[ REPUBLIC ACT NO.

184, June 21, 1947 ]

AN ACT TO REGULATE THE PRACTICE OF ELECTRICAL
ENGINEERING IN THE PHILIPPINES, TO PROVIDE FOR THE
LICENSING AND REGISTRATION OF ELECTRICAL ENGINEERS
AND ELECTRICIANS AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in

Congress assembled:

Article I.—Organization

SECTION 1. Title of Act.—This Act shall be known as the "Electrical Engineering

Law."

SEC. 2. Creation and composition of a. Board of Electrical Engineering Examiners.—

Within thirty days after the approval of this Act, there shall be created a Board of
Electrical Engineering Examiners to be composed of a chairman and two members
to be appointed by the Secretary of Public Works and Communications.

SEC. 3. Powers vested in Board.—The Board of Electrical Engineering Examiners is

vested with authority conformably with the provisions of this Act, to administer the
provisions thereof, to issue, suspend or revoke certificates of registration for the
practice of electrical engineering and to administer oaths in connection therewith.
In carrying into effect the provisions of this Act, the board may under the hand of
its chairman and the seal of the board, subpoena witnesses and compel their
attendance, and may also require the production of books, documents, etc., in a
case involving violation of any of the provisions of this Act.  Any member of the
board may administer oaths or affirmations to witnesses appearing before it. If any
person shall refuse to obey any subpoena so issued, or shall refuse to testify or
produce any book, document, etc., the board may present its petition to the Court
of First Instance, setting forth the facts, and thereupon such court shall, in a proper
case, issue its subpoena to such person, requiring its appearance before such court
and there to testify or produce such books, papers, documents, etc., as may be
deemed necessary and pertinent to the board. Any person failing or refusing to
obey the subpoena or order of the said court may be proceeded against in the same
manner as for refusal to obey any other subpoena or order of the court.
The board shall exercise the powers conferred upon it by this Act, shall from time to
time, look into conditions affecting the practice of electrical engineering in the
Philippines and, whenever necessary, recommend to the Secretary of Public Works
and Communications the adoption of such measures as may be deemed proper for
the maintenance of good ethics and standards in the practice of electrical
engineering in the Philippines and thus safeguard public welfare, life, health and
property.
SEC. 4. Qualifications of board members.—Each member of the board shall, at the
time of his appointment: (1) Be a citizen of the Philippines and a resident thereof;
(2) Hold the degree of B.S.E.E. or M.S.B.E. or the equivalent thereof
conferred by an engineering school or college legally chartered and of
good standing;
(3) Be legally qualified to practice professional electrical engineering
for at least ten years and actually in active practice on the date of his
appointment;
(4) Not be a member of the faculty of any school, college or university
where a regular course in electrical engineering is taught, nor have
pecuniary interest in such institution.
SEC. 5. Term of office.— The members of the board shall hold office for a term of
three years after their appointment or until their successors shall have been
appointed and duly qualified.  The members of the board appointed under this Act
shall hold office for the following terms: one member for one year; one member for
two years; and one member for three years. Each member of the board shall
qualify by taking the proper oath prior to entering upon the performance of his
duties.

SEC. 6.  Executive officer of the board.—The Commissioner of Civil Service shall be
the executive officer of the board, shall conduct the examinations given by the
board and shall designate any subordinate officer of the Bureau of Civil Service to
act as Secretary of the board. All records and minutes of the board including all
examination papers, shall be kept by the Bureau of Civil Service.

SEC. 7. Removal of board members.—The Secretary of Public Works and

Communications may remove any member of the board for continued neglect of
duty or incompetency, or for unprofessional or dishonorable conduct, after having
given the member concerned an opportunity to defend himself in the proper
administrative investigation.

SEC. 8. Compensation of the board.—The members of the board shall each receive
as compensation the sum of five pesos each applicant examined or registered
without examination for any of the first three grades provided under section eleven
hereof; and three pesos for each applicant examined or registered without
examination for the grade of Master Electrician. Any electrical engineer in the
Government of the Philippines appointed as member of the board shall receive the
compensation herein provided in addition to his salary. All fees shall be received by
the officer designated by competent authority as collecting officer for the Bureau of
Civil Service, and such officer shall pay all authorized expenditures of the board
including the compensation provided for in this Act for the members of the board.

SEC. 9. Rules and regulations.— (a) The board may, with the approval of the
Secretary of Public Works and Communications and with the advice and consent of
the Commissioner of Civil Service, adopt rules and regulations as may be necessary
to carry the provision of this Act into effect.  Penal provisions may be included in
said regulations, the violation of which shall be punishable by a fine of not more
than two hundred pesos or by imprisonment for not more than two months, or both
in the discretion of the court.

