CE CODE OF ETHICS
Fundamental Principles
Civil engineers uphold and advance the
integrity, honor and dignity of the civil
engineering profession by:
1. using their knowledge and skill for the
enhancement of human welfare and the
environment.
2. being honest and impartial and
serving with fidelity the public, their
employers/employees and clients.
3. striving to increase the competence
and prestige of the civil engineering
profession; and
4. supporting the professional and
technical societies of their disciplines.
Fundamental Canons
1. Civil Engineers shall hold paramount
the safety, health and welfare of the
public and shall strive to comply with the
principles of sustainable development in
the performance of their duties.
2. Civil Engineers shall perform services
only in areas of their competence.
3. Civil Engineers shall issue public
statements only in an objective and
truthful manner.
4. Civil Engineers shall act in
professional matters for each employer
or client as faithful agents or trustees,
and shall avoid conflicts of interest.
5. Civil Engineers shall build their
professional reputation on the merit of
their services and shall not compete
unfairly with others.
6. Civil Engineers shall act in such a
manner as to uphold and enhance the
honor, integrity, and dignity of the civil
engineering profession.
7. Civil Engineers shall continue their
professional development throughout
their careers, and shall provide
opportunities for the professional
development of those civil engineers
under their supervision.
GUIDELINES TO PRACTICE UNDER
THE FUNDAMENTAL CANONS OF
ETHICS
CANON 1. Civil Engineers shall hold
paramount the safety, health and
welfare of the public and shall strive to
comply with the principles of sustainable
development in the performance of their
professional duties.
a. Civil Engineers shall recognize that
the lives, safety, health and welfare of
the general public are dependent upon
engineering judgments, decisions and
practices incorporated into structures,
machines, products, processes and
devices.
b. Civil Engineers shall approve or seal
only those design documents, reviewed
or prepared by them, which are
determined to be safe for public health
and welfare in conformity with accepted
engineering standards.
c. Civil Engineers whose professional
judgment is overruled under
circumstances where the safety, health
and welfare of the public are
endangered, or the principles of
sustainable development ignored, shall
inform their clients or employers of the
possible consequences.
d. Civil Engineers who have knowledge
or reason to believe that another person
or firm may be in violation of any of the
provisions of Canon 1 shall present such
information to the proper authority in
writing and shall cooperate with the
proper authority in furnishing such
further information or assistance as may
be required.
e. Civil Engineers should seek
opportunities to be of constructive
service in civic affairs and work for the
advancement of the safety, health and
well-being of their communities, and the
protection of the environment through
the practice of sustainable development.
f. Civil Engineers should be committed
to improving the environment by
adherence to the principles of
sustainable development so as to
enhance the quality of life of the general
public.
CANON 2. Civil Engineers shall perform
services only in areas of their
competence.
a. Civil Engineers shall undertake to
perform engineering assignments only
when qualified by education or
experience in the technical field of
engineering involved.
b. Civil Engineers may accept an
assignment requiring education or
experience outside of their own fields of
competence, provided their services are
restricted to those phases of the project
in which they are qualified. All other
phases of such project shall be
performed by qualified associates,
consultants, or employees.
c. Civil Engineers shall not affix their
signatures or seals to any civil
engineering plan or document dealing
with subject matter in which they lack
competence by virtue of education or
experience or to any such plan or
document not reviewed or prepared
under their supervision and control.
d. Civil Engineers shall not use The
Specialty Engineering Title such as
Structural Engineer, Transportation
Engineer, Water Engineer, Geotechnical
Engineer, Construction Engineer, etc.
without the PICE Specialist
Accreditation.
CANON 3. Civil Engineers shall issue
public statements only in an objective
and truthful manner.
a. Civil Engineers should endeavor to
extend the public knowledge of civil
engineering and sustainable
development, and shall not participate in
the dissemination of untrue, unfair or
exaggerated statements regarding civil
engineering.
b. Civil Engineers shall be objective and
truthful in professional reports,
statements, or testimony. They shall
include all relevant and pertinent
information in such reports, statements,
or testimony.
c. Civil Engineers, when serving as
expert witnesses, shall express civil
engineering opinion only when it is
founded upon adequate knowledge of
the facts, upon a background of
technical competence, and upon honest
conviction.
d. Civil Engineers shall issue no
statements, criticisms, or arguments on
civil engineering matters which are
inspired or paid for by interested parties,
unless they indicate on whose behalf the
statements are made.
e. Civil Engineers shall be dignified and
modest in explaining their work and
merit, and will avoid any act tending to
promote their own interests at the
expense of the integrity, honor and
dignity of the civil engineering profession
and/or related professions.
CANON 4. Civil Engineers shall act in
professional matters for each employer
or client as faithful agents or trustees,
and shall avoid conflicts of interest.
a. Civil Engineers shall avoid all known
or potential conflicts of interest with their
employers or clients and shall promptly
inform their employers or clients of any
business association, interests, or
circumstances which could influence
their judgment or the quality of their
services.
b. Civil Engineers shall not accept
compensation from more than one party
for services on the same project, or for
services pertaining to the same project,
unless the circumstances are fully
disclosed to and agreed to, by all
interested projects.
c. Civil Engineers shall not solicit or
accept gratuities, directly or indirectly,
from contractors, their agents, or other
parties dealing with their clients or
employers in connection with work for
which they are responsible.
d. Civil Engineers in public services as
members, advisors or employees of a
governmental body or department shall
not participate in consideration or
actions with respect to services solicited
or provided by them or their organization
in private or public engineering practice.
e. Civil Engineers shall advise their
employers or clients when, as a result of
their studies, they believe a project will
not be successful.
f. Civil Engineers shall not use
confidential information coming to them
in the course of their assignments as a
means of making personal profit if such
action is adverse to the interests of their
clients, employers or the public.
g. Civil Engineers shall not accept
professional employment outside of their
regular work or interest without the
knowledge of their employers.
