Section 29. Special/Temporary Permits for Foreign Environmental Planners. —
The practice of foreign environmental planners in the Philippines shall be limited to natural persons only and shall be governed by the provisions of Republic Act No. 8981, otherwise known as the "Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) Modernization Act of 2000": Provided, That any foreign national who has gained entry in the Philippines to perform professional services as an environmental planner or render such services or prepare or produce such documents as are within the scope of practice of environmental planners as set forth in this Act, such as, but not limited to, being a consultant in foreign-funded or assisted projects of the government or employed or engaged by Filipino or foreign contractors or private firms, whether or not the nomenclature of his/her profession is specifically called in his/her country of nationality as environmental planner, but who does not meet or wish to comply with the requirements for admission to take the licensure examinations shall, before assuming the duties, functions and responsibilities as environmental planner or consultant, secure a Temporary/Special Permit from the Board, subject to the approval of the Commission and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), to practice his/her profession in connection with the project to which he/she was commissioned: Provided, That the following conditions are satisfied:
That he/she is a citizen or subject or a country which specifically permits Filipino professionals to practice their profession within the territorial limits on the same basis as the subjects or citizens of such foreign country or State;
That he/she is legally qualified to practice environmental planning in his/her own country, and that his/her expertise is necessary and advantageous to the Philippines, particularly in the aspects of technology transfer and specialization;
That he/she shall be required to work with a Filipino counterpart, a natural person who is a registered and licensed environmental planner, and professional services fees and expenses of documentation pertaining to the project shall be proportionately shared by both foreign and Filipino environmental planners, including liabilities and taxes due to the Philippine government, if any, relative to his/her participation therein, or professional services rendered to the project in accordance with established rules and regulations; and
That he/she shall obtain an employment permit from the DOLE: Provided, That the employment permit may be issued to a non-resident alien or to the applicant-employer after a determination by the Commission and the Board of the non-availability of a person in the Philippines who is competent, able and willing at the time of application to perform the services for which the foreign expert is being invited.