SEC. 10. Annual report.—The board shall submit an annual report to the Secretary
of Public Works and Communications after the close of each fiscal year giving a
detailed account of its proceedings during the year and making such
recommendations as it may deem proper.

Article II.—Registration and Examination

SEC. 11. Grades.—Certificates of registration for the practice of electrical

engineering shall be of four grades and in the order of rank as follows:
(1) Professional electrical engineer, (2) Associate electrical engineer, (3) Assistant
electrical engineer, and (4) Master electrician.
SEC. 12. Inhibitions against the practice of electrical engineering.—Unless exempt
from registration, no person shall practice or offer to practice electrical engineering
in the Philippines without having previously obtained a certificate of registration
from the Board of Electrical Engineering Examiners.

SEC. 13. Definitions of terms.—

(a) Electrical Engineering: A person shall be deemed to be practicing electrical
engineering or rendering electrical engineering service within the meaning and
intent of this Act who shall, for a fee, salary or other reward or compensation paid
to himself or to another person, or even without such reward or compensation
render or offer to render professional electrical engineering service in the form of
consultation, investigation, valuation, planning, designing or preparation of
specifications for any electrical construction, installation or project; or take charge
of the sale or distribution of any electric supply or utilization equipment requiring
engineering calculations and/or application of engineering principles and data; or
take charge of or supervise any electrical constructions, or installation, or the
operation, tending and maintenance of any electric generating plant: provided,
however, That it shall be unlawful for any person to use in connection with his
name or otherwise use, assume or advertise any title tending to convey the
impression that he is a professional electrical engineer or associate electrical
engineer or assistant electrical engineer or master electrician or that he is engaged
in the practice of electrical engineering unless he is duly licensed and registered as
such in conformity with the provisions of this Act.
(b) The term electric supply equipment as used in this Act, shall mean any
equipment which produces, modifies, regulates, controls or safeguards a supply of
electric energy.
(c)The term utilization equipment as used in this Act, shall mean equipment,
devices and connected wiring which utilize electric energy for any purpose and are
not a part of electric supply equipment or electric generating plant.
(d) The term electric generating plant as used in this Act, shall mean the complete
establishment or system for the production, transmission and/or distribution of
electric energy and shall include all the electric supply equipments and lines used
for these purposes: Provided, however, That if the complete establishment includes
one or more substations which are or may be interconnected, requiring personal
supervision for their proper operation, each substation shall be considered as a
separate electric generating plant for purposes of compliance with the provisions of
this Act: Provided, finally, That the provisions of this Act shall not apply to any
electric generating plant of the United States Army or Navy, or of the National,
provincial, city or municipal government, or to any electric generating plant on
conveyances used in connection with land and air transportation.
(e) The term electric supply line as used in this Act, shall mean those conductors
and their necessary supporting, or containing structures which are located entirely
outside of buildings and are used for transmitting a supply of electric energy.
(f) The term substation as used in this Act, shall mean any building, room or
separate place which houses electric supply equipment for tying with the generating
plant and the interior of which is accessible, as a rule, only to properly qualified
persons.
(g) The term kilowatt or KVA capacity or simply capacity as used in this Act, when
applied to electric generating plants shall mean the total full capacity in kilowatts or
kilovolt-amperes of all the electric supply equipments installed to produce electric
energy for transmission and/or distribution as stamped on the name plate attached
to each generator. In the absence of a nameplate rating, the kilowatt or KVA
capacity shall be determined by reference to the manufacturer or by calculation or
other method of determination conforming with the latest standards of the
American Institute of Electrical Engineers or their equivalent.
(h) The term voltage or volts as used in this Act, shall mean the highest effective
voltage between any two conductors of the circuit concerned, except that in
grounded multiwire circuits not exceeding 750 volts between outer conductors, it
shall mean the highest effective voltage between any wire of the circuit and the
ground.  In ungrounded circuits not exceeding 750 volts, voltages to ground shall
mean the voltages of the circuit.
SEC. 14.  Exemptions from registration.—Registration shall not be required of the
following persons:
(a) Officers or enlisted men of the United States Army or Navy, or employees of the
Federal Government of the United States, while engaged in the practice of electrical
engineering for said Army and Navy or Government of the United States;
(b) Employees and officials of the Government of the Philippines whether National,
provincial, city or municipal while engaged in the practice of electrical engineering
for said Government;
(c) Electrical engineers, or erection or guarantee engineers called in for consultation
or for a specific design, installation or project, provided that their practice shall be
limited only to the particular work for which they were called and such engineers
are legally qualified to practice electrical engineering in their own state or country
in which the requirements and qualifications for Obtaining a certificate of
registration are not lower than those specified in this Act;
(d) Foreigners employed as technical officers, professors or consultants in such
special branches of electrical engineering as may, in the judgment of the Secretary
of Public Works and Communications, be necessary and indispensable for the
country;
(e) Engineering students, apprentices and other persons employed or acting as
subordinates of/or undergoing training under a person holding a valid certificate of
registration under this Act;
(f) Any person in charge of or supervising the operation, tending and maintenance
of an electric generating plant for private use employing voltages not exceeding
250 volts: Provided, however, That the owner or operator shall be required to have
the plant or establishment periodically inspected at intervals of not more than one
year by a registered professional engineer or associate electrical engineer or by a
National, city, provincial or municipal authority exercising legal jurisdiction over
electrical installations.
SEC. 15, Examination required.—Except as otherwise specifically allowed, all
applicants for registration for the practice of electrical engineering shall be required
to undergo a technical examination as provided in this Act.

