[ REPUBLIC ACT NO. 544, June 17, 1950 ]
AN ACT TO REGULATE THE PRACTICE OF CIVIL ENGINEERING IN THE PHILIPPINES
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
assembled:
ARTICLE I. - Title of the Act and Definition of Terms
SEC 1 Title of Act.
This legislation is titled the "Civil Engineering Law."
SEC 2. Definition of terms
This act, titled the "Civil Engineering Law," defines the practice of civil engineering to include
various services related to the construction of infrastructure such as streets, bridges, and
buildings. It emphasizes that the listed works are not exhaustive, and other projects requiring
civil engineering knowledge are also included. Additionally, the term "civil engineering" refers to
a person duly registered with the Board of Examiners for Civil Engineers as outlined in the act.
ARTICLE II. - Board of Examiners for Civil Engineers
SEC 3. Composition of Board.
Within thirty days of the approval of this Act, a Board of Examiners for Civil Engineers shall be
established, consisting of a chairman and two members appointed by the Secretary of Public
Works and Communications. Board members will serve a three-year term or until successors
are appointed and qualified. Initial appointments will have staggered terms of one, two, and
three years. Members must take an oath before assuming their duties. The Secretary of Public
Works and Communications has the authority to remove any Board member for specified
reasons, with the opportunity for defense in an administrative investigation. Temporary
replacements may be appointed during the investigation. Vacancies in the Board will be filled for
the remaining term.
SEC 4 Powers and duties of the Board.
The Board of Examiners for Civil Engineers is granted authority by this Act to administer oaths,
issue, suspend, and revoke certificates of registration for civil engineering practice. It can also
grant certificates of recognition for advanced studies to registered civil engineers, subject to the
Secretary of Public Works and Communications' approval. The Board has the power to
investigate violations, issue subpoenas, and inspect educational institutions and civil
engineering projects annually for compliance and safety. Additionally, the Board is tasked with
safeguarding life, health, and property, and has the responsibility to uphold ethical and
technological standards in the civil engineering profession in the Philippines. The Director of
Public Works and authorized representatives are ex-officio agents of the Board, aiding in the
Act's enforcement. The Board, with the Secretary's approval, can establish rules and
regulations, adopt a code of ethics, and possess an official seal for authenticating documents.
SEC 5 Qualifications of Board members.
Board members must meet the following qualifications at the time of their appointment:
a. Be a citizen and resident of the Philippines;
b. Be at least thirty years of age and of good moral character;
c. Hold a degree in civil engineering from a recognized and legally constituted school, institute,
college, or university;
d. Be a registered civil engineer qualified to practice in the Philippines;
e. Have at least ten years of experience in practicing civil engineering with a valid certificate;
f. Not be a member of the faculty of any institution teaching civil engineering nor have a financial
interest in such institutions;
g. Former faculty members of institutions teaching civil engineering can only become Board
members if they have not taught for at least three consecutive years.
SEC 6 Fees and compensation of Board
The Board of Examiners for Civil Engineers charges a fee of forty pesos for each examination
application, payable upon filing to the Bureau of Civil Service. The fee for each certificate of
registration is twenty pesos. Board members receive a compensation of five pesos for
examining each applicant. If a civil engineer from the government serves on the Board, they
receive this compensation in addition to their government salary. All expenses, including
compensation, are covered by the Bureau of Civil Service's collecting and disbursing officer
using appropriations allocated for this purpose.
SEC 7 Annual report.
The Board of Examiners for Civil Engineers is required to submit a detailed annual report to the
Secretary of Public Works and Communications at the conclusion of each fiscal year. This report
should encompass a comprehensive overview of the Board's activities and proceedings
throughout the fiscal year.
ARTICLE III. - Examination and Registration
SEC 8 Examination requirement.
All individuals seeking registration for the practice of civil engineering must successfully pass a
specified technical examination.
SEC 9 Holding of examination
Examinations for individuals seeking to practice civil engineering in the Philippines will take
place in the City of Manila, starting on the second Monday of February and August each year,
unless those days coincide with official holidays, in which case the exams will be scheduled for
the following days.
