Architecture Advocacy International Foundation, Inc.

09/04/2026

Images from the (final) Workshop 2 with the planning and tourism offices of the 17 Local Government Units (LGUs) of the National Capital Region (NCR)/Metropolitan Manila Area (MMA), the National Government Agencies (NGAs), and certain private sector representatives, in relation to the Preparation of NCR Regional Tourism Development Plan (RTDP). The RTDP Workshop 2 was a very well-attended (i.e., about 200 attendees) whole day planning event held last 8 April 2026 (9am-6pm) at the Decagon Events Place, 2F Silver City 6, Ortigas Center, Pasig City NCR (Tiendesitas area).
The technical presentations during the event were on the Proposed Tourism Vision and Spatial Framework, Tourism Thematic Clusters and Emerging Circuits, LGU Tourism Development Areas (TDA) and Possible NCR Tourism Enterprise Zones (TEZ), Biodiversity Conservation, Ecotourism and Carrying Capacities, Investment Portfolio, Implementation of the NCR RTDP, Marketing and Branding, plus the nearly 2-hour workshop on Capacity Building on the Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Tool.
The study proponent is the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA), with proactive support from the Department of Tourism (DoT) NCR Office. The commissioned consultants (associated) for this ongoing planning effort are CEST, Incorporated (based at the Ortigas Center) and Positive Exposure (for the market research), with Environmental Planner (EnP) Armando Alli as team leader/TL. The RTDP is expected to be completed by mid-year 2026.

04/04/2026

2025 AAIF THOUGHT PAPER ON THE ADMINISTRATIVE RELATIONSHIPS AMONG THE DEPARTMENT OF TRADE AND INDUSTRY (DTI), THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY AUTHORITY OF THE PHILIPPINES (CIAP) AND THE PHILIPPINE CONTRACTORS ACCREDITATION BOARD (PCAB), as of 11 September 2025

29/03/2026

A MID-2025 POSITION OF THE ARCHITECTURE ADVOCACY INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION (“AAIF”), INC., A PHILIPPINE (“PH”) NON-GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION (“NGO”):

“CONTRACTING IS A BUSINESS, AND MUST NEVER BE CONFUSED WITH THE LAWFUL PRACTICE OF ANY STATE-REGULATED PROFESSION (“SRP”)”

While there are common commercial offers from Philippine/“PH” Contractors Accreditation Board (“PCAB”)-licensed contractors to undertake BOTH the design and construction of infrastructure and/or building/grounds projects, there is definite need to officially distinguish “CONTRACTING” (i.e., a business or a commercial activity regulated by the PCAB, sometimes also referred to as the “business of building”), and “DESIGNING” (which is the lawful practice of a state-regulated profession/”SRP”, duly governed by various professional regulatory laws/”PRL” implemented by the Department of Labor and Employment/”DoLE” through the Professional Regulation Commission/”PRC”).

The construction-related PRLs (including their respective streams of regulation/”SoR”, NOT limited to their implementing rules and regulations/”IRR”, codes of ethical conduct/”CEC”, standards of professional practice/”SPP”, guidelines and procedural manuals/”GPM”, and similar executive issuances (”EI”), including Joint Memorandum Circulars/”JMC”, currently and collectively administered/indirectly implemented by the PRC through the concerned Professional Regulatory Boards/”PRB”.

In the mid-1970s, “CONTRACTING” was transferred from PRC to the then Ministry of Trade (now the Department of Trade and Industry/”DTI”) as it was then CORRECTLY classified as a BUSINESS and NOT the practice of a SRP, which is a PRIVILEGE officially granted by the state mainly to NATURAL persons and duly-qualified juridical entities, based on the pertinent PRL, as in R.A. No. 9266 (for Architecture) and R.A. No. 10587 (for Environmental Planning).

