DE GUZMAN, GABRIEL M.

CE LAWS

OUTLINE: Manual of Professional Practice for Civil Engineers by PICE

CODE OF ETHICS
Fundamental Principles

Civil engineers uphold and advance the integrity, honor and dignity of the civil engineering profession
by:

1. Using their knowledge and skill for the enhancement of human welfare and the environment;
2. Being honest and impartial and serving with fidelity the public, their employers/ employees and
clients;
3. Striving to increase the competence and prestige of the civil engineering profession; and
4. Supporting the professional and technical societies of the disciplines.

Fundamental Canons

1. Civil Engineers shall hold paramount the safety, health and welfare of the public and shall strive
to comply with the principles of sustainable development in the performance of their duties.
2. Civil Engineers shall perform services only in areas of their competence.
3. Civil Engineers shall issue public statements only in an objective and truthful manner.
4. Civil Engineers shall act in professional matters for each employer or client as faithful agents or
trustees and shall avoid conflicts of interest.
5. Civil Engineers shall build their professional reputation on the merit of their services and shall
not compete unfairly with others.
6. Civil Engineers shall act in such a manner as to uphold and enhance the honor, integrity and
dignity of the civil engineering profession.
7. Civil Engineers shall continue their professional development throughout their careers, and shall
provide opportunities for the professional development of those civil engineers under their
supervision.

GUIDELINES TO PRACTICE UNDER THE FUNDAMENTAL CANONS OF ETHICS

CANON 1.

a. Civil Engineers shall be aware that the lives, safety, health and welfare of the public depends
upon their decisions and practices.
b. Civil Engineers shall be careful on signing designs documents and shall consider standards
c. Civil Engineers shall be vocal to their employer or client to all of the possible danger to the
public.
d. Civil Engineers shall report others with a strong evidence of violating any of the provisions under
Canon 1.
e. Civil Engineers shall improve constructive service for the advancement of the safety of the
community.
f. Civil Engineers shall be committed to improving the environment.

CANON 2.

a. Civil Engineers shall perform assignments only when qualified by education or experience.
b. Civil Engineers may perform assignments outside their own fields of competence, provided their
services are restricted to those phases of the project in which they are qualified.
c. Civil Engineers shall only sign design documents in their concerns.
d. Civil Engineers shall not use Specialty Engineering Titles without the PICE Specialist
Accreditation.
CANON 3.

a. Civil Engineers shall only inform public the truth and shall not exaggerate statements regarding
civil engineering.
b. Civil Engineers shall be true to their reports.
c. Civil Engineers shall be honest when serving as expert witnesses.
d. Civil Engineers shall not make statements on civil engineering matters as their own.

CANON 4.

a. Civil Engineers shall avoid all known or potential conflicts of interest with their employers or
clients.
b. Civil Engineers shall be stick to one party for the services on the same project.
c. Civil Engineers shall not accept gratuities from other parties in exchange with the connection
with work for which they are responsible.
d. Civil Engineers in the service of the governmental body shall not participate to services in private
or public engineering practice.
e. Civil Engineers shall inform their employer if the project will not be successful.
f. Civil Engineers shall not use confidential information in making their own profit.
g. Civil Engineers shall not accept any other employment outside their regular work without the
knowledge of their employers.

CANON 5.

a. Civil Engineers shall not be part of unlawful political practices just to secure work and salaried
positions through employment agencies.
b. Civil Engineers should negotiate contracts for professional services fairly.
c. Civil Engineers may accept commissions only when their professional judgements would not be
compromised.
d. Civil Engineers shall not falsify their professional qualifications or experience.
e. Civil Engineers shall recognize the work of others.
f. Civil Engineers may advertise professional services in a way that does not contain misleading
language or is in any manner that sacrifices the dignity of the profession.

CANON 6.

a. Civil Engineers shall not act in a manner which will be derogatory to the honor, integrity, or
dignity of the civil engineering profession or engage in practices which are fraudulent and
dishonest in nature.

CANON 7.

a. Civil Engineers shall participate and attend professional seminars as to improve their knowledge
in their specialty fields.
b. Civil Engineers shall encourage their employees to become registered at the earliest possible
date.
c. Civil Engineers shall invite other engineering employees to attend and preset papers at technical
society meetings or seminars.
d. Civil Engineers shall uphold the principle of mutually satisfying relationships between employers
and employees with respect to terms of employment.

SECTION 1 The Practice of Civil Engineer

PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY
The standard of practice is for Civil Engineers to be given responsibility for studying, conceiving,
designing, observing construction, and assisting the programming for operating and maintaining
engineering works. The Civil Engineer has obligations as trustees to the public interest and faithful to the
client’s interests.
Civil Engineers shall conduct themselves in a highly professional manner and therefore bound by the
Fundamental Canons of ethics. Protection and care of the environment is always considered in engaging
to civil engineering works.

OBLIGATIONS OF THE CIVIL ENGINEER

1. The Civil Engineer shall perform Scope of the Services as stated in SECTION 2.
2. The Civil Engineer shall exercise care and diligence int the performance of his obligations.
3. The Civil Engineer shall act independently in his professional judgement and decisions.
4. The Civil Engineer is the Client’s faithful agent implied int the contract adopted for the project.
5. Civil Engineer shall inform client through written notice when there is a change of scope of
services.
6. Civil Engineer shall not initiate stages of the services without the approval of the Client.
7. Civil Engineer shall co-operate with all other professionals and integrate their work but shall not
be professionally liable for their work.
8. The Civil Engineer may recommend specialist suppliers and/ or contractors to design and
execute certain parts of the project.
9. The Civil Engineer shall inform the Client of any conflicts of interest.

