MODULE 3 2.

2 CONSULTATIONS, RESEARCH,
INVESTIGATIONS AND REPORTS
SECTION 2
These services deal primarily with collecting,
CLASSIFICATION OF ENGINEERING interpreting, and reporting information, together with
SERVICES formulating conclusions and making
recommendations. Typical services in this category
2.1 GENERAL
are:
The needs for professional civil engineering services 2.2.1 Preliminary and Feasibility Investigations
vary, and the civil engineering firms that meet these and Reports
needs vary in organizational structure, size, and
capability. Many civil engineering firms provide These services usually precede the authorization of a
comprehensive services to the client, while other capital project and may involve extensive
firms specialize in areas of engineering, such as investigations, analyses of conditions, and
geotechnical or structural, and transportation, water
comparison of several possible plans. These studies
and construction management, and provide their
services to a prime engineer, architect, or owner. Few may include the impact of a project upon the
civil engineering firms are qualified to provide environment, sustainable development, operating
complete service for all projects, and the use of costs, life- cycle costs, financing considerations, and
associate professionals to provide specialized expected revenues as bases for conclusions and
services is common. Services provided by Civil recommendations regarding the advisability of
Engineers can be grouped into five broad categories: undertaking a project.
1. Consultations, research, investigations, and 2.2.2 Planning Studies
reports.
These services may include the broad areas of
2. Design services for construction projects. developing the engineering requirements of master
plans for long-range capital. improvement programs;
3. Construction services.
preparation of preliminary engineering alp of land
4. Special services for construction projects. development plans, urban plans, and regional plans;
and the investigation of environmental conditions
5. Engineering support services.
and preparation of environmental impact studies with
6. Academic services. subsequent engineering planning to improve or
maintain existing conditions. Such planning often
7. Services as Employee.
requires coordination of the work of many
The types of infrastructure under the domain of civil engineering and other disciplines.
engineering, pursuant to RA 544, as amended,
2.2.3 Appraisals, Valuations and Rate Studies
include:
1. Streets, bridges, highways and railroads These services may include investigations and
analyses of existing conditions; capital and operating
2. Airports and hangars costs; overhead costs and costs of financing; and
3. Portworks, canals, river and shore improvements, revenues as needed to evaluate a property or to
light houses and dry docks recommend establishment of prospective rates.

4. Buildings 2.2.4 Assistance in Financial Matters

5. Fixed structures for irrigation, flood protection,
The Civil Engineer may be engaged by a client who
drainage, water supply and sewerage works
is planning to issue bonds, particularly revenue
6. Tunnels bonds, to finance a capital project. The scope of
services may include an evaluation of capabilities of
The coverage of civil engineering has not been
existing or proposed facilities to meet present and
changed nor diminished by subsequent laws.
projected future needs, statements of probable
construction costs, and an estimate of annual revenue
requirements, with a determination of appropriate
rates to provide this income.
2.2.5 Materials Engineering and Equipment Tests • Sales and marketing services
• Expert witness
These services include tests of materials and
• Representation of municipal or private
equipment under established codes and standards,
entities in projects proposed for privatization
specialized examination of equipment and materials
used in construction and industry, and other 2.3 DESIGN SERVICES FOR
inspections and monitoring required by a client. CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS

2.2.6 Direct Personal Services Civil engineering services are required for each
of six typical phases of a construction project. All
This includes services such as assistance in services are preferably furnished by the same
preparation for legal proceedings. Appearances Civil Engineer for consistency and efficiency,
before courts or commissions to render expert although at times services in various phases are
opinions and conclusions, and investigations of furnished by different engineers or by the client.
technical matters where judgment is required The services are supplemented by special
engineering knowledge, experience, and judgment is services which may be provided by the client, a
required. specialized engineer, or another Civil Engineer.

2.2.7 Research and Development The six standard phases of a construction project
and the engineering services needed for each are:
Research is a specialized investigation and gathering
of data from existing resources or through laboratory Study and Report Phase. Analysis of the client's
works and processes related to the purpose and object needs, Conceptual design, conceptual opinions of
of the research. Research and development may probable constructor cost.
cover the following:
Preliminary Design Phase. Preparation of final
(a) Development of new construction materials and design criteria, preliminary drawings, outline
methods from concept to commercialization. specifications, and preliminary opinions of
probable construction cost.
(b) Improvement of construction materials and
methods through exhaustive studies to reduce total Final Design Phase. Preparation of design
construction cost and at the same time improve calculations, construction drawings,
quality. specifications, estimated construction cost, and
other contract documents.
2.2.8 Special Services
Bidding or Negotiating Phase. Assistance to the
These services can vary to suit special needs of the client with the bidding or negotiating process for
client and can include such diverse activities as: construction of the project.

