PROFESSIONAL REGULATION COMMISSION
(PRC)
PROFESSIONAL REGULATORY BOARD OF
ARCHITECTURE (PRBoA)
UNITED ARCHITECTS OF THE PHILIPPINES
(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 !
• WHERE ARE WE ON THE MAP ?
• HOW COMPETITIVE ARE WE ?
• DO WE HAVE FILIPINO 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
• ESTABLISH GOALS
• SET SHORT, MEDIUM, AND
LONG-TERM TARGETS
• SET MILESTONES
• AMBITIOUS OR REALISTIC?
BORDERLESS PRACTICE
Level of Competitiveness
10
3
DOMESTIC IMPEDIMENTS
0
2012
2015 ASEAN MRA
Regional
2020 WTO GATS
Global
ROADMAP FOR ARCHITECTURE ( A MODEL)
BORDERLESS PRACTICE
Level of Competitiveness
10
3
DOMESTIC IMPEDIMENTS
0
2012
2015 ASEAN MRA
Regional
2020 WTO GATS
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
• INVOLVE ALL STAKEHOLDERS
• IDENTIFY FACTORS RELEVANT TO OUR
COMPETITIVENESS
• GATHER DATA TO CONFIRM WHERE WE
CURRENTLY STAND ON THE MAP AND TO
ASSESS HOW ROUGH THE ROAD WILL
BE
• CONDUCT SCOPING STUDY
• IDENTIFY INFORMATION GAPS
• DESIGN SURVEY INSTRUMENT TO HELP
GATHER INFORMATION
UAP Commission
on Internal Affairs
prepares survey
form, sends to
Chapter presidents
Members fill out forms,
chapter president
forwards forms to UAP
Secretariat together
with payment for
annual membership
UAP Secretariat
collates and
encodes
information,
submits to NEVP
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
• DEFINE PROJECTS AND ACTIVITIES TO
INCREASE COMPETITIVENESS
• ALLOCATE RESPONSIBILITIES
• SET DEADLINES
• SET UP MONITORING PROCESSES
• ESTABLISH POLICY FRAMEWORKS FOR
ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES
• ESTABLISH NECESSARY LINKAGES WITH
GOVERNMENT AND INTERNATIONAL
AGENCIES
Architecture Code of the Philippines
(ACP) as a new law
Repeal of the National Building Code of
the Philippines/ NBCP (P.D. No. 1096)
Full professionalization of the
position of LGU Building Official (BO)
LEGISLATIVE AGENDA (1)
Support for the law prescribing a Life
Sentence for Erring Building Officials
(already filed at the Senate)
Creation of the Department of Housing,
Settlements and Urban Development which
shall have exclusive jurisdiction over all
buildings and all vertical components of the
built environment
LEGISLATIVE AGENDA (2)
Non-RLAs/
Unregistered
Persons (including
other registered &
licensed
professionals/RLPs)
UAP-IAPOA
COMMISSION
ON
PROFESSIONAL
PRACTICE
Foreign
Architects
(FAs) without
Special
Temporary
Permit (STP)
CAMPAIGN AGAINST ILLEGAL
PRACTITIONERS
UAP TO ACCREDIT
ARCHITECTS WHO
INTEND TO SIGN
AS MENTOR IN
THE LOGBOOK
FOR DIVERSIFIED
ARCHITECTURAL
EXPERIENCE
ARCHITECT
MENTORS
UAP
SCHOOLS
UAP and SCHOOLS TO COORDINATE THROUGH
CODHASP
MENTORSHIP PROGRAM
SCHOOLS TO
VISIT AND
ACCREDIT
ARCHITECTURAL
OFFICES FOR
STUDENTS WHO
WISH TO
UNDERTAKE
DIVERSIFIED
ARCHITECTURAL
EXPERIENCE
DURING 3rd – 5th
YEAR IN
PREPARATION
FOR THE
LICENSURE
EXAMINATION
LGU
INFORMATION
CAMPAIGN on the
procurement Law
(covering Consulting
Services)
OFFER
PROFESSIONAL
ASSISTANCE TO
LGUs
UAP
COMM ON
GOV’T &
EXTERNAL
R.A. No. 9184
(Govt Procurement
Reform Act of 2003/
GPRA)
AFFAIRS
BAC
INVOLVEMENT IN GOVERNMENT
PROJECTS
MEMBERSHIP
TO BIDS AND
AWARDS
COMMITTEE
OF GOV’T
AGENCIES
IDENTIFY
ARCHITECTS
CONDUCT FORUM
DISCUSSIONS WITH
ARCHITECTS DOING
COLLABORATIVE OR
INDEPENDENT PRACTICE
OVERSEAS
LINK W GOV’T
AGENCIES TO
PARTICIPATE IN
INTERNATIONAL
EXPOSITIONS
LINK W NCCA FOR
PUBLICATION OF
COFFEE TABLE BOOKS
ON ICONS IN FILIPINO
ARCHITECTURE FOR
DISTRIBUTION TO
COMPANIES OVERSEAS
RE-BRANDING
THE FILIPINO ARCHITECT
ENCOURAGE
MEMBERS TO
PARTICIPATE IN
INTERNATIONAL
COMPETITIONS
MARKETING PORTAL FOR THE
FILIPINO ARCHITECTS AND
ARCHITECTURAL FIRMS FOR USE BY
PROSPECTIVE DOMESTIC AND
INTERNATIONAL CLIENTS
SPECIALIZATION
TECHNOLOGY,
CAD / BIM
APPLICATION
BUILDING
LAWS: LOCAL
& GLOBAL
CPE PROGRAM
ADVANCED &
INTERNATIONAL
PRACTICES
PREPAREDNESS
FOR BORDERLESS
PRACTICE
LOCAL
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.
ASEAN
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
IMPLEMENTATION
AND ENFORCEMENT
OF THE LAWS ON
ARCHITECTURE,
PHYSICAL PLANNING
AND BUILDINGS
COMPLIANCE MONITORING
• DISTRIBUTE ROADMAP TO ALL
STAKEHOLDERS
• ROADSHOWS
• ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSIONS
• PUBLIC – PRIVATE NETWORKING
• CREATE AWARENES AMONG
ARCHITECTURAL GRADUATES AND
STUDENTS
NATIONWIDE INFORMATION CAMPAIGN
TO EMPHASIZE THE NEED TO INCREASE DOMESTIC &
INTERNATIONAL COMPETITIVENESS
PROMOTE REGISTRATION OF
ASEAN & APEC ARCHITECTS
AND TO CORRECT MISCONCEPTIONS
REGARDING BORDERLESS PRACTICE
BE PREPARED FOR 2015
Thank You. Let us all make
things happen for a better
future for all Philippine
registered and licensed
architects (RLAs)