SEC 10 Subjects of examination.
Applicants seeking certification as civil engineers will undergo examinations at the discretion of
the Board. The subjects include mathematics (covering algebra, plane and spherical
trigonometry, analytics, descriptive and solid geometry, differential and integral calculus, and
rational and applied mechanics), hydraulics, surveying (encompassing highway, railroad, plane,
topographic, hydrographic, and advance surveying), and the design and construction of various
structures such as highways, railroads, buildings (masonry, wooden, reinforced concrete),
bridges, towers, walls, foundations, piers, ports, wharves, aqueducts, sanitary engineering
works, water supply systems, dikes, dams, and irrigation and drainage canals.
SEC 11 Executive officer of the Board.
The Commissioner of the Civil Service serves as the executive officer of the Board, overseeing
examinations conducted by the Board. The Commissioner has the authority to appoint a
subordinate officer from the Bureau of Civil Service to act as the Secretary, responsible for
managing all records, including examination papers and meeting minutes of the Board.
SEC 12 Qualifications for examination.
To qualify for the civil engineering examination, an applicant must meet the following criteria:
a. Be at least twenty-one years old.
b. Be a citizen of the Philippines.
c. Possess good reputation and moral character.
d. Hold a degree in civil engineering from a school, institute, college, or university recognized by
the Government or the State where it is established.
SEC 13 Oath of civil engineers.
All individuals who pass the civil engineering examination must take a professional oath before
the Board of Examiners for Civil Engineers or other authorized government officials. This oath is
a prerequisite for commencing the practice of the civil engineering profession.
SEC 14 Seal and use of seal.
All registered civil engineers must acquire a seal as directed by the Board, with the serial
number of the issued certificate included in its design. Plans and specifications created by or
under the direct supervision of a registered civil engineer must bear this seal throughout the
validity of the engineer's certificate. It is prohibited for anyone to use the seal after the
engineer's certificate has expired or been revoked unless it has been renewed or re-issued.
SEC 15 Exemption from registration.
The exemption from registration outlined in this Act includes the following:
1. Members of the United States and Philippine Armed Forces, along with civilian employees of
the United States Government stationed in the Philippines, are not required to register when
providing civil engineering services for the respective governments.
2. Civil engineers or experts engaged by the Philippine Government for consultation, specific
design, and construction of fixed structures are exempt from registration, but their practice is
limited to the specified work.
3. Residents in the Philippines are allowed to create plans or specifications for certain buildings
in designated areas or for specific purposes without the need for a civil engineer, as long as
they comply with local ordinances.
4. Certain individuals, such as draftsmen, student clerk-of-work, superintendents, and
employees under the supervision of registered civil engineers, are exempt from registration.
5. Those who were lawfully engaged in the practice of "maestro de obras" before the Act's
approval can continue, provided they do not undertake certain classes of work, and the Act does
not prevent professional architects and engineers from practicing their professions.
SEC 16 Refusal to issue certificate.
The Board of Examiners for Civil Engineers is prohibited from issuing a certificate to individuals
convicted of a criminal offense involving moral turpitude or those deemed to be of unsound mind
by a court of competent jurisdiction. In case of a refusal to issue a certificate, the Board must
provide a written statement to the applicant explaining the reasons for its decision, and this
statement will be documented in the Board's records.
SEC 17 Suspension and revocation of certificates.
The Board of Examiners for Civil Engineers, with approval from the Secretary of Public Works
and Communications, has the authority to suspend or revoke a certificate of registration after
providing due notice and conducting a hearing, based on causes outlined in the preceding
section.
SEC 18 Re-issue and replacement of certificates.
After one year from the date of revocation of a certificate of registration, the Board may consider
applications for a new certificate if deemed appropriate for sufficient reasons. The application
process will follow the same form as for examinations, but the Board has the discretion to
exempt the applicant from taking the required examination.
SEC 19 Transitory provisions.
