MANUAL of

PROFESSIONAL
PRACTICE
For CIVIL ENGINEERS

A written set of guidelines issued by an organization to its

workers and management to help them conduct their actions in
accordance with its primary values and ethical standards.

Civil engineers uphold and advance the integrity, honor and dignity of the civil
engineering profession by:
1. Using their knowledge and skill for the enhancement of human welfare and
the environment;
2. Being honest and impartial and serving with fidelity the public, their
employers/employees and clients;
3. Striving to increase the competence and prestige of the civil engineering
profession; and
4. Supporting the professional and technical societies of their disciplines.

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7.

Civil Engineers shall hold paramount the safety, health and welfare of the
public and shall strive to comply with the principles of sustainable development
in the performance of their duties.
Civil Engineers shall perform services only in areas of their competence.
Civil Engineers shall issue public statements only in an objective and truthful
manner.
Civil Engineers shall act in professional matters for each employer or client as
faithful agents or trustees, and shall avoid conflicts of interest.
Civil Engineers shall build their professional reputation on the merit of their
services and shall not compete unfairly with others.
Civil Engineers shall act in such a manner as to uphold and enhance the
honor, integrity, and dignity of the civil engineering profession.
Civil Engineers shall continue their professional development throughout their
careers, and shall provide opportunities for the professional development of
those civil engineers under their supervision.

Services provided by Civil Engineers can be grouped into broad categories:

1. Consultations, research, investigations, and reports.
2. Design services for consultation projects.
3. Construction services.
4. Special services for construction projects.
5. Engineering support services.
6. Academic services.
7. Services as Employee.

The types of infrastructure under the domain of civil engineering, pursuant to RA

544, as amended, include:
1. Streets, bridges, highways and railroads.

2. Airports and hangars

3. Portworks, canals, river and shore improvements, light houses and dry docks.

4. Buildings.

5. Fixed structures for irrigation, flood protection, drainage, water supply and
sewerage works.

6. Tunnels.

These services deal primarily with collecting, interpreting, and reporting

information, together with formulating conclusions and making recommendations.
Typical services in this category are:

Civil engineering services are required for each of six typical phases of a
construction project. All services are preferably furnished by the same Civil
Engineer for consistency and efficiency, although at times services in various
phases are furnished by different engineers or by the client.
The six standard phases of a construction project and the engineering services
needed for each are:
This phase involves determination of project scope and economic and technical
evaluation of feasible alternatives.
Analysis of the clients needs, conceptual design, conceptual opinions of probable
construction cost.

This phase involves the establishment of the general size and scope of the project
and its location on the selected site.
Preparation of final design criteria, preliminary drawings, outline specifications,
and preliminary opinions of probable construction cost.

This phase of project development is usually undertaken only after the client has
approved the preliminary design phase material.
Preparation of design calculations, construction drawings,
estimated construction cost, and other contract documents.

specifications,

Assistance to the client with the bidding or negotiating process for construction of
the project.

Services under this phase involve consulting with and advising the client during
construction and are usually those associated with service as the clients
representative.
Advice and Consultation on matters related to this services.

At the completion of construction, the Civil Engineer may as a basic service, assist
in the start-up of project operations.
Assistance to the client in start-up and operation of the project, including periodic
inspections.

A registered Civil Engineer may engage in construction contracting after being

licensed as a contractor by the Contractors Accreditation Board. It is considered
unethical for a Civil Engineer to allow his license to be used by any other
construction company except his own.
A registered Civil Engineer may provide the services of a supporting technical
employee as required of a construction company. He shall however, be paid the
professional fees, in addition to his regular salary, for any design work he performs
for which he signs as professional Civil Engineer and/or engineer on record.
A Civil Engineer may be employed as a:
Construction engineer
Resident Civil Engineer
Project engineer
Quality Control Engineer
Cost Engineer
Engineer Inspector

In accordance with Section 23 of RA 544, only registered

Civil Engineers can take charge or supervise construction
or alteration of any building or structure and any other civil
engineering works mentioned in Sec 2 of the mentioned
Republic Act.

Special services required during the study, design, construction, and operation
phases of a construction project may include investigations, reports, and activities
beyond the scope of the basic services.

The professional services described above often require engineering support

services.

These services involve full or part time teaching or training of prospective

professionals and also the upgrading of knowledge and skills of fellow
professionals.

