Question & AnswerQ&A (Republic Act No. 8560)
The title of Republic Act No. 8560 is the "Philippine Geodetic Engineering Act of 1998."
The practice of Geodetic Engineering is defined as a professional and organized act of gathering physical data on the earth's surface using precision instruments, scientifically processing these data, and presenting them on graphs, plans, maps, charts, or documents. This includes various surveying and mapping activities using specific instruments and conducting different surveys such as land, engineering, hydrographic, topographic, and mineral surveys.
The Board of Geodetic Engineering is composed of a chairman and two members appointed by the President from a list of three recommendees for each position submitted by the integrated and accredited association of geodetic engineers.
Qualifications include being a natural-born Filipino citizen and resident, at least 40 years old, a registered geodetic engineer with at least 10 years of practice, not part of any institution that offers Geodetic Engineering courses or review centers for three years preceding the appointment, and not convicted of offenses involving moral turpitude.
Board members serve a term of three years and until their successors have been appointed and qualified. Initial appointees have staggered terms of one, two, and three years respectively. Members may be reappointed but cannot serve continuously for more than six years.
The Board promulgates rules and regulations, supervises examinations and licensure, administers oaths, issues certificates of registration and licenses, adopts a code of ethics, enforces professional standards, coordinates with educational bodies, hears administrative cases, prescribes CPE guidelines, and handles other duties to enhance the profession.
Applicants must be Filipino citizens and graduates of a Bachelor of Science in Geodetic Engineering from a government-recognized institution.
Subjects include Mathematics; Theory and Practice of Surveying; Property Surveying including Isolated, Cadastral, Mineral, and Mining Surveys; Cartography and Photogrammetry; Geodesy, Geodetic Surveying and Least Squares; Engineering Surveys and Construction Surveying; Laws on Natural Resources including Property, Land Registration, Agrarian Reform; Laws on Obligations and Contracts; and the Code of Ethics of the Profession.
Violations are punishable by fines ranging from Fifty thousand pesos (P50,000.00) to Two hundred thousand pesos (P200,000.00), imprisonment from six months to six years, or both, at the court's discretion, in addition to administrative sanctions.
No. The practice of Geodetic Engineering is a professional service entrusted to individuals. Firms or corporations may not be registered or licensed to practice Geodetic Engineering. However, groups of licensed geodetic engineers can form firms or associations with all members being duly licensed geodetic engineers, and only they may render geodetic engineering services.
Practicing Geodetic Engineers registered at the time this Act takes effect are automatically registered without needing further examination or registration.
Grounds include obtaining a certificate through fraud or misrepresentation, incompetence, negligence, abetment of illegal practice, and violations of the Act, its implementing rules, or the Code of Ethics.
Registered Geodetic Engineers must stamp plans and documents prepared or supervised by them with the Board's adopted seal while their license is valid. No person may use another's seal or sign documents for work they did not perform unless it is clearly indicated. Seals cannot be used after license expiration or revocation unless reinstated.
Foreign Geodetic Engineers may only be issued temporary licenses or practice if their home country allows Filipino Geodetic Engineers to practice under the same conditions (foregin reciprocity).
Removal by the President is upon the Commission's recommendation for grounds such as neglect, incompetence, or moral turpitude offenses. The member has the right to due process and may appeal the Commission's decision within 15 days to the President whose decision is final.