SEC. 16. Qualifications of applicant for Professional Electrical Engineer.— Any

person applying for examination and for a certificate of registration as professional
electrical engineer shall; prior to admission to examination, establish to the
satisfaction of the board:
(a) That he is at least twenty-five years of age;
(b) That he is of good reputation and moral character;
(c) That he has completed the high school course or its equivalent; That he has
graduated in electrical engineering from a university, school, college, academy, or
institute duly constituted and recognized as such by the Government or the state in
which it is established after completing a resident collegiate course of not less than
four years and, in addition has a specific record of four years or more of active
practice in electrical engineering of responsible character indicating that the
applicant is competent to practice professional electrical engineering in its full scope
as defined in this Act; or
(e) That he has completed at least two years of resident collegiate  engineering
training  in  a  university, school, college, academy or institute duly constituted and
recognized as such by the Government or the state in which it is established and, in
addition, has a specific record of eight years or more of active practice in electrical
engineering of responsible Character indicating that the applicant is competent to
practice professional electrical engineering in its full scope as defined in this Act.  In
considering the qualifications of applicants, being in charge of electrical engineering
teaching in an engineering school, university, college, academy or institute duly
constituted and recognized as such by the Government or the state in which it is
established may be regarded as active practice of electrical engineering of
responsible character.
SEC. 17. Qualifications of applicant for Associate Electrical Engineer.—Any person
applying for examination and for a certificate of registration as associate electrical
engineer shall, prior to admission to examination, establish to the satisfaction of the
board:
(a) That he is at least twenty-five years of age;
(b) That he is of good reputation and moral character; and
(c) That he has completed the high school course or its equivalent;
(d) That he has graduated in electrical engineering from a university, school,
college, academy, or institute duly constituted and recognized as such by the
Government or the state in which it is established after completing a resident
collegiate course of not less than four years and, in addition, has a specific record
of two years or more of active practice in electrical engineering of responsible
character indicating that the applicant is competent to take charge of or supervise
any electrical construction or installation, or the operation, tending and
maintenance of any electric generating plant, or take charge of the sale or
distribution of any electric supply or utilization equipment requiring engineering
calculations and/or application of engineering principles and data; or
(e) That he has a specific record of eight years or more of active practice in
electrical engineering of responsible character indicating that the applicant is
competent to take charge of or supervise any electrical construction or installation
or the operation, tending and maintenance of any electric generating plant, or take
charge of the sale or distribution of any electric supply or utilization equipment
requiring engineering calculations and/or application of engineering principles and
data: Provided, however, That experience on installation or wiring of utilization
equipments only shall not be considered as complying with the requirements of this
paragraph.
In considering the qualifications of applicants, being in charge of electrical
engineering teaching in an engineering school, university, or college, academy or
institute duly constituted and recognized as such by the Government or the state in
which it is established, may be regarded as active practice in electrical engineering
of responsible character.
SEC. 18. Qualifications of applicant for Assistant Electrical Engineer.—Any person
applying for examination and for a certificate of registration as assistant electrical
engineer shall, prior to admission to examination, establish to the satisfaction of the
board:
(a) That he is at least twenty-three years of age;
(b) That he is of good reputation and moral character;
(c) That he has completed the high school course or its equivalent;
(d) That he has graduated in electrical engineering from a university, school,
college, academy or institute duly constituted and recognized as such by the
Government or the state in which it is established after completing a collegiate
course of not less than four years.
SEC. 19. Qualifications of applicant for Master Electrician.—Any person applying for
examination and for a certificate of registration as master electrician shall, prior to
admission to examination, establish to the satisfaction of the board:
(a) That he is at least twenty-three years of age;
(b) That he is of good reputation and moral character;
(c) That he has graduated in an electrical course of instruction from a vocational or
trade school or a correspondence school of well known standing and, in addition,
has a specific record of at least three years of practice of such character as to
indicate that he is competent to take charge of or supervise any electric wiring or
installation or utilization equipments; or
(d) That he has completed a four-year high school education or its equivalent and,
in addition, has a specific record of at least five years of practice in electric wiring
or installation of utilization equipments.
SEC. 20. Holding of examinations.—Examinations for candidates desiring to practice
electrical engineering in the Philippines shall be given twice a year in the City of
Manila and other places where conditions may warrant, on such working days as
the board may fix with the approval of the Secretary of Public Works and
Communications. Written or printed notice of such examination shall be mailed to
each candidate who has filed his name and address with the Secretary of the Board,
at least thirty days prior to the date of the first day of the examination.

