article 1

• Short Title: This Act shall be known as "The Architecture Act of 2004."
• Statement of Policy: The State recognizes the importance of architects in nation building and development. It aims to develop and nurture competent, virtuous, productive, and well-rounded professional architects with excellent, qualitative, world-class, and globally competitive standards of practice and service through inviolable, honest, effective, and credible licensure examinations and regulatory measures, programs, and activities that foster their professional growth and development.
• Architecture


  The art, science, or profession of planning, designing, and constructing buildings in their totality, taking into account their environment, in accordance with the principles of utility, strength, and beauty
• Architect


  A person professionally and academically qualified, registered and licensed under this Act, responsible for advocating fair and sustainable development, welfare, and cultural expression of society’s habitat in terms of space, forms, and historical context
• Architect-of-record


  The architect directly and professionally responsible for the total design of the project for the client, assuming civil liability for the plans, specifications, and contract documents signed and sealed
• Architecture-in-charge of construction


  An architect directly and professionally responsible and liable for the construction supervision of the project
• Consulting Architect


  An architect professionally and academically qualified with exceptional or recognized expertise or specialization in any branch of architecture
• General Practice of Architecture


  The act of planning, architectural designing, structural conceptualization, specifying, supervising, giving general administration and responsible direction to the erection, enlargement, or alterations of buildings and building environments
• Scope of the Practice of Architecture


  Encompasses the provision of professional services in connection with site, physical and planning, and the design, construction, enlargement, conservation, renovation, remodeling, restoration, or alteration of a building or group of buildings
• Structural Conceptualization


  The act of conceiving, choosing, and developing the type, disposition, arrangement, and proportioning of the structural elements of an architectural work
• Architectural Firm


  A sole proprietorship, partnership, or corporation registered with the proper government agencies
• Authorship


  Refers to the author or authors of a set of architectural plans or specifications who are in charge of their preparation
• Board


  Refers to the Professional Regulatory Board of Architecture
• Commission


  Refers to the Professional Regulation Commission
• Service Agreement


  A duly notarized written contract stipulating the scope of services and guaranteeing compensation of such services to be rendered by an architect registered and licensed under this Act
• Integrated and Accredited Professional Organization


  The official national organization of all architects of the Philippines in which all registered Filipino architects shall be members
• Continuing Professional Development


  A sustaining and progressive learning process that maintains, enhances, or increases the knowledge and continuing ability of architects
• DTI means the Department of Trade and Industry
• SEC means the Securities of Exchange Commission