Upon the enactment of this Act, individuals aspiring to practice civil engineering must obtain a
certificate of registration according to the specified procedures. Civil engineers already licensed
under previous provisions at the time of this Act's implementation will be automatically
registered under the new provisions. Their existing certificates of registration, if in good
standing, will maintain the same validity as if issued under the new Act. Graduates in civil
engineering from government-recognized institutions, who have passed the civil service
examination for senior civil engineer and have five years of practice or employment in the
government, are exempt from taking an additional examination.SEC 20
ARTICLE IV. - Enforcement of Act and penal provisions
SEC 20 Enforcement of the Act by officers of the law.
All law officers, whether at the national, provincial, city, municipal, or any political subdivision
level, have the responsibility to enforce the provisions of this Act and prosecute any individual
found to be in violation of its terms.
SEC 21 Registration required
To practice civil engineering in the Philippines, individuals must obtain the appropriate certificate
of registration from the Board of Examiners for Civil Engineers. Unless exempt, no person is
allowed to practice or offer civil engineering services without this certification.
SEC 22 Penal provisions.
The penal provisions of this Act stipulate that any individual practicing civil engineering in the
Philippines without proper registration, using a forged certificate, providing false evidence to the
Board, impersonating a registered civil engineer, attempting to use a revoked or suspended
registration, or falsely claiming to be a civil engineer without a valid certificate, will be deemed
guilty of a misdemeanor. Upon conviction, the offender may face a fine ranging from five
hundred to two thousand pesos, imprisonment for a period of six months to one year, or both, at
the discretion of the court.
ARTICLE V. - Miscellaneous provisions
SEC 23 Preparation of plans and supervision of construction by registered civil engineer.
The Act prohibits any person from initiating the construction, reconstruction, or alteration of
public gathering or assembly structures (e.g., theaters, cinematographs, stadia, churches) and
other mentioned engineering structures unless the designs are prepared, signed, and sealed by
a registered civil engineer. Furthermore, the construction, reconstruction, and/or alteration must
be carried out under the direct supervision of a civil engineer. Approval of plans and designs
must comply with the relevant laws or ordinances of the city, province, or municipality where the
structure is intended to be built.
SEC 24 Firms and corporations engaged in civil engineering practice.
Firms, partnerships, corporations, or associations can participate in civil engineering practice in
the Philippines as long as the activities are overseen by civil engineers possessing valid
certificates issued by the Board of Examiners for Civil Engineers. Additionally, any firm using the
name of an individual or individuals in its title cannot advertise as civil engineers unless those
individuals are registered as civil engineers.
SEC 25 Reciprocity requirements.
Reciprocity requirements stipulate that non-citizens applying for the civil engineering
examination in the Philippines must prove, according to Rules of Court, that their home country
either admits Philippine citizens to practice the same profession without restrictions or allows
them to practice under equal conditions, including recognizing degrees issued by Philippine
government-recognized institutions. If the applicant is not a Philippine citizen after December 8,
1941, continuous practice in the profession for at least two years prior to July 4, 1946, is
required. The applicant's home country must also permit Philippine citizens, by specific law, to
practice the same profession without restrictions or under terms of strict and absolute equality.
SEC 26 Roster of civil engineers
A roster containing the names and business locations of all registered civil engineers will be
periodically prepared by the Commissioner of Civil Service, with a minimum of one annual
update. Copies of this roster will be filed with the Secretary of Public Works and
Communications and distributed to various entities, including department heads, mayors of
chartered cities, the Director of Public Works, and other relevant government bodies. Public
access to the roster will be provided upon request.
SEC 27 Repeal
This section declares the repeal of any laws, parts of laws, orders, ordinances, or regulations
conflicting with the provisions of this Act. This includes sections of Act Numbered Twenty-nine
hundred and eighty-five, as amended, related to civil engineering practice, with the exception of
the provisions in Act Numbered Thirty-one hundred and fifty-nine amending Act Numbered
Twenty-nine hundred and eighty-five concerning the practice of "maestro de obras."
SEC 28 Construction of Act.
In the event that any part or section of this Act is declared unconstitutional, such a declaration
will not invalidate the remaining provisions of the Act.
SEC 29 Effectivity
The Act becomes effective immediately upon its approval.
Approved, June 17, 1950.