Section 1. Sec. 2,
Article II, Paragraph (a), Subparagraph (5) of Republic Act No. 8560 is
hereby amended and Subparagraph (16) is hereby added which shall read
as follows:
"SEC.
2. Definition of Terms. —
(a) Practice
of Geodetic Engineering. — The practice of Geodetic Engineering is a
professional and organized act of gathering physical data on the
surface of the earth with the use of precision instruments. It is also
the scientific and methodical processing of these data and presenting
them on graphs, plans, maps, charts or documents. It shall embrace, but
is not limited to the following activities:
(1)
Professional Geodetic Engineering services with the use of surveying
and mapping equipment such as graduated rods, measuring tapes,
transits, levels, theodolites, fathometers/echosounders, electronic
distance meters, global positioning systems, stereoplotters and other
instruments that are used to determine metes and bounds of lands
positions of points on the surface of the earth, water depths,
underwater configuration, ground elevation, gravity, isostacy, crustal
movements and the size and shape of the earth, and other instruments
used for construction survey, and those instruments used to guide the
installation of large industrial equipment and machineries;
(2) Horizontal
and vertical control surveys and political boundary surveys;
(3) Land
surveys to determine their metes and bounds and prepare the plans
thereof for titling and for other purposes;
(4)
Subdivision, consolidation and/or consolidation-subdivision of titled
properties;
(5) Submission
of survey plans of subdivided, consolidated and/or consolidated
subdivision titled properties to the government agencies concerned;
using the numbering system and projection prescribed by the government;
(6)
Preparation and making of sketch, lot and location plans;
(7) Conduction
of engineering surveys and the technical preparation of engineering
survey plans such as topographic, hydrographic, tidal, profile,
cross-Sec., construction and boundary surveys;
(8) Parcellary
surveys of lands traversed by infrastructure projects; and the
preparation of subdivision plans;
(9) Conduction
of gravimetric and photogrammetric survey and the technical preparation
of such survey plans;
(10) Survey
and mapping works such as the preparation of geographic and/or land
information systems;
(11) Survey to
determine and establish line and grade for the construction of
buildings and other structures and its attachments;
(12)
Construction of as-staked and as-built surveys for infrastructures;
(13)
Conduction of mineral and mining surveys;
(14)
Installation of machineries requiring the use of precision instruments;
(15)
Engagement in the transfer of the knowledge and technology of geodetic
engineering in any institution of learning;
(16) Provision
of consultancy services in geodetic engineering.
(b) Geodetic
Engineer — A Geodetic Engineer is a natural person who has been issued
a Certificate of Registration by the Board of Geodetic Engineering and
has taken the Oath of Profession of Geodetic Engineers."
Sec. 2. Sec. 8, Article III, paragraphs (e), (j) and
(k) are hereby amended to read as follows:
"SEC.
8. Powers and Duties of the Board. — The Board shall
exercise the following specific powers, functions, duties and
responsibilities:
(a)
To promulgate and adopt the rules and regulations necessary for
carrying out the provisions of this Act;
(b) To
supervise the examination, registration, licensure and practice of
Professional Geodetic Engineering in the Philippines;
(c) To
administer oaths in connection with the successful examinees entering
the practice of Geodetic Engineering;
(d) To issue
the Certificate of Registration to successful examinees;
(e) To issue,
suspend or revoke the Certificate of Registration and professional
identification card for the practice of the Geodetic Engineering
profession;
(f) To adopt
an official seal of the Board;
(g) To look
into the conditions affecting the practice of Geodetic Engineering
profession and whenever necessary, adopt such measures as may be deemed
proper for the enhancement and maintenance of high professional and
ethical standards of the profession;
(h) To ensure,
in coordination with the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), that
all educational institutions offering Geodetic Engineering education
comply with the policies, standards and requirements of the course
prescribed by CHED in the areas of curriculum, faculty, library and
facilities;
(i) To
prescribe and/or adopt a Code of Ethical and Professional Standards for
the practice of the Geodetic Engineering profession;
(j) To hear
and try administrative cases involving violations of this Act, its
implementing rules and regulations, the Code of Ethics and Technical
Standards for Geodetic Engineers and for this purpose, to issue
subpoena duces tecum and subpoena ad testificandum to secure the
appearance of witnesses and the production of documents in connection
therewith;
(k) To
prescribe guidelines for the Continuing Professional Education (CPE)
program in coordination with the integrated and accredited association
for Geodetic Engineers;
(l) To
prepare, adopt, issue or amend the syllabi of the subjects for
examination;
(m) To
approve, issue, limit or revoke temporary license to practice Geodetic
Engineering;
(n) Discharge
such other duties and functions as may be deemed necessary for the
enhancement of the Geodetic Engineering profession and the upgrading,
development and growth of Geodetic Engineering education in the
Philippines."
Sec. 3. Sec.
19, Articles IV is hereby amended to read as follows:
"SEC.
19. Certificate of Registration and Professional
Identification Card. — A Certificate of Registration shall be issued to
applicants who pass the examination for Geodetic Engineers subject to
the payment of registration fees.
