House leader seeks higher standards of regulation in practice of electrical

engineering
A House leader is seeking higher standards of regulation in the practice and
licensing of electrical engineers in the country to further strengthen their profession and
enable them to cope with advances in technology and globalization.
House Deputy Speaker and Nueva Vizcaya one District !ep. "arlos #adilla
raised the proposal through House $ill %&'( which seeks to repeal the present law)
!epublic Act *+', otherwise known as -he New .lectrical .ngineering aw)/ and its
replacement by a proposed 0.lectrical .ngineering Act.
0Advances in technology) globalization and the change in trends in the electrical
engineering profession are challenges confronting the profession which necessitates the
revision of the e1isting law governing the electrical engineering profession. -hese
revisions are aimed at further strengthening the profession and enable electrical engineers
to tackle and cope with these challenges)/ said #adilla.
#adilla said .lectrical .ngineering and all the industries where it has application
have significant impact on the welfare and safety) health and healthcare) environment)
2uality of life) transportation) businesses) and leisure of the general public.
0.lectrical engineering is a wide discipline that provides society with many critical
utilities. 3any industries including telecommunications) biomedical engineering) power
generation) power plants) power transmission and distribution) power transformers)
electrical machines) watercrafts and locomotives) manufacturing and electrical systems of
high rise buildings re2uire the employment of electrical engineers)/ he said.
#adilla said his bill) among others) intends to integrate the classifications of
electrical engineers and provide for only one classification) which shall be known as the
licensed electrical engineer. 0.1isting professional electrical engineers shall be issued by
the $oard of .lectrical .ngineering) upon the approval of the #rofessional !egulation
"ommission) with the corresponding "ertificates of Specialty in accordance with the
guidelines prescribed by the $oard of .lectrical .ngineering for the purpose.)/ he said.
4n the other hand) e1isting 3aster .lectricians shall be given a two5year period to
enroll and complete the re2uired modules on ma6or sub6ects in $achelor of Science in
.lectrical .ngineering to 2ualify and be registered as licensed electrical engineers
according to him.

0-hese revisions are necessary to continually enhance the competence of the
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MAY 23, 2014
profession through peer recognition of specialization in electrical engineering and the
strengthening of the accredited national organization and other associations of electrical
engineers in the country)/ said #adilla.
!epublic Act 78%) otherwise known as the 0.lectrical .ngineering aw/ was
enacted on 9une '7) 7+%* to regulate the practice of electrical engineering in the country
according to the lawmaker.
4n :ebruary '%) 7++() !epublic Act *+',) otherwise known as the /New
.lectrical .ngineering aw)/ was enacted and repealed !A 78%. -he new law provides for
the composition) powers and functions of the $oard of .lectrical .ngineering)
e1amination and registration of professionals) and the prohibitions in the practice of the
electrical engineering profession according to #adilla.
House $ill %&'( seeks the repeal of !A *+',) and its replacement by the proposed
0.lectrical .ngineering Act/ that provides for the creation of a $oard of .lectrical
.ngineering) guidelines on the e1amination and registration of electrical engineers) sundry
provisions on the practice of electrical engineering) and transitory and final provisions of
the proposed law.
-he bill provides for the creation of the $oard of .lectrical .ngineering) as a
collegial body under the general supervision and administrative control of the #rofessional
!egulations "ommission ;#!"<. -he $oard shall be composed of a chairperson and two
members to be appointed by the #resident of the #hilippines from among the
recommendees of the #!" "ommissioner. -he #!" "ommissioner shall be the e1ecutive
officer of the $oard.
-he $oard of .lectrical .ngineering shall e1ercise e1ecutive or administrative) or
2uasi5legislative ;rule5making<) or 2uasi56udicial ;investigative< powers in carrying out the
provisions of the proposed Act. Among its functions are to = supervise and regulate the
practice of electrical engineering> determine and evaluate the 2ualifications of the
applicants for registration with or without licensure e1aminations and for special permits>
prepare the e1amination 2uestions> prescribe the syllabi of the sub6ects and their relative
weights for the licensure e1aminations> and coordinate with the #!" and the Department
of .ducation in prescribing) amending or revising the courses.
?t also provides that all applicants for registration for the practice of electrical
engineering in the country shall be re2uired to pass a technical e1amination. A valid
certificate of registration and a valid professional license from the #!" are re2uired
before any person is allowed to practice electrical engineering.
-here shall be only one integrated national organization of electrical engineers)
which shall be recognized by the $oard among all accredited associations of electrical
engineers nationwide) the bill states.
-he $oard of .lectrical .ngineering shall not issue a certificate of registration to
any person convicted by the court of any criminal offense involving moral turpitude or to
any person guilty of immoral or dishonorable conduct or to any person of unsound mind.
Schools) institutes) academies) colleges and universities shall not be allowed to
offer $achelor of Science in .lectrical .ngineering without employing licensed electrical
engineers or licensed electrical engineers with a certificate of specialty or with a master@s
degree in electrical engineering as part of their faculty who will teach and train their
students in all ma6or sub6ects. All academic institutions offering $achelor of Science in
electrical engineering courses shall be e2uipped with complete laboratory facilities.
No foreign engineer shall be admitted to take a board e1amination) be given a
certificate of registration) or be entitled to any of the rights and privileges under the
proposed Act unless the country of which the foreign engineer is a sub6ect or citizen
specifically permits :ilipino engineers to practice within its territorial limits on the same
basis as the sub6ects or citizens of such country.
?t shall be the duty of all constituted officers of the law of the national government)
or any provincial) city or municipal government or of any political subdivision thereof to
file charges against any person) firm or corporation violating the provisions of the
proposed Act. -he Secretary of 9ustice or duly appointed assistant shall act as legal adviser
of the $oard and render such legal assistance as may be necessary in carrying out the
provisions of the Act) the bill provides. ;&,< rbb