Objectives and Scope
- Govern examination, registration, and licensure of metallurgical engineers.
- Supervise and regulate metallurgical engineering practice.
- Develop and update curricula aligned with CHED.
- Promote continuing professional education.
- Integrate the metallurgical engineering profession.
Key Definitions
- Practice of Metallurgical Engineering: Rendering metallurgical services for compensation or otherwise.
- Metallurgical Engineering: Covers mineral processing, extractive metallurgy, physical metallurgy, and fuel technology.
- Metallurgical Plant: Facilities involved in mineral extraction, metal adaptation, and metallurgical fuel processes.
- Metallurgical Engineer: Holder of a valid registration and professional ID from the Board and PRC.
Scope of Practice
- Includes consultation, design, management, supervision, teaching, research, and environmental monitoring tied to metallurgical plants.
- Also covers training of plant personnel and auditing metallurgical operations.
Professional Regulatory Board Creation and Composition
- Board created under PRC with a chairperson and two members appointed by the President from a ranked list.
- Members drawn from nominees by accredited metallurgical engineering organizations.
Powers and Duties of the Board
- Regulate metallurgical engineering practice.
- Evaluate qualifications and conduct licensure exams.
- Issue registration certificates, professional IDs, and special permits.
- Enforce standards, investigate violations, conduct hearings.
- Adopt codes of ethics and promulgate implementing rules.
- Oversee continuing education programs.
Board Membership Qualifications and Terms
- Members must be Filipino citizens, registered metallurgical engineers with at least 10 years’ practice, and not directly involved in institutions conferring metallurgical degrees.
- Term is three years, renewable once, maximum six years total.
Licensing Examination and Registration
- Licensure exam required except in exempted cases.
- Exam subjects cover mineral processing, metallurgy, fuel technology, management, law, ethics, mathematics, and mechanics.
- Applicants must be Filipino or have reciprocal rights, of good moral character, hold a relevant degree, and have no felony convictions.
- Passing requires a 70% general average and at least 50% in each subject.
Exemptions from Examination
- Engineers practicing at least 15 years before 1978 law.
- Doctorate holders in relevant fields with appropriate undergraduate degrees.
Registration of Metallurgical Plant Foreman
- Requirements include good moral character and either high school graduation plus 10 years experience or engineering degree plus 5 years experience in metallurgical plants.
Issuance of Certificates and Permits
- Certificate of registration and professional ID issued after passing exam or exemption.
- Specialization certificates may be issued to registered engineers with special expertise.
- Seal use required on professional documents.
- Temporary permits issued for foreign experts and faculty members under specific conditions.
Grounds for Refusal, Suspension, or Revocation
- Conviction of crimes involving moral turpitude.
- Immoral or dishonorable conduct, exam fraud, incompetence, or illegal practice.
- Procedures for investigation, hearing, and appeal defined.
Practice of Metallurgical Engineering
- Only licensed individuals may practice.
- Firms cannot be licensed as practitioners but may employ licensed engineers.
- Registered metallurgical engineers at law’s effectivity are automatically registered.
Continuing Professional Education and Integration
- Mandatory compliance with continuing education requirements.
- Integrated professional organization recognized as the sole accredited body.
Penal Provisions
- Illegal practice penalties include fines up to one million pesos and imprisonment up to five years.
- Use of counterfeit or revoked credentials also penalized.
Implementation, Enforcement, and Funding
- Board assisted by PRC and law enforcement agencies.
- Board empowered to promulgate implementing rules, codes of ethics, and professional standards.
- Funding included in the General Appropriations Act.
Transitory, Separability, Repealing, and Effectivity Clauses
- Existing registrants under previous law to register under new Act.
- Current Board members to continue until new Board constituted.
- PD No. 1536 repealed.
- Act to take effect 15 days after publication.