LAWS AFFECTING THE PRACTICE OF ARCHITECTURE IN THE

PHILIPPINES

I. Architecture Laws

RA9266 - An Act Providing for a More Responsive and

Comprehensive Regulation for the Registration,
Licensing and Practice of Architecture, Repealing for
the Purpose Republic Act No. 545, as Amended,
Otherwise Known as “An Act to Regulate the
Practice of Architecture in the Philippines,” and for
Other Purposes (March 15, 2004)
RA1581 – Architecture Law of 1956
 RA545 – Architecture Law of 1950

II. Regulatory and Enforcement Laws

RA8981 - Professional Regulation Commission Modernization

Act (December 5, 2000)
PD223 - Creating the Professional Regulation Commission
(June 22, 1973)
RA386 - Civil Code of the Philippines (June 18, 1949)
EO546 - Creating a Ministry of Public Works and a Ministry of
Transportation and Communications (July 23, 1979)
RA7160 - Local Government Code of the Philippines (1991)
RA876 - The Philippine Arbitration Law (June 19, 1953
III. Design and Construction Reference Laws

a. On Safety and Protection

PD1096 - National Building Code of the Philippines (Feb 19,

1977 / IRR latest revision = April 30, 2005)
RA6541 - National Building Code of 1972 (August 26, 1972)
PD1185 - Fire Code of the Philippines (1977)
RA9263 - Bureau of Fire Protection and Bureau of Jail
Management and Penology Professionalization Act
(March 10, 2004)
BP344 - Enhancing the Mobility of Disabled Persons (Feb 25,
1983 / IRR latest rev. = April 30, 2005)
b. On Housing and Funding

PD957 - Condominium and Subdivision Buyers’ Protective

Decree (July 12, 1976)
RA6552 - Real Estate Buyers’ Protective Act (August 26, 1972)

RA4726 - The Condominium Act (June 18, 1966)

BP220 - Standards for Economic and Socialized Housing
projects (March 25, 1982)
RA8763 - Home Guarantee Corporation Act (March 7, 2000)
EO538 - Prescribing the Administration of the Home
Development Mutual Funds (June 4, 1979)
EO90 - Creating the Housing and Urban Development
Coordinating Council (December 17, 1986)
RA3469 - Allowing the Construction of Multi-Storey Tenement
Housing Projects for the Poor and Homeless (June
16, 1962)
c. On Water and Plumbing

RA1378 - National Plumbing Code of the Philippines (January

28, 1959 / latest revision – Dec 21, 1999)
RA6234 - Creating the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage
System (June 19, 1971)
RA9286 - Latest Amendment to PD198 or Provincial Water
Utilities Act of 1973 (April 2, 2004)
PD1067 - Water Code of the Philippines (1977)
d. On Environment Protection

RA9003 - Ecological Waste Management Program Law

(January 26, 2001)
RA3931 - National Water and Air Pollution Control
Commission (June 18, 1964)
PD1586 - Establishing Environmental Impact Statement
System (1978)
PD1152 - Philippine Environmental Code (June 6, 1977)
PD984 - Pollution Control Decree (1976)
PD772 - Penalizing Squatting And Other Similar Acts (1975)
IV. Government Service and Ethics Laws

RA8293 - Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines (June

22, 1997 / January 1, 1998)
RA3019 - Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act (1961)
RA8974 - Law on Acquisition of Right-of-Way, Site or Location
for National Government Infrastructure Projects (November 7,
2000)

RA8439 - Magna Carta for Scientists, Engineers, & Researchers

in the Government (December 22, 1997)
RA6713 - Code of Ethical Conduct of a Public Official and
Employees (1972)
 EO525 - Responsibility of the Public Estate Authority on
Reclamation Projects (February 14, 1979)

ORGANIZATION

UAP - UNITED ARCHITECT OF THE PHILIPPINES

PIA - PHILIPPINE INSTITURE OF ARCHITECTS
APGA – ASSOCIATION OF PHIL. GOV’T ARCHITECT
PAASS – PHIL ARCH’T ASSOCIATION
LEA - LEAGUE OF FIL. ARCHITECT
PD - PRESIDENTIAL DECREE
RA - REPUBLIC ACT
BP - BATASANG PAMBANSA
LOI - LETTER OF INSTRUCTION
CA - COMMONWEALTH ACT
CC - CIVIL CODE
PRC - PROFESSIONAL REGULATORY COMMISSION
PA - PROFESSIONAL ARCH’T
DIFFERENT LAW TO DISCUSS
PD 1096 - NATIONAL BUILDING CODE
PD 1096 - CHAPTER 301 building permit
PD 1185 - FIRE CODE OF THE PHILS
PD 957 - CONDOMINIUM & SUPERVISION PROTECTION LAWS
PD 545 - ARCHITECT LAW
RA 544 - ENGINEERING LAW
BP 220 - HOUSING LAW (Economic and Socialized Housing)
CC ART. 1723 - ARCHITECT LIABILITIES FOR 15 YEARS
PD 1096 - ARCADES AND SIDEWALKS
PD 1096 - COMPUTATION OF PARKING SLOTS
PD 1096 - LIGHT & VENTILATION
RA 9266 - ACHITECTURE ACT OF 2004
UAP DOCUMENTS
UAP 200 - ARCHITECT CODE OF ETHICS
UAP 201 - PRE-DESIGN SERVICES
UAP 202 - DESIGN SERVICES
UAP 203 - SPECIALIZED ALLIED SERVICES
UAP 204 - CONSTRUCTION SERVICES
UAP 205 - POST CONSTRUCTION SERVICES
UAP 206 - COMPREHENSIVE SERVICES
UAP 207 - DESIGN & BUILDING SERVICES
UAP 208 - METHOD OF COMPENSATION SELECTION OF AN ARCH’T
UAP 301 - CONTRACT DOCUMENTS
UAP 401-402 - OWNER-ARCHITECT AGREEMENT
OTHER LAWS:
BP 3200 - DIFFERENT PROFESSION IN THE PHILS
BP 4304 - ARCHITECTURE AS PROFESSION IN THE WHOLE WORLD
RA 4566 - CONTRACTOR’S LICENSE LAW
PD 1097 - WATER CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES
RA 7920 - ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING LAW
RA 8495 - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING LAW
RA 7279 - URBAN DEVELOPMENT & HOUSING ACT OF 1992
HLURB - HOUSING AND LAND USE REGULATORY BOARD
IOPOA - INTEGRATED AND ACCREDITED PROFESSIONAL
ORGANIZATION OF ARCHITECTS
RA 11201 - DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SETTLEMENTS AND URBAN
DEVELOPMENT ACT