Republic Act No.

544*
(As Amended by R.A. 1582)
An Act to Regulate the Practice of Civil Engineering
in the Philippines

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

Article I
TITLE OF THE ACT AND DEFINITION OF TERMS

Section 2. Definition of Terms.”

(a) The practice of civil engineering within the meaning and intent of this Act shall embrace services in the form of
consultation, design, preparation of plans, specifications, estimates, erection, installation and supervision of the
construction of streets, bridges, highways, railroads, airports and hangars, port works, canals, river and shore
improvements, lighthouses, and dry docks; buildings, fixed structures for irrigation, flood protection, drainage,
water supply and sewerage works; demolition of permanent structures; and tunnels. The enumeration of any work
in this section shall not be construed as excluding any other work requiring civil engineering knowledge and
application.
(b) The term “civil engineer” as used in this act shall mean a person duly registered with the Board for Civil
Engineers in the manner as hereinafter provided.
Article II
BOARD OF EXAMINERS FOR CIVIL ENGINEERS

Article III
EXAMINATION AND REGISTRATION

Section 8. Examination Requirement.” All applicants for registration for the practice of civil engineering shall be
required to pass a technical examination as hereinafter provided.

Section 9. Holding of Examination.” Examination of candidates desiring to practice civil engineering in the
Philippines shall be given in the City of Manila of each year, provided that such days do not fall on official holidays,
otherwise the examinations shall be held on the days next following.

Section 10. Subjects of Examination.” Applicants for certificate of registration as civil engineer shall be examined,
in the discretion of the Board, on the following subjects: mathematics, including algebra, plane and spherical
trigonometry, analytics, descriptive and solid geometry, differential and integral calculus, and rational and applied
mechanics; hydraulics; surveying, including highway and railroad surveying; plane, topographic and hydrographic
surveying, and advance surveying; design and construction of highways and railroads, masonry structures,
wooden and reinforced concrete buildings, bridges, towers, walls, foundations, piers, ports, wharves, aqueducts,
sanitary engineering works, water supply systems, dikes, dams and irrigation and drainage canals.
Section 12. Qualifications for Examination.” Any person applying for admission to the civil engineering examination
as herein provided shall, prior to the date of the examination, establish to the satisfaction of the Board that he has
the following qualifications:
a. Be at least twenty-one years of age;
b. Be a citizen of the Philippines;
c. Be of good reputation and moral character; and
d. Be a graduate of a four-year course in civil engineering from a school, institute, college or university
recognized by the Government or the State wherein it is established.

Section 13. Oath of Civil Engineers.” All successful candidates in the examination shall be required to take a
professional oath before the Board of Civil Engineers or other Government Officials authorized to administer oaths,
prior to entering upon the practice of the civil engineering profession.

Section 14. Seal and Use of Seal.” All registered civil engineers shall obtain a seal of such design as the Board shall
authorize and direct: Provided, however, That the serial number of the certificate issued by the Board shall be
included in the design of the seal. Plans and specifications prepared by, or under the direct supervision of a
registered civil engineer shall be stamped with said seal during the life of the registrant’s certificate, and it shall be
unlawful for any one to stamp or seal any documents with said seal after the certificate of registrant named
thereon has expired or has been revoked, unless said certificate shall have been renewed or re-issued.

Section 16. Refusal to Issue Certificate.” The Board for Civil Engineers shall not issue a certificate 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 guilty of immoral or dishonorable conduct, or to any
person of unsound mind. In the event of a refusal to issue a certificate to any person, the Board shall give to the
applicant a written statement setting forth its reason for such action, which statement shall be incorporated in the
records of the Board.

Section 17. Suspension and Revocation of Certificates. “ The Board shall have the power, after due notice and
hearings to suspend or revoke the certificate of registration for any cause mentioned in the preceding section.

Article IV
ENFORCEMENT OF ACT AND PENAL PROVISIONS

Section 21. Registration required.” Unless exempt from registration, no person shall practice or offer to practice
civil engineering in the Philippines without having obtained the proper certificate of registration from the Board for
Civil Engineers.*

Section 22. Penal provisions.” Any person who shall practice or offer to practice civil engineering in the Philippines
without being registered in accordance with the provisions of this Act or any person presenting or attempting to use
as his own the certificate of registration of a registered civil engineer, or any person who shall give any false or
forged evidence of any kind to the Board, or any person who shall impersonate any registrant civil engineer of
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 a civil engineer, without holding a valid certificate of registration, or any
person who shall violate any of the provision of this Act, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall, upon
conviction, be sentenced to a fine of not less than five hundred pesos nor more than two thousand pesos, or to
suffer imprisonment for a period of not less than six months not more than one year, or both, in the discretion of
the court.