• Value engineering Construction Phase. Advice and Consultation on

• Appraisal and valuation matters related to his services.
• Load testing
• Environmental evaluations Operation Phase. Assistance to the client in start-
• Traffic engineering up and operation of the project, including
periodic inspections.
• Forensic engineering for structural and other
failures 2.3.1 Study and Report Phase
• Operational assistance
• Materials process design This phase involves determination of project
• Pilot studies scope and economic and technical evaluation of
• Computer modeling feasible alternatives. The services performed
• Safety engineering during this phase may include:
• Topographic, sounding and boundary survey
1. Reviewing available data and consulting with
engineering
the client to clarify and define the client's
• Toxic and hazardous waste evaluation
requirements for the project.
• Permit and application services
 approving and regulatory governmental
2. Advising the client as to the necessity of agencies and applicable utilities of the type
providing or obtaining from other additional described under the study and report phase
data or services and assisting the client in above aft required and assisting the client in
obtaining such data and services. These obtaining such data and services.
additional services may include
photogrammetry, reconnaissance surveys 3. Preparing preliminary design documents
property surveys, topographic surveys, consisting of final design criteria, preliminary
geotechnical investigations and drawings, outline specifications, and written
consultations, seismicity studies, compilation descriptions of the project.
of hydrological data, traffic studies, materials
engineering, assembly of zoning, deed and 4. Preparing revised estimates of probable
other restrictive land use information, and total project costs.
environmental assessments and impact
statements. 5. Providing periodic status reports.

3. Identifying and analyzing requirements of 2.3.3 Final Design Phase

governmental authorities having jurisdiction
to approve the design of the project and This phase of project development is usually
participating in consultations with such undertaken only after the client has approved
authorities. the preliminary design phase material. The
basic services for the final design phase may
4. Providing analyses of the client’s needs, include:
planning surveys, comparative evaluations of
1. Preparing construction drawings and
prospective sites and solutions.
specifications showing the character and
extent of the project based on the accepted
5. Providing a general economic analysis of
preliminary design documents.
the client's requirements applicable to various
alternatives.
2. Preparing and furnishing to the client a
revised estimate of probable total project
6. Preparing a report and presenting
costs based on the final drawings and
alternative solutions available to the client
specifications.
with the Civil Engineer's findings and
recommendations. The report may contain
3. Furnishing the necessary engineering data
schematic layouts, sketches, conceptual
and assisting in the application for regulatory
design criteria with appropriate exhibits to
permits from local, or national authorities.
indicate clearly the considerations involved
This is distinguished from and does not
(including applicable requirements of
include detailed applications and supporting
governmental authorities having jurisdiction)
documents for government grants-in-aid or
and the Civil Engineers conceptional opinion
planning grants that would be in furnished as
of probable costs for the project.
additional services described later in this
section.
2.3.2 Preliminary Design Phase
4. Preparing basic documents related to
This phase involves the establishment of the
construction contracts for review and
general size and scope of the project and its
approval by the client (and the client's legal
location on the selected site. The preliminary
and other advisors). These may include
design services may include:
contract agreement forms, general conditions
and supplementary conditions, invitations to
1. Consulting with the client, reviewing
bid, instructions to bidders, insurance and
preliminary reports, clarifying and defining
bonding requirements, and other contract-
the project requirements, reviewing available
related documents.
data, and discussing general scheduling.
Conferences may also be required with
5. Furnishing to the client specified number of with service as the client's representative.
copies of drawings, specifications and other Most Civil Engineers are not willing to
contract documents. assume the responsibilities associated with
construction phase services without
6. Providing final design and construction providing resident project representative
services for design- build contracts. The services at the site. Construction phase
engineer generally serves as a subcontractor services may include:
to a general contractor during the initial
planning and design phases. Services 1. Reviewing, for compliance with design
provided by the engineer may extend through concepts, shop and erection drawings
the construction phase, as appropriate. submitted by the constructors.