The PH Supreme Court in its General Resolution (“G.R.”) No. 217590, March 10, 2020, Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board (“PCAB”), Petitioner, V. Manila Water Company, Inc., Respondent (at link https://elibrary.judiciary.gov.ph/thebookshelf/showdocs/1/66190), has reinforced that classification of CONTRACTING as a BUSINESS, states:

“x x x the supposed government interest in limiting the practice of a profession to Filipino citizens is inapplicable to construction considering that contracting for purposes of engaging in construction activities is not a profession, as it is not one regulated by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) and the term "professional" refers to an individual not a corporation or firm.” (emphases and underscoring supplied)

x x x
“x x x. Section 14, Article XII of the Constitution refers to the privilege of a natural person to exercise his profession in the Philippines. On the other hand, under Article IV of R.A. No. 4566, even partnerships, corporations and organizations can qualify for a contractor's license through its responsible officer. The "profession" under the aforesaid provision refers to the practice of natural persons of a certain field in which they are trained, certified, and licensed. Being a licensed contractor does not automatically qualify within the ambit of the Constitution as a "profession" per se.
A contractor under R.A. No. 4566 does not refer to a specific practice of profession, i.e., architecture, engineering, medicine, accountancy and the like. In fact, Section 9(a) and (b) of R.A. No. 4566 reads x x x
Suffice it to say that a corporation or juridical person, in this case a construction firm, cannot be considered a "professional" that is being exclusively restricted by the Constitution and our laws to Filipino citizens. The licensing of contractors is not to engage in the practice of a specific profession, but rather to engage in the business of contracting/construction.
The basis for petitioner's argument, that construction is considered a profession, is also out of context. x x x. It does not follow that just because a license is required under R.A. No. 4566, a licensed contractor is already considered a professional under the Constitution.
Professionalizing the construction business is different from the exercise of profession which the Constitution exclusively restricts to Filipino citizens. To reiterate, the license required under R.A. No. 4566 is for purposes of engaging in the business of contracting under the terms of the said act for a fiscal year or a certain period/project, and not for the purpose of practicing a particular profession. The responsible officer who secures a license for contracting, for his own business or for the company, may already be a professional in his own field (i.e., engineer, architect). Then again, the license acquired under R.A. No. 4566 does not make the licensed contractor a "professional" within the meaning contemplated under Section 14, Article XII of the 1987 Constitution.
More telling is the fact that applicants for contractor's licenses are not required to have Philippine citizenship unlike those who are considered as professionals in the country. x x x. The law merely requires at least two years of experience in the construction industry, and knowledge of building, safety, health and lien laws of the Republic of the Philippines and the rudimentary administrative principles of the contracting business. x x x. (emphases and underscoring supplied)
From a layman’s viewpoint, the foregoing can mainly be interpreted as follows:
1) that PCAB-registered contractors have NEVER been granted the privilege to practice state-regulated professions (“SRP”) under their contractor licenses; at most, they may probably render construction-related services as part of their business, i.e., construction management (“CM”) services, including fulltime construction supervision (“FCS”) services through their fulltime sustaining technical employees (“STE”);
2) to lawfully render SRP, the PCAB-registered contractors must do any of the following:
• formally associate with natural or juridical persons permitted by law to engage in SRP to prepare the design documents and to assume the mandated professional responsibilities and civil liability under law; or
• operate a subsidiary operation, separately registered with DTI or SEC, and mainly focused on the rendition of SRP; or
• utilize the STE as natural persons to render SRP in a separate private capacity covered by a professional service contract (“PSC”) detailing professional compensation per project and the manner of assumption of civil liability, e.g., professional liability insurance/”PLI”, and the like) once the STE is separated from service.
3) PCAB-licensed contractors who continue to perhaps unlawfully render SRP may be sued for violations of the pertinent PRL, i.e., for illegal practice of a SRP/willful violation of PRL/s. Thanks.
Nothing follows.

20/03/2026

A late March 2026 AAIF (NGO) document “combining (integrating)” the text of three (3) valid and subsisting construction laws, viz:

1) R.A. No. 4566 (i.e., the original 1965 Contractor's License Law, a special law), supported by its 1980 Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations/RIRR (i.e., the latter being not forming part of the attached document);

2) P.D. No. 1746 (i.e., the 1980 law amending provisions under R.A. No. 4566), supported by its 1998 IRR), with the latter being not forming part of the attached document; and

3) R.A. No. 11711 (i.e., the 2022 law further amending provisions under R.A. No. 4566).