SEC. 21. Scope of examination.—

(a) The examination for the professional electrical engineer grade shall cover
questions relating to the production, transmission, distribution and application of
electrical energy to power and communication to determine if the applicant has
sufficient knowledge to insure safety to life, health and property as well as economy
in the design, construction, installation, maintenance, organization and
management of electric generating plants and other projects wherein electric supply
or utilization equipments are called for and also questions on rules and regulations
embodied in the latest editions of the National Safety and Electrical Codes of the
United States or of the Philippines as may be adopted: Provided, however, That the
board may, if it deems it further necessary, test the knowledge of an applicant on
the following fundamental subjects: mathematics, including differential and integral
calculus, and the use of complex notation in electrical engineering problems,
rational and applied mechanics, surveying, geology, and foundations, hydraulics,
resistance of materials and construction materials, electrical circuits and machinery,
electronics and their application to electrical communication and
industry:  Provided, finally, That the examination for the grade of assistant
electrical engineer shall be limited to the above fundamental subjects only and to
question on rules and regulations embodied in the latest edition of the National
Safety and Electrical Codes of the United States or of the Philippines as may be
adopted.
(b) Subjects of examination for Associate Electrical Engineer.—Strength of materials
used in electrical constructions, including foundations, questions on the
installa¬tion, erection, operation, tending and maintenance of electric generating
plants, lines and other electric supply equipments, knowledge of standard materials
used in electrical installations and of the approved methods of construction,
knowledge of the rules and regulations embodied in the latest editions of the
National Safety and Electrical Codes of the United States or of the Philippines as
may be adopted.
(c). Subjects of examination for Master Electrician.— Practical applications of Ohm's
Law, knowledge of standard materials used in electric wiring or installation of
utilization equipments and of the approved methods of construction, knowledge of
the rules and regulations embodied in the latest editions of the National Electrical
Code of the United States or of the Philippines as may be adopted, applicable to
electric wiring or installation of utilization equipments, reading of wiring plans and
interpretation of standard symbols used.
SEC. 22. Report of ratings.—The Board of Electrical Engineering Examiners shall,
within one hundred twenty days after the date of completion of the examinations,
report the ratings obtained by each candidate to the Commissioner of Civil Service,
who shall submit such ratings to the Secretary of Public Works and Communications
for approval.

SEC. 23. Reexamination.— An applicant who for the third time fails to pass the
examination for the same grade shall not be allowed to take another until at least
one year has elapsed after his last examination.

