Professional Documents
Culture Documents
INTRAMUROS, MANILA
SCHOOL OF AR-ID AND BE
4TH QTR, SY 2015-2016
AR181P / AR1
T 04:30PM-06:00PM, TH 04:30PM-07:30PM
SUBMITTED BY:
MARCELO, QUEENIE ROSE P.
2013122601
SUBMITTED TO:
ARCH. WILKIE DELUMEN
DATE SUBMITTED:
JUNE 16, 201
"Ignorance of the law excuses no one from practicing it.", just as Addison Mizner, wellknown American resort architect, would quote. It is the law and no one is exempted from
practicing it.
It is know that the Legislation is important in the society, with its social and political
aspect of influence yet they are often misunderstood for its different policies and
procedure concerning govern of an organization. Legislations are rules or laws enforced
by a governing body. It is made by the members of legislation, from the House of
Representative and the Senate or by the executive, which is in the power of the
President, to pass or amend if causing certain damage or violation. After it is approved,
it will be implemented across the country accompanied by an announcement in the
television, radio and newspaper 15 days prior to its approval.
It is essential in the professional practice of architecture especially in the knowledge of
architecture students to learn and become aware of the legislations governing the
practice of architecture. Since Architecture is the art and science of planning, designing
and constructing of buildings, there will be laws and legislations governing it. An
architect does not only design buildings without considerations from its built
environment but also follows his/her design in accordance the Utilitas, Venustas and
Firmitas of Vitruvius' principle.
For a person to be able to design and plan structures, he or she must first be able to
undergo certain qualifications to pass as a professional registered and licensed
architect. He/ she must first finish the degree in Bachelor of Science in Architecture with
two years diversified experience in the field of architecture to be considered as an
applicant for the Architecture licensure examination given by the Professional
Regulatory Board of Architecture which is now fully computerized as stated in the PRC
Modernization Act of 2000 or Republic Act No. 8961 (R.A. 8961). Upon passing of the
licensure examination, he or she is required for oath-taking and that is only when he/she
is issued the certificate of registration and Professional Identification Card. It is the only
time that he or she is able to be called as a professional Architect. In practicing
Architecture, only his/ her seal and signature is the one signed on their working
drawings. If they violate it, (by using seal and signature on other working drawing they
did not make, it will be grounds for suspension or revoke of their license and there will
also be a fine charges as stated in Republic Act No. 8996 or The Architecture Act of
2004.
On designing, planning and building structures, there are legislations that guides
architecture students and architects. It is the "National Building Code of the Philippines"
or Presidential Decree No. 1096 (P.D. 1096). The legislations are defined as the
standards and specifications designed to grant minimum safeguard to workers during
construction, to the health and comfort of the users and to provide enough safety to the
public in general. The regulation set out the minimum requirement to be observed and
taken into note in the design and construction of buildings. They are applied to new
building and also to extensions, and certain changes of use of existing buildings. This
legislations set out the limits in the structure of limits, for example the minimum and
maximum height requirement for certain building types.
It is stated in the legislation that those who violate the law will be filed with fine charges
and in some cases, imprisonment, but people still get away with the law due to some
corrupt building officials. Unless eradicated, there will still be buildings that will not
comply with the legislations. Nonetheless, it is not only the responsibility of the
government to prevent these crimes but also of the architect that will design and plan
buildings. It is his/her responsibility to ensure that the design comply with the
legislations in order to lessen structures which will become hazardous in the future.
As an Architect, you must design for the present with the awareness of the past for a
future which is essentially unknown, as Norman Foster would quote. It is important for
architects especially us architecture students that we consider legislations and also
become fully aware of what it is so as in designing structures, we will not make the
mistakes of the past but, bring comfort and ensure better lives and built environment for
the future generations through the building we design.