The attached 8-page AAIF document (i.e., images only) is a PRIVATE (unofficial) document and is an updated version of a circa 3rd quarter 2023 AAIF document, originally prepared to perhaps help technical professionals attain a better and fuller understanding of Philippine construction law.

The readers/users of the attached document, especially if contractors, are advised to seek the assistance of sufficiently-experienced lawyers and/or technical professionals (preferably also well-versed in construction), in their appreciation and interpretation of the document (and its contents). Thank You.

19/03/2026

UNOFFICIAL (and Largely General) Information on the Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board (“PCAB”) and Its Current Processes

Very Important Notes: As this is largely UNOFFICIAL information, it is best to always secure the desired information from official internet sites/public offices. Potential PCAB license applicants are also advised to directly seek the assistance of sufficiently-experienced lawyers, certified public accountants (“CPA”) and duly-qualified technical professionals like project/construction managers (“PCM”), or architects or engineers or other contractors in the preparation, self-vetting/checking and online submission of their application documents and in the preparation of their key officials for the conduct of PCAB interviews.

The PCAB is a government agency attached to the Department of Trade and Industry (“DTI”) and is one of the 5 implementing Boards in the Construction Industry Authority of the Philippines (“CIAP”). R.A. No. 4566 (the Contractor’s License law of 1965 (at link https://www.gppb.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Republic-Act-No.-4566.pdf; https://construction.gov.ph/laws/laws-pcab/irr-of-ra-4566-for-licensing-of-constructors/) was amended by P.D. No. 1746 of 1980 (at link https://elibrary.judiciary.gov.ph/thebookshelf/showdocs/26/15909), later further amended by R.A. No. 11711 in 2022 (at link https://construction.gov.ph/issuances/ciap-implementing-rules-and-regulations-of-pd-1746-2/). The law provides that no contractor (including sub-contractor and specialty contractor or labor contractor or installer) shall engage in the business of contracting (including labor supply and material/equipment installation, which are construction activities), without first having secured a PCAB license to conduct business.

It is an offense to engage in contracting business without a license first being obtained and serious fines and other punitive measures await those who either wittingly or unwittingly violate the law.

To secure a PCAB license, one needs to go through the PCAB portal through account creation. Thereafter, more detailed instructions are issued. It is very important to follow all instructions faithfully to avoid the disapproval of Your PCAB license application. Depending on an applicant’s compliances, the application process time (for new licenses or license renewal or other licensing cm classification transactions) may take approximately nineteen (19) days for successful license applicants. Unsuccessful (or repetitive) applicants may take much, much longer than 19 days as they would then need to rejoin the application queue at the back of the line. The reprocessing of disapproved applications may also mean paying additional fees.

The relevant links are as follows:
1) PCAB Portal at link https://pcabgovph.com/
2) Instructional Guide at link https://pcabgovph.com/instructionalguides.php
3) Rules and Regulations Governing Licensing of Constructors in the Philippines at linkhttps://pcabgovph.com/assets/Rules%20and%20Regulation%20Governing%20Licensing%20of%20Constructors.pdf
4) Data Privacy Policy at linkhttps://pcabgovph.com/assets/PCAB_DATA_PRIVACY_POLICY.pdf

All PCAB license applicants must have the following FULLTIME staff:
1) An authorized managing officer (“AMO”) who will be primarily responsible for ensuring that the construction company fully complies with all mandates under the applicable construction and related laws; and
2) At least one (1) sustaining technical employee (“STE”) who if suitably experienced, will essentially be the State-regulated professional/s (“SRP”) for their construction company. Both the PCAB license category (E through AAAA) and the contractor classification (mainly general buildings/”GB” and/or general engineering/”GE”) will be highly dependent on both the STE qualifications and the company CAPITALIZATION, among other requirements. NO GB and/or GE classification is granted to category E PCAB license holders.