SEC. 24. Registration as Professional Electrical Engineer without examination.—

Certificates of registration as professional electrical engineer without examination
shall be issued to the members of the first board of electrical engineering
examiners appointed under the provisions of this Act.
No examination shall be required of any person who shall, with his application for
registration as professional electrical engineer, present evidence or other proof
satisfactory to the board that, on the date of the approval of this Act, he had a
specific record of four years or more of active practice in electrical engineering, of
responsible character indicating that he may be entrusted to perform or render
professional electrical engineering in its full scope as defined in section thirteen and
if he possesses any of the following qualifications:
(a) Had passed a civil service examination for senior electrical engineer; or
(b) Was an electrical engineer duly licensed by the Board of Examiners for Electrical
Engineers under Act Numbered Two thousand nine hundred eighty-five of the
Philippine Legislature of nineteen hundred twenty-one as amended.
SEC. 25. Registration as Associate Electrical Engineer without examination.—No
examination shall be required of any person who shall, with his application for
registration as associate electrical engineer, present evidence or other proof
satisfactory to the board showing that, on the date of the approval of this Act, he
had any of the following qualifications:
(a) A specific record of ten years or more of active practice in electrical engineering
of responsible character, indicating that the applicant may be  entrusted  to take
charge or supervise any electrical construction or installation, or the operation,
tending and maintenance of any electric generating plant, or take charge of the sale
or distribution of any electric supply or utilization equipment requiring engineering
calculations  and/or  application of engineering principles and  data and has the first
three qualifications specified in section seventeen, or
(b) Had passed a civil service examination for senior or assistant electrical engineer
or was an electrical engineer duly licensed by the Board of Examiners for Electrical
Engineers under Act Numbered Two thousand nine hundred eighty-five of the
Philippine Legislature of the year nineteen hundred and twenty-one as amended
and has a specific record of two years or more of active practice in electrical
engineering of responsible character indicating that the applicant may be entrusted
to take charge of or supervise any electrical construction or installation, or the
operation, tending and maintenance of any electric generating plant, or take charge
of the sale or distribution of any electric supply or utilization equipment requiring
engineering calculations and/or application of engineering principles and
data: Provided, however, That persons registered as associate electrical engineer
by virtue of the qualifications enumerated in this paragraph(b) shall not be required
to undergo further examination when applying for a certificate of registration as
professional electrical engineer after fulfilling the engineering experience required
for that grade.
SEC. 26. Registration as Assistant Electrical Engineer without examination.—No
examination shall be required of any person who shall, with his application for
registration as assistant electrical engineer, present evidence or other proof
satisfactory to the board showing that, on the date of approval of this Act, he had
any of the following qualifications:
(a) Had passed a civil service examination for senior or assistant electrical
engineer, or
(b) Was an electrical engineer duly licensed' by the Board of Examiners for
Electrical Engineers under Act Numbered Two thousand nine hundred and eighty-
five of the Philippine Legislature of the year nineteen hundred and twenty-one, as
amended; Provided, That persons registered as assistant electrical engineers by
virtue of the qualifications enumerated in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section
shall not be required to undergo further examination when applying for certificate
of registration as professional electrical engineer or associate electrical engineer
after fulfilling the engineering experience required respectively for those grades.
SEC. 27. Registration as Master Electrician without examination.—Certificate of
registration as master electrician without examination shall be issued to any
applicant who shall, with his application for registration as master electrician,
present evidence or other proof satisfactory to the board that, on the date of the
approval of this Act, he had any of the following qualifications:
(a) Had passed a civil service examination for electrical inspector or its equivalent,
or
(b) Was practicing as licensed electrical contractor in chartered cities having
ordinances which require examination for obtaining a license as contractor for
electrical installations: Provided, however, That the applicant is still holding a valid
license on the date his application is submitted to the board.
SEC. 28. Issuance of certificates.—The Secretary of Public Works and
Communications shall, upon recommendation of the board issue a certificate of
registration upon payment of the registration fee as provided for in this Act to any
applicant who, in the opinion of the board and after approval of the Secretary of
Public Works and Communications, has satisfactorily met all the requirements
specified in this Act for the particular grade for which he is registering.
All certificates of registration shall show the full name of the registrant; shall have a
serial number and shall be signed by all the members of the board, the Secretary of
Public Works and Communications and the Commissioner of Civil Service, and shall
be attested by the official seal.
The issuance of a certificate of registration by the board to a registrant shall be
evidence that the person named therein is entitled to all the rights and privileges of
a registered professional electrical engineer, associate electrical engineer, assistant
electrical engineer, or master electrician, as the case may be, while said certificate
remains unrevoked or unsuspended.

SEC. 29. Seal of Professional Electrical Engineer.—Each registrant for the grade of

professional electrical engineer shall, upon registration, obtain a seal of a design
prescribed by the board bearing the registrant's name, the certificate number and
the legend "Professional Electrical Engineer."' Plans, specifications, reports and
other professional documents prepared by or executed under the immediate
supervision of, and issued by a registrant, shall be stamped on every sheet with
said seal when filed with Government authorities or when submitted or used
professionally: Provided, however, That it shall be unlawful for any one to stamp or
seal any document with said seal after the certificate of the registrant named
therein has been revoked or suspended unless said certificate shall have been
reinstated or reissued.

SEC. 30. Fees for examination and registration.—Every applicant for examination

for the grade of professional electrical engineer, or associate electrical engineer, or
as distant electrical engineer, shall pay an examination fee of thirty pesos and, for
the grade of master electrician, a fee of twenty pesos.
Every registrant for the grade of professional electrical engineer or associate
electrical engineer or assistant electrical engineer shall pay a registration fee of ten
pesos and, for the grade of master electrician, a fee of five pesos: Provided,
however, That when an applicant is registered without examination for the grade of
professional electrical engineer or associate electrical engineer or assistant electrical
engineer he shall pay a registration fee of twenty-five pesos and, for the grade of
master electrician, a fee of fourteen pesos.

SEC. 31. Refusal to issue certificate.—The Board of Electrical Engineering Examiners

shall refuse to issue certificate of registration to any person convicted by a court of
competent jurisdiction of any criminal offense involving moral turpitude or to any
person guilty of immoral or dishonorable conduct or to any person of unsound
mind. In the event of refusal to issue certificates for any reason, the board shall
give the applicant a written statement setting forth the reasons for such action,
which statement shall be incorporated in the record of the board.

