Law Summary
State Policy on Electronics Engineering
- Recognizes importance of electronics engineering to national development.
- Aims to develop competent, productive, and globally competitive Professional Electronics Engineers, Electronics Engineers, and Electronics Technicians.
- Ensures high standards through licensure exams and regulatory measures fostering integrity and continuing education.
Definitions and Interpretations
- Electronics: Science involving electron flow in various media and devices.
- Professional Electronics Engineer (PECE), Electronics Engineer (ECE), Electronics Technician (ECT): Registered/licensed persons entitled to use respective titles.
- Electronics and Communications Engineer: Defined under prior law (RA 5734).
- Computer, ICT, Communications, Telecommunications, Broadcasting: Defined in relation to electronic data and signal transmission.
- Industrial Plant and Commercial Establishment: Defined as places where electronic machinery or equipment are installed or operated.
- Consulting Services: Includes advisory, design, supervision, technical studies in electronics engineering.
- Accredited Professional Organization: The integrated national organization of PECEs, ECEs, and ECTs.
Categories of Practice
- Professional Electronics Engineer (PECE)
- Electronics Engineer (ECE)
- Electronics Technician (ECT)
Scope and Nature of Practice
- Electronics Engineer: Application of engineering principles to various electronic systems, devices, ICT, broadcast, etc., including management and teaching roles.
- Professional Electronics Engineer: All duties of ECE plus exclusive authority to provide consulting services and sign/seal technical documents.
- Electronics Technician: Non-engineering tasks related to installation, operation, repair, manufacturing, sales of electronic devices, including teaching technician courses.
Professional Regulatory Board of Electronics Engineering
- Composition: Chairman and two members appointed by the President from nominees recommended by the Accredited Professional Organization.
- Powers and Functions:
- Implement the Act, administer oaths, adopt official seal.
- Issue, suspend, revoke certificates and ID cards.
- Maintain professional rosters.
- Issue special permits to foreign professionals.
- Prescribe licensure requirements and syllabi.
- Oversee curricula with CHED and TESDA.
- Adopt Codes of Ethics and Technical Standards.
- Formulate manpower requirements for industrial and commercial sectors.
- Enforce compliance, conduct inspections.
- Hear and decide administrative cases; issue subpoenas.
- Annual reporting to the Commission.
- Qualifications:
- Filipino citizen and resident for 5 years; good moral character.
- Registered Professional Electronics Engineer in active practice for 10 years.
- No conflicts of interest with educational institutions.
- No conviction for moral turpitude.
- Term of Office: 3 years, renewable once, max continuous 6 years.
- Compensation comparable to other regulatory boards.
- Removal: Allowed on grounds of neglect, incompetence, malpractice, unethical conduct after due process.
- Records Custody: Maintained by the Professional Regulation Commission.
Examination, Registration, and Licensure
- Licensure mandatory for ECEs and ECTs except as exempted.
- Qualifications:
- Filipino or eligible foreign nationals.
- Good moral character.
- ECE applicants: Degree in Electronics and Communications Engineering or equivalent.
- ECT applicants: Graduate of technician or related courses of at least two years.
- Examination Scope:
- ECE: Includes Math, Applied Sciences, Engineering Economics, Laws, Ethics, Electronics, Communications, Computers, ICT.
- ECT: Written and/or practical tests as prescribed.
- Passing Grade:
- Minimum of 70% per subject.
- Removal exam allowed if score between 60-69% in one or more subjects.
- Results released within 15 days.
- Professional Electronics Engineer registration requires:
- Valid ECE registration.
- 7 years experience including at least 2 years in charge of significant engineering work.
- Certifications from three PECEs.
- Oral interview for verification.
- Transitional provisions for those registered under prior law (RA 5734).
- Certificate of Registration and Professional Identification Card issued upon compliance.
- Registration without examination available for qualified Electronics Technicians within 5 years.
- Non-issuance grounds include convictions, immoral conduct, unsound mind.
- Professional Oath required before practice.
- Board can revoke or suspend registration for violations, unethical conduct, or fraud.
- Reinstatement possible after 2 years upon compliance.
- Roster of professionals maintained and publicly available.
- Foreign professionals may practice temporarily with Special Permit under certain conditions, including reciprocity, Filipino counterparts, and limited scope.
Practice Regulations
- Use of professional titles and practice only with valid registration and ID.
- Firms cannot be licensed; only individuals may practice.
- Partnerships or corporations of licensed professionals permitted provided members are individually responsible.
- Professional Electronics Engineers must use prescribed seal on documents.
- Board adopts and promulgates Codes of Ethics and Technical Standards.
Continuing Education and Professional Organization
- Mandatory continuing professional education as per rules.
- One integrated Accredited Professional Organization recognized nationally, with membership automatic upon registration.
- Membership in this organization required to maintain good standing and practice privileges.
Foreign Reciprocity
- Foreign professionals admitted only if their countries provide equal admission rights to Filipino professionals.
Government Positions
- Positions requiring electronics professionals in government must be filled only by duly registered professionals within 3 years.
Penal Provisions
- Penalties include fines (P100,000 to P1,000,000) and/or imprisonment (6 months to 6 years) for:
- Fraudulent statements to obtain registration.
- Using another person's certificate or using revoked/suspended certificates.
- Unauthorized practice or misrepresentation.
- Illegal electronic activities like wire-tapping, hacking, unauthorized devices.
- Violations of the Act, Codes, or rules.
Enforcement Assistance
- Law enforcement agencies shall assist the Board and Commission in enforcing the Act and prosecuting violators.
- Government agencies must cooperate with the Board and Commission.
Transitory Provisions
- The existing Board under RA 5734 to complete pending work within 6 months post-effectivity, then cease.
- New Board appointments by the President as per the new Act.
- Registered Electronics and Communications Engineers under RA 5734 automatically registered as Electronics Engineers.
Final Provisions
- Board shall promulgate implementing rules and regulations and Codes of Ethics with Commission approval.
- Funding included in Professional Regulation Commission budget.
- Invalid provisions do not affect the rest of the Act.
- RA 5734 and conflicting laws repealed.
- Act effective 15 days after publication in Official Gazette or newspaper.