PHILIPPINE INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS

June 13, 2011 To : Thru : From : Subject: ALL PIA MEMBERS Institute Section Presidents The PIA National Board of Directors

CIRCULAR NO. 02 SERIES OF 2011

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Dear Colleagues, Pleasant greetings from your National Board of Directors! Last May 21, we had our regular Board of Directors meeting wherein we discussed at length what is fast becoming a major issue among practicing architects in general and our members in particular: the prejudicial, oppressive and unlawful implementation of UAP as IAPOA in the registration of IAPOA membership and its renewal. Most of the Directors recounted many sad experiences of our members in the hands of both UAP and PRC in the processing of new registration to IAPOA membership and its renewal through UAP chapters. Our contention is that the law, RA 9266 and its spirit, is very simple: Under the law, it is mandatory to be a member of the IAPOA once one becomes a Filipino licensed architect by registering with the IAPOA and paying its required dues. Nothing more, nothing less. The spirit and intent is to make it simple and easy for Filipino architects to register and be able to practice his profession in the country without prejudice and hassle nor harassment from the very agency allowed by the PRC, as executor of the law, to do so. If one wishes to practice in the country, one should have IAPOA registration so he can be protected by the law against malpractices and other unlawful ways. Of course, it follows that one should be aware of the law and abides by it. It has come to our knowledge through various verbal complaints from our members that the actual implementation of that is contrary to law, prejudicial against PIA members with the dues assessed very oppressive as to discourage many from practicing, especially those just starting to establish their practices. We cannot allow this to continue as it is clear to us that the UAP does not know how to separate its role as the IAPOA, protecting the interests of all registered Filipino architects under RA 9266, from that of UAP as a paramount organization of many Filipino architects. It was not given any license by the PRC and the law to be the oppressor as it carries out its duties as the IAPOA.

As a formal collective action with legal basis, we can mount our just complaints direct to the PRC Commissioner, copy furnished to the Board of Architecture. Again, this is worth nothing unless we make it formal and in legal form through signed and notarized affidavits. The more (as indeed, many cases were brought to our attention), the better as it seems that the Board of Architecture is powerless in reining UAP back within bounds of the law. They may have a point in that they cannot act when there are no formal complaints lodged against UAP being received in their offices, which is the proper venue. Though some PIA Sections have circumvented this by becoming members of newly established UAP chapters in their areas, paying the oppressive retroactive membership dues (since 2004) both to UAP National as the IAPOA, and to the organizations Chapters where they were assigned without their consent (as many can attest to), as well as attending its conventions and again paying its fees, just to gain CPE points where none is required by PRC for renewal of license, but mandated by UAP. However, many of our Section members do not share this view and would rather stick to the law and mount a fight, the same way we did when we won our legal fight against mandatory CPE.

# 65 East Capitol Drive, Bo. Kapitolyo, Pasig City Telefax No : 634 1762 Email : piaarchitects@yahoo.com

PHILIPPINE INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS

So your cooperation and support on this action by the National Board is very much needed. As in any formal or legal battle, this may take time but the thought of proving us right by the law is enough to sustain us through to the end. Rest assured that your Board is doing its best exhausting all possible action to have a definitive and final resolution to this problem as soon as possible. The Section Presidents are assigned to collate your notarized affidavits and shall forward them to the National Secretariat not later than June 18, 2011 either by courier or email. For further inquiries, please contact Ms. Marjorie Marcelo at tel. nos. indicated or email us at piaarchitects@yahoo.com. Thank you and may God bless us all! Mabuhay ang PIA!

For the National Board,

ANTONIO L. LOVERIA, FPIA National President.

# 65 East Capitol Drive, Bo. Kapitolyo, Pasig City Telefax No : 634 1762 Email : piaarchitects@yahoo.com