QuestionsQuestions (Commonwealth Act No. 294)
Commonwealth Act No. 294, approved on June 9, 1938.
Within thirty days after approval, the Secretary of Public Works and Communications appoints a Board composed of three members, one designated chairman.
It can administer the law, issue/suspend/revoke certificates of registration, administer oaths, subpoena witnesses, compel production of documents in revocation or unauthorized practice cases, and study conditions affecting the practice to recommend standards.
They must be Philippine citizens and residents; hold an engineering degree (M.E./B.S.M.E./M.M.E./M.S.M.E. or equivalent); be legally qualified to practice professional mechanical engineering in the Philippines; have at least ten years of practice; and not be faculty of mechanical engineering courses nor have pecuniary interest in such institutions.
Board members serve three years or until successors are duly appointed and qualified. For the first Board: one member for one year, one for two years, and one for three years.
The Commissioner of Civil Service is the executive officer and conducts examinations. The Bureau of Civil Service keeps all records and minutes, including examination papers.
Professional mechanical engineer; mechanical plant engineer; junior mechanical engineer; and certified plant mechanic.
Unless exempt from registration, no person may practice or offer to practice mechanical engineering in the Philippines without a certificate of registration from the Board.
It includes professional services such as consultation, investigation, valuation, planning, design, specifications/estimates, supervision or undertaking construction/installation/alteration of mechanical works, and operating/tending/maintaining mechanical equipment or processes. Examples include steam engines, internal combustion engines, boilers, turbines, pumps, compressors, cranes, hoists, elevators, and pipe lines.
It excludes motor vehicles, street cars, locomotives, steamships/motorships, airplanes and similar transportation machinery; generators/motors/transformers/rectifiers and similar primarily electrical apparatus; and mechanical/mill supplies, hardware, and similar articles.
The Act does not apply to mechanical works/projects/plants of less than twenty (20) horsepower (H.P.).
The exams test technological knowledge for the grade to ensure safety of life, health, property, and promote economy and efficiency in design, construction, maintenance, operation, organization, and management of mechanical plants. Examinations are given twice a year.
If an applicant fails for the third time for the same grade, he cannot take another examination until at least one year has elapsed after the last examination.
After proper notice and hearing, the Board may suspend or revoke for grounds such as fraud in obtaining the certificate, gross negligence/incompetency, unprofessional or dishonorable conduct, etc. The action is subject to appeal to the Secretary of Public Works and Communications whose decision is final.
Examples include signing/sealing plans or documents not prepared by the registrant or not executed under immediate supervision; representing that the registrant supervised/took charge of work without actually doing so; representing having performed mechanical engineering services without actually having done so; or representing having managed/operated/tended/maintained a plant without actually doing so.
Professional mechanical engineer: responsible charge of preparation and other professional services; also responsible for construction/design services (as applicable) and operation/tending/maintenance for equipment from 20 HP up. Mechanical plant engineer/junior/certified plant mechanic have restricted scope depending on the works and horsepower bands. Generally: operation/tending/maintenance of 20 HP to under 200 HP requires a registered person at one of several grades; operation/tending/maintenance of 200 HP or more requires professional mechanical engineer or mechanical plant engineer.
For 20 HP to below 200 HP: at least one certified plant mechanic or one mechanical engineer of any rank. For 200 HP to below 1,000 HP: at least one mechanical plant engineer or professional mechanical engineer. For 1,000 HP or more: at least one resident mechanical plant engineer or professional mechanical engineer in charge of each shift. If operating more than one shift every 24 hours, add one certified plant mechanic or mechanical engineer for each additional shift.