OVERVIEW OF ARCHITECTURAL PRACTICE IN THE PHILIPPINES

The Practice of Architecture in the Philippines

ARCHITECTURE has been around since the dawn of time. Yet, the practice of the architect still
seems to be unknown, especially to the general public. The practice of architecture does not
merely involve drawing, designing and making a work of art, which the general public commonly
assume. Drawing is just one aspect and is only a medium used to translate an idea from the
architect’s mind to a creation that can be built.

The official definition of architecture can be found in Republic Act (RA) 9266 or “The
Architecture Act of 2004.” This is the art, science and profession of planning, designing and
constructing buildings in their totality, with due account of their environment and in accordance
with the principles of utility, strength and beauty.

Many other considerations are involved in the creative process that requires the designer to
have a firm grasp and understanding of many different factors such as the physical
environment, geography, ecology, sustainability, meteorological conditions of the site, human
anthropometrics and even the heritage of the locality. At least a basic understanding of
different disciplines such as structural, electrical, sanitary, and mechanical engineering
are also required of the architect. Indeed, architects obtain basic training in these engineering
fields in college. The in-depth application, of course, can only be done by the corresponding
engineering professionals.

Architecture as a profession came about only in 1921 when the first registration of architects
was implemented. In 1950, with Manila and the whole country just starting to rebuild from the
ravages of the Second World War, RA 545 or “The Architecture Law” was enacted to regulate
the local practice of architecture.

Fast forward to March 17, 2004 and RA 9266 was enacted by Congress. The law provided for
a more comprehensive regulation of the registration, licensing and practice of architecture,
repealing the RA 545 and all other laws inconsistent with its stipulations.

Public safety is the objective of regulating the design and construction of buildings.
Architects comply, consult and adhere to existing regulatory laws and all applicable codes in
order to properly protect and safeguard human lives and its surroundings such as the National
Building Code of the Philippines, Fire Code of the Philippines of 2008, The Accessibility Law,
The Architectural Code and many others. Entrusted with the safety of human lives vis-à-vis the
use of buildings, an architect can be held liable under Article 1723 of the Civil Code should the
building he/she designed collapse within 15 years from its completion.
Besides the general practice of architecture, an architect can also render services in other
related fields of architecture depending on his knowledge and experience such as heritage
conservation, green architecture, sustainable architecture and so on and so forth

History and Background

Architecture, as practiced in the Philippines during the Spanish era, was not by virtue of an
academic title. There were no architectural schools in the country and the only architects with
academic degrees were Spaniards. However, the first Filipino recorded architect was Felix
Roxas y Arroyo of Binondo, Manila

Maestro de Obras or Master Builder - practice as an architect

Escuela Practica y Professional de Artes y Oficio de Manila,1880 - first academic school to
train these maestros
Felix Roxas y Arroyo - first Filipino recorded architect
Liceo de Manila (1900) - first private school to offer an academic title for Maestro de Obras

For the early 1930`s to the late 50`s, associations of architects came and went, but three of
these survived until the early 70`s.

League of Philippine Architects (LPA)

Association of Philippine Government Architects (APGA)
Philippine Institute of Architects (PIA)

Recognizing the need to formally integrate the three architectural associations, APGA, LPA and
PIA each appointed three representatives to form the Panel of Negotiation in May 1973. To
implement the terms of integration agreed upon by the three architectural organizations, a 15-
man Ad-Hoc Commission was authorized to prepare the Constitution and By-Laws of the newly
integrated association. The new integrated society was called, the United Architects of the
Philippines (UAP).

UAP became the first accredited professional organization on May 12, 1975 with the
professional regulation commission issuing certificate no. 001 to the UAP as the duly accredited
professional organization for architects in the Philippines. On June 12, 1976, the UAP informed
the Union Internationale des Architectes (UIA) of the integration of the three architectural
organizations under the United Architects of the Philippines and requested for recognition of the
UIA as its National Section in the Philippines.
On March 22-25, 1979, the UAP organized a National Conference on Architectural Education at
the Development Academy of the Philippines in Tagaytay City. The result of the Conference was
the endorsement of a new ladder-type curriculum for architectural education, which was
approved by the Ministry of Education and Culture and adopted by schools and colleges of
architecture in the Philippines. The same year saw the approval of the new Architects` National
Code by the Professional Regulation Commission.

This code was prepared by the UAP as a standard of ethics and practice of architecture in the
Philippines. In recognition of UAP`s involvement in government program and activities, the
Metro Manila Commission appointed the UAP members to constitute the Board of Advisers for
urban design and development for Metro Manila

Important Dates and Events

Here are important events over the past years relative to the Regulated Profession of
Architecture in the Philippines (June 1950 thru September 2008)

1. June 1950
Passage of Republic Act (R.A.) No. 544, the Civil Engineering (CE) law; the law does not
mention that civil engineers (CEs) can prepare, sign and seal architectural plans and documents
2. June 1950
Passage of R.A. No. 545, the organic Architecture law; this special law specifically mentions that
only registered and licensed architects can prepare, sign and seal architectural plans and
documents
3. June 1956
Passage of R.A. No. 1581, the amended Architecture law; the amended portion specifically
delineate the responsibility and liability of the architect in contrast to the CE; there is therefore
no overlap in professional function.
4. June 1956
Passage of R.A. No. 1582, the amended CE law; the amended portion (Sec. 24) specifically
delineate the responsibility and liability of the CE in contrast to the architect; there is therefore
no overlap in professional function
5. 1975
The United Architects of the Philippines (UAP) was formed out of the union of the Philippine
Institute of Architects (PIA), the League of Philippine Architects (LPA) and the Association of
Philippine Government Architects (APGA)
6. Feb 1977
Promulgation of Presidential Decree (P.D.) No. 1096, otherwise known as the 1977 National
Building Code of the Philippines (NBCP) by Philippine Pres. Ferdinand E. Marcos
7. 1979
Publication and dissemination of copies of the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of
P.D. No. 1096 by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and of part of the IRR
of R.A. No. 1581 (the Amended architecture law of 1956) i.e. the Architects’ National Code
(otherwise known as the UAP Documents 200 through 208) were promulgated by the
Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) in Sep 1979 as part of the IRR of R.A. No.
1581/545 (the amended/ organic laws on architecture)
8. mid-1980s
Architects who are Members of the National Legislature i.e. Batasan Pambansa, led by Arch.
Pentong Gaite and the leading lights of the United Architects of the Philippines (UAP), lobby for
the passage of a new Architecture law
9. early 1990s
Initial amendments to IRR of P.D. No. 1096; R.A. No. 7160 (The Local Government Code of
1991) becomes law; surprisingly, its Article Seven Sec. 477 allows the Municipal/ City Engineers
(MCEs) of local government units (LGUs) who are in charge of horizontal works to act
simultaneously as the building official (BO) in charge of vertical works; this turn of events has
forged an apparently unholy alliance.
10. Currently, there is a legislative hearing and coordination for the new and unified building
permit. As well as the call of architects on the overlapping scope work of civil engineers on the
architectural drawings