Section 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 of 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 electric 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 equipment 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.