Both the AMO and the STE would need to attend seminars, including those relating to construction safety, pass written tests and hurdle interviews (mostly conducted online, i.e., recorded under oath).
Construction companies desiring PCAB licensing may have intentions of joining private or public procurement processes, may be local or foreign construction companies, or may be joint ventures (“JV”) among PCAB-licensed contractors.

All PCAB-licensed contractors assume the mandatory CIVIL LIABILITY under Article 1723 of R.A. No. 386, the 1949 New Civil Code of the Philippines (“CCP” at link https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/1949/06/18/republic-act-no-386/), and in the case of building collapse, may need to wait for a 10-year period within which a case for damages against the erring/failing contractor could be brought.

Contracting is classified as a business, and that is the main reason why it was removed from the Professional Regulation Commission (“PRC”) in the mid-1970s and transferred to the DTI (i.e., refer also to a more recent PH Supreme Court decision at link https://elibrary.judiciary.gov.ph/thebookshelf/showdocs/1/66190).

More importantly, the business of constructing/contracting does NOT allow the PCAB-licensed contractors to engage in the practice of State-regulated professions (“SRP”) governed by professional regulatory laws (“PRL”) such as R.A. No. 9266, already reinforced by a 2023 Supreme Court decision (at link https://elibrary.judiciary.gov.ph/thebookshelf/showdocs/2/1491; https://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/sc-only-registered-and-licensed-architects-may-sign-architectural-documents/), R.A. No. 544, as amended by R.A. No. 1582 (at link. https://lawphil.net/statutes/repacts/ra1950/ra_544_1950.html) and R.A. No. 10587 (at link https://elibrary.judiciary.gov.ph/thebookshelf/showdocs/2/57103), among many other SRPs. Contractors are generally advised to directly engage the services of qualified SRPs or qualified consulting firms for their physical planning and/or building/grounds design needs. FYI only. Thank You.

SEC. 5. Qualifications of Members of the Professional Regulatory Board. — Each member shall, at the time of his/her appointment, posses the following qualifications:

19/03/2026

Active Links to a Reference Philippine (“PH”) Local Government Unit (“LGU”) Zoning Ordinance (“ZO”) Based on Both the 2014 HLURB Comprehensive Land Use Planning (“CLUP”) Guidebook Volume 3 (Model Zoning Ordinance/”MZO”) and the Most Recent Technical Interpretations of the 2004 Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations (“RIRR”) of P.D. No. 1096, the 1977 National Building Code of the Philippines (“NBCP”) and Its Stream of Regulations (“SoR”)

Primary Sources: 2022 - 2024 Tomeldan, Alli & Molina (T.A.M.) Planners Co. (with RSDPI), Architecture Advocacy International Foundation (AAIF), Inc., and the LGU of Pasig City NCR

Very Important Note: The LGU of Pasig City’s Zoning Ordinance (“ZO”) and Stream of Regulations (“SoR”), i.e., not limited to its Implementing Rules and Regulations (”IRR”) embodied in its accompanying Annexes and Appendices Volume (”AAV”) were all ratified by the PH Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development in late 2024, and were rolled out for general information dissemination cm implementation/enforcement by the LGU of Pasig City NCR (i.e., a highly urbanized city/”HUC”) sometime immediately thereafter.

A) Pasig City Full Disclosure Portal
https://pasigcity.gov.ph/full-disclosure-portal?fbclid=IwY2xjawP89NhleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETExMzZvbEJvM1NvM1A3b2wxc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHnXVKohBW9TrbVP3zXRM_kvk04Sk6M7KSLIfpDZQfEWUhhj7Azds2pJQRWPU_aem_-LhZ7HDshSrXNgvP9sXNJA

