PP 413: PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE II ADMINISTERING THE

REGULAR SERVICES OF THE ARCHITECT

MODULE 1 - THE ARCHITECT:
1.1 An overview of what the architect and the profession is all about:
A. The Architect & the Architecture Profession:

A.1 Definition from Wikipedia Encyclopedia:

An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction
buildings, and licensed to practice architecture. To practice architecture means to offer
render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group
buildings and the space within the site surrounding the buildings, which have as the
principal purpose human occupancy or use.
A.2 Definition
from
the
Professional
www.architectureboard.ph)

Regulatory

Board

of

Architecture

(PRBo

The architecture profession is a several thousand-old profession that dates back to th

antiquities i.e. pre-Greek civilizations, etc., circa 4,000 B.C., making it about 6,000 years ol

It was the profession of the master builders i.e. arkhitekton in Greek;

It is internationally associated with; and is dictionary-defined as the profession most relate

to; BUILDINGS i.e. structures used for habitation and related uses.

A.3 Definitions from RA 9266 "An Act To Regulate The Practice Of Architecture In The Philippines:

"Architecture" is the art, science or profession of planning, designing and constructin

buildings in their totality taking into account their environment, in accordance with th
principles of utility, strength and beauty;

"Architect" means a person professionally and academically qualified, registered an

licensed under this Act with a Certificate of Registration and Professional Identification Ca
issued by the Professional Regulatory Board of Architecture and the Professional Regulatio
Commission, and who is responsible for advocating the fair and sustainable developmen
welfare and cultural expression of societys habitat in terms of space, forms and historic
context;

"General Practice of Architecture" means:

o

the act of planning and architectural designing, structural conceptualization, specifyin

supervising and giving general administration and responsible direction to the erectio
enlargement or alterations of buildings and building environments and architectural desig
in engineering structures or any part thereof;

the scientific, aesthetic and orderly coordination of all the processes which enter into th
production of a complete building or structure performed through the medium of unbiase
preliminary studies of plans, consultations, specifications, conferences, evaluation
investigations, contract documents and oral advice and directions regardless of wheth
the persons engaged in such practice are residents of the Philippines or have the
principal office or place of business in this country or another territory, and regardless
whether such persons are performing one or all these duties, or whether such duties a
performed in person or as the directing head of an office or organization performing them

A.4 Number of Registered Architects (RAs) and Registered & Licensed Architects (RLAs) as of 0
March 2011:

AR. ARNULFO
DIEGOR

PP 413: PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE II ADMINISTERING THE

REGULAR SERVICES OF THE ARCHITECT

Per information issued by the PRC Registration Division on 08 March 2011, there are alread
26,608 registered architects (RAs), with only 10,103 (37.97%) of said RAs as actu
registered and licensed architects (RLAs) i.e. RAs who renewed their PRC ID card
(representing the 3-year license to practice), over the 3-year period March 2008 throug
February 2011.
To lawfully practice architecture in the Philippines, a RA must also be a RLA i.e. possessin
both the valid PRC Certificate of Registration and the PRC ID card.

A.5 The Not-So Recent Past: (Adapted from a Philippine Star article Philippine architecture in th
1950s by Paulo Alcazaren September 07, 2002)
A Century Of Professional Architectural Practice:
The first Filipino architect with an academic title to practice in the country was Felix Roxas
Arroyo (GMAs relative?). Don Felix studied in London and returned in 1858. He served a
municipal architect of Manila from 1877-1880.
The first academic school to train maestros de obras (master builders) wa
theEscuelaPractica y Professional de Artes y Oficios de Manila, which was established
1890. Among the first graduates of this school was Arcadio Arellano, elder brother of Jua
who later became active in city politics in the early part of the American period.
The first professional architectural organization and precursor of the Philippine Institute
Architects was the Academia de Arquitectura y Agrimensura de Filipinas. It was founded o
September 14, 1902. Architects have been organized here in the Philippines for over
century, just a few years after the Americans established their own AIA and well ahead
any country in Southeast Asia.
Recognition, Recovery And Renaissance:
Architects had difficulty in the early years in terms of recognition from government, clien
and the general public. Competition for what they did came from the civil engineers wh
were more recognized and acknowledged by the public. It was only in 1921 that th
National Assembly passed a law to recognize engineers and architects. In that year, 3
architects were officially registered. Registration No. 1 was given to Tomas Mapua, followe
by Carlos Barreto (the first pensionado architect) and Antonio Toledo. There were 2
Filipinos, seven Americans, two Germans and one Spaniard registered to practic
architecture in the country. By 1941, this number reached close to a hundred. A new la
with a separate statute for architects was about to be passed then but the war got in th
way.
The countrys post-war recovery was helped to a great extent by Filipino architects, wh
quickly reorganized just four months after "liberation." The organization changed its nam
to the Philippine Institute of Architects to reflect the groups maturity and stature. The fir
post-war board included Fernando Ocampo as president, Gines Rivera as vice president an
members including Juan Nakpil, Carlos Barreto, Luis Araneta and Gabriel Formoso.
The 1950s was the decade that Filipino architects sought to emerge from the constraints
post-war difficulties. Modernism in architecture took a while to reach these shores due
lack of building materials, technology and opportunity. But the increasing econom
recovery of the later 50s saw an equivalent increase in building both in quantity, quality an
quirkiness. Experimentation in cast concrete led to faades, massing and buildin
silhouettes never before seen. Locsins UP chapel, Concios Protestant Chapel (also in UP
and Marcos de Guzmans saucer house are prime examples.
A.6 Important Issues and Concerns: (Adapted from PRBoA www.architectureboard.ph)

