The Professional Regulatory Board of Architecture (PRBoA), fully reconstituted as of 30 March 2007 in full compliance with Republic Act No. 9266 (The Architecture Act of 2004), is one of 44 Professional Regulatory Boards (PRBs) under the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) of the Republic of the Philippines.
The PRBoA as an entity is under the administrative control and supervision of the PRC, a quasi-judicial and quasi-legislative entity that forms part of the executive branch of the Philippine Government. As such, it does not act independently on matters involving the regulation of the practice of the profession of architecture in the Philippines. The reconstituted PRBoA is a collegial body and is active in the areas of executive action relating to the implementation and enforcement of Republic Act No. 9266 (otherwise known as the Philippine "Architecture Act of 2004"), its implementing rules and regulations (IRR) and derivative regulations e.g. other executive issuances of the PRBoA through the PRC.
The reconstituted PRBoA is composed of three privately practicing architects (working only on a part-time engagement as PRBoA members):
As of the end of 2009, all three PRBoA Members serve in a holdover capacity, until new appointments/replacements are made by the President of the Republic of the Philippines.
As of December 2009, the reconstituted PRBoA regulates the practice of about 24,500 registered architects (RAs) nationwide/ overseas. Of this number of RAs, it is conservatively estimated that about two-thirds have valid licenses to practice i.e. a Registered and Licensed Architect (RLA) and that up to 50.0% are already working outside the country. The PRBoA also regulates the practice of foreign architects (FA) wishing to engage in the professional practice of architecture for any building project on Philippine soil for a limited period of time and of architectural firms (sole/single proprietorships, partnerships, corporations, associations and joint ventures). Only individual foreign architects/ FAs (not foreign architectural firms) are allowed to practice architecture in the Philippines together with counterpart Filipino RLAs and only if they are issued a temporary/special permit in accordance with R.A. No. 9266. The PRBoA supports the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Architects Registry and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations/ ASEAN Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) for borderless architectural practice, as qualified under the protocols/agreements and as qualified by valid and subsisting laws on architectural practice in the Philippines.
The PRBoA also administers the Licensure Examination for Architects (LEA) given twice in Manila annually by the Philippine Government and of Special LEAs given in such countries as Saudi Arabia (KSA), Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for expatriate Filipinos (overseas Filipino workers or "OFWs"). Over the past six years, the LEA mortality rate range from 49.0% to 68% per examination. Over the past 57 years of the regulation of Philippine architectural practice, only an average of about 400 annually are granted certificates and licenses to practice.
Among the executive concerns being presently addressed by the reconstituted PRBoA are general information dissemination concerning the laws/ regulations on architectural practice, enforcement mechanisms against illegal practitioners (non-RAs and non-RLAs) and the completion of the amendments to the 1979 Standards of Professional Practice/SPP (otherwise known as the Architect's National Code). Among the quasi-judicial responsibilities being discharged by the PRBoA include the hearing of and the promulgation of decisions on administrative cases filed against RAs or RLAs and the review of cases against illegal practitioners for endorsement to prosecutors and higher Philippine courts.
The practice of architecture in the Philippines is only a professional privilege that is granted to individuals and firms, duly registered and licensed in accordance with Philippine law i.e. limited only to RLAs. It was never a right accorded to RAs nor to any other State-regulated professional, specifically the Philippine civil engineers (CEs) who insist that they too can exercise the same professional privileges as RLAs. In the case of RLAs, such an exclusive professional privilege can be suspended or revoked by the PRBoA for cause/s provided under law and only in accordance with due process.
The preparation, signing and sealing of architectural plans and documents are only for RLAs and not for any other State-regulated professional or other unqualified entities under Philippine law (specifically Philippine civil engineers). As such, the PRBoA has actively campaigned in 2007 for the full implementation and enforcement of the pertinent provisions under R.A. No. 9266, which all limit the preparation, signing and sealing of architectural plans and documents only to RLAs and which mandate all officials of the Philippine national and local governments to fully implement and enforce the said provisions. This means that even RAs who have not updated their licenses to practice architecture are prohibited from practicing until such time that they are able to renew such licenses (in the form of renewable ID cards).
Among the legal steps taken by the PRBoA to fully implement and enforce R.A. No. 9266 include the filing of graft charges against national and local government officials who refuse to implement and enforce R.A. No. 9266 and the harmonized provisions of the 2004 Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of P.D. No. 1096 (the 1977 National Building Code of the Philippines/ NBCP). Also impleaded in the said suits are private individuals who willfully resist or violate the said laws.
Among the legislative initiatives of the reconstituted PRBoA are participation in collaborative efforts to repeal the 1977 National Building Code of the Philippines (NBCP or Presidential Decree No. 1096), the amendment of anti-graft laws, the review of bills that tend to undermine professional architectural practice, bills on non-mobile billboards, consulting service regulation and various other related concerns.