A P

M E

SS
D
NE
A R
VE
TI O T U
R
ET
TI
K

C AR
PE

E E AL
M

H
O

T
CO

GL

T RЛ H I TI
N
TH
E
PROFESSIONAL REGULATION COMMISSION

F O C C HI
TE
C (PRC)

R NO
AR
PROFESSIONAL REGULATORY BOARD OF
A
P I
LI
FI ARCHITECTURE (PRBoA)
E
TH
ING
T IO
N UNITED ARCHITECTS OF THE PHILIPPINES
SI
PO (UAP)-IAPOA
As of 20 August 2012 (editable/ native file for
dissemination, reaction and continuing updates by
stakeholders/ registered & licensed architects/
RLAs); please send only slides with suggested changes
• An evidence-based directional tool designed to give
forward-looking strategic guidance by highlighting
fundamental features of the surrounding landscape.

• A map which plots the way forward from where we are

now to where we want to get. It keeps us on track to
ensure that we do not get lost on route.

• It highlights obstacles and proposes ways of getting

around them.

ROADMAP
• It is useful when we need to respond to rapid changes
resulting from either the business environment or a new
technology.

• Information gaps can be addressed through a

“Roadmap process”.

•It becomes a vital advocacy tool in getting the help we

need whether it’s from the government or from the
private sector.

WHY DO WE NEED A ROADMAP ?

A Competitiveness Roadmap is one that takes us
from wherever we stand now, on the
competitiveness grid, to a position where we can
offer front-line Architectural services in the
global market.

COMPETITIVENESS ROADMAP
•Under the ASEAN Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA),
new opportunities are being opened up for us, and new
competitive threats are also emerging.

•We must quickly get into a position to assess:

• How our interests are being affected
• Where our strengths and weakness lie
• Where opportunities can be maximized
• How defensive our posture needs to be and why
• How to resolve domestic issues fast (education system, legal
and regulatory regimes which prevent the full implementation
of our law)

DO WE REALLY NEED A ROADMAP ?

YES !
 1
E P NO
W
? • WHERE ARE WE ON THE MAP ?

STE RE
AR E
W
E
• HOW COMPETITIVE ARE WE ?

H • DO WE HAVE FILIPINO
W
ARCHITECTS IN THE
INTERNATIONAL MARKET?

• ARE WE COMPETITIVE IN THE

DOMESTIC MARKET?
 • ARCHITECTURE is possibly one of the oldest recognized
professions (up to 5,000 years of recorded architectural history);
the word Architect comes from the word Arkitekton which means
master builder in ancient Greece
• First Philippine tertiary school of architecture was established in
1901
• First Philippine architect registered in 1921
• Joint professional regulatory law (PRL) for Architecture and Civil
Engineering (CE) in the Philippines until June 1950

HOW COMPETITIVE ARE WE?

HISTORICAL FACTS (1)
• Organic architecture law was passed in June 1950, limiting the
practice of architecture to registered architects (simultaneously with
organic CE law). Simultaneous amendments were made in June
1956
• Repeal architecture law (R.A. No. 9266) was passed in 2004
limiting the preparation, signing and sealing of all architectural
documents for all buildings on Philippine soil to registered and
licensed architects (RLAs)
• 2012 - Almost 30,000 registered architects (RAs)
• 1 integrated accredited professional organization (APO) & 3 Other
Associations of Architects; 15 foreign APO chapters (USA, Canada,
SG, Middle East & North Africa/ MENA region)

HOW COMPETITIVE ARE WE?

HISTORICAL FACTS (2)
EDUCATION SYSTEM / CURRICULUM
• +/-80 schools offering the BS Architecture program;
• Almost 12,000 enrolled in BS Architecture Program (all levels);
• At least 3 CHED Centers of Excellence for Architecture Education;
• Performance of schools in licensure examinations as indicator of the
quality of education and educators. Some schools have 0 to 1 passer;
• Many graduates lack skills in various forms of communication;
• Need to further improve architectural instructor qualifications;
need more opportunities for practitioners to teach;
• Curriculum lacks training in business and construction as evidenced by
administrative cases filed at the PRC;
• Need to harmonize (perhaps standardize?) teaching methods among
schools in the Philippines; and
• Need to harmonize the curriculum across the ASEAN member states.