Article V
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

Section 23. Preparation of plans and supervisions of construction by registered civil engineer.” It shall be unlawful
for any person to order or otherwise cause the construction, reconstruction, or alteration of any building or
structure intended for public gathering or assembly such as theaters, cinematographs, stadia, churches or
structures of like nature, and any other engineering structures mentioned in section two of this Act unless the
designs, plans, and specifications of same have been prepared under the responsible charge of, and signed and
sealed by a registered civil engineer, and unless the construction, reconstruction and/or alteration thereof are
executed under the responsible charge and direct supervision of a civil engineer. Plans and designs of structures
must be approved as provided by law or ordinance of a city or province or municipality where the said structure is
to be constructed.

Section 24. The practice of civil engineering is a professional service, admission to which must be determined
upon individual, personal qualifications. Hence, no firm, partnership, corporation or association may be registered
or licensed as such for the practice of civil engineering: Provided, however, That persons properly registered and
licensed as civil engineers may, among themselves or with a person or persons properly registered and licensed as
architects, form, and obtain registration of, a firm, partnership or association using the term “Engineers” or
“Engineers and Architects,” but, nobody shall be a member or partner of such firm, partnership or association
unless he is duly licensed civil engineer or architect, and the members who are civil engineers shall only render
work and services proper for a civil engineer, as defined in this Act, and the members who are architects shall also
only render work and services proper for an architect, as defined in the law regulating the practice of architecture;
individual members of such firms, partnership or association shall be responsible for their own respective acts.

Section 26. Roster of civil engineers.” A roster showing the names and places of business of all registered civil
engineers shall be prepared by the Commissioner of PRC periodically but at least once a year. Copies of this roster
shall be placed on file with the PRC and furnished to all department heads, mayors of all chartered cities, to the
Director of Public Works, to such other Bureaus, government entities or agencies and municipal and provincial
authorities as may be deemed necessary and to the public upon request.
 NATIONAL BUILDING CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES
MALACAÑANG
Manila
PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO. 1096
ADOPTING A NATIONAL BUILDING CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES THEREBY REVISING REPUBLIC ACT NUMBERED
SIXTY-FIVE HUNDRED FORTY ONE

CHAPTER 1
GENERAL PROVISIONS

SECTION 103. Scope and Application

a. The provisions of this Code shall apply to the design, location, siting, construction, alteration, repair,
conversion, use, occupancy, maintenance, moving, demolition of, and addition to public and private
buildings and structures, except traditional indigenous family dwellings as defined herein.
b. Buildings and/or structures constructed before the approval of this Code shall not be affected thereby
except when alterations, additions, conversions or repairs are to be made therein in which case, this Code
shall apply only to portions to be altered, added, converted or repaired.

CHAPTER 2
ADMINISTRATION AND ENFORCEMENT

SECTION 205. Building Officials

Except as otherwise provided herein, the Building Official shall be responsible for carrying out the provisions of this
Code in the field as well as the enforcement of orders and decisions made pursuant thereto.
Due to the exigencies of the service, the Secretary may designate incumbent Public Works District Engineers, City
Engineers and Municipal Engineers to act as Building Officials in their respective areas of jurisdiction.
The designation made by the Secretary under this Section shall continue until regular positions of Building Official
are provided or unless sooner terminated for causes provided by law or decree.

SECTION 209. Exemption

Public buildings and traditional indigenous family dwellings shall be exempt from payment of building permit fees.
As used in this Code, the term “traditional indigenous family dwelling” means a dwelling intended for the use and
occupancy by the family of the owner only and constructed of native materials such as bamboo, nipa, logs, or
lumber, the total cost of which does not exceed fifteen thousand pesos.

SECTION 212. Administrative Fines

For the violation of any of the provisions of this Code or any of the rules or regulations issued thereunder, the
Secretary is hereby empowered to prescribe and impose fines not exceeding ten thousand pesos.
SECTION 213. Penal Provisions
It shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation, to erect, construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, improve,
remove, convert, demolish, equip, use, occupy, or maintain any building or structure or cause the same to be done
contrary to or in violation of any provision of this Code.
Any person, firm or corporation who shall violate any of the provisions of this Code and/or commit any act hereby
declared to be unlawful shall upon conviction, be punished by a fine of not more than twenty thousand pesos or by
imprisonment of not more than two years or by both such fine and imprisonment: Provided, that in the case of a
corporation firm, partnership or association, the penalty shall be imposed upon its officials responsible for such
violation and in case the guilty party is an alien, he shall immediately be deported after payment of the fine and/or
service of his sentence.
CHAPTER 3
PERMITS AND INSPECTION

SECTION 301. Building Permits

No person, firm or corporation, including any agency or instrumentality of the government shall erect, construct,
alter, repair, move, convert or demolish any building or structure or cause the same to be done without first
obtaining a building permit therefor from the Building Official assigned in the place where the subject building is
located or the building work is to be done.

SECTION 302. Application for Permits

In order to obtain a building permit, the applicant shall file an application therefor in writing and on the prescribed
form from the Office of the Building Official. Every application shall provide at least the following information:
1) A description of the work to be covered by the permit applied for;
2) Certified true copy of the TCT covering the lot on which the proposed work is to be done.
If the applicant is not the registered owner, in addition to the TCT, a copy of the contract of lease shall be
submitted;
3) The use or occupancy for which the proposal work is intended;
4) Estimated cost of the proposed work.
To be submitted together with such application are at least five sets of corresponding plans and specifications
prepared, signed and sealed by a duly registered mechanical engineer in case of mechanical plans, and by a
registered electrical engineer in case of electrical plans, except in those cases exempted or not required by the
Building Official under this Code.