CANON 5. Civil Engineers shall build
their professional reputation on the merit
of their services and shall not compete
unfairly with others.
a. Civil Engineers shall not give, solicit
or receive either directly or indirectly,
any political contribution, gratuity or
unlawful consideration in order to secure
work, exclusive of securing salaried
positions through employment agencies.
b. Civil Engineers should negotiate
contracts for professional services fairly
and on the basis of demonstrated
competence and qualifications for the
type of professional service required.
c. Civil Engineers may request; propose
or accept professional commissions on
a contingent basis only under
circumstances in which their
professional judgments would not be
compromised.
d. Civil Engineers shall not falsify or
permit misrepresentation of their
academic or professional qualifications
or experience.
e. Civil Engineers shall give proper
credit for engineering work to those to
whom credit is due, and shall recognize
the proprietary interests of others.
Whenever possible, they shall name the
person or persons who may be
responsible for designs, inventions,
writings or other accomplishments.
f. Civil Engineers may advertise
professional services in a way that does
not contain misleading language or is in
any other manner derogatory to the
dignity of the profession. Examples of
permissible advertising are as follows:
1. Professional cards in recognized,
dignified publications, and listings in
rosters or directories published by
responsible organizations, provided that
the cards or listings are consistent in
size and content and are in a section of
the publication regularly devoted to such
professional cards.
2. Brochures which factually describe
experience, facilities, personnel and
capacity to render service, providing
they are not misleading with respect to
the engineers participation in projects
described
3. Display advertising in recognized
dignified business and professional
publications, providing it is factual and is
not misleading with respect to the
engineer's extent of participation in
projects described.
4. A statement of the engineers' names
or the name of the firm and statement of
the type of service posted on projects for
which they render services.
5. Preparation or authorization of
descriptive articles for the lay or
technical press, which are factual and
dignified. Such articles shall not imply
anything more than direct participation in
the project described..
6. Permission by engineers for their
names to be used in commercial
advertisements, such as may be
published by contractors, materials
suppliers, etc., only by means of a
modest, dignified notation
acknowledging the engineers'
participation in the project described.
Such permission shall not include public
endorsement of proprietary products.
g. Civil Engineers shall not maliciously
or falsely, directly or indirectly, injure the
professional reputation, prospects,
practice or employment of another
engineer or indiscriminately criticize
another's work.
h. Civil Engineers shall not use
equipment, supplies, laboratory or office
facilities of their employers to carry on
outside private practice without the
consent of their employers.
CANON 6. Civil Engineers shall act in
such a manner as to uphold and
enhance the honor, integrity, and dignity
of the civil engineering profession.
a. Civil Engineers shall not knowingly
act in a manner which will be derogatory
to the honor, integrity, or dignity of the
civil engineering profession or knowingly
engage in business or professional
practices of a fraudulent, dishonest or
unethical nature.
CANON 7. Civil Engineers shall
continue their professional development
throughout their careers, and shall
provide opportunities for the
professional development of those Civil
Engineers under their supervision.
a. Civil Engineers should keep current in
their specialty fields by engaging in
professional practice, participating in
continuing education courses, reading in
the technical literature, and attending
professional meetings and seminars.
b. Civil Engineers should encourage
their engineering employees to become
registered at the earliest possible date.
c. Civil Engineers should encourage
engineering employees to attend and
present papers at professional and
technical society meetings.
d. Civil Engineers shall uphold the
principle of mutually satisfying
relationships between employers and
employees with respect to terms of
employment including professional
grade descriptions, salary ranges, and
fringe benefits.
Group 1: THE PRACTICE OF
CIVIL ENGINEERING
CLIENT-CIVIL-ENGINEER
RELATIONSHIPS
Many engineering works are conceived,
designed, and constructed through the
efforts of the Civil Engineers employed
in the governmental agencies or
industry.
Proper relationship between Civil
Engineers and their public and private
clients are important.
 Obligations of the Civil Engineer
 The Civil Engineer shall perform
scope of the services.
 The Civil Engineer shall exercise
reasonable skill, care, and diligence
in the performance of his obligation.
 The Civil Engineer shall act
independently, as required by the
contract, perform with the necessary
skills, and professional judgement,
when required to certify, decide or
exercise discretion between the
client.
 The Civil Engineer is authorized to
act as the Client’s faithful agent
when required but only as implied in
the contract adopted for the project.
 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.
 For Specified Staged Service, the
Civil Engineer shall not initiate or
proceed with any subsequent stage
of the services without the approval
of the client.
 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.
 The Civil Engineer may recommend
specialist suppliers and/or
contractors to design and execute
certain parts of the work.
 The Civil Engineer shall notify the
Client of any interest the Civil
Engineer has which may significantly
conflict with the interest of the Clients
under their contract.
 Obligations of The Client
 The Client shall pay the Civil
Engineer for his Services, the
amount of fees and expenses set out
in or determined in their Agreement.
 The Client shall provide the Civil
Engineer within reasonable time, 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.
 The Client shall cooperate with the
Civil Engineer and shall not interfere
with or obstruction the proper
performance of the services.
 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.
 The Client shall arrange for the
provision if services from other
professionals or others may be
required and bear all cost.
 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.
 Liability Of The Civil Engineer And
The Client
 The 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.
 The 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.
 Resolution of any conflict arising
from the agreement between the civil
engineer and the client shall be done
by giving preference to the process
of arbitration.
1. Limitation Or Civil Engineer’s
Responsibility
a. The civil engineer shall have no
responsibility or liability for cost,
loss, or damage of what so ever
nature arising from any errors in
or omission from data,
documents, plans, design or
specifications not prepared by the
civil engineer.
b. Notwithstanding 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, and
contractor.
c. The civil engineer shall not be
responsible for the technique,
method, sequence or procedure
adopted by any contractor.
2. Damages
If found that the civil engineer
undertaking services is liable to the
client, damage shall be payable on
the following terms:
a. Damages payable shall be limited
to the amount of reasonably
foreseeable loss and damage
suffered as a direct result of such
breach;
b. The maximum amount of damage
payable in respect of liability,
whether under the law of contract
or otherwise is limited to the
amount specified in the specific
provision.
