Civil

Engineering
Laws,
Contracts,
and Specifications

Celeste Acedera De Asis

Bachelor of Laws
Master in Civil Engineering
Module 2. Civil Engineering Code of Ethics: Fundamental Principles.
Fundamental Canons. Guidelines to Practice under the
Fundamental Canons of Ethics.

Overview
This module is intended to provide the students the knowledge and guidance
of the fundamental principles and canons in the practice of civil engineering
profession.

Learning Objectives
Students are expected to be able to identify and understand the Civil
Engineering Fundamental Principles and Canons as well as appreciate the
importance of having an ethical values.

Topics
This module presents the following topics:
• Civil Engineering Fundamental Principles
• Civil Engineering Fundamental Canons
• Guidelines to Practice under the Fundamental Canons of Ethics

Introduction
The practice of the civil engineering profession in the Philippines is not a right but a
privilege. Civil engineers should maintain in their daily lives a good relationship with
their teams most especially to the persons under their supervision. By nature of the
work, most civil engineers are leaders in their assigned teams hence, a modesty and
camaraderie is a must.

Discussion
The fundamental principles and canons of ethics enumerated below are imperative
thus must be observed by all registered civil engineers and noncompliance of which
will result to possible revocation of their license and consequently prohibition of the
practice of the profession.
The guidelines are also presented for the student to appreciate more the application
of the Code of Ethics.
Fundamental Principles
Civil engineers uphold and advance the integrity, honor and dignity of the civil
engineering profession by:

1. using their knowledge and skill for the enhancement of human welfare and the
environment;
2. being honest and impartial and serving with fidelity the public, their
employers/employees and clients;
3. striving to increase the competence and prestige of the civil engineering
profession; and
4. supporting the professional and technical societies of their disciplines.

These fundamental principles adhere the ethical standards and professionalism.

The practice of the civil engineering profession is regulated by the Professional
Regulation Commission as mandated by Republic Act 544 as amended by RA 1582
entitled An Act to Regulating the Practice of the Civil Engineering Profession in the
Philippines.

Fundamental Canons

1. Civil Engineers shall hold paramount the safety, health and welfare of the
public and shall strive to comply with the principles of sustainable development
in the performance of their duties.
2. Civil Engineers shall perform services only in areas of their competence.
3. Civil Engineers shall issue public statements only in an objective and truthful
manner.
4. Civil Engineers shall act in professional matters for each employer or client as
faithful agents or trustees, and shall avoid conflicts of interest.
5. Civil Engineers shall build their professional reputation on the merit of their
services and shall not compete unfairly with others.
6. Civil Engineers shall act in such a manner as to uphold and enhance the
honor, integrity, and dignity of the civil engineering profession.
7. Civil Engineers shall continue their professional development throughout their
careers, and shall provide opportunities for the professional development of
those civil engineers under their supervision.
Adopted in September 2001 as part of the Manual of Professional Practice for Civil
Engineers published by the Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers. (http://pice.org.ph/)

My dear students, please memorize, by heart, the above fundamental principles

and Canon of Ethics.

Guidelines to Practice under the Fundamental Canons of Ethics

To make the practice of civil engineering profession easy and to avoid the
malpractice, the following instances will be a guide:

Canon 1. Civil Engineers shall old paramount the safety, health and welfare of the
public and shall strive to comply with the principles of sustainable development in the
performance of their professional duties.

a. Civil Engineers shall recognize that the lives, safety, health and welfare of the
general public are dependent upon engineering judgements, decisions and
practices incorporated into structures, machines, products, processes and
devices.

b. Civil Engineers shall approve or seal only those design documents, reviewed
or prepared by them, which are determined to be safe for public health and
welfare in conformity with accepted engineering standards.

c. Civil Engineers whose professional judgement is overruled under

circumstances where the safety, health and welfare of the public are
endangered, or the principles of sustainable development ignored, shall inform
their clients or employers of the possible consequences.

d. Civil Engineers who have knowledge or reason to believe that another person
or firm may be in violation of any of the provisions of Canon 1 shall present
such information to the proper authority in writing and shall cooperate with the
 proper authority in furnishing such further information or assistance as may be
required.

e. Civil Engineers should seek opportunities to be of constructive services in civic

affairs and work for the advancement of the safety, health and well-being of
their communities, and the protection of the environment through the practice
of sustainable development.

f. Civil Engineers should be committed to improving the environment by

adherence to the principles of sustainable development so as to enhance to
enhance the quality of life of the general public.