SECTION 303. Processing of Building Permits

The processing of building permits shall be under the overall administrative control and supervision of the Building
Official and his technical staff of qualified professionals.
In processing an application for a building permit, the Building Official shall see to it that the applicant satisfies
and conforms with approved standard requirements on zoning and land use, lines and grades, structural design,
sanitary and sewerage, environmental health, electrical and mechanical safety as well as with other rules and
regulations promulgated in accordance with the provisions of this Code.
SECTION 304. Issuance of Building Permits
When satisfied that the work described in an application for building permit and the plans and specifications
submitted therewith, conform to the requirements of this Code and other pertinent rules and regulations, the
Building Official shall, within fifteen days from payment of the required fees by the applicant, issue the building
permit applied for.
The Building Official may issue a permit for the construction of only a part or portion of a building or structure
whenever the plans and specifications submitted together with the application do not cover the entire building or
structure.
Approved plans and specifications shall not be changed, modified or altered without the approval of the Building
Official and the work shall be done strictly in accordance thereto.

SECTION 305. Validity of Building Permits

The issuance of a building permit shall not be construed as an approval or authorization to the permittee to
disregard or violate any of the provisions of this Code.
Whenever the issuance of a permit is based on approved plans and specifications which are subsequently found
defective, the Building Official is not precluded from requiring permittee to effect the necessary corrections in said
plans and specifications or from preventing or ordering the stoppage of any or all building operations being carried
on thereunder which are in violation of this Code.
A building permit issued under the provisions of this Code shall expire and become null and void if the building or
work authorized therein is not commenced within a period of one year from the date of such permit, or if the
building or work so authorized is suspended or abandoned at any time after it has been commenced, for a period
of 120 days.

SECTION 306. Non-Issuance, Suspension or Revocation of Building Permits

The Building Official may order or cause the non-issuance, suspension or revocation of building permits on any or
all the following reasons or grounds:
a. Errors found in the plans and specifications;
b. Incorrect or inaccurate data or information supplied;
c. Non-compliance with the provisions of this Code or of any rule or regulation.
Notice of non-issuance, suspension or revocation of building permits shall always be made in writing, stating the
reason or grounds therefor.

SECTION 307. Appeal

Within fifteen (15) days from the date of receipt of advice of the non-issuance, suspension or revocation of permits,
the applicant/permittee may file an appeal with the Secretary who shall render his decision within fifteen days
from date of receipt of notice of appeal. The decision of the Secretary shall be final subject only to review by the
Office of the President.
SECTION 308. Inspection and Supervision of Work
The owner of the Building who is issued or granted a building permit under this Code shall engage the services of a
duly licensed architect or civil engineer to undertake the full time inspection and supervision of the construction
work.
Such architect or civil engineer may or may not be the same architect or civil engineer who is responsible for the
design of the building.
It is understood however that in either case, the designing architect or civil engineer is not precluded from
conducting inspection of the construction work to check and determine compliance with the plans and
specifications of the building as submitted.
There shall be kept at the jobsite at all times a logbook wherein the actual progress of construction including tests
conducted, weather conditions and other pertinent data are to be recorded.
Upon completion of the construction, the said licensed architect or civil engineer shall submit the logbook, duly
signed and sealed, to the Building Official. He shall also prepare and submit a Certificate of Completion of the
project stating that the construction of building conforms to the provisions of this Code as well as with the
approved plans and specifications.

SECTION 309. Certificate of Occupancy

No building or structure shall be used or occupied and no change in the existing use or occupancy classification of
a building or structure or portion thereof shall be made until the Building Official has issued a Certificate of
Occupancy therefor as provided in this Code.
A Certificate of Occupancy shall be issued by the Building Official within thirty (30) days if after final inspection and
submittal of a Certificate of Completion referred to in the preceding Section, it is found that the building or
structure complies with the provisions of this Code.
The Certificate of Occupancy shall be posted or displayed in a conspicuous place on the premises and shall not be
removed except upon order of the Building Official.
The non-issuance, suspension and revocation of Certificates of Occupancy and the procedure for appeal
therefrom shall be governed in so far as applicable, by the provisions of Section 306 and 307 of this Code.

NSCP 2015
VOLUME 1
BUILDING, TOWERS AND OTHER VERTICAL STRUCTURES

Chapter 1: General Requirements

Chapter 2: Minimum Design Loads
Chapter 3: Earthworks and Foundations
Chapter 4: Structural Concrete
Chapter 5: Structural Steel
Chapter 6: Wood
Chapter 7: Masonry
 DPWH Blue Book
VOLUME 1: Highways, Bridges and Airport
VOLUME 2: Standard Specifications for Highways, Bridges, and Airports
VOLUME 3: Standard Specifications for Public works Structures