If found to be liable, in circumstances
where the act or omissions of a third
party have contributed to the loss of
damages, the proportion of damage
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.
 Suspension Or Termination Of
Services
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 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:
 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
 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 suspend services before the
period of suspension has exceeded
six months.

Suspension or termination of the
agreement shall not prejudice or affect
accrued rights or claims and liabilities of
the parties.
 Settlement Of Dispute
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
 Ownership Of Data, Designs, And
Documents
The design analyses, drawing,
specifications and reproductions
therefore 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.
SPECIALIZATION IN CIVIL
ENGINEERING
Within the practice of civil engineering,
the PICE recognizes the initial five areas
of specialization.
A Civil Engineer who has demonstrated
his knowledge, experience, education
and training in accordance with the
requirements of the concerned Specialty
Committee of the PICE is awarded a
certificate of specialization by PICE.
Those awarded with the certificates are
considered qualified for positions in the
respective areas of specialization.
The PICE recognize specializations in
the fields of structural engineering,
geotechnical engineering, water
engineering, transportation engineering,
and construction management and
engineering.
A Civil Engineer who has specialized in
any area of civil engineering may be
considered as a specialist in the
appropriate field as enumerated.
EMPLOYMENT
- is the condition of having paid work.
The guidelines in this manual also refer
to Civil Engineers employed by:
 Consulting Firms – you'll ensure
the safe, timely and well-resourced
completion of different projects
through consulting
 Government Agencies – DPWH
 Educational Institutions –
professor or lecturer
 Construction firms - managing,
designing, developing, creating and
maintaining construction projects.
 Manufacturing and commercial
entities and other entities –
production
DESIGN COMPETITION
- is a process through which a Civil
Engineer is selected above other
competitors based on proposal or an
innovative approach to solving a
client's needs.
- Competing firms are normally
shortlisted from a number or
engineers responding to a client' ,
solicitation either directly, by a letter
request or indirectly through a
newspaper or other form or
publication.
- The civil engineer should be
awarded a stipend to participate in
the competition.

CONTINGENCY BASIS OF
EMPLOYMENT
Canon 5c or the 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.”
PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE OF
FOREIGN CIVIL ENGINEERS
Foreign Civil Engineers are allowed by
law (RA 8681) to practice Civil
Engineering in the Philippines under the
following instances:
1. The laws of the foreigner's state or
country allow the citizens of the
Philippines to practice civil
engineering on the same basis and
grant the same privileges as those
enjoyed by the subjects or citizens of
such foreign state or country.
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 Philippine 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, sojoum or
permanent residence, desire to
practice their profession.
Group 3: REPUBLIC ACT NO.
544
(An Act to Regulate the Practice of
Civil Engineering in the Philippines)
Article I, Section 1: TITLE OF THE
ACT
RA 544 “Civil Engineering Law”
July 17, 1950
The Civil Engineering Law (RA 544),
through the efforts of the Philippine
Association of Civil Engineers (PACE)
President Alberto Guevarra was passed
in this year.
The Architects (Philippine Institute of
Architects) prepared and lobbied the
passing of the first Architect’s law (RA
545) on the same year.
PHILIPPINE INSTITUTE OF CIVIL
ENGINEERS
- It was formed by merging two
separate organizations of civil
engineers: one group working from
government sector and the second
group working in the private sector.
1920s
- Group of civil engineers from the
government sector formed the
Philippine Society of Civil Engineers
(PSCE) which was the first civil
engineering organization in the
Philippines with Engr. Marcial
Kasilag as its first president.
1937
- The Philippine Association of Civil
Engineers (PACE) was formed. This
time, it was a group of civil engineers
in the private sector with Engr.
Enrique Sto. Tomas Cortes as its
first president.
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 1582
- June 16, 1956
- An act to repeal and replace section
twenty-four of republic act numbered
five hundred forty-four, entitled " an
act to regulate the practice of civil
engineering in the Philippines.
SENATE BILL NO. 2770
- March 31, 2011
- The Civil Engineer is constantly
challenged to design and build
developments in a manner that is
environmentally sound, socially
acceptable, and globally competitive.
(Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson)
Long Title:
An Act Professionalizing The Practice Of
Civil Engineering In The Philippines,
Repealing For This Purpose Republic
Act Number Five Hundred And Forty-
Four (Ra No. 544), As Amended, And
For Other Purposes
Short Title:
CIVIL ENGINEERING LAW OF 2011
Legislative Status:
PENDING IN THE COMMITTEE
The SENATE BILL NO. 2770 sought to
achieve the following:
1. To align the law with the
requirements for national
development;
2. To strengthen the profession in
facing the formidable challenges
resulting from globalization and
cross-border practice;
3. To continuously develop the level of
competence of the civil engineers
through:
 Peer recognition of specialization in
civil engineering
 Continuing professional development
 Strengthening the accredited
professional organization of civil
engineers
 To clearly define the foreign
nationalities practice of civil
engineering in the country
 To promote the growth of the
consulting sector by recognizing
international philosophy of multi-
disciplinary services
 To disregard provisions making
multi-disciplinary consultancy
services difficult, complicated ad
impractical
 To establish a clear, precise and
practical delineation of professional
and contractual accountability in the
practice in order to serve the law
better and protect the public interest
Article I, Section 2: DEFINITION OF
TERMS
Civil Engineering practices/services
contained in this Act includes:
- Consultation
- Design
- Preparation of Plans
- Specifications
- Estimates
- Erection
- Installation and supervision of the
construction of:
o Streets o Fixed Structures for Irrigation
o Railroads o Flood Protection
o Port Works o Water Supply and Sewerage
o Canals Works
o Buildings o Demolition of Permanent
o Drainage Structures
o Tunnels
o Bridges and Highways
o Airports and Hangars
o River and Shore Improvements
o Lighthouses and Dry Docks
The term “civil engineer” as used in this
Act shall mean a person duly registered
with Board Examiners for Civil
Engineers in the manner as hereinafter
provided.