B) Ordinance No. 63, Series of 2024: A Zoning Ordinance (ZO) for the City of Pasig, Providing for the Administration, Enforcement and Amendment Thereof and for the Repeal of All Ordinances in Conflict Therewith [Updated], signed by the concerned Pasig City LGU officials (led by the Hon. Mayor Vico Sotto) on 21 October 2024, at link:
https://assets.pasigcity.gov.ph/storage/city_ordinance/2024/10/21/67d7c7bb8d3821742194619Ord%20No.%2063-2024.pdf?fbclid=IwY2xjawP89PtleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETExMzZvbEJvM1NvM1A3b2wxc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHuhq0dOeScgx1ZM-75_5dp3hVHwKEXu89vKQDOB8v38IpYXqXTBj1-kuZ51C_aem_sF_09hE97WF3rvxwsuHZcQ

C) Annexes (ZO.23 Implementing Rules and Regulations/IRR) Part 1/6 (pp 1-231) at link:
https://assets.pasigcity.gov.ph/storage/city_ordinance/2024/10/21/67c675622ba621741059426part%201.pdf?fbclid=IwY2xjawP89TJleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETExMzZvbEJvM1NvM1A3b2wxc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHp6yCN5gMidvRinJoQXZatlpN5GF_zPqSgQSL8F0BX-zfNdQpyW4wQHYu3HS_aem_KYFI80UuhT9Y8-giHU9iFQ

D) Annex (ZO.23 IRR) Part 2/6 (pp 231-467) at link:
https://assets.pasigcity.gov.ph/storage/city_ordinance/2024/10/21/67c6757b45bf71741059451part%202.pdf?fbclid=IwY2xjawP89VtleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETExMzZvbEJvM1NvM1A3b2wxc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHnXVKohBW9TrbVP3zXRM_kvk04Sk6M7KSLIfpDZQfEWUhhj7Azds2pJQRWPU_aem_-LhZ7HDshSrXNgvP9sXNJA

E) Annexes (ZO.23 IRR) Part 3/6 (pp 468-692) at link:
https://assets.pasigcity.gov.ph/storage/city_ordinance/2024/10/21/67c67609b6e701741059593part%203.pdf?fbclid=IwY2xjawP89ZtleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETExMzZvbEJvM1NvM1A3b2wxc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHm3l1c0MsueJXH02HhF0e5rbR1XkxUz5JTWO8YTmOMBAbK4lFry30u_5g0ic_aem_LUQ3FpLtDp5bvu0euqTeNA

F) Annexes (ZO.23 IRR) Part 4/6 (pp 693-1020) at link:
https://assets.pasigcity.gov.ph/storage/city_ordinance/2024/10/21/67c676b7de9891741059767part%204.pdf?fbclid=IwY2xjawP89ctleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETExMzZvbEJvM1NvM1A3b2wxc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHj3HY1F-pDfCeT65wkk3XVQ3qDFB6A-ROCd6IuXA5uI3rvKN5kBDQ10-JMex_aem_mxLs-jRLUnxYjyEt6zU6dw

G) Annexes (ZO.23 IRR) Part 5/6 (pp 1021-1207) at link:
https://assets.pasigcity.gov.ph/storage/city_ordinance/2024/10/21/67c67723b856c1741059875part%205.pdf?fbclid=IwY2xjawP89fNleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETExMzZvbEJvM1NvM1A3b2wxc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHm3l1c0MsueJXH02HhF0e5rbR1XkxUz5JTWO8YTmOMBAbK4lFry30u_5g0ic_aem_LUQ3FpLtDp5bvu0euqTeNA

H) Annexes (ZO.23 IRR) Part 6/6 (pp 1208-1214) and
Appendices (ZO General Technical References/GTR), i.e., pp 1215-1474) at link:
https://assets.pasigcity.gov.ph/storage/city_ordinance/2024/10/21/67c678f258fc71741060338part%206.pdf?fbclid=IwY2xjawP89hlleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETExMzZvbEJvM1NvM1A3b2wxc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHnXVKohBW9TrbVP3zXRM_kvk04Sk6M7KSLIfpDZQfEWUhhj7Azds2pJQRWPU_aem_-LhZ7HDshSrXNgvP9sXNJA

Nothing follows.