SEC. 32. Suspension and revocation of certificates.—The board shall have the

power, upon proper notice and hearing, to suspend and revoke any certificate of
registration of any registrant for any cause specified in the preceding section, or for
the use or perpetration of any fraud or deceit in obtaining a certificate of
registration, or for gross negligence or incompetency or for unprofessional or
dishonorable conduct: Provided, however, That the action of the board shall be
subject to appeal to the Secretary of Public Works and Communications whose
decision shall be final.
It shall be sufficient ground for the revocation of a certificate issued to a person
under this Act, for unprofessional or dishonorable conduct, if: (1) he has signed and
affixed his seal on any plans, designs, technical reports, valuation, specification,
estimate or other similar documents or work not prepared by him or not executed
under his immediate supervision or (2) has represented himself as having taken
charge of or supervised any electrical construction or installation, or the operation,
tending and maintenance of any electric generating plant or in charge of the sale or
distribution of any electric supply or utilization equipment requiring engineering
calculation and or application of engineering principles and data, without actually
having done so.  Any person, firm, association or corporation, may profer charges
in accordance with the provisions of this section against any registrant, or the board
may motu proprio investigate and/or take cognizance of acts and practices
constituting sufficient cause for suspension or revocation of the certificate of
registration by proper resolution or order, such charges shall be in writing and shall
be sworn to by the person making them and shall be filed with the secretary of the
board.

SEC. 33. Reissue of revoked certificates and replacement of lost certificates.—The

board may, after the expiration of one year from the date of revocation of a
certificate, for reasons it may deem sufficient, entertain an application for a new
certificate of registration from a person whose certificate has been revoked, in the
same manner as application for original ones, and in doing so it may, in its
discretion, exempt the applicant from the necessity of undergoing an examination.
A new certificate of registration to replace any certificate that has been lost,
destroyed or mutilated may be issued, subject to the rules of the board, and a
charge of five pesos shall be made for such issuance.

SEC. 34. Special permits.—The board may, in its discretion and subject to the
approval of the Secretary of Public Works and Communications, issue special permit
for the practice in a specified line, branch or activity of electrical engineering for a
specific design, investigation or construction project or in a specified plant or
organization to any person already holding a valid certificate of registration issued
by a Board of Engineering Examiners in the Philippines who shall, with his
application, present evidence or other proof satisfactory to the board indicating that
he is competent to perform the service or activity for which he applies for said
permit and that the issuance of such permit is necessary and will not jeopardize the
interest of any person duly registered for the practice of electrical engineering
under this Act.
Special permit to take charge of or supervise the operation, tending and
maintenance of any electric generating plant for public utility or for use in
connection with the operation of a public utility or convenience employing voltages
not exceeding 250 volts, or a special permit to take charge of or supervise the
construction, installation and/or operation of any electric supply equipment for
public service communication or signalling or the construction, installation and/or
operation of X-ray or electronic equipment for public use requiring the employment
of dangerous voltages, may also be granted to any person who shall with his
application, present evidence or other proof satisfactory to the board showing that
he may be entrusted to perform the duties and responsibilities of the position for
which the permit is desired and that he has been rendering satisfactory service in
connection therewith without any serious accident as certified by his employer for a
period of not less than three years: Provided, however, That the permit shall be
valid only for the specific purpose for which it is issued which shall be stated in
detail in the said permit.
All special permits shall be subject to all the provisions and requirements of this Act
and the rules and regulations which may be adopted by the board pertaining to
certificates of registration, and may be suspended, revoked or reissued by the
board in the manner prescribed for certificates of registration. Any person who has
been granted a special permit shall, for purposes of compliance with the provisions
of this Act, be considered as registered in the Board of Electrical Engineering
Examiners while said permit is still valid.
A fee of ten pesos shall be collected for the issuance of a special permit and no
person shall hold more than one permit at one time.
 ARTICLE III.—Sundry Provisions Relative to the Practice of Electrical
Engineering

SEC. 35. Prohibitions in the practice of electrical engineering.—Any person who

shall practice or offer to practice electrical engineering in the Philippines without
being registered or exempted from registration in accordance with the provisions of
this Act, or any person presenting or attempting to use as his own the certificate of
registration or the seal of another, or any person who shall give any false or forced
evidence of any kind to the board or to any member thereof in obtaining a
certificate of registration, or any person who shall falsely impersonate any
registrant of like or different name, or any person who shall attempt to use a
revoked or suspended certificate of registration, or any person who shall use in
connection "with his name or otherwise assume, use or advertise any title or
description tending to convey the impression that he is an electrical engineer or
that he is registered under any of the grades enumerated in section eleven of this
Act without holding a valid certificate of registration for that grade, or any person
who shall violate any of the provisions of this Act, shall be guilty of misdemeanor
and shall, upon conviction, be sentenced to a fine of not less than one hundred
pesos nor more than one thousand pesos, or to suffer imprisonment for a period
not exceeding three months, or both, in the discretion of the court.