RA 9266 prescribes that ONLY registered and licensed architects (RLAs) shall practic
architecture for ALL buildings on Philippine soil.

In May 2005, the 2004 Revised IRR of the NBCP (which echoed RA 9266s requirement th

AR. ARNULFO
DIEGOR

PP 413: PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE II ADMINISTERING THE

REGULAR SERVICES OF THE ARCHITECT

only RLAs can sign & seal architectural documents) took full effect. Immediately afterward
the civil engineers through the PICE secured a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) and a W
of Preliminary Injunction (WPI) in a Manila Court to stop its full implementation.

These temporary restraining orders (TROs) and the injunction secured by the PICE we
based on the intercalated (and wrongly worded) text of Sec. 302 of P.D. No. 1096 whic
purported that CEs can sign and seal ARCHITECTURAL PLANS/ documents;

On 29 January 2008, the injunction was LIFTED/ DISSOLVED through a Decision promulgate
by the Court (Manila RTC Branch 22) which was further affirmed by a Court Order on 04 Ma
2009. Despite the executory nature of the Decision & Court Order, the DPWH and LGU
refused to comply;

While it may be true that the PICE has filed a notice of appeal with the Court of Appea
(CA), there is apparently NO TRO/ injunction issued by the CA as of 09 December 2009;

The UAP-IAPoA Report delivered on 05 Sep 2009 mentioned the Cities of Davao and Butua
(Mindanao); Tacloban and Iloilo (Visayas); and Legaspi and Vigan (Luzon) and The Province
Cavite (Luzon) as the only LGUs which are fully implementing & enforcing RA 9266.

As of 09 December 2009, the DPWH apparently continues to resist not only the Court Ord
but also fail to implement/ enforce R.A No. 9266 and even the NBCP itself, the very law th
DPWH is supposed to fully implement/ enforce.

B. The Architect& The Law:

B.1 The Virtues of an Architect by Marcus Vitruvius Polio:

May the Architect be high-minded; not arrogant, but faithful; Just, and easy to deal wit
without avarice; Not let his mind be occupied in receiving gifts, But let him preserve h
good name with dignity
B.2 The Value of an Architect (From UAP Document Architects National Code):

The Architect creates mans environment through his awareness and sensitive handling
spaces that fit the scale of human experience. The resulting quality of the form-envelop
manifested as a structure or building gives rise to mans appreciation of beauty and order
his physical world.

The Architects deliberation determine how people will be placed in relationship one
another, how whole societies will work, play, eat, sleep, recreate, travel, worship, or in sho
how people will live in consonance with their culture and national aspirations.

His objective is to bring order to mans environment to cause it to function properly within
structure that is safe and healthful and to impart to the whole a beauty and distinction th
is appropriate to our time.

B.3 The Spectrum of the Architects Services:

The Architect's services extends over the entire range of activities that proceed from th
time the idea is conceived, transformed into sets of space/ design requirements, translate
into structure through design, built, used and become a permanent feature of the man-mad
environment.
o

The Architect's services consist of the necessary conferences, deliberations, discussion

evaluations, investigations, consultations, advice on matters affecting the scientifi
aesthetic and orderly coordination of all the processes of safeguarding life, health, an

AR. ARNULFO
DIEGOR

PP 413: PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE II ADMINISTERING THE

REGULAR SERVICES OF THE ARCHITECT

property which enter into the production of different levels and sophistication of ma
made structures and environment.