15/01/2026

Happening this Saturday (starting 5pm on 17 January 2026) at Don Bosco Technical Institute (DBTI) Makati City (at corners Arnaiz Ave./formerly Pasay Road and Chino Roces Ave./formerly Pasong Tamo (a Half Century After High School):
Together as One/Don Bosco Makati Alumni Homecoming 2026 at link

Get ready to reconnect with old friends and relive the good times at the Don Bosco Makati.

08/11/2025

Greetings. Here are a few catch terms we need to be conscious of in the work/advocacies that we now engage in:
1) risk-informed planning, i.e., is a strategic process that integrates an understanding of vulnerabilities, shocks, and systemic risks into development and decision-making to build resilience; it involves a robust risk analysis, addressing root causes like poverty and lack of capacity, and a proactive commitment to risk reduction by involving affected communities and partners in the planning process; this approach helps to create more sustainable and resilient outcomes by preventing the creation of new risks and empowering those most at risk; sample links at https://www.undp.org/publications/undp-approach-risk-informed-development; https://www.adb.org/sites/default/files/project-documents/48264/48264-001-dpta-en.pdf; https://www.adpc.net/urce-norad/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Risk-informed-Infrastructure-Planning-My-Tho-City-EN_BK-1.pdf; https://www.undp.org/sites/g/files/zskgke326/files/2022-09/UNDP-Risk-Informed-Development-Strategy-Tool-for-Integrating-DRR-and-CC-Adaptation-into-Development_0.pdf; https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/136698700376716;
2) nature-based solutions are actions to protect, restore, and sustainably manage ecosystems to address societal challenges like climate change, biodiversity loss, and water security; by working with nature, these solutions provide economic, social, and environmental benefits, such as improving human well-being and building resilience; examples include restoring forests and wetlands, creating urban green spaces, and protecting coastal ecosystems like mangroves; sample links at https://www.nature-basedsolutions.com; https://www.nature-basedsolutions.com/ and at https://iucn.org/our-work/nature-based-solutions;
3) evidence-based solution/decision, i.e., where evidence-based decision-making (EBDM) is a process that uses data, research evidence, and facts to make choices, rather than relying on guesswork, instinct, or opinion; it involves collecting and analyzing data, considering the experience of experts and stakeholders, and applying critical thinking to determine the most effective course of action; sample link at https://advocacyguide.icpolicyadvocacy.org/231-what-is-evidence-based-decisionmaking;
4) science-based solution/decision, i.e., scientific decision-making is a systematic process of using data, logic, and analysis to make informed choices, rather than relying solely on intuition; it involves steps like defining the problem, gathering and analyzing data, developing and evaluating alternatives, and implementing and reviewing the final decision; this approach helps reduce risk, improve accuracy, and can be supported by various quantitative techniques, although it can be more time-consuming and expensive than intuitive methods; sample link at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WiW4IITEfZw;
5) data-driven solution/decision, i.e., where data-driven decision-making (DDDM) simply means using data to make more informed decisions; thanks to the wealth of secondary (online) data that we now have access to, these information can improve decision-making in a number of ways; sample link at https://asana.com/resources/data-driven-decision-making?utm_campaign=apac_ph_en_mlti_signup_search_google_nb_teams&utm_source=google&utm_medium=pd_cpc_nb&utm_content=apac_ph_en_mlti_signup_search_search_google_mix_3p_all_dsa_sitewide&utm_term=&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=19969438737&gbraid=0AAAAApRIVN77bOI7VxT_Es4gznWA7h_mo&gclid=CjwKCAiAzrbIBhA3EiwAUBaUdTCVxAkVpdUYnisHI6j8DFeHUgJuwtD4bWmXRcvvEyg7Ujq2WVdgzRoCIQMQAvD_BwE;
6) blue and green economy are sustainable economic frameworks that promote environmental protection and economic growth. The green economy focuses on land-based sectors like renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, and waste management to reduce emissions and pollution. The blue economy concentrates on the sustainable use of ocean resources for sectors such as fisheries, aquaculture, marine tourism, and shipping. They are often integrated because they are interdependent, with the health of marine ecosystems (blue) depending on actions taken on land (green); sample links at https://nrcp.dost.gov.ph/navigating-the-philippine-blue-and-green-economy/; https://sinay.ai/en/how-can-we-define-the-difference-between-blue-and-green-economies/; https://www.adb.org/sites/default/files/event/949176/files/asri-hadiyanti-giastuti-final.pdf; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MNylLyEX5ek; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRTs-PZP1M0;
7) sponge settlements, i.e., an approach that uses nature-based solutions, like permeable pavements and green roofs, to absorb and store rainwater instead of relying solely on traditional concrete drains; making the Metro Manila Area (MMA) a major sponge metropolis is a current MMDA focus; sample links at https://thefabulousscientist.com/2025/07/17/how-sponge-cities-can-mitigate-metro-manilas-flood-issues/; https://explained.ph/metro-manila-to-adopt-sponge-city-approach-amid-worsening-flood-concerns/; https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2098465/expert-cites-sponge-city-approach-for-flood-resilient-communities; https://www.philstar.com/nation/2025/09/07/2471018/sponge-city-principle-eyed-metro-manila; https://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/opinion/editorial-converting-cebu-into-a-sponge-city; https://www.ustp.edu.ph/climate-change-expert-promotes-sponge-city-design-to-solve-urban-flooding/;
8) integrated water resources management (IWRM) is a collaborative, holistic approach to planning and managing water resources by considering the entire water cycle, including supply, wastewater, and stormwater; this approach aims to maximize social, environmental, and economic benefits by coordinating development and managing water, land, and related resources together, which helps address challenges like climate change, population growth, and flood risk; sample links at https://www.unep.org/explore-topics/disasters-conflicts/where-we-work/sudan/what-integrated-water-resources-management; https://waterinnovation.challenges.org/news-updates/what-is-integrated-water-management/; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GS9Mxn4_RrI; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=REiuZeDSf9w; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WkWVZ41kUgA; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dgQ14g4ntk;
Very Important Note: Definitions supplied by AI-assisted searches. Thanks. Regards,