SEC. 36. Field of action authorized for each grade; prohibitions.—It shall be

unlawful for any person, unless exempted from registration under section fourteen
of this Act:
(a) To practice, perform or render electrical engineering service in its full scope as
defined in section thirteen unless he holds a valid certificate of registration as
professional electrical engineer;
(b) To take charge of or supervise any electrical construction or installation, or the
operation, tending and maintenance of any electric generating plant; or to take
charge of the sale or distribution of any electric supply or utilization equipment
requiring engineering calculations and/or application of engineering principles and
data unless he holds a valid certificate of registration as professional electrical
engineer or associate electrical engineer;
(c) To take charge of or supervise the operation, tending and maintenance of any
electric generating plant employing voltages up to 4,800 volts, or to take charge of
or supervise any electric wiring or installation of utilization equipment unless he
holds a valid certificate of registration  as professional electrical  engineer, associate
electrical engineer, or assistant electrical engineer;
(d) To take charge of or supervise the operation, tending and maintenance of any
electric generating plant employing voltages up to 750 volts, or to take charge of or
supervise any electric wiring or installation of utilization equipments unless he holds
a valid certificate of registration as professional electrical engineer, associate
electrical engineer, assistant electrical engineer, or master electrician;
(e) To take charge of or supervise the operation, tending and maintenance of any
electric generating plant for public utility or for use in connection with the operation
of a public utility or convenience employing voltages up to 250 volts unless he holds
a valid certificate of registration as professional electrical engineer, associate
electrical engineer, assistant electrical engineer, or master electrician or a valid
special permit;
(f) To take charge of or supervise the construction or installation of any electric
supply equipment for public service communication or signalling or for X-ray or
electronic equipment requiring the employment of dangerous voltages unless he
holds a valid certificate of registration as professional electrical engineer or
associate electrical engineer or assistant electrical engineer or a valid certificate of
special permit.
SEC. 37. Personnel required in electric generating plants.—Except as otherwise
provided in this Act, every generating plant in operation shall have not less than the
following complement of resident engineers or persons holding valid special
permits:
(a) Electric generating plants of any capacity for public utility or for use in
connection with the operation of a public utility or convenience employing voltages
up to 250 volts: one professional electrical engineer, or one associate electrical
engineer, or one assistant electrical engineer, or one master electrician, or one
person with valid special permit;
(b) Electric generating plants of any capacity employing voltages up to 750 volts:
one professional electrical engineer, or one associate electrical engineer, or one
assistant electrical engineer, or one master electrician;
(c) Electric generating plants of any capacity employing voltages up to 4,800 volts:
one professional electrical engineer, or one associate electrical engineer, or one
assistant electrical engineer;
(d) Electric generating plants of any capacity employing voltages above 4,800
volts: one professional electrical engineer in charge of the complete establishment
and one associate electrical engineer for each substation of the complete
establishment:
Provided, however, That in all the above cases, additional qualified subordinate
personnel shall be required commensurate with the exigencies of efficient operation
and service and the safeguarding of public welfare, life and property.
SEC. 38. Provisions affecting preparation of plans, supervision of construction,
permits for construction, application of the National Electrical Code.—It shall be
unlawful for any person not authorized under this Act to draw up plans, designs,
and/or specifications for any electrical construction or installation or project; and no
electrical construction or installation shall be undertaken unless plans, designs,
and/or specifications have been prepared under the responsible charge of, and
signed and sealed by, a professional electrical engineer and a construction permit
for the execution thereof secured, and unless the work is executed under the
responsible charge or supervision of a professional electrical engineer or associate
electrical engineer or assistant electrical engineer or master electrician in
conformity with the field of action authorized for each grade, or a person with valid
special permit or exempt from registration under subsections (b), (c) and (d) of
section fourteen of this Act and all requirements of the Government agency, if any,
exercising jurisdiction over the particular construction or installation have been
complied with.
(For the purpose of coordinating the work in carrying into effect the provisions of
this Act and, except as otherwise provided, the safety inspectors of the Bureau of
Labor or such district or city engineers or other government agents as the
Secretary of Labor may designate shall enforce the requirement of this Act
pertaining to the installation, operation, tending and maintenance of electric
generating plants and pass upon applications for electrical construction or
installation within their respective districts in all cases which are not acted upon by
the Public Service Commission and issue the corresponding permits if the plans
and/or specifications submitted are in conformity with the requirements of this
section.)
Provided, however, That the submission of plans may be waived in application for
electrical construction or installation for lighting and/or household appliances
utilizing electrical energy involving the installation of twenty outlets or less; or for
power or heat applications utilizing electrical energy not exceeding four kilowatts;
or for telephone installations, on condition that such applications include a layout
sketch of the proposed construction or installation with a list of the materials and
devices to be used and a signed statement to the effect that it shall conform with
the rules and regulations' of the National Electrical Code of the United States or of
the Philippines as may be adopted:
Provided, further, That the Secretary of National Defense and the Collector of
Customs, respectively, shall enforce the requirements pertaining to the installation,
operation, tending and maintenance of electric generating plants in radio stations
and in conveyances used in connection with water transportation and also
respectively, shall regulate electrical constructions or installations of equipments for
radio communications and for conveyances used in connection with water
transportation:
Provided, finally, That the Collector of Internal Revenue shall enforce the
requirements of this Act checking the licenses of persons in charge of the sale or
distribution of any electric supply or utilization equipment requiring engineering
calculation and/or application of engineering principles and data.
All applications for electrical construction permits including the plans and/or layouts
or statements shall be filed for reference.

