Comprehensive Guide to RA 10350 and Interior Design Ethics in the Philippines

RA 10350

Act known as the Philippine Interior Design Act of 2012

Interior design

The science and art of planning, specifying, selecting, and organizing the surface finishes and materials including furniture, furnishings, and fixtures and other interior design elements for the purpose of the interior space allocations to suit, enhance, and meet the intended function, movement and character for which the interior of the building is designed.

Professional interior designer

A natural person who holds a valid certificate of registration and a valid professional identification card issued by the Board and the Commission pursuant to this act.

Commission

The professional regulation commission.

Practice of interior design

The act of planning, designing, specifying, supervising and providing general administration and responsible direction to the functional, orderly, and aesthetic arrangement and enhancement of interior spaces.

June 17, 2013

Date when RA 10350 was published.

Commission chairperson

The chairperson of the Professional Regulation Commission.

RA 8981

Professional Regulation Commission Modernization act of 2000.

Board

The professional regulatory board of interior design created under RA 10350.

Board chairperson

Chairperson of the board of interior design.

CHED

Commission on higher education.

CPE

Continuing Professional Education (or development).

CPEC

Continuing Professional Education Council.

AIPO

Accredited and Integrated Professional Organization (of licensed and registered Interior Designers recognized by the Board and the Commission).

CIDE

Council of Interior Design Educators.

Interior Space

An area inside a building or room with respect to design and decoration, the purpose, function and dimensions of which is prescribed in the contract documents.

Contract documents

Documents that form part of the legal contract for services between two or more parties which shall include detailed instruction to the contractor, tender forms, contract documents and specifications.

Contract administration

Also known as project management Services on specified interior spaces which shall include developing and monitoring schedules and construction costs, ensuring the completion of construction, etc.

Furniture footprint plans

Plans showing appropriate scale and type of furnishings with critical or required clearances that shall serve as the basis for a fully integrated project design for FF&E package.

Furniture, furnishings and equipment

Design, selection, specification, color combination and procurement documentation of the required items necessary.

Programming

Scope of work which may include conducting research, identifying and analyzing requirements of the clients, evaluating existing documents, assessing project resources and limitations, etc.

Reflected ceiling plan

A ceiling layout that shall include lighting and other fixed or movable elements of all utilities.

Space planning

Researches, analyses and plan/design translations of interior spatial requirements based on code requirements and space planning standards.

Technical specification

Detailed written description, workmanship, and materials of the interior design work to be undertaken which may be closed or open technical specifications.

Chairperson and 2 members

The board of interior design shall comprise of a chairperson and 2 members.

3 years

Number of years per term of a board of interior design member.

6 years

No member shall hold office for more than 6 years in his position as a member of the board.

Compensation and allowances

The chairman and members of the board shall receive compensation and allowances comparable to the one received by existing regulatory boards under the Commission.

Annual report

The board shall submit an annual report to the President of the Philippines, through the commission, giving a detailed account of its proceedings and accomplishments during the year, and making recommendations that will upgrade and improve the conditions of the practice.

Stylized human figure; bahay kubo; sampaguita flowers

The official seal of the board shall be circular in form with a stylized human figure wearing a hat, arms outstretched upward; between his legs is a bahay kubo; to his right are three stars and sun rays; to his left are sampaguita flowers and laurel leaves; and the words interior design written in a circular manner.

70%

An examinee must obtain a weighted average of 70% to qualify as having passed the examination for Interior Design.

20 days

The board shall release the report of ratings within 20 days after the examination unless extended by the Commission for just cause.

Registration number; date of issuance; expiry date

A certificate of registration bears the registration number, date of issuance, and expiry date, duly signed by the Chairman of the board; is issued to every registrant who has paid the required fees.

Professional identification card

Professional identification cards shall be released by the PRC upon compliance with the requirements for the application card and upon presentation of the updated receipt of payment of annual membership dues of the AIPO and proof of completion of CPE requirements.

IDr

Professional prefix which stands for Interior Design in the Philippines.

Seal

A duly registered Interior Designer shall sign and affix the seal as approved by the Board on all contract documents, plans, and specifications prepared by them or under their supervision.

Special permit

Foreigners intending to work in the Philippines to perform professional services as interior designers or consultants shall first secure a special permit from the commission.

Duly licensed Filipino counterpart

The foreign interior designer shall be required to work in every case with a duly licensed Filipino counterpart who has been in continuous practice of interior design for at least 5 consecutive years.

Certificate of registration revocation

The certificate of registration can be revoked due to neglect of failure to pay the annual regulation fees for 2 years.

Reinstatement of certificate

The board may reinstate a revoked certificate of registration after 300,000 or 1,000,000 from date of effectivity of the period for revocation.

Penal clause

The following acts shall be punished a fine not less than 30% but more than back taxes.

Foreign practitioners penalty

Foreign practitioners who are found guilty shall be penalized with a fine equivalent to 6 months of the gross fees in addition to payment of 3 years due to the Philippine government.

Imprisonment for violations

An imprisonment of not less than 1 year but not more than shall be the punishment for foreign practitioners who go against the IRR (same for local practitioners).

Responsibility for contract work

The interior designer shall assume full responsibility for the contract work within 45 days from final acceptance by the client.

Force majeure

The interior designer may be held responsible for any damage or destruction of the works except those occasioned by force majeure.

Repair works timeframe

The interior designer shall undertake the repair works within 45 days from the time the client has issued a notification of the need to undertake repair.

Earnings of interior designers

Earnings of interior designers take in three forms: salary, fixed contract amount, standard rates based on time.

Consultation services

Consultation involves purchasing and/or sourcing of decorative artifacts, furniture, furnishings, etc. with the client; on-site furniture and accessories' arrangements; exhibits.

Standard fee for consultation

Minimum of 500 per hour to a maximum of 1,500 is the standard fee for consultation.

Lump sum for consultation

Amount of lump sum (8 hours) for interior designer's consultation hours is 10,000.

Standard rate for small project

Standard rate for small project with a maximum floor area of 75 sqm Minimum of 50,000 per unit or 1,000 per square meter.

Standard rate for medium project

Standard rate for 76 sqm to 300 sqm Minimum of 50,000 per major room to maximum of 3,000,000 per house.

Standard rate for large project

Standard rate for 301 sqm and above Minimum of 400 per square meter to maximum of 800 per square meter.

Payment for repetitive work

For repetitive work whose design is repeated, the interior design will be paid full payment for design services for 1 unit and 10% of the one unit for the succeeding set of units.

Renovation and repair works fees

For renovation and repair works, the interior designer will evaluate and assess the existing conditions of the space, and charge 10-15% per unit or 10% per sqm, plus contingency fees for unseen additional works.

Contingency fees

Contingency fees for unseen additional works are 10-15% of the budgetary cost for implementation for fees on percentage basis.