Article II, Section 3: COMPOSITION
OF THE BOARD
Within thirty days after the approval of
this Act there shall be created a Board
of Examiners for Civil Engineers,
hereinafter referred to as the Board, to
be composed of a chairman and two
members who shall be appointed by the
President of the Philippines, upon
recommendation of the Commissioner of
PRC.
The members of the Board shall hold
office for a term of three years after
appointment or until their successors
shall have been appointed and shall
have qualified.
The first members of the Board
appointed under this Act shall hold office
for the following terms: One member for
one year; one member for two years;
and one member for three years.
Each member of the Board shall qualify
by taking the proper oath of office before
entering upon the performance of his
duties.
Any member of the Board may be
removed by the President of the
Philippines, upon recommendation by
the Professional Regulation Commission
for neglect of duty, incompetency,
malpractice, unprofessional, unethical,
immoral, or dishonorable conduct, after
having been given opportunity to defend
himself in a proper administrative
investigation: Provided, That during the
process of investigation, the President of
the Philippines, upon the
recommendation of the PRC, shall have
the power to suspend such member
under investigation and shall appoint a
temporary member in his place.
Vacancies in the Board shall be filled for
the unexpired term only
Summary
 Board members serve a three-year
term or until successors are
appointed and qualified.
 Initial Board members appointed
under this Act have staggered terms:
one for one year, one for two years,
and one for three years.
 Board members must take an oath
before starting their duties.
 The President can remove a Board
member for various reasons, based
on the Professional Regulation
Commission ' s recommendation.
 The President, upon the PRC' s
recommendation, can suspend a
member during an investigation and
appoint a temporary replacement.
 Vacancies in the Board are filled for
the remaining term only.
Article II, Section 4: POWERS AND
DUTIES OF THE BOARD
 To administer oaths, issue, suspend
and revoke certificates of registration
for the practice of civil engineering.
 To investigate such violations of this
act and the regulations.
 To inspect at least once a year
educational institutions offering
courses in civil engineering, civil
engineering works, projects and
corporation.
Article II, Section 5:
QUALIFICATIONS OF BOARD
MEMBERS
 Be a citizen and resident of the
Philippines.
 Be at least thirty years of age and of
good moral character
 Be a graduate of civil engineering
from a recognized and legally
constituted school, institute, college
or university.
 Be a registered civil engineer duly
qualified to practice civil engineering
in the Philippines
 Have practiced civil engineering, with
a certificate as such, for a period of
not less than ten years prior to his
appointment.
 Not be a member of the faculty of
any school, institute, college, or
university where civil engineering
course is taught, nor have a
pecuniary interest in such institutions
 No former members of the faculty of
any school, institute or university
where civil engineering is taught can
become a member of the Board
unless he had stopped teaching for
at least three consecutive years.
Article II, Section 6:
FEES AND COMPENSATION OF
BOARD
The Board for Civil Engineers shall
charge for each application for
examination the sum of P100 (one
hundred) payable to the collecting and
disbursing officer of the PRC upon filing
of said application, and for each
certificate of registration, fifty pesos.
Each member of the Board shall receive
a compensation of fifteen pesos for each
applicant examined. A civil engineer in
the service of the Government of the
Republic of the Philippines appointed as
member of the Board shall receive the
compensation as herein provided, in
addition to his salary in the Government.
All authorized expenses of the Board,
including the compensation provided for
herein, shall be paid by the collecting
and disbursing officer of the PRC out of
such appropriation as may be made for
the purpose.
 100 php per examiner Another
 50 php for certificate of registration
 Each member of the board shall
receive 15 php for every applicant
examined
R.A. 6511
- Enacted on July 1, 1972, amends
Republic Act No. 465, which aimed
to standardize examination and
registration fees charged by national
examining boards. Break Time
12:00-13:00
PD 223
- Creating The Professional
Regulation Commission And
Prescribing Its Powers And
Functions
Article II, Section 7: ANNUAL
REPORT
The Board shall submit to the PRC a
detailed report of its activities.
Article III, Section 8:
EXAMINATION REQUIREMENT
All applicants for registration for the
practice of civil engineering shall be
required to pass a technical examination
as hereinafter provided.
OTHER REQUIREMENTS
 BS in Civil Engineering
 NSO / PSA Birth Certificate
 NSO / PSA Marriage Contract
 Valid NBI Clearance
 Two Certificates of Good Moral
Character Form
 Transcript of Records with Scanned
Picture and Remarks "For Board
Examination Purposes"
Article III, Section 9:
HOLDING OF EXAMINATION
Examination of candidates desiring to
practice civil engineering in the
Philippines shall be given in the City of
Manila of each year, provided that such
days do not fall on official holidays,
otherwise the examinations shall be held
on the next day.
The civil engineering licensure
examination will be conducted for two
consecutive days.
The applicant shall acquire a general
average of 70% with no grades lower
than 50% in any subeject.
Article III, Section 10:
SUBJECTS OF EXAMINATION
Applicants for certificate of registration
as civil engineer shall be examined, in
the discretion of the Board, on the
following subjects:
 Surveying, Mathematics,
Transportation Engineering
 Hydraulics and Geotechnical
Engineering
 Construction and Structural
Engineering
Article III, Section 11:
EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF THE
BOARD
The Commissioner of Professional
Regulation Commission shall be the
executive officer of the Board and shall
conduct the examinations given by the
said Board.
Article III, Section 12:
QUALIFICATIONS FOR
EXAMINATION
 Be at least twenty-one years of age
 Be a citizen of the Philippines
 Be of good reputation and moral
character
 Qualifications be a graduate of a
four-year course in civil engineering
from a school, institute, college or
university recognized by the
government or the state wherein it is
established
Article III, Section 13:
OATH OF CIVIL ENGINEERS
All successful candidates in the
examination shall be required to take a
professional oath before the Board of
Civil Engineers
Article III, Section 14:
SEAL AND USE OF SEAL
All registered civil engineers shall obtain
a seal of such design as the Board shall
authorize and direct:
Article III, Section 15:
EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION
1. Registration shall not be required of
the following persons:
- Officers or enlisted men of the United
States and Philippine Armed Forces,
and civilian employees of the
Government of the United States
stationed in the Philippines while
rendering civil engineering services
 for the United States and/or
Philippines.