The Architect, in the process of translating abstract ideas into meaningful concre
terms,produces documents in the form of a data base report, an architectural program,
feasibilitystudy, a market study, an appraisal report, an impact analysis report, a spac
organizational set-up report, a site planning analysis and evaluation report, an operation
programming report,building programming and scheduling report.

A complete and detailed documentation of construction or erection drawings

preparedconsisting of the architectural plans, the structural plans, the electrical plan
theplumbing/sanitary plans, the mechanical/air-conditioning plans, the civil work plans, th
technicalspecifications and the other bid documents.

Aside from these, the Architect can prepare the post construction managementdocument
the operating manual, the maintenance manual and other forms of written andgraphic
documentations necessary for the effective and efficient functioning of the ma
madestructures and environment.

An appreciation of this scope of services of the Architect will bring into focus the crucialro
that the Architect assumes in the realization of abstract ideas into tangible an
meaningfulterms.Between abstract ideas and the physical world, stands the Architect.

B.4 Philippine Laws on the Preparation of Architectural Documents:

R.A. No. 9266 (The Architecture Act of 2004) & its 2004 IRR (governing the practice of th
regulated profession of architecture and architectural interiors, as implemented by the PR
and the Professional Regulatory Board of Architecture/PRBoA);

P.D. No. 1096 (The 1977 National Building Code of the Philippines/ NBCP) & its 2004 Revise
IRR (governing the minimum site planning, architectural and architectural interior standard
to be satisfied in the architectural, engineering and allied planning and design of building
(structures for human habitation), as implemented by the DPWH through the LGU Offices
Building Officials/ OBOs); the 2004 Revised IRR is in full effect.

R.A. No. 9514 & its 2009 IRR (Fire Code of the Philippines, as implemented by the DILG th
the LGU Fire Marshals);

B.P. No. 344 & its IRR (Law on Accessibility for Disabled Persons), as implemented by variou
agencies. (Assign class to download a copy of Amended IRR of BP344)

B.5 R.A. 386 Civil Code of the Philippines (1949):

Book I Effect & Application of Laws
(Articles 1 413)

Book II Property,
Modifications
(Articles 414 711)

Book IV Obligations & Contracts

(Articles 1156 2270)

&

Book III Different Modes of Acquiring

Ownership
(Articles 712 1155)

Article 48, amended by the 1987 Constitution

Titles III, IV, V, VI, VIII, IX, XI, and XV of Book 1, repealed by Executive Order 209, 6 July 198
Art. 1723:

AR. ARNULFO
DIEGOR

Ownership

PP 413: PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE II ADMINISTERING THE

REGULAR SERVICES OF THE ARCHITECT
o

o
o

The engineer or architect who drew up the plans and specifications for a building is liab
for damages if within fifteen years from the completion of the structure, the same shou
collapse by reason of a defect in those plans and specifications, or due to the defects
the ground. The contractor is likewise responsible for the damages if the edifice fal
within the same period, on account of defects in the construction or the use of materials
inferior quality furnished by him, or due to any violation of the terms of the contract. If th
engineer or architect supervises the construction, he shall be solidarily liable with th
contractor.
Acceptance of the building, after completion, does not imply waiver of any of the cause
action by reason of any defect mentioned in the preceding paragraph.
The action must be brought within ten years following the collapse of the building.

B.6 What are Architectural Documents?

Per RA 9266 Section 3 (18), architectural documents pertains to architectural drawing
specifications, and other outputs of an Architect that only an Architect can sign and se
consisting, among others, of vicinity maps, site development plans, architectural program
perspective drawings, architectural floor plans, elevations, sections, ceiling plans, schedule
detailed drawings, technical specifications and cost estimates, and other instruments
service in any form.

Generally, architectural documents include architectural research documents and repor

and architectural and space programs which are the sole bases for the architectural plan
the architectural designs, architectural specifications and estimates, architectural tende
bid documents and periodic construction supervision reports for both building and si
development projects.
B.7 3 D Wheel of a Building Project:

C. Architects and Society:

C.1 What roles do architects play in society?

Architects responsibility to society is to make sure that not the structure alone but als
its physical environment can enhance the lives of all people. Architects relate n

AR. ARNULFO
DIEGOR

PP 413: PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE II ADMINISTERING THE

REGULAR SERVICES OF THE ARCHITECT

only to purely design & build professions but to allied professions as well, to achiev
totality in design.

