Republic Act No. 9053 (Philippine Landscape Architecture Act of 2000)

Vocabulary terms and legal requirements defined in Republic Act No. 9053, the Philippine Landscape Architecture Act of 2000.

Republic Act No. 9053

An Act regulating the practice of Landscape Architecture in the Philippines, also known as the "Philippine Landscape Architecture Act of 2000."

Scope of the Practice of Landscape Architecture

The act of planning, designing, specifying, supervising and giving general administration and responsible direction to the functional, orderly and aesthetic arrangement of natural scenery and land areas for human use and enjoyment.

Landscape Architect

A natural person qualified to practice Landscape Architecture who has been issued a valid certificate of registration/professional license and professional identification card by the Board and the Professional Regulation Commission.

Board of Landscape Architecture

The body created under the administrative control and supervision of the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) to regulate the profession, composed of a Chairperson and two ($2$) members.

Board Member Age Qualification

Must be at least thirty-five ($3$) years of age at the time of appointment.

Board Member Professional Experience

Must be a registered Landscape Architect and an active practitioner for not less than ten ($10$) years prior to appointment.

Faculty Restriction for Board Members

Must not be a member of the faculty of any school where Landscape Architecture is taught for a period of three ($3$) consecutive years prior to appointment.

Standard Term of Office for Board Members

The members hold office for a term of three ($3$) years and may be re-appointed for one full term of three ($3$) years.

Board Member Removal Grounds

Includes neglect of duty, incompetence, violation of the Code of Ethics, final judgment of any criminal offense, or manipulation of licensure examination results.

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)

A specialized study prepared by Landscape Architects as part of project promotional services or feasibility studies.

Weighted General Average for Passing

To pass the Board examination, a candidate must obtain a weighted general average of seventy percent ($70.00\%$).

Minimum Passing Grade per Subject

No grades lower than sixty percent ($60.00\%$) in any given subject of the licensure examination.

Examination Retake Rule

An examinee who fails a subject after two ($2$) attempts must take the entire Board examinations again.

Mandatory Landscape Architect Seal

A stamp required on all plans, drawings, and specifications prepared by or under the direct supervision of a licensed Landscape Architect.

Construction Cost Threshold for Sealed Plans

Government officers shall not accept landscape plans not signed and sealed by a licensed Landscape Architect if the cost of construction/alteration exceeds Three hundred fifty thousand pesos ($P350,000.00$).

Ownership of Instruments of Service

Drawings and specifications duly signed and sealed are the property and documents of the Landscape Architect, whether the project is executed or not.

Partnership/Corporation L.A. Requirement

Eighty percent ($80.00\%$) of the members of a partnership, association, or corporation practicing Landscape Architecture must be registered/licensed Landscape Architects.

Foreign Reciprocity

No foreign Landscape Architect shall be registered unless the country of which he/she is a citizen permits Filipino Landscape Architects to practice on the same basis.

Illegal Practice Fine

A fine of not less than Fifty thousand pesos ($P50,000.00$) nor more than Two hundred thousand pesos ($P200,000.00$) for unauthorized practice.

Illegal Practice Imprisonment

A term of not less than six ($6$) months nor more than three ($3$) years for unauthorized practice.

Integrated National Organization

The one ($1$) national organization accredited by the Board as the official association where every registered Landscape Architect automatically becomes a member.