HOW COMPETITIVE ARE WE?

MEASURABLE INDICATORS OF COMPETITIVENESS (1)
LICENSURE EXAMINATION FOR ARCHITECTS
•Commenced Foreign Licensure Examinations for Architects (FLEAs) in
2007 for Filipino architecture graduates employed overseas, particularly
in the Middle East;
•Full computerization of the LEA in 2009;
•About 4,000 took the licensure examination for architects (LEA)
annually for the last 3 years (2010 to 2012);
•Average 50% national passing rate for the last 3 years;
•reformat of LEA with 100% focus on buildings, building environments
and grounds helped to increase LEA passing rate as well as the relevant
competencies of entry-level RLAs; and
•Verbal communication and drafting skillsets not tested in the LEA.

HOW COMPETITIVE ARE WE?

MEASURABLE INDICATORS OF COMPETITIVENESS (2)
CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION
• About 15 CPE Providers and 20 CPE programs;
• CPE programs not yet integrated, not yet designed for specialization; &
• CPE is not a requirement for renewal of professional ID card.

GREATER AWARENESS by PUBLIC & PRIVATE SECTORS

• R.A. No. 9266 (The Architecture Act of 2004) – through various
information dissemination platforms , including PRBoA website with
more than 1 million visits as of mid 2012;
• Physical planning, building, environmental and professional laws – by
RLAs; and
• P.D. No. 1096 (the 1977 National Building Code of the Philippines/
NBCP) – by RLAs and allied regulated professionals.

HOW COMPETITIVE ARE WE?

MEASURABLE INDICATORS OF COMPETITIVENESS (3)
ARE THERE ENOUGH ARCHITECTS TO MEET THE DOMESTIC
DEMANDS?
 Almost 13,000 registered & licensed architects (RLAs);
 About 6,000 RLAs in active local professional practice (general practice and
various specializations, mainly covering private buildings/ spaces );
 About 500 architectural firms operating locally; less than 15 architectural
firms take part in public procurement for architectural consulting services;
 About 35 registered architectural firm (RAFs) ; and
 Main MARKET for architectural services is the domestic private sector.

And yet a DOLE report says that there is a shortage of Architects with
certain specializations. The demand for other professional categories are not
being met.

HOW COMPETITIVE ARE WE?

DOMESTIC MARKET CONTEXT
 SIGNIFICANT PRESENCE OF FILIPINOS IN
ARCHITECTURAL FIRMS OVERSEAS
 About 5,000 RLAs and architectural graduates are employed
overseas worldwide

PRESENCE OF FILIPINO ARCHITECTURAL FIRMS

OVERSEAS NOT SIGNIFICANT

 About 40 APEC Architects; and

 Soon to register ASEAN Architects.

But APEC and ASEAN agreements cannot guarantee the

hiring of Filipino architectural firms by international clients.

HOW COMPETITIVE ARE WE?

INTERNATIONAL MARKET CONTEXT
 LOCAL DEVELOPERS CONTINUE TO HIRE FOREIGN
ARCHITECTS TO UNDERTAKE < THE CONCEPTUAL
DESIGN OF > PROJECTS ON PHILIPPINE SOIL
 PRBoA has commenced the registration of Foreign
Architects (FAs) with projects on Philippine soil in 2007;
 Foreign architects usually create the concept design yet
take the lion’s share of the professional fee; and
 Some collaborating Filipino architects merely act as
“rubber stamp” instead of taking advantage of the
transfer of technology.

HOW COMPETITIVE ARE WE?

FOREIGN ARCHITECTS (FA) IN THE PHILIPPINES
Existence of a strong professional regulatory law (RA No. 9266);
 Membership of the APO to international architectural organizations UIA
and ARCASIA for benchmarking of professional standards

Linkages of the APO to institutions for architectural education;

Government support for benchmarking of professional laws and

standards, licensing and registration of professionals in the ASEAN
Region;
Government support for benchmarking of architectural curriculum in the
ASEAN Region; and
English proficiency.