7. Providing periodic status reports. 2. Reviewing laboratory, shop, and mill test
reports on materials and equipment.
2.3.4 Bidding or Negotiating Phase
Services under this phase may include: 3. Visiting the project site at appropriate
intervals as construction proceeds to observe
1. Assisting the client in advertising for and and report on the progress and the quality of
obtaining bids or negotiating proposals for the executed work.
each separate prime construction contract,
maintaining a record of prospective bidders 4. Providing services during construction by
to whom bidding documents have been a full-time resident project representative,
issued, attending pre-bid conferences, and and by supporting staff as required, to enable
receiving and processing deposits for bidding construction to be accomplished in
documents. conformance to the construction drawings,
specifications, and other contract
2. Issuing addenda as appropriate to interpret,
clarify, expand or amend the bidding 5. Issuing instructions from the client to the
documents. contractors, issuing necessary interpretations
and clarifications of contract documents,
3. Assisting the client in determining the preparing change orders, requiring special
qualifications and acceptability of inspections and testing of the work, and
prospective contractors, subcontractors and recommendations as to acceptability of the
materials suppliers. work.

4. Consulting with and advising the client as 6. Making recommendations to the client on
to the acceptability of alternative materials corrective actions or contractual measures
and equipment proposed by the of that may be exercised by the owner.
prospective constructors when substitution
prior to the award of contracts is allowed by 7. Preparing sketches required to resolve
the bidding documents. problems due to actual field conditions
encountered.
5. Attending the bid opening, preparing bid
tabulation sheets and providing assistance to 8. Determining amounts of progress
the client in evaluating bids of proposals and payments due, based on degree of completion
in assembling and awarding contracts for of the work, and recommending issuance of
construction, materials, equipment and such payments by the client.
services.
9. Observing and assisting performance tests
2.3.5 Construction Phase and initial operation of the project.

Services under this phase involve consulting 10. Preparing record drawings from
with and advising the client during information submitted by the contractor.
construction and are usually those associated
11. Making a final inspection and reporting Civil Engineer when employed is similarly
on completion of the project, including required to comply with the code of ethics of
recommendations concerning final payments the profession as the consulting Civil
to contractors and release of retained Engineer.
percentages.
2.5 SPECIAL SERVICES FOR
2.3.6 Operation Phase CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS

At the completion of construction, the Civil Special services required during the study,
Engineer may as a basic service, assist in the design, construction and operation phases of
start-up of project operations. The Civil a construction project may include
Engineer may be commissioned to prepare a investigations, reports, and activities beyond
manual for both operation and maintenance the scope of the basic services. These
requirements, and may also provide services, many of which are also listed earlier
assistance in adjusting and balancing in this section under the category
equipment, identifying deficiencies and "Consultations, Investigations, and Reports,"
assisting in obtaining corrections, and may relate to the client's decisions as to the
performing inspection prior to the end of the feasibility, scope, and location of the project.
project warranty period. The Civil Engineer The research, compilation of engineering
may assist in operator training, setting up job data, and acquisition of property may involve
classifications and salaries, organizing of professional specialists in engineering and
supplies, developing charts for recording other fields.
operational data, operations. observing
reporting on project operations. Special services that may be provided by the
Civil Engineer or negotiated with other firms
2.4 CONSTRUCTION SERVICES or subconsultants by the Civil Engineer
acting on behalf of the client could include:
A registered Civil Engineer may engage in
construction contracting after being licensed 1. Geotechnical engineering - including test
as a contractor by the Contractors borings, sampling and analysis, and
Accreditation Board. It is considered recommendations.
unethical for a civil engineer to allow his
license to be used by any other construction 2. Special studies, tests, and process
company except his own. determinations to establish design criteria or
demonstrate compliance.
A registered Civil Engineer may provide the
services of a supporting technical employee 3. Land surveys, establishment of boundaries
as required of a construction company. He and monuments, preparation of easement
shall however, be paid the professional fees, descriptions, and related computations and
in addition to his regular salary, for any drawings.
design work he performs for which he signs
as professional Civil Engineer and/or 4. Engineering and topographic surveys for
engineer on record. design and construction.

A Civil Engineer may be employed as a 5. Mill, shop, or laboratory inspections of the

construction engineer, resident Civil materials and equipment.
Engineer, project engineer, quality control
engineer, cost engineer or engineer inspector 6. Additional copies of reports, construction
in a project. In accordance with Section 23 of drawings, specifications, and other
RA 544, only registered Civil Engineers can documents as required for bidding and
take charge or supervise construction or construction beyond the number specified in
alteration of any building or structure and any the Basic Services agreement.
other civil engineering works mentioned in
Section 2 of the mentioned Republic Act. The
7. Extra travel and subsistence as defined by and other services related to project
the agreement for engineering services. development.