Architects design buildings that address social needs and

environmental and humanitarian problems through architecture.

Architects must be psychologists, sociologists, economists, and artists.

Architects must also be engineers, for they must be able to construct structurally stab
buildings.

Architects must take into account four basic and closely interrelated necessities: technic
requirements, use, spatial relationships, and content.

So in summary, an architect helps to build the evolution of society by physica

manifesting items of culture in the form of spatial concepts where representations of cultu
meet the human mind in a multi-sensory locality. An architect has a physical senso
responsibility to the people who experience the constructed space while also acting as a
artist and painting the picture that we call society.

attempts

to

resolv

C.2 Why hire an Architect? (from Architecture Social Network)

Architects have a lot to offer to a changing world. Architects can apply their creativ
problem solving skills for wider developmental benefit in concert with other bu
environment professionals.

An architect has to look at all scales of human interaction understanding the smallest deta
to the big picture.

Architecture involves much more than buildings. Architects take the clients vision and giv
it form, explore its possibilities, raise it to new levels, and then integrate it into the buildin
site and the community at large. Architects bring not only design, but solutions.

C.3 The Building Enterprise:

(From Wikipedia) Small firms with less than 5 people usually have no formal organization
structure, depending on the personal relationships of the principals and employees
organize the work. Medium-sized firms with 5 to 50 employees are often organize
departmentally in departments such as design, production, business development, an
construction administration. Large firms of over 50 people may be organize
departmentally, regionally, or in studios specializing in project types.

Architectural Firm:(From RA 9266) a sole proprietorship, a partnership or a corporatio

registered with the DTI AND/ORSEC and then with the Board of Architecture and PRC.
o

Sole Proprietorship: an individual Architect practicing and delivering architectural services

Partnership: a group of two or more Architects practicing and delivering architectur

services.

Corporation: a group of professionals in architecture and allied professions incorporate

with Architects for delivering professional service in architecture and allied professions.

Association: any formal grouping of two or more architects or architectural firms working
joint venture on aproject basis.

C.4 Public Interest and Safety:

AR. ARNULFO
DIEGOR

PP 413: PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE II ADMINISTERING THE

REGULAR SERVICES OF THE ARCHITECT

Architects must ensure the occupantshealth & well-being;&mitigate the effects of natur
phenomenon such as earthquakes, typhoons, tsunamis &flash flooding.

Architects must ensure occupants safety in case of fire.

Human behavior aside, fire is the most complicated phenomenon that the archite
encounters. Structure, plumbing, and ventilation are all tame, well behaved, and qui
predictable. But fire, as a combination of physics, chemistry, geometry, structure, an
materials that are intimately connected with human behavior, is perhaps the least we
defined common occurrence. And fire relates to nearly all elements of a buildings design

Fire safety has specific effects and raises specific concerns for each building element, fro
site placement through alarm systems, structural design, environmental controls, an
aesthetics. To produce a functional building, it is necessary to understand the impact
fire safety considerations on all of these areas.

Professionally, an architect's decisions affect public safety, and thus an architect mu

undergo specialized training consisting of advanced education and a practicum (
internship) for practical experience to earn a license to practice architecture.

AR. ARNULFO
DIEGOR

PP 413: PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE II ADMINISTERING THE

REGULAR SERVICES OF THE ARCHITECT
1.2 Professional Education and Training

A. The Architects Education:

From the UNESCO/UIA Charter for Architectural Education:
o Architectural education should ensure that all graduates have knowledge and ability
architectural design, including technical systems and requirements as well
consideration of health, safety, and ecological balance; that they understand the cultura
intellectual, historical, social, economic, and environmental context for architecture; an
that they comprehend thoroughly the architects roles and responsibilities in society, whic
depend on a cultivated, analytical and creative mind.

A.1 Apprenticeship and Diversified Training:

From the UIA Accord: Practical experience/training/internship is a directed and structure
activity in the practice of architecture during architectural education and/or following recei
of a professional degree but prior to registration/licensing/certification. To compleme
academic
preparation
in
order
to
protect
the
public,
applicants
f
registration/licensing/certification must integrate their formal education through practic
training.
From RA 9266: A post-baccalaureate, pre-licensure experience of two (2) years required of
graduate of architecture prior to taking the licensure examination; consisting of a variatio
of experiences in the different phases of architectural service.