HOW COMPETITIVE ARE WE?

( + ) FACTORS AFFECTING COMPETITIVENESS
 Weak mechanism for provision of quality continuing professional
education;
 Unresolved domestic issues on supposed overlapping scope of work
with other regulated professions (which does not exist, not
countenanced under present laws);
 Inefficiencies in the legal and regulatory framework of the profession;

 Lack of Government support in the implementation of the

professional regulatory law (PRL) R.A. No. 9266, the
Architecture Act of 2004; and
 Domestic practice orientation coupled with lack of exposure in
international markets, technologies and trends.

HOW COMPETITIVE ARE WE?

( - ) FACTORS AFFECTING COMPETITIVENESS
 2 PS

P
G
ET • ESTABLISH GOALS

E
? S
O

T
G
TO • SET SHORT, MEDIUM, AND

S
T
AN LONG-TERM TARGETS
W
E
W
DO • SET MILESTONES
RE
E
H
W
• AMBITIOUS OR REALISTIC?
 BORDERLESS PRACTICE
10
Level of Competitiveness

3
DOMESTIC IMPEDIMENTS

0
2012 2015 ASEAN MRA 2020 WTO GATS
Regional Global
ROADMAP FOR ARCHITECTURE ( A
MODEL)
 BORDERLESS PRACTICE
10
Level of Competitiveness

3
DOMESTIC IMPEDIMENTS

0
2012 2015 ASEAN MRA 2020 WTO GATS
Regional Global
ROADMAP FOR ARCHITECTURE ( A
MODEL)
 THESE DOMESTIC IMPEDIMENTS MUST BE
RESOLVED SO THAT THE FILIPINO ARCHITECT
CAN FOCUS ON BEING GLOBALLY COMPETITIVE

ILLEGAL PRACTICE
BY UNREGISTERED PERSONS AND
BY OTHER Registered & Licensed Professionals (RLPs)
LACK OF GOVERNMENT SUPPORT
APPARENT FLAWS IN INTERPRETATION,
IMPLEMENTATION AND
ENFORCEMENT OF THE LAW

DOMESTIC IMPEDIMENTS
 IF THE DOMESTIC IMPEDIMENTS TO THE
PRACTICE OF ARCHITECTS IN THE PHILIPPINES
ARE NOT FULLY RESOLVED BY THE
GOVERNMENT, IT SHALL BE VERY DIFFICULT FOR
PHILIPPINE ARCHITECTS TO BE GLOBALLY
COMPETITIVE

RESOLVE DOMESTIC IMPEDIMENTS FIRST

 3 BA
SE • INVOLVE ALL STAKEHOLDERS

E P D ATA • IDENTIFY FACTORS RELEVANT

TO OUR COMPETITIVENESS

T
I VE
S

S
EN
H • GATHER DATA TO CONFIRM
E
PR WHERE WE CURRENTLY STAND
M
CO ON THE MAP AND TO ASSESS HOW
I SH ROUGH THE ROAD WILL BE
BL
TA • CONDUCT SCOPING STUDY
ES
• IDENTIFY INFORMATION GAPS
• DESIGN SURVEY INSTRUMENT TO
HELP GATHER INFORMATION
Personal data, educational background, type
and size of practice, specialization,
professional experience local and
international, type of projects, computer
application, income, affiliations,