- Civil engineers or experts called in
by the Philippine Government for
consultation, or specific design and
construction of fixed structures as
defined under this Act, provided that
their practice shall be limited to such
work.
2. Any person residing in the
Philippines may make plans on
specifications for any of the
following:
- Any building in chartered cities or in
towns with building ordinances, not
exceeding the space requirement
specified therein, requiring the
services of a civil engineer.
- Any wooden building enlargement or
alteration which is to be used for
farm purposes only and costingnot
more than ten thousand pesos.
- Provided, however. That there shall
be nothing in this Act that will prevent
any person from constructing his
own (wooden or light material)
residential house, utilizing the
services of a person or persons
required for the purpose, without the
use of a civil engineer, as long as he
does not violate local ordinances of
the place where the building is to be
constructed.
3. Nor shall anything in this Act prevent
draftsmen, student clerk-or-work,
superintendents, and other
employees of those lawfully engaged
in the practice of civil engineering
under the provisions of this Act, from
acting under the instruction, control
or supervision of their employer.
4. Nor shall anything in this Act prevent
any person who prior to the approval
of this Act have been lawfully
engaged in the practice of “maestro
de obras” to continue as such,
provided they shall not undertake the
making of plans supervision for the
following classes of work:
- Building of concrete whether
reinforced or not.
- Building of more than two stories.
- Building with frames of structural
steel.
- Building of structures intended for
public gathering or assemblies such
as theaters, cinematographs, stadia,
churches, or structures of like nature.
5. Nor shall anything in this Act prevent
professional architects and
engineers to practice their
professions. Duty of board.
Article III, Section 16:
REFUSAL TO ISSUE CERTIFICATE
- The Board for Civil Engineers shall
not issue a certificate to any person
convicted by a court of competent
jurisdiction of any criminal offense
involving moral turpitude, or to any
person guilty of immoral or
dishonorable conduct, or to any
person guilty of immoral or
dishonorable conduct, or to any
person of unsound mind.
- In the event of a refusal to issue a
certificate to any person, the Board
shall give to the applicant a written
statement setting forth its reason for
such action, which statement shall
be incorporated in the records of the
Board.
Article III, Section17:
SUSPENSION AND REVOCATION OF
CERTIFICATES
- “The Board shall have the power,
after due notice and hearings to
suspend or revoke the certificate of
registration for any cause mentioned
in the preceding section.
Article III, Section 18:
RE-ISSUE AND REPLACEMENT OF
CERTIFICATES
- “The Board may, after the expiration
of one year from the date of
certificate of registration is revoked
and for reasons it may deem
sufficient, entertain an application for
a new certificate of registration from
the registrant concerned.
- Such application shall be
accomplished in the same form
prescribed for examination, but the
Board may, in its discretion, exempt
the applicant from taking the
requisite examination.
Article III, Section 19:
TRANSITORY PROVISIONS.
- ” As soon as this Act takes effect,
any person desiring to practice the
profession of civil engineering shall
be required to obtain a certificate of
registration in the manner and under
the conditions hereinafter provided.
- All civil engineers duly licensed
under the provisions of Act
Numbered Twenty-nine hundred and
eighty-five, as amended, at the time
this Act takes effect, shall be
automatically registered under the
provisions hereof.
ARTICLE IV: ENFORCEMENT OF ACT
AND PENAL PROVISIONS
Article IV, Section 20:
Enforcement of the Act by officers of
the law.
6. It shall be the duty of all duly
constituted law officers of the
national, provincial, city and
municipal governments, or any
political subdivisions thereof, to
enforce the provisions of this Act and
to prosecute any person violating the
same.
7. Unless exempt from registration, no
person shall practice offer to practice
civil engineering in the Philippine
without having obtained the proper
certificate of registration from the
Board for Civil Engineers.
Article IV, Section 21: Registration
required.
Article IV, Section 22: PENAL
PROVISIONS.
8. Any person who shall practice or
offer to practice civil engineering in
the Philippines without being
registered in accordance with the
provisions of this Act
9. or any person presenting or
attempting to use as his own the
certificate of registration of a
registered civil engineer,
10. or any person who shall give any
false or forged evidence of any kind
to the Board,
11. or any person who shall impersonate
any registrant civil engineer of
different name or any person who
shall attempt to use a revoked or
suspended certificate of registration,
12. or any person who shall use in
connection with his name or
otherwise assume, use or advertise
 any title or description tending to
convey the impression that he is a
civil engineer, without holding a valid
certificate of registration,
13. or any person who shall violate any
of the provision of this Act, shall be
guilty of a misdemeanour and shall,
upon conviction, be sentenced to a
fine of not less than five hundred
pesos nor more than two thousand
pesos, or to suffer imprisonment for
a period of not less than six months
not more than one year, or both, in
the discretion of the court.
ARTICLE V: MISCELLANEOUS
PROVISIONS
Article V, Section 23: PREPARATION
OF PLANS AND SUPERVISIONS OF
CONSTRUCTION BY REGISTERED
CIVIL ENGINEER
- Plans and designs of structures must
be approved as provided by law or
ordinance of a city or province or
municipality where the said structure
is to be constructed.
Article V, Section 24: THE PRACTICE
OF CIVIL ENGINEERING IS A
PROFESSIONAL SERVICE,
ADMISSION TO WHICH MUST BE
DETERMINED UPON INDIVIDUAL,
PERSONAL QUALIFICATIONS.
- The practice of civil engineering is a
professional service, admission to
which must be determined upon
individual, personal qualifications.
