QuestionsQuestions (PRC BOARD OF CIVIL ENGINEERING BOARD Resolution NO. 07, S. 2007)
It prohibits any firm, partnership, corporation, or association from being registered or licensed as such for the practice of civil engineering, because admission is based on individual, personal qualifications—subject to a limited exception for firms/partnerships/associations composed only of duly licensed civil engineers (and possibly architects).
Persons properly registered and licensed as civil engineers may, among themselves or with architects properly registered and licensed as architects, form and obtain registration of a firm/partnership/association using the terms “Engineers” and “Engineers and Architects.” However, members must not be unqualified: nobody may be a member or partner unless he is a duly licensed civil engineer or architect, and each must render only the services proper to their profession.
It includes offering or practicing professional services such as consultation, design, preparation of plans, specifications, estimates, erection, installation, and supervision of construction of civil engineering works (e.g., streets, bridges, highways, railroads, airports, portworks, canals, river and shore improvements, lighthouses, dry docks, buildings/fixed structures for irrigation/flood protection/drainage/water supply/sewerage, demolition of permanent structures, tunnels, and other work requiring civil engineering knowledge).
The “Board” is the Board of Civil Engineering under PRC supervision. The “Commission” is the Professional Regulation Commission. The Board authenticates and evaluates applications and recommends approval or denial; the Commission issues the Certificate of Registration subject to the Board’s Resolution.
Within six (6) months from effectivity, they must register with the Board and Commission in the manner provided (Sections 4 and 8), upon issuance of the required Board Resolution subject to approval by the Commission.
They must not commence practice until a valid Certificate of Registration is issued in accordance with Sections 10 and 11, and upon issuance of the Board Resolution subject to approval by the Commission granting registration.
Among others: name of firm/partnership/association; full names and PRC certificate/ID details and issue dates of the proper licensed professionals (sole practitioner/partners/members) plus identifying who is managing partner or officers; SEC registration certificate for partnerships; and complete address of principal office and branches/sub-offices.
Firm: sole practitioner must be a registered and licensed civil engineer. Partnership: all partners must be civil engineers and/or architects; at least two partners must be registered and licensed civil engineers. Association: all members must be civil engineers and/or architects; at least two members must be registered and licensed civil engineers.
It is the person designated by the firm/partnership/association to be professionally responsible for the Output of Professional Civil Engineering Services. The designated person (sole practitioner or designated partner/member) assumes responsibility for the output for the relevant project (or all outputs in a firm case), even if submitted by authorized personnel.
All partners of the partnership who are registered and licensed civil engineers are jointly and severally responsible for the output.
All members of the association who are registered and licensed civil engineers are jointly and severally responsible for the output.
A foreigner issued a temporary special permit to practice civil engineering in the Philippines is not qualified to be Sole Practitioner, Partner, or Member of the firm/partnership/association. A foreigner may qualify if he meets the foreign reciprocity provision of Section 25, Article V of R.A. No. 544 or a treaty-based qualification under specified international groupings.
It may be revoked or suspended for violations including: (a) engaging in practice without first registering; (b) continuing practice after expiration/suspension/revocation/withdrawal; (c) giving false or misleading information/statements affecting registration; (d) misrepresentation in securing valid registration.
The respondent may appeal to the Commission within fifteen (15) days from receipt of the Board’s decision.
Any person who violates Section 24 (or other provisions thereof) is guilty of misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be fined not less than ₱500 but not more than ₱2,000, or imprisoned not less than six (6) months but not more than one (1) year, or both (as provided by Section 22, Article IV of R.A. No. 544).
Initial registration: ₱5,000; renewal: ₱3,000; reinstatement: ₱5,000. The Board may revise fees subject to Commission approval.
It takes effect after fifteen (15) days following full and complete publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation in the Philippines.