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,

Charges for engineering services are usually computed using one of six methods:
1. Salary cost times multiplier plus direct non-salary expense or Reimbursable
2. Hourly billing rates plus reimbursables.
3. Per diem.
4. Cost plus fixed fee or CPFF
5. Fixed price
6. Percentage of construction cost or Percentage

Compensation on the basis of the salary cost times an agreed multiplier is a

frequently used method of determining charges for engineering services.
1. Salary cost is defined as direct salaries plus employee benefits and includes
salaries for partners or principals and for technical, professional, administrative
and clerical staff directly.
2. Multiplier which is applied to salary cost is a factor that compensates the Civil
Engineer for overhead plus a reasonable margin for contingencies, interest or
invested capital readiness to serve, and profit. The average multiplier should be
between 2.5 and 3.0 times the average salary cost.
3. Direct non-salary expenses usually incurred in engineering engagements.
4. The Civil Engineer overhead which comprises a major portion of the
compensation generated by the multiplier on salary cost.

The hourly billing rate method of compensation is very similar to the salary cost
times multiplier method in that the hourly billing rate includes all direct personnel
expense, over head and profit. Direct non-salary expenses area a separate item
for reimbursement, usually with a service charge.

The term per diem normally refers to an eight-hour day. This basis is particularly
suited to expert witness or other legal-type services and to other short-term
engagements involving intermittent personal services.

Under a cost plus fixed fee agreement, the Civil Engineer is reimbursed for the
actual costs of all services and supplies related to the project, including:
Salary Costs, Overhead, Direct non-salary expenses, and Fixed fee.
Fixed fee- an amount to compensate the Civil Engineer for contingencies, interest
on invested capital, readiness to serve and profit.

The fixed price method of compensation is frequently used for investigations and
studies and for basic services on design type projects where the cope and
complexity of the assignment are clearly and fully defined.

This method may be used to determined the compensation of the engineer for
services where the principal responsibility is the detailed design or construction
supervision of facilities to be constructed.
Construction cost is defined as the estimated total cost of constructing the facility
to be covered by the proposed detailed design or construction supervision
services, excluding the fees and other costs of such services, the cost of land and
right-of-way, and legal and administrative expenses.

Certain principles should however be observed as follows:

1. When doing work on foreign assisted projects, or in projects where international
consultants participate, the Civil Engineer performing similar or equivalent work,
should accept compensation that approximates the international standard rates.
2. Civil Engineers regularly employed in the private sector shall have a minimum
compensation corresponding to 10% more than the minimum wage prevailing in
the region as basic monthly salary. Civil Engineers employed in the government
sector shall have a minimum basic monthly salary corresponding to appropriate
entry positions provided by the Civil Service Commission.
3. A Civil Engineer employed in the private sector who signs and seals the Civil
Engineering plans, specifications and other related documents of a certain project
for and in behalf of his employers shall be compensated with a minimum of 10% of
the professional fee for the project, over and above the basic monthly salary.

The Selection of the

Civil Engineer
Some of the factors that should be considered in the selection process are:
1. The professional and ethical reputation of the Civil Engineer and his staff as
determined by inquiries to previous clients and other references.
2. Responsible Civil Engineers and its employee and must be registered
professional Civil Engineers.
3. Civil Engineers should have demonstrated qualifications and expertise,
performing the services required for the project.
4. Civil Engineer should be able to assign qualified engineering staff who will be in
responsible charge of the project and will be able to provide and complete the
required services within the time allotted.
5. The Civil Engineer should have the necessary financial and business resources
to accomplish the assignment and provide continuing service.

Foreign Civil Engineers are allowed by law (RA 8981) to practice civil engineering
in the Philippines under the following instances:
1. The laws of the foreigners state or country allow the citizens of the Philippines
to practice civil engineering on the same basis and grant the same privileges as
those enjoyed by the subjects or citizens of such foreign state or country.
2. Allowed under international agreement.
3. Consultants to be engaged in foreign-funded, joint venture or foreign-assisted
projects of the government.
4. Employees of Philippine or foreign private institutions pursuant to law.
5. Civil Engineers who were former citizens of the Philippines, who had been
registered and issued a certificate of registration and a professional identification
card prior to their naturalization as foreign citizens, and who, while in the country
on a visit, sojourn or permanent residence, desire to practice their profession.