COMPREHENSIVE DATA BASE

PROCESS
 4 EN
DA • DEFINE PROJECTS AND
ACTIVITIES TO INCREASE

E P O
N
AG COMPETITIVENESS

T
TI
A C • ALLOCATE RESPONSIBILITIES

S EP
- ST
BY
• SET DEADLINES
P-
E
ST • SET UP MONITORING PROCESSES
A
I NE • ESTABLISH POLICY
F
DE FRAMEWORKS FOR
ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES
• ESTABLISH NECESSARY
LINKAGES WITH GOVERNMENT
AND INTERNATIONAL AGENCIES
LEGISLATIVE AGENDA (1)
LEGISLATIVE AGENDA (2)
CAMPAIGN AGAINST ILLEGAL
PRACTITIONERS
 SCHOOLS TO
VISIT AND
UAP TO ACCREDIT
ACCREDIT ARCHITECTURAL
ARCHITECTS WHO OFFICES FOR
INTEND TO SIGN STUDENTS WHO
AS MENTOR IN WISH TO
THE LOGBOOK UNDERTAKE
FOR DIVERSIFIED DIVERSIFIED
ARCHITECTURAL ARCHITECTURAL
EXPERIENCE EXPERIENCE
DURING 3rd – 5th
YEAR IN
PREPARATION
FOR THE
UAP and SCHOOLS TO COORDINATE LICENSURE
THROUGH CODHASP EXAMINATION

MENTORSHIP PROGRAM
 OFFER
PROFESSIONAL
ASSISTANCE TO
LGUs
INFORMATION
CAMPAIGN on the
procurement Law
(covering Consulting
Services)
MEMBERSHI
P TO BIDS
AND
AWARDS
COMMITTEE
OF GOV’T
AGENCIES

INVOLVEMENT IN GOVERNMENT
PROJECTS
 ENCOURAGE
MEMBERS TO
LINK W GOV’T
IDENTIFY ARCHITECTS AGENCIES TO
PARTICIPATE IN
INTERNATIONAL
PARTICIPATE IN
CONDUCT FORUM COMPETITIONS
INTERNATIONAL
DISCUSSIONS WITH
EXPOSITIONS
ARCHITECTS DOING
COLLABORATIVE OR
INDEPENDENT PRACTICE
OVERSEAS

LINK W NCCA FOR

PUBLICATION OF
COFFEE TABLE
BOOKS ON ICONS IN MARKETING PORTAL FOR THE
FILIPINO FILIPINO ARCHITECTS AND
ARCHITECTURE FOR ARCHITECTURAL FIRMS FOR
DISTRIBUTION TO USE BY PROSPECTIVE
COMPANIES DOMESTIC AND
OVERSEAS INTERNATIONAL CLIENTS

RE-BRANDING
THE FILIPINO ARCHITECT
 SPECIALIZATION

PREPAREDNESS
FOR
BORDERLESS
PRACTICE

CPE PROGRAM
 Architecture schools distinct and headed only by Architects;
Introduce construction & management courses to curriculum;
Establish architecture education accreditation system;
Specialized Practices Certification Program;
Masters Program in Advanced & International Practices in Arch;
More CHED ETEEAP Partner Schools for CPE.

Collaboration among deans & heads of architectural schools among

ASEAN member states to harmonize curriculum

EDUCATION
 GRAPHIC EDITION OF THE NATIONAL BUILDING
CODE (Proposed Research Grant from the NCCA)

GOVERNMENT GRANTS
 PRO-ACTIVE
PROGRAMS TO
MONITOR THE
IMPLEMENTATIO
N AND
ENFORCEMENT
OF THE LAWS ON
ARCHITECTURE,
PHYSICAL
PLANNING AND
BUILDINGS

COMPLIANCE MONITORING
 5
A N
PL
N

P
IO • DISTRIBUTE ROADMAP TO ALL
T

E
L A STAKEHOLDERS
CU

ST B L I SH
A
C I R
• ROADSHOWS

• ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSIONS
TA
ES
• PUBLIC – PRIVATE NETWORKING

• CREATE AWARENES AMONG

ARCHITECTURAL GRADUATES
AND STUDENTS
 NATIONWIDE INFORMATION
TO EMPHASIZE THE NEED TOCAMPAIGN
INCREASE
DOMESTIC & INTERNATIONAL
COMPETITIVENESS
PROMOTE REGISTRATION OF
ASEAN & APEC ARCHITECTS

AND TO CORRECT MISCONCEPTIONS

REGARDING BORDERLESS PRACTICE

BE PREPARED FOR 2015

 L O F
NA D )
O R o A
S I OA B
ES B PR
F Y (
O O RR E
R
P A T TU
HE UL EC
T EG IT
R CH 2012
AR US
T

AUG
2 0
Thank You. Let us all make
things happen for a better
future for all Philippine
registered and licensed
architects (RLAs)