Pressures on water resources are increasing unsustainably. Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) brings people from all sectors together to ensure tha...

05/10/2025

THE MINIMUM 3-LEVELS OF COMPLIANCE ASSESSMENTS FOR YOUR BUILDING/GROUNDS PLANS AND DESIGNS

1. When starting a building project (whether publicly-owned or privately-owned), part of the mandatory Pre-Design activities involves the “CODE SEARCH”, in which all the applicable laws and regulatory regimes are identified and assessed for levels of required compliances by the building and grounds plan/design project team. Hereafter are the very first documents for review by the building design team, i.e., as the applicable PRIVATE (SELF-REGULATORY)/PSG-level development controls (“DC”), viz:
a. The Deed of Restrictions (“DoR”) and the Design Standards and Guidelines (“DSG” or its equivalent document), as issued by the developer (for both public and private building projects), to the owner of the lot/property (public or private); and
b. The Locator Construction Guidelines (“LCG” or its equivalent document), also issued by the developer or the Locator Association (or the Homeowner Association/HoA in the case of residential developments).
Very Important Note: Being PSG-level DC, provisions under these DoR, DSG and LCG may be stricter or more stringent than the minimum prescriptions under LOCAL-level or NATIONAL-level DCs, BUT CANNOT under any circumstance RELAX the provisions under the latter DCs.

2. The next higher rung of the “CODE SEARCH”, for which the building design team is mainly responsible, are the LOCAL-level development controls (“DC”), viz:
a. The Local Government Unit (LGU) Zoning Ordinance (“ZO”) and its stream of regulations (“SoR”, NOT limited to its implementing rules and regulations/“IRR”), which is the GENERAL LOCAL law addressing all forms of development, where the LGU is the recognized authority having jurisdiction (“AHJ”) on all matters pertaining to its interpretation, implementation and enforcement; and
b. LGU Special Ordinance (“SO”) and its SoR, NOT limited to its IRR”, which is the SPECIAL LOCAL law addressing specific forms of development, not sufficiently addressed/detailed in the ZO, and again where the LGU is the recognized AHJ on all matters pertaining to its interpretation, implementation and enforcement.
Very Important Note: Being LOCAL-level DC, provisions under these ZO and/or SO may be stricter or more stringent than the minimum prescriptions under either PRIVATE/SELF-REGULATORY-level or NATIONAL-level DCs, BUT that CANNOT under ANY circumstance RELAX the provisions under NATIONAL-level DCs (i.e., that serve as part of the legal bases of ZOs/SOs).

