strangers alike the benefits of my experience and experiments."
• The professional of Architecture calls for men of
the highest integrity, judgment, business
capacity and artistic and technical ability. An
Architect’s honesty of purpose must be above
suspicion; he acts as professional adviser to his
client and his advice must be unprejudiced; he is
charged with the exercise of judicial functions as
between client and contractor and must act with
entire impartiality; he has moral responsibilities
to his professional associates and subordinates;
and he is engaged in a profession which carries
with it grave responsibilities to the public. These
duties and responsibilities cannot be properly
 discharged unless his motives, conduct, sense of
moral values and ability are such as to command
respect and confidence. In order to promote the
highest standards of ethical conduct in the
practice of Architecture, the United Architects of
the Philippines, with the approval of the Board
of Architecture and the Professional Regulation
Commission, has codified and formulated the
following principles for adoption and compliance
of the Architect.
THE ARCHITECT’S RESPONSIBILITIES IN RELATION TO
THE PEOPLE
The Architect is engaged in a profession which carries with
it civic responsibilities towards the public, whether such
responsibilities are the natural outcome of good
citizenship or of his professional pursuit or whether they
partake of informative and educational matters or of his
normal, good public relations.
1. The Architect shall seek opportunities to be of
constructive service in civic and urban affairs and
to the best of his ability, advance the safety,
health and well-being of the people and the
community as well as the promotion, restoration
or preservation of the general amenities and
other examples of historic and architectural
heritage of the nation.
2. The Architect shall promote the interest of his
professional organization and do his full part of
the work to enhance the objectives and services
of the organization. He should share in the
interchange of technical information and
experience with the other design professions
and the building industry.
3. The Architect as a good citizen shall abide and
observe the laws and regulations of the
government and comply with the standards of
ethical conduct and practice of the profession in
the Philippines. He shall at no time act in a
manner detrimental to the best interest of the
profession.
4. The Architect shall not use paid advertisement
nor use self-laudatory, exaggerated, or
misleading publicity. However, the presentation
of factual materials, verbal or visual, of the aims,
standards, and progress of the profession
through literature or by industrious application
of his work and services which tend to dignify
the professional or advance public knowledge of
the Architect’s function in society may be
presented through any public communication
media.
5. The Architect shall not solicit nor permit to solicit
in his name, advertisements, or other support
towards the cost of any publication presenting
his work. He should refrain from taking part in
paid advertisement endorsing any materials of
construction or building equipment.
6. The Architect shall not mislead the public
through advertisements, signs or printed matter
citing his professional specializations unless such
qualifications are well known facts or sanctioned
by professional consensus and years of
experience.
THE ARCHITECT’S RESPONSIBILITIES IN RELATION TO
HIS CLIENT
The Architect’s relation to his Client is depended upon
good faith. To ensure the continued existence of such
state of good relationship, the Architect’s position carries
with it certain moral obligations to his Client and to
himself.
1. The Architect may introduce to a prospective
Client the professional services he is able to
perform provided it is limited to presentation of
examples of his professional experience and
does not entail the offering of free preliminary
sketches or other services without the benefit of
an agreement with the Client for legitimate
compensation.
2. The Architect shall acquaint or ascertain from
the Client at the very inception of their business
relationship, the exact nature and scope of his
services and the corresponding professional
charges.
3. The Architect shall advise a Client against
proceeding with any project whose practicability
may be questionable due to financial, legal or
arresting or exigent conditions, even if such
advice may mean the loss of a prospective
commission to the Architect.
4. The Architect shall explain the conditional
character of estimates other than estimates
submitted in the form of actual proposals by
contractors and in no case shall be guarantee
any estimates or cost of the work. Neither shall
he mislead his Client as to probable cost of the
work in order to secure a commission.
5. The Architect shall consider the needs and
stipulation of his Client and the effects of his
work upon the life and well-being of the public
and the community as a whole, and to endeavor
to meet the aesthetic and functional
requirements of the project commensurate with
the Client’s appropriation.
 6. The Architect shall charge his Client for services
rendered, a professional fee commensurate with
the work involved and with his professional
standing and experience based upon the Basic
Minimum Fee prescribed under the “Standards
of Professional Practice” of the “Architect’s
National Code.
7. The Architect shall not undertake, under a fixed
contract sum agreement, the construction of any
project based on plans prepared by him. He may
in certain cases, undertake the construction of a
project even when the plans were prepared by
him provided it is undertaken in conformity with
the conditions set forth under sections covering
“Construction Services” “Comprehensive
Services” or “Design-Build Services” of the
document on “STANDARDS OF PROFESSIONAL
PRACTICE.”
8. The Architect shall be compensated for his
services solely through his professional fee
charged directly to the Client. He shall not accept
nor ask for any other returns in whatever form
from any interested source other than the Client.
9. The Architect shall be free in his investments and
business relations outside of his profession from
any financial or personal interests which tend to
weaken and discredit his standing as an
unprejudiced and honest adviser, free to act in
his Client’s best interests. If the Architect has any
business interest which will relate to, or affect
the interest of his client, he should inform his
client of such condition or situation.
10. The Architect shall include in his agreement with
the Client a clause providing for arbitration as a
method for settlement of disputes.
