Law Summary
Addressing Shortage and Educational Gaps in Geodetic Engineering
- Identifies a shortage of qualified geodetic engineers for essential land surveys and mapping, especially in land reform areas.
- Notes that few institutions offer the Bachelor of Science in Geodetic Engineering due to low enrollment.
- Acknowledges existence of competent graduates with Associate in Surveying or civil engineering education who cannot take the geodetic engineering board exam.
Introduction of Two-tier Examination System
- Amends Section 4 to establish two kinds of examinations:
- Junior Geodetic Engineer
- Geodetic Engineer
- This allows differentiated certification based on qualifications and scope of work.
Qualifications and Scope of Junior Geodetic Engineer Examination
- To qualify for the Junior Geodetic Engineer exam, an applicant must:
- Meet the general requirements (a) to (c) of Section 15 (not detailed in the decree).
- Have completed either:
- An Associate in Surveying degree,
- Or the third year of a Geodetic Engineering course,
- Or the fourth year of a Civil Engineering course, with specific additional coursework.
- Required additional Civil Engineering coursework includes:
- Laws on Natural Resources, Land Registration and Property, Land Reform Laws,
- Land Property Surveys, Photogrammetry, and Cartography.
- Courses must be completed from recognized educational institutions.
- Successful candidates receive certificates authorizing them to execute land property surveys for judicial and administrative land registration proceedings.
- This provision explicitly does not affect licensed Geodetic Engineers holding existing certificates.
Effectivity and Presidential Authority
- The amendments take effect immediately upon issuance.
- The decree is issued under the constitutional powers of the President and related proclamations and general orders emphasizing societal reform.
These amendments aim to expand the pool of qualified technical personnel authorized to perform geodetic surveying tasks crucial to land reform and development, addressing shortages and education limitations, and creating a structured professional certification system.