8. Value engineering - including review of 17. Assessment of a completed project's

the work of other engineers, either within the ability to meet its design intent relative to
same organization or in other firms to capacity, maintainability, operability, or
determine whether a proposed solution is reliability.
optimum and, if not, to suggest a better
approach for meeting the project's functional 18. Computer simulation and modeling.
and financial criteria.

9. Redesign to reflect changes requested by 2.6 ENGINEERING SUPPORT

the client or necessitated by the client's SERVICES
acceptance of substitutions proposed by the
contractor. The professional services described above
often require engineering support services.
10. Assistance to the client as an expert Geotechnical engineering, for example,
witness in litigation in connection with the frequently requires services such as taking
project or in hearings before approving and soil and rock borings, excavating test pits
regulatory agencies. sampling and identifying soil and earth
materials, field and laboratory tests and
11. Final investigations involving detailed geophysical measurements and observations.
consideration of operation, maintenance, and The engineering support services in general
overhead expenses; preparation of final rate civil engineering practice may involve
schedules, and earning and expense drafting, land and construction surveying,
statements; appraisals, valuations, and and other data gathering activities for
material audits or inventories required for specialized purposes. Although persons who
certification of force account construction are not Civil Engineers sometimes
performed by the client or for extra work accomplish some of these tasks, the
done by the contractor. procurement of adequate and correct data
usually requires professional Civil
12. Preparation of detailed applications and Engineering judgment and guidance. Since
supporting documents grants or advances for soundness of any engineering decision is
public works projects. dependent upon the accuracy and suitability
of data obtained in field and laboratory.
13. Plotting, computing, and filing of investigations, these supporting services
subdivision plans, staking of lots, and other must be under the guidance of the Civil
land planning and partitioning activities. Engineer whose decisions will be based upon
those data.
14. Preparation of environmental assessment
and impact statements and other assistance to 2.7 ACADEMIC SERVICES
the client in connection with public hearings.
These services involve full or part time
15. Additional studies and design efforts to teaching or training of prospective
meet special conditions encountered during professionals and also the upgrading of
construction. knowledge and skills of fellow professionals.
Academic services may include:
16. Assistance to the client in the selection
and engagement of architects, other a. Teaching of civil engineering courses in
engineers, contractors and subcontractors, engineering colleges/universities on
and observation and approval of their part/full time basis. As per RA 8981, all
services or work: contacts with governmental subjects for licensure examinations shall
agencies to obtain permits and documents; be taught by persons who are holders of
valid certificate of
registration/professional licenses and manual apply to this Civil Engineer.
professional identification cards, or
special temporary permits, or a valid Any Civil Engineer employed as an
certificate of competency for the individual consultant of any firm,
profession issued by the Commission, whether the firm is performing
and who comply with the other engineering, commercial, administrative,
requirements of the CHED. management or financial services is
required to comply with the requirements
b. Lecturing in civil engineering courses and standards herein established for a
designed by the Philippine Institute of consulting Civil Engineering firm or
Civil Engineers for practicing engineers consulting Civil Engineer.
who want to obtain CPD credits.
All Government Civil Engineers
c. Conducting tutorials/refresher courses employed by the instrumentalities of the
on civil engineering concepts and related Government, e.g., national and local,
subjects shall be governed by pertinent existing
laws and regularities and particularly to
d. Serving as a Resource Speaker in those prescribed by the Civil Service
Technical Session. Commission. In case of any conflict with
any of the provisions of this Manual of
e. Writing technical articles and Practice, such pertinent laws and
pamphlets. regulations shall take precedence and
shall govern.
2.8 SERVICES AS EMPLOYEE

This is a condition when a Civil Engineer

engages to perform work or fulfill duties
regularly for wages or salary being paid
by an employer.

A Civil Engineer may be employed for

any position or function in any
commercial or institutional organization.
Where he is performing civil engineering
functions, he is required to follow the
code of ethics for Civil Engineers and
comply with the standards and guidelines
of this manual. A licensed Civil Engineer
may not allow his licensed to be used by
the company that employs him without
the proper agreement for his professional
services. When the firm he is working for
uses his license to sign and seal the plans,
specifications and contract document, the
Civil Engineer must charge the
professional fee for said services.

A Civil Engineer in part time

employment with a firm is considered to
be an employee and at the same time a
consultant of the firm.

The standards for an employee and an

individual consultant as defined in this