SEC. 39.  Application to firms and corporations.—A firm or a co-partnership, or

corporation, or an association may engage in the practice of electrical engineering
in the Philippines provided only that such practice is carried on by duly licensed and
registered electrical engineers, associate electrical engineers, assistant electrical
engineers, or master electricians in conformity with the field of action authorized
respectively for each grade under this Act; or by persons exempt from registration
under subsections (c) and (d) of section fourteen of this Act.
In case of a firm, copartnership, corporation, association, society or company, the
manager, administrator or the person who has charge of the management or
administration of the business shall be held personally liable for violation of this Act.

SEC. 40. Posting of certificates —The owner, manager or other person in charge of

any electric generating plant, or of a firm, co-partnership, corporation or joint stock
association shall post or cause to be posted in a conspicuous place within such plant
or establishment, the certificate of registration of the engineer or engineers,
associate, assistant and master electrician employed in such a plant or
establishment, in a frame protected by transparent glass or equivalent.
SEC. 41. Roster of electrical engineers and electricians.— A roster showing the
names and place of business of all registered professional electrical engineers,
associate electrical engineers, assistant electrical engineers, and master electricians
shall be prepared by the Commissioner of Civil Service during the month of July
every year, commencing one year after the date this Act becomes effective. Copies
of this roster shall be mailed to each person so registered, placed on file with the
Secretary of Public Works and Communications and copies furnished to all
department heads, to the mayors of all chartered cities, to the Director of Public
Works, to the office of the Public Service Commission, to the Collector of Customs,
to such other bureaus or government agencies and provincial and municipal
authorities as may be deemed necessary and to the public upon request.

SEC. 42. Foreign reciprocity.—No foreign engineer shall be admitted to

examination, be given a certificate of registration or be entitled to any of the rights
and privileges under this Act unless the country of which he is a subject or citizen
specifically permits Filipino engineers to practice within its territorial limits on the
same basis as the subjects or citizens of such country.

SEC. 43. Enforcement of the Act by officers of the law.— It shall be the duty of all
constituted officers of the law of the National Government, of any provincial, city or
municipal government or of any political subdivision thereof to prosecute any
person violating the provisions of this Act.  The Secretary of Justice or his assistant
shall act as legal adviser of the board and render such legal assistance as may be
necessary in carrying out the provisions of this Act.

SEC. 44. Act not affecting other professions.—This Act shall not be construed to
affect or prevent the practice of any other legally recognized profession.

Article IV.—Final Provisions

SEC. 45. The sum of two thousand pesos is hereby appropriated out of any funds in
the National Treasury not otherwise appropriated, to be disbursed by the Secretary
of Public Works and Communications in accordance with the provisions of this Act.
All sums collected in accordance with this Act shall be paid into the National
Treasury as part of the general funds thereof: Provided, That during the first twelve
months of the operation of this Act, any portion of the sums collected may be used
for the purpose of this Act to cover disbursements in excess of the amount
appropriated herein.

SEC. 46. All existing provisions of provincial, city or municipal ordinances or

regulations pertaining to examinations for electrical contractors, electrical
inspectors or electricians, and all other laws, part of laws, orders, ordinances or
regulations in conflict with the provisions of this Act including Act Numbered
Twenty-nine hundred and eighty-five, as amended shall be and are hereby
repealed.

SEC. 47. This Act shall take effect upon its approval except sections thirty-five to
forty, inclusive, which shall take effect one year after this Act becomes effective.
Approved, June 21, 1947.