Sellate oftier of the Cocretarg TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session 25 SEP 25 A11:55 SENATE RECEIVED BY: S. No. 1421 Introduced by Senator MARK A. VILLAR AN ACT MANDATING THE INTEGRATION OF THE NATIONAL BUILDING CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES UNDER REPUBLIC ACT NO. 6541 ENTITLED "AN ACT TO ORDAIN AND INSTITUTE A NATIONAL BUILDING CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES" AS A MAJOR SUBJECT IN THE CURRICULUM OF THE AN A MANOR SUATE BACHELOR OF SCIENCE DEGREE PROGRAMS IN CIVIL ENGINEERING, MECHANICAL ENGINEERING, ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING, SANITARY ENGINEERING, ELECTRONIC ENGINEERING, AND ARCHITECTURE, AND ITS INCLUSION AS A TOPIC IN THE LICENSURE EXAMINATIONS FOR THESE PROFESSIONS EXPLANATORY NOTE Republic Act No. 6541 or the National Building Code, aims to ensure that developers conform to the implementation of modern technical knowledge in construction, building design, occupancy, maintenance, and use. The law provides the technical standards necessary to guarantee that the country's infrastructure is safe and disaster-resilient. Given the critical importance of the National Building Code, it is imperative that professionals in the construction industry are fully familiar with its provisions. However, the study of the said Code is currently not a primary subject in the board exams for engineering and architecture courses, nor is it a required component in the undergraduate curricula for Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, Sanitary, and Electronic Engineering, as well as Architecture. To ensure future professionals are well-versed in this essential body of law, this bill seeks to mandate the inclusion of Republic Act No. 6541, including any amendments made thereto, as a major subject in the Bachelor of Science degree programs in the aforementioned disciplines. Additionally, the bill proposes that the Code be made a mandatory topic in the licensure examinations for these professions. By requiring formal instruction and training on the National Building Code, this measure aims to enhance the competence of professionals engaged in building construction, particularly in ensuring structural safety and integrity.
In view of the foregoing, the immediate approval of this bill is earnestly sought. MARK A. VILLAR
senate Difier of the Merciate TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session SEP 25 A11 .55 IS SENATE RECEIVED BY: S. No. 1421 Introduced by Senator MARK A. VILLAR AN ACT MANDATING THE INTEGRATION OF THE NATIONAL BUILDING CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES UNDER REPUBLIC ACT NO. 6541 ENTITLED "AN ACT TO ORDAIN AND INSTITUTE A NATIONAL BUILDING CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES" AS A MAJOR SUBJECT IN THE CURRICULUM OF THE BACHELOR OF SCIENCE DEGREE PROGRAMS IN CIVIL ENGINEERING, MECHANICAL ENGINEERING, ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING, SANITARY ENGINEERING, ELECTRONIC ENGINEERING, AND ARCHITECTURE, AND ITS INCLUSION AS A TOPIC IN THE LICENSURE EXAMINATIONS FOR THESE PROFESSIONS Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:
Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Integration of the
2 National Building Code to the Engineering and Architecture Curriculum and 3 Professional Licensure Examination Act."
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to safeguard life,
health, and property and to promote public welfare, consistent with the principles of sound environmental management and control embodied in the National Building 7 Code. To this end, the State shall ensure that engineering and architecture professionals are formally trained and educated in the latest technologies and safety standards necessary to uphold the integrity of structures, both building and non- building.
Sec. 3. Integration as a Major Subject. - Pursuant to Section 8 of Republic Act
12 No. 7722, or the "Higher Education Act of 1994", the Commission on Higher Education
1 (CHED) is hereby mandated to develop and include the study of the National Building 2 Code of the Philippines (NBCP), including any amendments to the governing or related 3 laws, as a major subject in the curricula of Bachelor of Science degree programs in Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Sanitary Engineering, Electronics Engineering, and Architecture.
Sec. 4. Integration into Licensure Examinations. - The Professional Regulation
7 Commission (PRC) is mandated to include the NBCP as a topic in the licensure 8 examinations for the civil, mechanical, electrical, sanitary, and electronics engineering, 9 and architecture professions.
Sec. 5. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within ninety (90) days from
the effectivity of this Act, CHED, in consultation with the PRC and relevant stakeholders in higher education, shall promulgate the necessary implementing rules and regulations to ensure the efficient and effective implementation of this Act.
Sec. 6. Separability Clause.— If any provision of this Act is held invalid or
unconstitutional, the remaining provisions shall continue to be in force.
Sec. 7. Repealing Clause. - All laws, presidential decrees, proclamations,
executive orders, administrative orders, rules and regulations, or parts thereof inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or amended accordingly.
Sec. 8. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. Approved,