THE ARCHITECT’S RESPONSIBILITIES IN RELATION TO
THE CONTRACTOR
The Contractor depends upon the Architect to safeguard
fairly his interests as well as those of the Client.
1. The Architect shall give the Contractor
every reasonable aid to enable him to
fully understand the contents of the
Contract Documents by furnishing
clear, definite, and consistent
information in all pertinent contract
documents to avoid unnecessary
mistakes that may involve extra costs
to the Contractor.
2. The Architect shall not knowingly call
upon the Contractor to correct or
remedy oversights or errors in the
Contract Documents to the
Contractor’s financial disadvantage.
3. The Architect shall immediately upon
his personal knowledge and
inspection, reject or condemn
materials, equipment or workmanship
which are not in conformity with the
Contract Documents in order not to
cause unnecessary delay and
additional expense to the Contractor.
4. The Architect shall not, at any time or
circumstance, accept free engineering
services, or receive any substantial aid,
gifts, commissions, or favors from any
Contractor or subcontractor which will
tend to place him under any kind of
moral obligation.
5. The Architect shall, upon request by
the Contractor, promptly inspect each
phase of the work completed and if
found according to the terms of the
Contract Documents issue the
corresponding Certificates of Payment
and the Final Certificate of Completion,
respectively, to the Contractor.
THE ARCHITECT’S RESPONSIBILITIES IN RELATION TO
MANUFACTURERS, DEALERS, AND AGENTS.
An exchange of technical information between Architects
and those who supply, and handle building materials or
equipment is necessary and therefore encouraged and
commended. However;
1. The Architect shall not avail or make use of
engineering or other technical services offered
by manufacturers, or suppliers of building
materials or equipment which may be
accompanied by an obligation detrimental to the
best interest of the Client or which may
adversely affect the Architect’s professional
opinion.
2. The Architect shall not at any time receive
commissions, discounts, fees, gifts or favors from
agents or firms handling building materials or
equipment which may place him in a reciprocal
frame of mind. He may however, accept market
discounts which shall be credited to the Client.
THE ARCHITECT’S RESPONSIBILITIES IN RELATION TO
HIS COLLEAGUES AND SUBORDINATES
The Architect has moral responsibilities towards his
profession, his colleagues, and his subordinates.
1. The Architect shall not render professional
services, without compensation except for small
civic or charity project. He shall neither offer nor
provide preliminary services on a conditional
basis prior to definite agreement with the Client
for the commission of the project.
2. The Architect shall not knowingly compete with
other Architects based on differences of
professional charges, nor use donation as a
device for obtaining competitive advantage
except for worthy civic or religious projects.
Neither shall he submit solicited or unsolicited
sketches or drawings in competition with other
Architects unless such competitive arrangements
are conducted substantially under the terms of
the UAP Architectural Competition Code
3. The Architect shall not under any circumstances
nor through any means seek commissions
already known to him as previously endowed to
another Architect, whether such endowment has
been definitely agreed upon or still in the
process of negotiation.
4. The Architect shall not, in any case, enter as a
competitor in any Architectural Competition
when he has direct relations with the
formulation of the Program thereof or when he
has been engaged to act as Professional Adviser
or Juror for such competition. Neither shall the
Architect accept and act as professional adviser
or juror in any architectural competition when
he has had any information or has reviewed or
assisted in the preparation of any competition
design entered. Nor shall an Architect, retained
as professional adviser in a competition, accept
employment as an Architect, retained as
professional adviser in a competition, accept
employment as an Architect for that competition
project except as Consulting Architect.
5. The Architect shall not undertake a commission
for which he knows another Architect has been
previously employed until he has notified such
other Architect of the fact in writing and has
conclusively determined that the original
employment has been terminated and has been
duly compensated for.
6. The Architect shall not undertake a commission
for additions, rehabilitation or remodeling of any
erected structure undertaken previously by
another Architect without duly notifying him of
the contemplated project even when the Owner
is no longer the same. When the greater mass,
area or design of the original structure is
substantially maintained the new Architect
should limit his advertisement or claim only to
the extent of the work done to the structure.
Architects are enjoined to preserve or restore as
much as possible especially the few and
remaining historic examples of our architectural
heritage affecting his phase of practice.
7. The Architect shall not knowingly injure falsely or
maliciously, the professional reputation,
prospects or practice of another Architect.
8. The Architect shall refrain from associating
himself with or allowing the use of his name by
any enterprise of doubtful character or integrity.
9. The Architect shall not affix his signature and
seal to any plans or professional documents
prepared by other persons or entities not done
under his direct personal supervision.
10. The Architect shall inspire the loyalty of his
employees and subordinates by providing them
with suitable working conditions, requiring them
to render competent and efficient services and
paying them adequate and just compensation,
therefore. He shall tutor and mentor the young
aspirants towards the ideals, functions, duties,
and responsibilities of the profession.
11. The Architect shall unselfishly give his share in
the interchange of technical information and
experience among his colleagues and young
aspirants and do his part in fostering unity in the
fellowship of the profession.
12. He shall unselfishly give his time and effort to
the advancement of the profession through his
active and personal commitment and
involvement with the accredited professional
organization for architects.