CEBU INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY – UNIVERSITY

College of Engineering and Architecture

Department of Civil Engineering

CETE – 4
SANITARY ENGINEERING

Research # 2
Plumbing History of the Philippines

KIRK PATRIC I. SILVA

BSCE – 5

ENGR. JUNE CARLO S. ENCABO

INSTRUCTOR
 History of Plumbing Practice in the Philippines

 The dawn of the practices of plumbing in the Philippines has started way
back from the 17th century. The ‘Intramuros’; known as WALLED CITY, was
established by the Spaniards as a model community. European standards
and designs was incorporated in this era since the influencer, educator,
and engineers were the friars.

 By the 18th and 19th centuries, the emergence of Filipino plumbers took
place. They were assigned to maintain, repair, and/or remodeling of
plumbing systems in most towns.

 Famous Filipino plumbers was hired by some elite class persons to act as
consultants pertaining to installation in mansions or villas.

 During 20th century, more ideas in plumbing were introduced with the arrival
of the American soldiers, engineers, Thomasite teachers, doctors and
evangelists. Epidemics, such as cholera, leprosy, and etc. were rampant.
Health and hygiene was greatly highlighted and given importance in
designing of the plumbing system of an area.

 In 1902, the PLUMBING TRADE was recognized by the government. The City
of Manila was the model community. Division of Plumbing Construction and
Inspection was created and the first chief was Master Plumber John F. Hass.

 A plumbing code, generally based from the Plumbing Code of the United
States, was incorporated to the Building Code for the City of Manila.
 In 1935, The National Master Plumbers Association of the Philippines
(NAMPAP) was organized and registered with the Securities and Exchange
Commission by Francisco Geronimo, Mariano de Ocampo, Igmidio Suarez,
Eusebio Mina Jose Rivera, Raymundo Reyes, Sr., Roberto Feliciano,
Gregorio Lazaro, Raymundo Gumapac, John Jones, Trinitario Ortiz, Valentin
Casupanan, Catalino Casupanan. Crispin Francisco, Teodoro Pastor,
Cornelio Odvina and Jesus Tanghal Dera.

 After the creation of the NAMPAP, the Department of Public Services of the
City of Manila was created. ‘The Plumbing Code for the City of Manila’
otherwise known as City Ordinance 2411 was enacted by the
recommendation of NAMPAP. Plumbing practice was eventually placed
under the Department of Public Services, Manila.

 The Plumbing Code of Manila was adopted by other cities and

municipalities. Then a bill was passed in regulating the practice of master
plumbing in the Philippines was enacted.

 In 1954, the bill was approved and signed by President Ramon Magsaysay
and was called as RA 1378 also known as the “Plumbing Law of the
Philippines”

 On January 28, 1959, the National Plumbing Code of the Philippines

prepared by the NAMPAP was promulgated and approved by
Malacanang. NAMPAP also assisted in the passage of the law creating the
National Waterworks and Sewerage Authority (NAWASA).
 In 1966-1969, the Board of Examiners for Master Plumbers and the NAMPAP
prepared a Curriculum for Plumbing Engineering that was approved by the
Department of Education and was first introduced at the Feati University.

 On November 28, 1967, the inclusion of "Asbestos Cement Pipe" as an

approved plumbing material was effected when the First Amendment to
the National Plumbing Code was approved.

 In 1972, Republic Act No. 6541 otherwise known as the “Building Code of
the Philippines” was passed with the "National Plumbing Code of 1959" as
referral code in full text.

 In 1996, NAMPAP President JAIME M. CABASE spearheaded the updating

of the Revised National Plumbing Code. Finally, in October 1999, NAMPAP
submitted the Draft Code to the Board of Master Plumbers (BoMP) Chaired
by Engr. FORTUNATO H. AMOSCO. After careful review, the Professional
Regulation Commission under Chairman HERMOGENES POBRE adopted
the Revised Plumbing Code of 1999 which His Excellency, President JOSEPH
EJERCITO ESTRADA approved last December 21, 1999 pursuant to Section 4
of R.A. 1378 known as the Plumbing Law.

 In order to continuously upgrade the technical expertise of Master Plumbers

and propagate the growth of the plumbing industry; NAMPAP have caused
the holding of regular National Convention as well as Regional
Conferences such as LUZON, VISAYAS and MINDANAO, as well as the
Midyear Forum where manufacturers, dealers and suppliers of plumbing
tools, equipment, materials and services are given the opportunity to
conduct product presentations for the benefit of the plumbing practitioners
CONCLUSION:

Improvement or enhancement of something in a very long time might give

advantages and disadvantages. A common advantage of improvement is that
there will be more ideas that are incorporated to help the system to have better
water supply and sanitation for a building. As the time pass by and more
influencer to educate, the plumbing system in the Philippines slowly improves.

Disadvantages arise due to cost in materials, labors, etc. An area needs to

have a specific type of plumbing system and specific materials to use for the
designing. It is then applied in the area, embedded to the ground, for people to
use. Yet, new ideas arise and systems are updated and upgraded, hence new
design for the plumbing system generates, adding more budget for material,
labor, etc. for applying the new system. Also, there are some new and adapted
provisions for the design that can’t be applied in the existing system since the
proper design for land use was not followed. Residential, commercial, and
industrial buildings are built near each other.