2.1.

Professional Responsibility
General Responsibilities of a Civil Engineer
Assess Construction Site – Civil engineers have to assess and do a complete feasibility
study of the construction site. They have to consider many factors, including the impact on nature
and the surrounding environment, and plan accordingly.
Planning the construction – Civil engineers have to plan out the whole construction
process beforehand. This has to be a systematic process to facilitate the smooth flow of work. Every
step has to be meticulously planned.
Budgets – If the budget already has been set for the work, it is the job of the civil engineer to
make sure all the construction happens within the budget. If the budget has not been set, the civil
engineer, along with the planner, will take into account the raw materials required, machinery &
equipment costs, labour required for the project, and set the budget and deadlines accordingly.
Oversee the Construction – The biggest responsibility of a civil engineer is to oversee the
construction. They have to be there to see the construction being done in phases set by them. They
also check the quality during construction.
Final Inspection – Before the project can be termed complete, civil engineers have to do a
thorough final inspection of the construction. Once the structure is deemed safe, they prepare a
report and label the construction as complete.

Key Skills Required for Civil Engineering

So, if you are interested in civil engineering, here are the skills that you will need to have:-
(1) Planning and organizing skills as they are the initial steps in a civil engineer’s work.
(2) Strong technical, math, and science skills as they are an integral part of the construction.
(3) Construction work is rife with problems as it involves people, products, and machinery.
So, when problems arise you have to be good at sorting them.
(4) Your team managing and leadership skills will help you manage the various professionals
you are working with, and the workers working for you.
(5) You also need to have good budgeting skills.
(6) Meeting deadlines is important as missing any can be a costly affair.
(7) You also need to know the government and local municipal laws of the area you will be
working in.
(8) Civil engineers create constructions that benefit everyone. They play an important role in
the development of society, making it safer and function better.

LIMITATION OR CIVIL ENGINEER'S RESPONSIBILITY

1. The civil engineer shall not be liable for damages, loss, and costs: for any errors or
omissions for documents not prepared by him or under his control, for fraudulent services or
negligence by the client or any other consultant , contractor, supplier.
2. The civil engineer shall not be liable for the performance of other consultants, contractors,
suppliers (regardless of recommendation).
3. The civil engineer shall not be responsible for the procedures of techniques adopted by
any third
party.

2.2. Client-Civil Engineer Relationships

The success of any engineering project often revolves around the quality of the relationship
between clients and service provider which is the civil engineer.
OBLIGATIONS OF THE CIVIL ENGINEER.
 Civil Engineer shall exercise reasonable skill, care and diligence in performance of his
obligations.
 Shall notify the client of any changes made through written notice, shall not proceed
without the approval of the client is authorized to act as the clients fateful agent.
  Civil Engineer shall directly operate with all the professionals and integrate their work if
required, may suggest specialist, suppliers, or contractors to design and execute certain parts of the
work.
 Civil Engineer shall not be liable for any acts of negligence.
 Civil Engineer shall notify the clients of any interest of him that may cause any conflict of
their contract.

OBLIGATIONS OF THE CLIENT

The Client has the following obligations.
 The client shall pay the civil engineer for his services as stipulated in the contract.
 Information required by the civil engineer shall be provided by the client in writing and the
latter shall allow the civil engineer reasonable time.
 The client shall cooperate and not interfere or obstruct in the performance of services.
 The client shall make arrangements to allow the civil engineer to do site investigation and
inspection of facilities ASAP.
 The client shall shoulder the arrangement of services of other professionals and bear all
costs.
 In cases of clients allowing civil engineers as Engineer-to-the-Contract, the client shall give
instructions through the civil engineers.
 Client shall notify the civil engineer through writing within 7 days of any change he is aware
of.

LIABILITY OF THE CIVIL ENGINEER AND THE CLIENT

1. The civil engineer shall pay for damages arising out of breach of duty of care against the civil
engineer to the client.
2. The client shall be liable to pay to the civil engineer if a break of client's duty is established
against the client.
3. Conflicts arising from the agreement between the client and the civil engineer follows the
following process:
Amicable settlement Mutual understanding
Mediation. Negotiation overseen by a third-party called the mediator.
Arbitration. negotiation where the third-party(considered as impartial) is in control in making
the final decision.
Litigation (court proceeding). Negotiation where courts and civil justice system are
involved.
4. A third-party arbitrator should be mutually acceptable to both parties.

