QuestionsQuestions (Republic Act No. 1364)
RA 1364 is entitled the “Sanitary Engineering Law.” It regulates the practice of sanitary engineering in the Philippines by defining the profession, creating the Board of Examiners, prescribing qualifications/examination requirements, and imposing registration and penal rules.
It includes sanitary surveys, reports, design, direction, management, consultation, and investigation of water purification plants, water collection/distribution systems, reservoirs, drainage and sewer systems, sewage treatment plants, malaria control structures, sewage disposal tanks, and other public-health/welfare structures; projects relating to stream pollution and insect/vermin control; rural/camp sanitation; milk/food sanitation; systems preventing atmospheric pollution/controlling indoor air (industrial hygiene engineering); and professional research/laboratory work supporting these activities.
A person duly registered with the Board of Examiners for Sanitary Engineers, as provided by the Act.
The Board has a chairman and two members, appointed by the President upon the recommendation of the Commissioner of Civil Service, from persons of recognized standing, certified as having practiced at least five years and academically/morally qualified by their bona fide sanitary engineering associations.
A Board member may be removed by the President for neglect of duty, incompetence, malpractice, unprofessional/unethical/immoral/dishonorable conduct, after being given opportunity to defend himself in a proper administrative investigation. During investigation, the President may suspend the member and appoint a temporary replacement.
It administers oaths; issues/suspends/revokes certificates; issues recognition to qualifying sanitary engineers already practicing for advanced studies/research/training (subject to Presidential approval); investigates violations; issues subpoenas duces tecum; inspects educational institutions offering sanitary engineering courses at least annually; and sets ethical/technological standards. The Secretary of Health and authorized provincial/city representatives act as ex officio agents to help enforce the law.
They must be Philippine citizens/residents; at least 30 years old and of good moral character; graduates of sanitary engineering or registered civil engineers with major subjects in sanitary engineering (or passed the Civil Service examination for Senior Sanitary Engineer); registered sanitary engineers with at least five years practiced with certificate; not be faculty or have pecuniary interest in schools teaching sanitary engineering; and former faculty may not become members unless they stopped teaching for at least three consecutive years before appointment.
Examinations are given in the City of Manila beginning the last Monday of January and August of each year, provided those days are not official holidays; otherwise, they are held on the next following days.
Applicants are examined in mathematics (algebra, trigonometry, analytics, geometry, calculus, rational/applied mechanics), hydraulics, surveying (topographic/hydrographic), design and construction of structures (flumes, water towers, drainage canals) in wood/masonry/RC/steel, hydrology, water and sewage analysis, microbiology and bacteriology, and design/construction of sewers/storm drains/water purification/sewage treatment/plumbing. Duly registered civil engineers are exempt from mathematics; hydraulics; surveying; and design/construction of wood/masonry/RC/steel structures as flumes/water towers/drainage canals.
Applicants must be at least 21; Philippine citizens; of good reputation and moral character; and be a graduate of a four-year sanitary engineering course or BSCE with major subjects in sanitary engineering from a Government-recognized institution.
Successful candidates must take a professional oath before the Board or other government officials authorized to administer oaths, prior to entering upon practice.
The President issues certificates upon Board recommendation and payment of the registration fee. Certificates show full name, serial number, signatures of Board members, President and Commissioner of Civil Service, and official seal. Issuance evidences the registrant’s entitlement to rights/privileges while the certificate remains unrevoked and unsuspended unless revoked/suspended.
U.S. and Philippine armed forces officers/enlisted men and civilian employees of the U.S. Government stationed in the Philippines rendering sanitary engineering services for the U.S./Philippines; and foreign sanitary engineers/experts called by the Philippine Government for specific consultation work, limited to that work and provided they do not engage in private practice at their own account as sanitary engineers.
Any person who practices or offers to practice without registration; or uses another’s certificate; gives false/forged evidence; impersonates a registrant; uses a revoked/suspended certificate; assumes or uses titles implying sanitary engineering practice without a valid certificate; or otherwise violates the Act commits a misdemeanor and may be fined from ₱500 to ₱2,000 and/or imprisoned from 6 months to 1 year, at the court’s discretion.
Section 28 prohibits anyone (unless exempt) from being responsible for preparation of plans/designs/investigations/reports/specifications/estimates or performance of sanitary engineering services, and from being responsible for sanitary engineering construction/installation/alteration, unless holding a valid sanitary engineer certificate. Section 29 requires designs/plans/layouts/specifications for sanitary works costing more than ₱5,000 be prepared under the responsible charge of a registered sanitary engineer, signed and sealed by them, and that construction/erection/installation/alteration be executed under their responsible charge and direct supervision.