- Hence, no firm, partnership,
corporation or association may be
registered or licensed as such for the
practice of civil engineering:
Provided, however, That persons
properly registered and licensed as
civil engineers may, among
themselves or with a person or
persons properly registered and
licensed as architects, form, and
obtain registration of, a firm,
partnership or association using the
term “Engineers” or “Engineers and
Architects, ” but, nobody shall be a
member or partner of such firm,
partnership or association unless he
is duly licensed civil engineer or
architect, and the members who are
civil engineers shall only render work
and services proper for a civil
engineer, as defined in this Act, and
the members who are architects
shall also only render work and
services proper for an architect, as
defined in the law regulating the
practice of architecture; individual
members of such firms, partnership
or association shall be responsible
for their own respective acts.
Article V, Section 25:
RECIPROCITY REQUIREMENTS
- No person who is not a citizen of the
Philippines at the time he applies to
take the examination shall be
allowed to take it unless he can
prove in the manner provided by the
Rules of Court that, by specific
provision of law, the country of which
he is a citizen, subject, or national
either admits citizens of the
Philippines to the practice of the
same profession without restriction
or allows them to practice it after an
examination on terms of strict and
absolute equality with citizens,
subjects, or nationals of the country
concerned, including the
unconditional recognition of degrees
issued by institutions of learning duly
recognized for the purpose by the
Government of the Philippines:
Provided, That if he is not a citizen of
the Philippines, and was admitted to
the practice of a profession in the
 Philippines after December 8, 1941,
his active practice in that profession,
either in the Philippines or in the
state or country where he was
practicing his profession, shall not
have been interrupted for a period of
two years or more prior to July 4,
1946, and that the country or state
from which he comes allows the
citizens of the Philippines by specific
provision of law, to practice the same
profession without restriction or on
terms of strict and absolute equality
with citizens, subjects or nationals of
the country or state concerned.
Article V, Section 26:
ROSTER OF CIVIL ENGINEERS
- A roster showing the names and
places of business of all registered
civil engineers shall be prepared by
the Commissioner of PRC
periodically but at least once a year.
- Copies of this roster shall be placed
on file with the PRC and furnished to
all department heads, mayors of all
chartered cities, to the Director of
Public Works, to such other Bureaus,
government entities or agencies and
municipal and provincial authorities
as may be deemed necessary and to
the public upon request.
Article V, Section 27: REPEAL
- All laws, parts of laws, orders,
ordinances, or regulations in conflict
with the provisions hereof; including
parts of Act Numbered Twenty-nine
hundred and eighty-five, as
amended, as pertains to the practice
of civil engineering, are hereby
repealed, except the provisions of
Act Numbered Thirty-one hundred
and fifty-nine amending Act
Numbered Twenty-nine hundred and
eighty-five, pertaining to the practice
of “maestro de obras.”
Article V, Section 28:
CONSTRUCTION OF ACT
- If any part or section of this Act shall
be declared unconstitutional, such
declarations shall not invalidate the
other provisions hereof.
Article V, Section 29: EFFECTIVITY
- This Act shall take effect upon its
approval.
- Approved, June 17, 1950 (As
amended by R.A. No. 1582,
approved on June 16, 1956).
CIAP DOCUMENT 102 CONTRACTS
FOR PRIVATE CONSTRUCTION
Section II
Laws, Regulations, Site Conditions,
Permit and Taxes
ART. 6: LAWS AND SITE
CONDITIONS
6.01 LAWS AND REGULATIONS: In
general, the Contractor shall comply
with all Laws in so far as they are
binding upon or affect the parties
thereto, or the Work. He shall also
comply with regulations of firms
furnishing utilities such as water, gas,
telephone and electricity for the project.
If the Contractor performs any work
contrary to such Laws or utilities'
regulations, he shall bear all additional
costs arising therefrom.
6.02 SITE CONDITIONS: Before the
bidding and the awarding of the
Contract, the Contractor is expected to
have visited the project site and made
his own estimate of the facilities required
in and difficulties attending the execution
of the Work, on account of local
conditions and all other contingencies.
The Owner shall, however, furnish the
Contractor a geodetic survey and sub-
surface exploration which the Contractor
may rely upon in the preparation of his
Bid.
ART. 7: PERMITS, TAXES AND
SURVEYS
7.01 PERMITS AND LICENSES: The
Owner, with the Contractor's assistance,
shall secure and pay all construction
permits and licenses necessary for the
execution of the Work or of any
temporary work and easements in
relation thereto.
The Contractor shall secure the final
occupancy permit but he shall not be
responsible to the Owner if, without his
fault, the license is not issued or there
was delay in its issuance.
7.02 TAXES: Wherever the law of the
place where the project is located
requires sales, consumer, use, or other
similar tax related or pertinent only to
the construction of the project, the
Contractor shall pay such tax.
7.03 CONSTRUCTION STAKES AND
REFERENCE MARK: The Owner shall
furnish all surveys describing the
physical characteristics, legal limitations,
and utility locations of the site. He shall
also furnish rights-of-way for access to
the site. The Owner shall be responsible
for the establishment of lot lines,
boundary lines, easements and
benchmarks which shall be made by a
certified surveyor. The Owner may
request the Contractor to verify before
the start of the construction the result of
such surveys, provided the Owner shall
pay for the cost of such verification. The
Owner shall also pay for any damage or
cost to the Contractor brought about by
errors in data furnished.
All other grade, lines, levels, and
benchmarks necessary for the
prosecution of the work shall be
established and maintained by the
Contractor.
The Contractor shall provide and
maintain well-built batter boards at all
corners. He shall establish benchmarks
in not less than two widely separated
places. As work progresses, the
Contractor shall establish benchmarks
at each floor giving exact levels of
various floors, and shall lay- out the
exact locations of all partitions as a
guide to all trades.
7.01 SERVICES OF GEODETIC
ENGINEER: The Contractor shall, at his
option or when so required under the
Contract, engage the services of a
licensed Geodetic Engineer to confirm
and certify the location of column
centers, piers, walls, pits, trenches, pipe
work, utility lines and work of a similar
nature.
The Geodetic Engineer shall also verify
and certify the lines and levels of any
part of the Work at any time if so
required by the Owner.
The certification shall be provided the
Owner and the Contractor. If the
Geodetic Engineer finds any deviation
from the Drawings in the Work of the
Contractor, he shall report his findings to
the Owner within 24 hours from
discovery.