DAMAGES
If the civil engineer is found liable, the damages shall be paid on the following terms:
1. Damages for the foreseeable loss and damage as a result of the breach.
2. The maximum amount is specified in the Specific Provision. However, if no specific amount is
given: the lesser of 300,000Php or 10% of the total amount damages or 25% of the total fees
payable under the agreement.
3. If a third-party is found liable in some parts of the service, the amount payable shall be limited
to the proportion of work under breach.

SUSPENSION OR TERMINATION OF SERVICES

1. In cases when the civil engineer is not liable but it is impossible to continue the project,
the civil engineer shall notify the client promptly.
 2. If only portions of the work are suspended, time shall be extended time{extension} =
time{delay} + time{resumption} For cases with reduction of performance speed, extension depends
on the circumstances.
3. A 30-day (minimum)notice shall be given by the client to the civil engineer in cases when
client suspends or terminates work. Upon notification, civil engineer should make necessary
arrangements to stop operation.
5. A 30-day (minimum)notice shall be given by the civil engineer for suspension or termination of
services under the following conditions:

No payment (or part of it) of the client 30 days after due date
When the client suspends work for more than six months, or if it is clear to the civil engineer that it is
impractical to continue services before the suspension exceeds six months.

When services are suspended or terminated, the civil engineer is entitled to the payment of the
following:
Consequential cost
Expenses and disruption fees
Remobilization fees on resumption

OWNERSHIP OF DATA, DESIGNS AND DOCUMENTS

The civil engineer owns the following documents, which shall be used for specific projects covered
in the contract between the client and the engineer:
Design analyses
Drawings
Specifications
Reproductions

2.3. Civil Engineering Services

With the various specializations offered by civil engineers, the services can be grouped into seven
general categories.

1. Consultation, research, investigations, and reports

2. Design services for construction projects
3. Construction services
4. Special services for construction projects
5. Engineering support services
6. Academic services
7. Services as employee

Pursuant to RA 544, the different types of infrastructure under the civil engineering domain
include:
1. Streets, bridges, highways and railroads
2. Airports and hangars

Hangar = buildings for housing aircrafts

3. Portworks, canals, river and shore improvements, light houses, and dry docks

Dry docks
4. Buildings
5. Fixed structures for irrigation, flood protection, drainage, water supply and sewerage works

6. Tunnels

The coverage of civil engineering has not been changed nor diminished by subsequent laws.

2.4. Specialization of a Civil Engineer

Typical services offered by civil engineers:
1. Designs, consultations, and advice
2. Feasibility studies
3. Field investigations and engineering data collection
4. Environmental assessments, impact statements, or engineering reports
5. Opinions of estimates
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. Arrangments 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

2.5. Selection of a Civil Engineer

The selection of a civil engineer is one important decision for the client.
A. For engineering services in construction projects.
The compensation for services (full range) of an engineer in construction projects should
not be less than 1 to 2% of the life-cycle cost. Thereby, selection should include an engineer who
can monitor the project from design, construction, and start-up.

B. As a consultant
Compensation depends on the cost of services so selection is based on:
 Qualification
 Experience
 Reputation
 Quality of client service

Although selection based on quality and expertise made by the client might be subjective, it is
better to assign a qualified individual in the company to do the choosing.
Once the selection is completed, discussions between the client and the civil engineer should
define the two important things before the compensation of the engineer:
 Scope of work
 Expectations from the services

2.6. Prime Professional Practice

The civil engineer can work:
1. Directly. Serve the client (considered as the project owner)
2. Indirectly. When working as a sub-consultant through another engineer or architect

2.7. Employment
Civil engineers covered by the manual are those employed by:
 Professional consulting firms
 Government agencies
 Educational institutions
 Construction firms
 Manufacturing
 Commercial entities
2.8. Design Competition
Design competition is the process through which a civil engineer is to be selected above other
competitors based on proposal or an innovative approach to solving a client's needs.
Invitation is through:
 Directly through solicitation
 Indirectly through a letter of request through publication or newspaper

2.9. Contingency Basis of Employment

Payment is made as per accomplishment as stipulated in Canon 5c.

2.10. Professional Practice of Foreign Civil Engineers

RA 8981 allows foreign engineers to practice in the Philippines by the following conditions:
1. Laws of the foreign country also allow Filipino civil engineers to practice their profession
on the foreign soil.
2. Allowed under international agreement.
3. Consultant to be engaged in foreign-funded, joint venture or foreign-assisted projects of
the government
4. Employees of Philippine or foreign private institutions pursuant to the law.

. Naturalized Filipino civil engineers who had been registered prior to naturalization.
There are requirements for foreign civil engineers to comply before practicing in the country:
 Certificate of registration/license
 Special permit from PRC
 Special permit from Department of Labor and Employment