OBLIGATIONS OF THE CLIENT

1. The Client shall pay the Civil Engineer for his Services.
2. The Client shall provide the Civil Engineer within reasonable time, all information required by
the Civil Engineer in the performance of his services and a decision in writing on all matters
properly referred to the Client in writing.
3. The Client shall not interfere with proper performance of the Services of the Civil Engineer.
4. The Client shall make arrangement with the Civil Engineer to enter and inspect the progress of
the project.
5. The Client shall agree upon provisions of services from other professionals as may be required
and bear all costs.
6. All instructions by the Client shall be given through the Civil Engineer when required to
administer the work of other professionals.
7. The Client shall notify the Civil Engineer within 7 days if there will be change of scope of the
service.

LIABILITY OF THE CIVIL ENGINEER AND THE CLIENT

The Civil Engineer shall only be liable to pay damages to the Client arising from their agreement or not if
there is a violation made by the Civil Engineer and vice versa to the Client.

The conflict can be resolved by consulting someone who will act like a referee to settle the
disagreement of both parties.

Limitation or Civil Engineer Responsibility

1. The Civil Engineer is not responsible or liable for any cost, loss or damage of anything done by
other source of services.
2. The Civil Engineer shall not give warranty or promise of anything to his recommendations.
3. The Civil Engineer is not responsible for the performance or failure of any third party responsible
for executing certain part of the project.

Damages

1. If the Civil Engineer may have failure resulting to damages, then the Client may ask for payment
of the damage with limited reasonable amount.
2. If no such amount or provision is specified, to the lesser of Php 300, 000 or 10% of the total
amount of damage is the maximum amount payable.
3. If third party is involved in the damages, the proportion of damages should be limited only.
SUSPENSION OR TERMINATION OF SERVICES
The Client may suspend all or part of the Services or terminate the agreement by written notice of not
less than 30 days to the Civil Engineer if he is found to be not responsible and impractical in doing his
work.

The Civil Engineer by written notice of no less than 30 days may also terminate the agreement under the
following conditions:

1. If the Civil Engineer did not receive payment after 30 days from the submission of the letter
2. If it is clear to the Civil Engineer that it will be impossible to resume the suspended services
before the period of suspension has exceeded six months.

When the Services are suspended the Civil Engineer shall receive payment of the services rendered.

OWNERSHIP OF DATA, DESIGNS AND DOCUMENTS

The design analyses, drawings, specifications and reproductions thereof are instruments of service
owned by the Professional Engineer and shall be used only for the specific project covered by the
agreement between the Client and Engineer.

CIVIL ENGINEERING SERVICES

 Design, consultations and advice
 Feasibility studies
 Field investigations and engineering data collection
 Environmental assessments, impact statements or Engineering reports
 Opinions of probable construction cost
 Preliminary and final designs, drawings, specifications and construction bidding documents
 Assistance in securing construction bids and in awarding contracts
 Construction administration and observation
 Arrangements for or performance of testing of materials and equipment
 Assistance in start-up, assessment of capacity, and operation of facilities
 Preparation of operation and maintenance manuals
 Appraisals and rate studies
 Value engineering
 Expert testimony
 Assessment of risks
 Structural remediation or rehabilitation
 Project management and controls
 Provision of supplemental temporary staff
 Teaching

Civil Engineers may also serve as construction managers or program managers and may employ other
subconsultants and subcontractors as part of their services.

SPECIALIZATION IN CIVIL ENGINEERING

The PICE recognizes specializations in the fields of structural engineering, geotechnical engineering,
water engineering, transportation engineering, and construction management and engineering. A Civil
Engineer who has demonstrated his knowledge, experience, education and training in accordance with
the requirements of the concerned Specialty Committee of the PICE is awarded a certificate of
specialization by PICE.

SELECTION OF A CIVIL ENGINEER

Qualification, experience, reputation, and quality of client service are of critical importance in the
selection of Civil Engineer as a consultant. Selection based primarily on cost of services, with limited
consideration of the competence or expertise of the consultant, can result in unsatisfactory service to
the client and in higher overall project costs.

DESIGN COMPETITION
Design competition is a process through which a Civil Engineer is selected above other competitors
based on proposal or an innovative approach to solving a client’s need.

CONTINGENCY BASIS OF EMPLOYMENT

Contingent commissions are permissible only if their professional judgements would not be
compromised and it is not in the best interest of the client or the public for the Civil Engineer to provide
professional service on a contingency basis.

PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE OF FOREIGN CIVIL ENGINEERS

Foreign Civil Engineers are allowed by law (RA 8981) to practice in the Philippines under the following
instances.

1. The laws of the foreigner’s state or country also allow Filipinos to practice civil engineering in
their country
2. Allowed under international agreement
3. Consultants to be engaged in foreign-funded, joint venture.
4. Employees of Philippine or foreign private institutions pursuant to law,
5. Former Filipino Citizens who had been registered and issued a certificate of registration and a
professional identification card.

Foreign civil engineers must still secure certificate of registration/license or permit from Professional
Regulation Commission.

SECTION 2 Classification of Engineering Services

Services provided by Civil Engineers can be grouped into five broad categories:

1. Consultations, research, investigations, and reports.

2. Design services for construction projects
3. Construction services
4. Special services for construction projects
5. Engineering support services
6. Academic services
7. Services as employee

The types of Infrastructure under the domain of Civil Engineering, pursuant to RA 544, as amended
include:

1. Streets, bridges, highways and railroads

2. Airports and hangars
3. Portworks, canals, river and shore improvements, light houses and dry docks
4. Buildings
5. Fixed structures for irrigation, flood protection, drainage, water supply and sewerage works
6. Tunnels