The Contractor shall be responsible for
loss or damage caused by the act or
omission of the Geodetic Engineer.
However, without exempting the
Contractor from liability, but in mitigation
of it, the Geodetic Engineer's
certification shall be regarded as an
independent and disinterested
verification of such lay-out.
RA NO. 9184 PROCUREMENR ACT
OF THE GOVERNMENT
RULE XX – THE GOVERNMENT
PROCUREMENT POLICY BOARD
•Section 63. Organization and
Functions
63.1. The Government Procurement
Policy Board (GPPB), as established in
Section 63 of the Act, shall have the
following duties and responsibilities:
a) To protect national interest in all
matters affecting public procurement,
having due regard to the country’s
regional and international obligations;
b) To formulate and amend public
procurement policies, rules and
regulations, and amend, whenever
necessary, this IRR;
c) To prepare a generic procurement
manual and the standard bidding forms
for procurement;
d) To ensure the proper implementation
by Procuring Entities of the Act, this IRR
and all other relevant rules and
regulations pertaining to public
procurement;
e) To establish a sustainable training
program to develop the capacity of
Government procurement officers and
employees, and to ensure the conduct
of regular procurement training
programs by and for Procuring Entities;
and
f) To conduct an annual review of the
effectiveness of the Act and recommend
any amendments thereto, as may be
necessary.The GPPB shall be under the
administrative supervision of the DBM
for general oversight and for budgeting
purposes.
63.2. The GPPB Technical Support
Office
The GPPB shall create a Technical
Support Office (TSO) which shall
provide support in the performance of its
duties and responsibilities specified in
the Act and this IRR.
The GPPB shall determine the TSO’s
organizational structure and staffing,
subject to DBM approval. The TSO shall
be headed by an Executive Director of
good moral character, unquestionable
integrity, and known probity.
63.3. The TSO shall provide research,
technical and administrative support to
the GPPB, including:
a) Research-based procurement policy
recommendations and rule-drafting;
b) Development and updating of generic
procurement manuals and standard
bidding forms;
c) Management and conduct of training
on procurement systems and
procedures;
d) Evaluation of the effectiveness of the
government procurement system and
recommendation of improvements in
systems and procedures;
e) Monitoring the compliance to the Act
and assisting Procuring Entities improve
their compliance;
f) Monitoring the implementation and
effectiveness of the PHILGEPS; and
g) Secretariat support.
63.4. In addition to the powers granted
under the Act and this IRR, the GPPB
shall absorb all the powers, functions
and responsibilities of the Procurement
Policy Board created under Executive
Order No. 359, series of 1989. All
functions related to procurement policy-
making of the Infrastructure Committee
of the NEDA Board are transferred to
the GPPB.
•Section 64. Membership
The GPPB shall be composed of the
Secretary of the Department of Budget
and Management, as Chairman, the
Director-General of NEDA, as Alternate
Chairman, with the following as
Members; the Secretaries of the
Departments of Public Works and
Highways, Finance, Trade and Industry,
Health, National Defense, Education,
Interior and Local Government, Science
and Technology, Transportation and
Communications, and Energy, or their
duly authorized representatives and a
representative from the private sector to
be appointed by the President upon the
recommendation of the GPPB. The
GPPB may invite representatives from
the COA or from relevant Government
agencies and private sectors to serve as
resource persons.
RULE XXI – PENAL CLAUSE
• Section 65. Offenses and Penalties
65.1. Without prejudice to the provisions
of R.A. 3019 and other penal laws,
public officers who commit any of the
following acts shall suffer the penalty of
imprisonment of not less than six (6)
years and one (1) day, but not more
than fifteen (15) years:
a) Opening any sealed bid including but
not limited to Bids that may have been
submitted through the electronic system
and any and all documents required to
be sealed or divulging their contents,
prior to the appointed time for the public
opening of Bids or other documents.
b) Delaying, without justifiable cause,
the screening for eligibility, opening of
bids, evaluation and post evaluation of
bids, and awarding of contracts beyond
the prescribed periods of action
provided for in this IRR.
c) Unduly influencing or exerting undue
pressure on any member of the BAC or
any officer or employee of the procuring
entity to take a particular action which
favors, or tends to favor a particular
bidder.
d) Splitting of contracts which exceed
procedural purchase limits to avoid
competitive bidding or to circumvent the
limits of approving or procurement
authority.
e) Abuse by the Head of the Procuring
Entity of his power to reject any and all
bids as mentioned under Section 41 of
the Act and this IRR, with manifest
preference to any bidder who is closely
related to him in accordance with
Section 47 of the Act and this IRR.
When any of the foregoing acts is done
in collusion with private individuals, the
private individuals shall likewise be
liable for the offense.
In addition, the public officer involved
shall also suffer the penalty of temporary
disqualification from public office, while
the private individual shall be
permanently disqualified from
transacting business with the
Government.
65.2. Private individuals who commit
any of the following acts, and any public
officer who conspires with them, shall
upon conviction, suffer the penalty of
imprisonment of not less than six (6)
years and one (1) day but not more than
fifteen (15) years:
a) When two or more bidders agree and
submit different bids as bona fide
bidders, all the while knowing that the
bid(s) of one or more of them was so
much higher than the other that the
latter could not be honestly accepted
and that the contract will surely be
awarded to the pre-arranged lowest bid.
b) When a bidder maliciously submits
different bids through two or more
persons, corporations, partnerships or
any other business entity in which he
has an interest, to create the
appearance of competition that does not
in fact exist so as to be adjudged as the
winning bidder.
c) When two or more bidders enter into
an agreement which calls upon one or
more of them to refrain from bidding for
procurement contracts, or which
requires one or more of them to
withdraw Bids already submitted, in
order to secure an undue advantage to
any one of them.
d) When a bidder, by himself or in
connivance with others, employs
schemes which tend to restrain the
natural rivalry of the parties or operates
to stifle or suppress competition and
thus produce a result disadvantageous
to the public.
