RA 544: Civil Engineering Law

Section 15. Exemption from registration. —

  1. Registration shall not be required of the following persons:

    1. Officers or enlisted men of the United States and Philippine Armed Forces, and civilian employees of the Government of the United States stationed in the Philippines while rendering civil engineering services for the United States and/or Philippines.

    2. Civil engineers or experts called in by the Philippine Government for consultation, or specific design and construction of fixed structures as defined under this Act, provided that their practice shall be limited to such work.

  2. Any person residing in the Philippines may make plans or specifications for any of the following:

    1. Any building in chartered cities or in towns with building ordinances, not exceeding the space requirement specified therein, requiring the services of a civil engineer.

    2. Any wooden building enlargement or alteration which is to be used for farm purposes only and costing not more than ten thousand pesos.

    3. Provided, however, That there shall be nothing in this Act that will prevent any person from constructing his own (wooden or light material) residential house, utilizing the services of a person or persons required for that purpose, without the use of a civil engineer, as long as he does not violate local ordinances of the place where the building is to be constructed.

  3. Nor shall anything in this Act prevent draftsmen, student clerk-of-work, superintendents, and other employees of those lawfully engaged in the practice of civil engineering under the provisions of this Act, from acting under the instruction, control or supervision of their employer.

  4. Nor shall anything in this Act prevent any person who prior to the approval of this Act have been lawfully engaged in the practice of "maestro be obras" to continue as such, provided they shall not undertake the making of plans supervision for the following classes of work:

    1. Building of concrete whether reinforced or not.

    2. Building of more than two stories.

    3. Building with frames of structural steel.

    4. Building of structures intended for public gathering or assemblies such as theaters, cinematographs, stadia, churches, or structures of like nature.

  5. Nor shall anything in this Act prevent professional architects and engineers to practice their professions.