The Certificate of Registration
of a Geodetic Engineer shall bear the signatures of the Chairman of the
Board and the Chairman of the Professional Regulation Commission and
stamped with the official seal of the Board indicating that the person
named therein is a registered Geodetic Engineer.
A professional identification
card bearing the registration number, date of issuance, expiry date and
duly signed by the Chairman of the Board, shall likewise be issued to
every registrant upon payment of the professional fees. No person shall
practice Geodetic Engineering in this country unless such person shall
have secured a license to practice Geodetic Engineering in the manner
herein provided. A license is entitled to practice the profession with
all the privileges appurtenant thereto."
Sec. 4. Sec.
21, Article IV is hereby amended to read as follows:
"SEC.
21. Indication of Certificate of Registration Number
and Professional Tax Receipt. — The Geodetic Engineer shall be required
to indicate his certificate of registration number including the
professional tax receipt number on the documents he signs, uses or
issues in connection with the practice of this profession."
Sec. 5. Sec. 22, Article IV is hereby amended to read
as follows:
"SEC.
22. Grounds for Suspension and Revocation of
Certificate of Registration and Professional Identification Card,
Cancellation of Temporary Special Permit. — The Board shall have the
power, upon due notice and hearing, to revoke or suspend the
certificate of registration and professional identification card of a
Geodetic Engineer, or to cancel a temporary/special permit for any
cause specified in the preceding Sec.s, including but not limited to
the use or perpetuation of any fraud or deceit in obtaining a
certificate of registration, or for incompetence, negligence, or for
abatement of the illegal practice of Geodetic Engineering; violation of
the provisions of this Act, its implementing rules and regulations
and/or violation of the policies of the Board including the Code of
Ethics for Geodetic Engineers. Such action of the Board shall be
subject to appeal to the Commission within fifteen (15) days from
written notice."
Sec. 6. Sec. 23, Article V is hereby amended by
adding paragraphs (a) and (b) to read as follows:
"SEC.
23. Vested Rights, Automatic Registration of
Practicing Geodetic Engineers and Registration Without Examination:
(a)
All practicing Geodetic Engineers who are registered at the time this
Act takes effect shall automatically be registered.
(b)
Registration Without Examination. — All incumbent Junior Geodetic
Engineers shall be issued a certificate of registration and a
professional identification card without examination as Geodetic
Engineers: Provided, That they have been in active practice of the
geodetic engineering profession for at least three (3) years and they
are holders of degrees in Bachelor of Science in Geodetic Engineering,
or are holders of degrees in Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering,
or are Associates in Geodetic Engineering or are Associates in
Surveying. Junior Geodetic Engineers who qualify for upgrading to
Geodetic Engineer without examination shall file their application for
upgrading within three (3) years from the effectivity of this Act. The
three-year period of active practice referred to herein shall be
computed from the date of actual exercise of their profession, as
defined in Sec. 2 of this Act, up to the date of approval of their
application for upgrading. They shall also update their knowledge of
the profession through continuing professional education or appropriate
distance learning, as prescribed by the Professional Regulation
Commission upon recommendation of the recognized and accredited
professional geodetic organization, within three (3) years upon
approval of their application."
Sec. 7. Sec. 24 of Article V is hereby amended to
read as follows:
"SEC.
24. Right to Practice Geodetic Engineering
Profession. — The practice of Geodetic Engineering is a professional
service, admission to which shall be determined upon the basis of an
individual's personal qualifications. The Geodetic Engineer is
responsible for the correctness of his professional work for which he
shall be answerable therefor.
Only duly Registered Geodetic
Engineers may organize, establish or form firms, partnerships or
associations for the practice of Geodetic Engineering pursuant to the
rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission."
Sec. 8. Sec. 30 of Article VI, paragraph (c) of
Republic Act No. 8560, is hereby amended which shall read as follows:
"SEC.
30. Transitory Provisions. —
(a)
The existing Board of Geodetic Engineering shall continue to function
in the interim until such time as the new Board shall be duly
constituted pursuant to this Act;
(b)
Examination for Junior Geodetic Engineers shall cease to be constructed
upon effectivity of this Act; and
(c) Duly
registered Junior Geodetic Engineers may continue to practice as such
until their application for upgrading as Geodetic Engineers shall have
been acted upon but in no case shall this privilege be extended beyond
three (3) years from the effectivity of this Act."
Sec. 9. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — The
Board and the Professional Regulation Commission, in coordination with
the accredited integrated national professional organization of
Geodetic Engineering shall issue the implementing rules and regulations
within ninety (90) days after the effectivity of this Act.
Sec. 10. Separability Clause. — If any clause,
provision, paragraph or part thereof shall be declared unconstitutional
or invalid, such judgment shall not affect, invalidate or impair any
other part hereof but such judgment shall be merely confined to the
clause, provision, paragraph or part directly involved in the
controversy in which such judgment has been rendered.
Sec. 11. Repealing Clause. — All other laws, decrees,
executive order and other administrative issuances and parts thereof
which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby
modified, superseded or repealed accordingly.
Sec. 12. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect
fifteen (15) days following its publication in the Official Gazette or
in a major daily newspaper of national circulation in the Philippines.
Approved: March 28, 2003
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