In addition, the public officer persons
involved shall also suffer the penalty of
temporary or perpetual disqualification
from public office and the private
individual shall be permanently
disqualified from transacting business
with the Government.
65.3. Private individuals who commit
any of the following acts, and any public
officer conspiring with them, shall upon
conviction, suffer the penalty of
imprisonment of not less than six (6)
years and one (1) day but not more than
fifteen (15) years:
a) Submitting eligibility requirements of
whatever kind and nature that contain
false information or falsified documents
calculated to influence the outcome of
the eligibility screening process or
conceal such information in the eligibility
requirements when the information will
lead to a declaration of ineligibility from
participating in public bidding.
b) Submitting Bidding Documents of
whatever kind and nature that contain
false information or falsified documents
or conceal such information in the
Bidding Documents, in order to influence
the outcome of the public bidding.
c) Participating in a public bidding using
the name of another or allowing another
to use one’s name for the purpose of
participating in a public bidding.
d) Withdrawing a bid, after it shall have
qualified as the Lowest Calculated
Bid/Highest Rated Bid, or refusing to
accept an award, without just cause or
for the purpose of forcing the procuring
entity to award the contract to another
bidder. This shall include the non-
submission within the prescribed time,
or delaying the submission of
requirements such as, but not limited to,
performance security, preparatory to the
final award of the contract.
65.4. It is understood that the above
penalties and offenses shall cover all
types of procurement whether done
manually or electronically.
65.5. When the bidder is a juridical
entity, criminal liability and the
accessory penalties shall be imposed on
its directors, officers or employees who
actually commit any of the foregoing
acts. If a person previously held liable or
found guilty under the provisions of the
Act and this IRR has a controlling
interest in a prospective bidder entity,
the said bidder-entity shall be
disqualified to participate in any
procurement activity being conducted by
the Government.
• Section 66. Jurisdiction
Jurisdiction over the offenses defined
under this Rule shall belong to the
appropriate courts, according to laws
existing at the time of the commission of
the offenses.
RULE XXII – CIVIL LIABILITY
•Section 67. Civil Liability in Case of
Conviction
Without prejudice to administrative
sanctions that may be imposed in proper
cases, a conviction under the Act and
this IRR or R.A. 3019 shall carry with it
civil liability, which may either consist of
restitution for the damage done or the
forfeiture in favor of the government of
any unwarranted benefit derived from
the act or acts in question, or both, at
the discretion of the courts.
• Section 68. Liquidated Damages
All contracts executed in accordance
with the Act and this IRR shall contain a
provision on liquidated damages which
shall be payable by the contractor in
case of breach thereof. For the
procurement of goods, infrastructure
projects and consulting services, the
amount of the liquidated damages shall
be at least equal to one-tenth of one
percent (0.001)60 of the cost of the
unperformed portion for every day of
delay. Once the cumulative amount of
liquidated damages reaches ten percent
(10%) of the amount of the contract, the
procuring entity shall rescind the
contract, without prejudice to other
courses of action and remedies open to
it.
RULE XXIII – ADMINISTRATIVE
SANCTIONS
•Section 69. Imposition of
Administrative Penalties
69.1. In addition to the provisions of
Rules XXI and XXII of this IRR, the
Head of the Procuring Entity, subject to
the authority delegated to the BAC, if
any, shall impose on bidders or
prospective bidders, the administrative
penalty of suspension for one (1) year
for the first offense, and suspension of
two (2) years for the second offense
from participating in the public bidding
process, as well as disqualification from
further participating in the public bidding
being undertaken by the procuring entity
concerned, where applicable, for the
following violations:
a) Submission of eligibility requirements
containing false information or falsified
documents.
b) Submission of Bids that contain false
information or falsified documents, or
the concealment of such information in
the Bids to influence the outcome of
eligibility screening, or any other stage
of the public bidding.
c) Allowing the use of one’s name or
using the name of another for purposes
of public bidding.
d) Withdrawal of a bid, or refusal to
accept an award, or enter into contract
with the Government without justifiable
cause, after he had been adjudged as
having submitted the Lowest Calculated
Responsive Bid or Highest Rated
Responsive Bid.
e) Refusal or failure to post the required
performance security within the
prescribed time.
f) Termination of the contract due to the
default of the bidder.
g) Refusal to clarify or validate in writing
its bid during post-qualification within a
period of seven (7) calendar days from
receipt of the request for clarification.
h) Any documented attempt by a bidder
to unduly influence the outcome of the
bidding in his favor.
i) All other acts that tend to defeat the
purpose of the competitive bidding, such
as habitually withdrawing from bidding,
submitting late Bids or patently
insufficient bid, for at least three (3)
times within a year, except for valid
reasons.
69.2. In addition to the penalty of
suspension, the bid security or the
performance security posted by the
concerned bidder or prospective bidder
shall also be forfeited.
69.3. The Head of the Procuring Entity
may delegate to the BAC the authority to
impose the aforementioned
administrative penalties.
69.4. The procedures for the suspension
or blacklisting of suppliers, contractors,
or consultants for GOP projects shall be
undertaken in accordance with the
guidelines issued by the GPPB.
• Section 70. Preventive Suspension
The Head of the Procuring Entity may
preventively suspend any member of the
Technical Working Group or the
Secretariat, or the BAC, if there are
strong reasons or prima facie evidence
showing that the officials or employees
concerned are guilty of the charges filed
against them under Rules XXI and XXII
of this IRR, or for dishonesty as defined
by the Civil Service Laws. For uniformed
personnel of the AFP, the substantive
and procedural due process under its
justice system shall be applied. In all
cases, due process as mandated by the
Constitution and Civil Service laws, rules
and regulations, shall be strictly
observed.
•Section 71. Lifting of Suspension
and Removal of Administrative
Disabilities
Lifting of preventive suspension pending
administrative investigation, as well as
removal of administrative penalties and
disabilities shall be in accordance with
the provisions of Sections 52 and 53,
Chapter 6, Subtitle A (Civil Service
Commission), Title I, Book V of
Executive Order No. 292, otherwise
known as the Administrative Code of
1987.