Canon 2. Civil Engineers shall perform services only in areas of their competence.

a. Civil Engineers shall undertake to perform engineering assignments only

when qualified by education or experience in the technical field of engineering
involved.
b. Civil Engineers may accept an assignment requiring education or experience
outside of their own fields of competence, provided their services are restricted
to those phases of the project in which they are qualified. All other phases of
such project shall performed by the qualified associates, consultants, or
employees.

c. Civil Engineers shall not affix their signatures or seals to any civil engineering
plan or document dealing with subject matter in which they lack competence
by the virtue of education or experience or to any such plan or document not
reviewed or prepared under their supervision and control.

d. Civil Engineers shall not use The Specialty Engineering Title such as
Structural Engineer, Transportation Engineer, Water Engineer, Geotechnical
Engineer, Construction Engineer, etc. without the PICE Specialist
Accreditation.
Canon 3. Civil Engineers shall issue public statements only in an objective and
truthful manner.

a. Civil Engineers should endeavor to extend the public knowledge of civil

engineering and sustainable development, and shall not participate
development and shall not participate in the dissemination of untrue, unfair or
exaggerated statements regarding civil engineering.

b. Civil Engineers shall be objective and truthful in professional reports,

statements, or testimony. They shall include all relevant and pertinent
information in such reports, statements or testimony.

c. Civil Engineers, when serving as expert witnesses, shall express civil

engineering opinion only when it is founded upon adequate knowledge of the
facts, upon a background of technical competence, and upon honest
conviction.

d. Civil Engineers shall issue no statements, criticisms, or arguments on civil

engineering matters which are inspired or paid for by interested parties, unless
they indicate on whose behalf the statements are made.
e. Civil Engineers shall be dignified and modest in explaining their work and
merit, and will avoid any act tending to promote their own interests at the
expense of the integrity, honor and dignity of the civil engineering profession
and/or related professions.

Canon 4. Civil Engineers shall act in professional matters for each employer or client
as faithful agents or trustees, and shall avoid conflicts of interest.

a. Civil Engineers shall avoid all known or potential conflicts of interest with their
employers or clients and shall promptly inform their employers or clients of any
business association, interests, or circumstances which could influence their
judgement or the quality of their services.
 b. Civil Engineers shall not accept compensation from more than one party for
services on the same project, or for services pertaining to the same project,
unless the circumstances are fully disclosed to and agreed to, by all interested
projects.

c. Civil Engineers shall not solicit or accept gratuities, directly or indirectly, from
contractors, their agents, or other parties dealing with their clients or
employers in connection with work for which they are responsible.

d. Civil Engineers in public services as members, advisors or employees of a

governmental body or department shall not participate in consideration or
actions with respect to services solicited or provided by them or their
organization in private or public engineering practice.

e. Civil Engineers shall advise their employers or clients when, as a result of their
students, they believe a project will not be successful.

f. Civil Engineers shall not use confidential information coming to them in the
course of their assignments as a means of making personal profit of such
action is adverse to the interests of their clients, employers or the public.
g. Civil Engineers shall not accept professional employment outside of their
regular work or interest without the knowledge of their employers.

Canon 5. Civil Engineers shall build their professional reputation on the merit of their
services and shall not compete unfairly with others.

a. Civil Engineers shall not give, solicit or receive either directly or indirectly, any
political contribution, gratuity or unlawful consideration in order to secure work,
exclusive of securing salaried positions through employment agencies.

b. Civil Engineers should negotiate contracts for professional services fairly and
on the basis of demonstrated competence and qualifications for the type of
professional service required.
c. Civil Engineers may request; propose or accept professional commissions on
a contingent basis only under circumstances in which their professional
judgments would not be compromised.

