Republic of the Philippines

Cavite State University

Don Severino de las Alas Campus
Indang, Cavite

Name: John Vincent D. Dela Cruz Date: October 29, 2021

Year & Section: BSCE 2-3 201414152

REFLECTION PAPER

The Presidential Decree 1096, also known as the National Building Code of the
Philippines, has accomplished the reason for upholding uniform principles and necessities on
building plan, development, use, inhabitance and upkeep in accordance with the approach of the
state to shield life, wellbeing, property and public government assistance. The first standards and
guidelines of the Code were given on different dates in 1977-1979 through Memorandum Orders
by the ancient Ministry of Public Works, Transportation and Communications. These standards
and guidelines were then ordered by the then Ministry of Public Works, presently the Department
of Public Works and Highways. This gathering was therefore supported as the "Executing Rules
and Regulations" (IRR) of the Code.
This law is very important to be study in our profession because this are the rules the we
will follow when we build a structure here in the Philippines. As it is said on the video that we
watch, we are now in a time where we build many structures to improve human life so we have
to make sure that we are building a structure that is safe for the users of the structures we will
build. The general requirements were also discussed such as that building must conform in all
respect to the principles of safe construction and suited for the purposes which they are designed,
must observe adequate environmental safeguards and to maintain the structure to be safe,
sanitary and in good working condition. In our profession we must always consider building a
structure with a right purpose, durability and aesthetics that will not harm the user and the
environment. The Office of Building Official is the one given the authority by the government to
enforce these laws, their duties were to issue a building permit, work stoppage, declares building
demolition, issuance of penalties, submit report quarterly to the secretary of DPWH (Department
of Public Works and Highways) and to undertake task given by the Secretary from time to time.
This Building Official is either an Architect or an Engineer, but in our country most Building Officials
are engineers. These qualifications must be met in order for someone to be a Building Official:
Filipino Citizen, a registered Architect or Civil Engineer, a member of accredited organization not
less than 5 years with good standing, 5 years of experience and completed a seminar on PD 1096
by DPWH. As we can see, in order for us to build a structure, we must first have a permit given
by the Building Official in our Municipality, but the sad part is sometimes our government is full of
corruption where this enforcement of law is sometimes being bend for the benefits of the people.
 The different types of construction were also included in PD1096 where it states that there
are 5 types of construction. Type 1, is a wood construction, Type 2 is wood construction with one
hour fire resistant materials, Type 3 is masonry and wood construction with one hour fire resistant
materials, Type 4 is steel, iron or masonry construction with one hour fire resistant materials and
Type 5 is steel, iron or masonry construction with four hours fire resistant materials. These
materials that we will be using in our structures have also undergone test determine by ASTM
(American Standard and Testing Materials) through tunnel test. This Code is very specific on the
materials that we are going to use in our structures because it is for the safety of the building
occupants. If the materials were not tested or classified properly it can cause death and accidents
for the people. Determining the Building Height is also necessary, maximum height and number
of storeys of every building shall be dependent upon the character of occupancy and the type of
construction as determined by the Secretary considering population density, total gross floor area,
floor to lot area ratio, road right of way, soil characteristics, hydrological condition, meteorological
condition, traffic condition, availability and capacity of public utility service system, effects of
environmental conditions, and need for applicable building safety and maintenance systems.
These factors must be considered and study in order to determine the height of the structure.
This Code is created to safeguard life, health, property and public welfare of every Filipino,
not to gain self-profit. We are living in a world were building a structure is important for our daily
lives, these structures were used as a shelter, school, office, supermarkets and others in order to
improve our lives. It is to provide requirements and regulations to be used by our profession. We
are the designers and the builders of these structures, we must build it in way that it preserves
and improves life and our environment.