3. The highest rung of the “CODE SEARCH”, for which the building design team is mainly responsible, are the NATIONAL-level development controls (“DC”). Since most buildings for use by the general public (even if privately owned) have potentially high minimum safety requirements and comfort thresholds, an internal architectural design review (ADR) will need to be conducted to ascertain compliances under at least 5 basic Philippine (“PH”) standards, as the applicable NATIONAL-level development controls (“DC”), and their respective streams of regulations (“SoR”, likewise NOT limited to their respective implementing rules and regulations (“IRR”), viz:
a. P.D. No. 1096, the 1977 National Building Code of the PH (“NBCP”) and its 2004 Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations (“RIRR”), as promulgated by the DPWH, at link: https://www.dpwh.gov.ph/DPWH/files/nbc/IRR.pdf;
b. R.A. No. 9514, the Fire Code of the PH (“FCP”) of 2008 and its 2019 RIRR, as promulgated by the DILG Bureau of Fir Protection/”BFP”, at link: https://bfp.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/RA9514-RIRR-rev-2019.pdf;
c. B.P. Blg. 344, the 1983 Accessibility Law and its 2024 Implementing Rules and Regulations (“IRR”), as promulgated by the DPWH, and as published in the Official Gazette (“OG”) of the NPO, at link: https://www.dpwh.gov.ph/dpwh/references/laws_codes_orders/bpb344;
d. 2015 PH Green Building Code (“PGBC”), as promulgated by the DPWH, at link:https://www.dpwh.gov.ph/DPWH/sites/default/files/laws_codes_orders/PgbcBooklet23March.pdf =Fit; and
e. 2015 Design Guidelines, Criteria and Standards (“DGCS”) Volume 6 (Public Buildings and Other Related Structures), as promulgated by the DPWH, at link: https://www.coursehero.com/file/51170695/DPWH-DESIGN-GUIDELINES-CRITERIA-STANDARDS-VOLUME-6-PUBLIC-BUILDINGS-OTHER-RELATED-STRUCTURE/.
Additionally, as part of the ADR, there is the matter of gender and development (GAD, i.e., will still need to check the latest laws/regulations that apply), and the fire ratings and flammability of all manner of emergency exits/EE).
The following are also separate compliance matters for checking by other state-regulated and licensed professionals:
a) as part the optional Interior Design services (by others), the need to look at the fire ratings and flammability of all specified interior finishes (rooms, furniture/movable items, permissible accessories/decorations, and the like); and
b) as part the required Engineering services (by others), the parallel compliance assessment with the main NBCP referral codes (RCs) on engineering, e.g., NSCP, NEC, PMEC, FCP-NFPA, the Sanitary Code, Water Code, ECE Code, etc., and Volumes 1-5 of the 2015 DPWH DGCS which will be the applicable standard for civil works engineering (CWE).
The professional regulatory laws (PRL) of the involved state-regulated professionals (“SRP”) and their respective SoR, that includes the Code of Ethical Conduct (CoEC), the Standards of Professional Practice (SPP), and Professional Practice Guidelines and Procedural Manuals, must also all be examined closely by the Client and other close Owner Representatives (“OR” such as Project and Construction Managers/PCM, Project Auditors, and the like.
INTERNATIONAL-level DCs may also apply on a mainly SUPPLETORY basis, depending on the actual need for such standards, and the commissioned SRPs must assist the Client in fully ascertaining their applicability or necessity, as these will definitely entail considerable increases in project costs.
Finally, for best results, prospective Clients MUST always consult the proper state-regulated professionals (SRPs), be they environmental planners (EnPs), architects, engineers or lawyers. Thank You.