The United Architects of the Philippines (UAP) celebrated the Supreme Court decision that said only registered and licensed architects may prepare, sign, and seal architectural documents.

The ruling resolved a dispute about the duties of architects and civil engineers relating to building construction.

UAP national president Richard Garcia said in a video message that the group welcomes the Supreme Court decision upholding the exclusive authority of the architects to prepare, sign, and seal architectural documents.

Garcia described the ruling as historic and said it also underscores the important work that architects do.

“Ang makasaysayang desisyon na ito ay hindi lamang tagumpay sa aspetong legal. Ito’y mariing patatangkilik sa mahahalagang papel na ginagampanan ng mga arkitekto sa pagbuo ng ating komunidad,” he said.

It also makes clear the role and responsibilities of the different professions, he said.

“Ang kaliwanagang ito ay hindi lamang nagtatanggol sa mga interes ng mga arkitekto, kundi nagtataguyod din ng isang maayos na ugnayan sa pagitan ng mga iba’t-ibang propesyonal sa larangan ng pagdedesensyo at konstruksyon,” he said.

The Supreme Court decision stated that the Architecture Act of 2004, or Republic Act 9266, has impliedly repealed the contrary provisions of the Civil Engineering Law, or RA 544, that allowed civil engineers to prepare, sign, and seal the architectural documents.

It reversed an earlier ruling of the Court of Appeals that granted the petition of civil engineers to declare void the provisions of the revised implementing rules and regulations of the National Building Code that limited to architects the authority for coming up with the architectural documents.

See the attached SC court decision