By Alexander Villafania
QUEZON CITY, METRO MANILA - Changes in the 55-year old Republic Act 544, or the Civil Engineering Law, are being sought to improve the quality of civil engineers in the Philippines as well as to ensure adaption to new practices that include climate change and disaster management.
Representative Aurelio Gonzales, Jr. (3rd district, Pampanga) is pushing for House Bill 4456, which seeks to improve the civil engineering law and make it at par with international standards.
This should help Filipino civil engineers cope with formidable challenges. The proposal states Accredited Professional Organization of Civil Engineers (APOCE) shall replace the Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers (PICE), which is the official national organization of all registered civil engineers in the Philippines.
The APOCE's latest version of the Civil Engineering Code would form part of the implementing rules and regulations.
The APOCE would also issue certificate of specialization to a registered civil engineer who has demonstrated advanced knowledge, experience, education, research and training. This would be part of civil engineers' continuing education.
All registered civil engineers shall take their oath as members of the APOCE. The Board shall not issue a certificate to any person who is not a member of good standing in the APOCE.
Gonzales said there are at least 100,000 civil engineers in the Philippines.
“The civil engineer’s role used to be confined to the application of technical knowledge with a broad range of issues to deal with but now, the civil engineer has to face the challenges of integrating the socio-economic and environmental issue with the technical aspects of construction projects,” Gonzales said in a statement.
