Republic Act 544 or the Civil Engineering Law

Republic Act 544 or the Civil Engineering Law

Regulates the practice of civil engineering by establishing the Board of Examiners for Civil Engineers, sets rules for the licensure exam, and ensures that only licensed civil engineers can design, sign, and supervise infrastructures to protect public health, safety and welfare.

Article I: Title of the Act and Definition of Terms

Section 1 - Title of Act

Section 2- Definition of Terms

Section 1 - Title of Act

This act is officially called the "Civil Engineering Law"

Section 2 - Definition of Terms

- The practice of civil engineering includes but is not limited to consultation, design, plans, specifications, estimates of works like streets, bridges, highways, airports, and canals.

- Civil Engineer means someone duly registered with the Board of Civil Engineers.

Article II: Board of Examiners for Civil Engineers

Section 3 - Composition of Board

Section 4 - Powers and Duties of the Board

Section 5 - Qualifications of Board Members

Section 6 - Fees and Compensation of Board

Section 7 - Annual Report

Section 3 - Composition of Board

Creates the Board of Examiners for Civil Engineers, made up of a chairman and two members, appointed by the President of the Philippines.

Section 4 - Powers and Duties of the Board

- Administer oaths, issue, suspend, and revoke licenses;

- Investigate violations of this law;

- Inspect at least once a year educational institutions offering courses in civil engineering;

- Issue rules and regulations.

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 school;

- Be a registered civil engineer;

- Have practiced civil engineering for at least 10 years;

- Not be a member of the faculty of any school where civil engineering course is taught;

- Not a former member of the faculty of any school where civil engineering is taught unless he had stopped for at least 3 years

Section 6 - Fees and Compensation of Board

Exam application fee = ₱100

Registration Certificate = ₱50

Board members earn ₱15 per applicant examined.

Section 7 - Annual Report

The Board must submit a yearly report of its activities to the PRC.

Article III: Examination and Registration

Section 8 - Examination Requirement

Section 9 - Holding of Examination

Section 10 - Subjects of Examination

Section 11 - Executive Officer of the Board

Section 12 - Qualifications for Examination

Section 13 - Oath of Civil Engineers

Section 14 - Seal and Use of Seal

Section 15 - Exemption from Registration

Section 16 - Refusal to Issue Certificate

Section 17 - Suspension and Revocation of Certificates

Section 18 - Re-issue and Replacement of Certificates

Section 19 - Transitory Provisions

Section 8 - Examination Requirement

Anyone who wants to practice civil engineering must pass a technical examination.

Section 9 - Holding of Examination

Exams are held in Manila every year, except when the date falls on a holiday, then it will be held on the days following next.

Section 10 - Subjects of Examination

- Mathematics;

- Hydraulics;

- Surveying;

- Design and construction of structures.

Section 11 - Executive Officer of the Board

The PRC Commissioner is the executive officer of the Board and supervises exams.

Section 12 - Qualifications for Examination

- Be at least 21 years old;

- Be a Filipino Citizen;

- Be of good reputation and moral character;

- Be a graduate of a four-year course in civil engineering from a government-recognized school.

Section 13 - Oath of Civil Engineers

All who pass the exam must take a professional oath before practicing the civil engineering profession.

Section 14 - Seal and Use of Seal

Registered civil engineers must use an official seal with their certificate number on plans and documents.

Section 15 - Exemption from Registration / People Exempted

- Military Engineers;

- Foreign experts consulted by the government;

- Persons making small buildings;

- Draftsmen, students, assistants working under licensed engineers;

- and "Maestro de obras" as long as they don't build of concrete, build more than two stories, build with frames of architectural steels, and build structures intended for public use.

Section 16 - Refusal to Issue Certificate

Certificates will not be issued to those convicted of crimes involving moral turpitude, immoral conduct, or unsound mind.

Section 17 - Suspension and Revocation of Certificates

The Board may suspend or revoke a certificate after due notice and hearing if the holder violates the law.

Section 18 - Re-issue and Replacement of Certificates

After 1 year from revocation, the Board may allow an application for a new candidate.

The Board may allow an application for a new candidate after __

1 year from revocation

Section 19 - Transitory Provisions

Civil engineers already licensed under the Act No. 2985 are automatically registered under R.A. 544, and CE graduates who passed the civil service exam for senior civil engineer and had five years of government experience are also exempted from the board exam.

Civil engineers already licensed under __ are automatically registered under R.A. 544

Act No. 2985

Article IV: Enforcement of Act and Penal Provisions

Section 20 - Enforcement of the Act by officers of the law

Section 21 - Registration required

Section 22 - Penal provisions

Section 20 - Enforcement of the Act by officers of the law

All law enforcement officers (national, provincial, city, and municipal) are required to enforce R.A. 544 and prosecute violators.

Who is responsible for prosecuting violators?

All law enforcement officers

Section 21 - Registration requirement

No person can practice or offer to practice civil engineering in the Philippines without a valid certificate of registration from the Board of Civil Engineers, unless exempted.

Unless exempted, No person can practice or offer to practice civil engineering in the Philippines without __

A valid certificate of registration from the Board of Civil Engineers

Section 22 - Penal provisions

Anyone practicing or offering to practice civil engineering without a license, using someone else's certificate of registration, submitting forged evidence, impersonating a registered civil engineer, or falsely claiming to be a civil engineer shall be fined ₱500-₱2,000, or imprisoned for 6 months to 1 year, or both.

Illegal Acts

- Practicing or offering to practice civil engineering without a license

- Using someone else's certificate of registration

- Submitting forged evidence

- Impersonating a registered civil engineer

- Falsely claiming to be a civil engineer

- Article V s. 23: to construct, reconstruct, or alter buildings for public gatherings and other engineering structures listed in Section 2 unless the designs and plans are prepared, signed, sealed, and supervised by a licensed civil engineer.

Penalties for Violations

Fined ₱500-₱2,000, or imprisoned for 6 months to 1 year, or both.

Article V: Miscellaneous Provisions

Section 23 - Preparation of plans and supervisions of construction by registered civil engineer

Section 24 - Personal qualifications

Section 25 - Reciprocity requirements

Section 26 - Roster of civil engineers

Section 27 - Repeal

Section 28 - Construction of Act

Section 29 - Effectivity

Section 23 - Preparation of plans and supervisions of construction by registered civil engineer

It is ILLEGAL to construct, reconstruct, or alter buildings for public gatherings and other engineering structures listed in Section 2 unless the designs and plans are prepared, signed, sealed, and supervised by a licensed civil engineer.

Section 24 - Personal qualifications

Only individuals with personal qualifications can be licensed for civil engineering. Hence, firms or corporations cannot be licensed, but licensed civil engineers may form associations with other civil engineers or architects, provided that they only perform work proper to their profession.

Section 25 - Reciprocity requirements

No person who is not a citizen of the Philippines shall be allowed to take the examination unless he can prove that his country admits citizens of the Philippines to the practice of the same profession without restriction or allows them to practice it after an examination in terms of strict and absolute equality with citizens.

Section 26 - Roster of civil engineers

The PRC must prepare and update a roster of all licensed civil engineers, with names and business addresses, and furnish copies to government agencies and the public upon request.

Section 27 - Repeal

All laws or regulations that conflict with R.A. 544 are repealed, except provisions concerning "maestro de obras."

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.

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).

WHEN WAS RA. 544 AMENDED?

June 16, 1956