AR. ARNULFO
DIEGOR

PP 413: PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE II ADMINISTERING THE

REGULAR SERVICES OF THE ARCHITECT
A.2 Continuing Professional Development:

From the UIA Accord (International Union of Architects):

Continuing professional development does not refer to formal education leading to

moreadvanced degree, but to a life-long learning process that maintains, enhances,
increases theknowledge and skills of architects to ensure their knowledge and abili
relevant to the needs ofsociety.The policy of the UIA encourages its member sections
advocate continuing professionaldevelopment as the responsibility of each individu
architect. Continuing professionaldevelopment for architects is also in the public interest.

RA 9266 Section 28 requires all practicing architects shall maintain a program of continuin
professional development to promote public interest and to safeguard life, health an
property. The integrated and accredited professional organization shall have th
responsibility of developing acontinuingprofessional development program for architects.

Architects must devote time to maintainexisting skills, broadenknowledge, and explore ne

areas. This is increasingly important to keep abreast with new technologies, methods
practice, and changing social and ecological conditions.

The IAPOA UAP requires continuing professional development for renewal and continuatio
of membership.

1.3 Professional Life:

A. Role of Professional Bodies:

From the UIA Accord:

o

Architects, whether self employed or employees, are generally controlled by a regulatin

body in charge of ensuring that laws, decrees, and professional standards are applied an
observed by all members of the profession.

In many countries, professional bodies have also been established for the advancement
architecture, for the promotion of knowledge, and to protect the public interest b
ensuring that their members perform to a known standard.

Before defining what an architects professional body should be it is necessary to recall th

context of globalization and the guiding principles of the General Agreement on Trade
Services (GATS). The fundamental objectives of GATS are the same as that of the Wor
Trade Organizations (WTO) objectives for goods - to ensure the balance of world trad
through the liberalization of markets and to build the process of liberalization on sol
foundations.

Professional Regulatory Commission Professional Board of Architecture (PRBoA): create

under RA 9266 to regulate the practice &enhancethe architecture profession; and th
upgrading, development and growth of thearchitecture education.

Integrated & Accredited Professional Organization of Architects: RA 9266 mandated th

integration of the architecture profession into one national organization. When RA 9266 too
effect in 2004, the United Architects of the Philippines (UAP) was the existing duly accredite
organization & remains so until today.

AR. ARNULFO
DIEGOR

PP 413: PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE II ADMINISTERING THE

REGULAR SERVICES OF THE ARCHITECT

B. Professional Practice of Architecture in the Philippines:

RA 9266 Section 41 mandated the adoption & promulgation of Standards of Professional
Practice (SPP).
The SPP is a document which defines all aspects of professional service, prescribes minimu
basic fees and establishes the rights and obligations of both the Architect and the client.
The SPP replaced the 1979 UAP Documents 201 through 210.
o SPP 201:
Pre-Design Services
o SPP 202:
Regular Design Services
o SPP 203:
Specialized Architectural Services
o SPP 204a:
Full Time Supervision Services
o SPP 204b:
Construction Management Services
o SPP 205:
Post Construction Services
o SPP 206:
Comprehensive Architectural Services
o SPP 207:
Design-Build Services
o SPP 208:
Architectural Design Competition
o SPP 209:
Professional Architectural Consulting Services
1.4 Professional Ethics: Professional responsibility is the area of the practice that
encompasses the duties of architects to act in a professional manner, obey the law,
avoid conflicts of interest, and put the interests of clients ahead of their own interests.
A. From the UIA Accord:

A code of ethics and conduct establishes a professional standard of behavior that guid
architects in the conductof their practices. Architects should observe and follow the code
ethics and conduct for each jurisdiction in whichthey practice.

Rules of ethics and conduct have as their primary object the protection of the public, carin
for the less powerful andthe general social welfare, as well as the advancement of th
interests of the profession of architecture.

B. Code of Ethical Conduct: As promulgated by Section 41, RA 9266:

Section 1. Traits of Architects. - The profession of Architecture calls for men and women
the highest integrity, responsiveness, business acumen, sensibility, as well as artistic an
technical ability.

Section 2. Duties and Responsibilities. - The Architect's honesty of purpose must be beyon
reproach; acts as professional adviser to Clients and provides unprejudiced advice; charge
with the exercise of mediation and conciliation functions between Client and Contractor an
must act with entire impartiality; has moral responsibilities to professional associates an
subordinates; and engaged in a profession which carries with it grave responsibilities to th
public. These duties and responsibilities cannot be properly discharged unless motive
conduct, sense of moral values, sensitivity, and ability are such as to command respect an
confidence.

++ End of Module 1 ++

AR. ARNULFO
DIEGOR

10