d. Civil Engineers shall not falsify or permit misrepresentation of their academic

or professional qualifications or experience.

e. Civil Engineers shall give proper credit for engineering work to those to whom
credit is due, and shall recognize the proprietary interests of others. Whenever
possible, they shall name the person or persons who may be responsible for
designs, inventions, writings or other accomplishments.

f. Civil Engineers may advertise professional services in a way that does not
contain misleading language or is in any other manner derogatory to the
dignity of the profession. Examples of permissible advertising are as follows:

i. Professional cards in recognized, dignified publications, and listings on

rosters or directories published by responsible organizations, provided that
the cards or listings are consistent in size and content and are in a section
of the publication regularly devoted to such professional cards. ii. Brochures
which factually describe experience, facilities, personnel and capacity to
render services, providing they are not misleading with respect to the
engineers participation in projects described.

iii. Display advertising in recognized dignified business and professional

publications, providing it is factual and is not misleading with respect to
the engineer’s extent of participation in projects described.

iv. A statement of the engineers’ names or the name of the firm and
statement of the type of services posted on projects for which they
render services.
 v. Preparations or authorization of descriptive articles for the lay or
technical press, which are factual and dignified. Such articles shall not
imply anything more than direct participation in the project described.

vi. Permission by engineers for their names to be used in commercial

advertisements, such as may be published by contractors, materials
suppliers, etc. only by means of a modest, dignified notation
acknowledging the engineers’ participation in the project described.
Such permissions shall not include public endorsement of proprietary
products.

g. Civil Engineers shall not maliciously of falsely, directly or indirectly injure the
professional reputation, prospects, practice or employment of other engineer
or indiscriminately criticize another’s work.

h. Civil Engineers shall not use equipment, supplies, laboratory or office facilities
of their employers to carry on outside private practice without the consent of
their employers.

Canon 6. Civil Engineers shall act in such a manner as to uphold and enhance the
honor, integrity, and dignity of the civil engineering profession.
a. Civil Engineers shall not knowingly act in a manner which will be derogatory to
the honor, integrity, or dignity of the civil engineering profession or knowingly
engage in business or professional practices of a fraudulent, dishonest or
unethical nature.

Canon 7. Civil Engineers shall continue their professional development throughout

their careers, and shall provide opportunities for the professional development of
those civil engineers under their supervision.

a. Civil Engineers should keep current in their specialty fields by engaging in

professional practice, participating in continuing education courses, reading in
the technical literature, and attending professional meetings and seminars.
 b. Civil Engineers should encourage their engineering employees to become
registered at the earliest possible date.

c. Civil Engineers should encourage engineering employees to attend and

present papers at professional and technical society meetings.

d. Civil Engineers shall uphold the principle of mutually satisfying relationships

between employers and employees with respect to terms of employment
including professional grade descriptions, salary ranges, and fringe benefits.

The above cited scenario will serve as a guide only and the enumeration is not
exclusive hence that are possible instances not mentioned above may can be
observed in our community.

Student Activity. Give at least five illustrations on how the above discussed fundamental
principles and Canon of Ethics can be practiced.
Surname_StudentActivity2 send to FB Msger Account Celeste A. De Asis.

Feedback
The scenario presented in Student Activity is a situation which a civil engineer might
possibly encounter in the performance of his duties. This is a test of one’s ethical
values. My dear students, I understand that at your level now you are not yet
prepared for to discuss on this matter for you haven’t experience such however, the
values that you have and the fundamental principles and canon is a guide for you to
decide what should be the right action to be taken.

Summary
The fundamental principles and canons in the practice of civil engineering
profession are considered to be as the terms of reference of the civil engineers who
are members of the Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers. Any violation thereof is
subject has a corresponding punishment like suspension of the privilege to practice
or revocation of license as civil engineer or any applicable punishment under RA 544.
 The enumeration of the guidelines on how to practice the civil engineering
profession is not exclusive thus any similar act upholding the honor, integrity, and
dignity of the profession will operate the same.

Reference
(1) Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers, Inc. 2003. Manual of Professional
Practice for Civil Engineers, 2nd Edition. Manila: Philippine Institute of Civil
Engineers, Inc