Question & AnswerQ&A (Republic Act No. 8495)
The official title is the Philippine Mechanical Engineering Act of 1998.
The State recognizes the importance of mechanical engineers in nation building and development, and promotes their talents through sustainable human development to have globally competitive mechanical engineers.
Practice of mechanical engineering includes consultation, valuation, investigation, management services requiring mechanical engineering knowledge; engineering design and preparation; supervision of erection, installation, testing and commissioning; operation and maintenance; manufacture and supply supervision; teaching of mechanical engineering subjects; and employment in government related to the profession.
Mechanical equipment or machinery includes prime movers like steam engines and turbines; boilers; furnaces; heat exchangers; materials handling equipment like pumps and cranes; HVAC and refrigeration equipment; pollution control systems; piping systems; printing machines; mechanical working machines for various materials, whether installed on land, underground, or watercraft.
The Board is created with a Chairman and two members appointed by the President from Commission-submitted recommendees chosen from nominees by accredited mechanical engineers' associations.
A member must be a natural born Filipino, at least 35 years old, hold a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or equivalent, be a licensed and active professional mechanical engineer for at least 10 years, must not have been faculty in mechanical engineering schools or connected with review centers for 3 years prior, and must have no conviction involving moral turpitude.
The categories are Professional Mechanical Engineer, Mechanical Engineer, and Certified Plant Mechanic.
Candidates must obtain an average rating of at least 70% on all subjects with no single subject rating below 50%.
Violators may be fined between Fifty Thousand to Two Hundred Thousand pesos, or face imprisonment from six months to three years, or both, at the court's discretion.
No, the practice of mechanical engineering is an individual professional service. Firms or corporations cannot be registered or licensed to practice mechanical engineering, although registered mechanical engineers may form firms using the title if all members are licensed mechanical engineers.
The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) is the enforcement agency, carrying out investigations, prosecuting violations, and overseeing the Board.
Applicants must not have been convicted of crimes involving moral turpitude, must have graduated from a government-recognized vocational or trade school with at least two years in stationary or power plant engineering, and have at least one additional year of active mechanical plant operation practice, plus competence as attested by a registered professional mechanical engineer.