APRIL 7, 2012 DATE

NR # 2702
REF. NO.

House okays measure regulating the practice of metallurgical engineering

The House of Representatives has approved on third reading a bill regulating the practice of metallurgical engineering to update the obsolete provisions and make them more realistic, relevant and suitable to the needs of the profession. Reps. Victor Yu (1st District, Zamboanga del Sur) and Mariano Piamonte Jr., (Partylist, A Teacher) authored House Bill 5851 to underscore the need to develop competent, productive, well-rounded and morally upright Metallurgical Engineers whose standards of professional practice and service are expected to be world-class and globally competitive and whose practice will be safeguarded through regulatory measures, programs and activities. The bill repeals Presidential Decree No. 1536, otherwise known as the Metallurgical Engineering Law, by adding new provisions to conform to Republic Act 8981 or the PRC Modernization Act of 2000, in consonance with the standard format of all professional regulation organic laws. With the advancement in technological development, P.D. 1536 has been found ineffective considering that its provisions have become obsolete in promoting and regulating the practice of the metallurgical engineering profession, Yu said. Yu said one of the key provisions of this measure is the creation of a Professional Regulatory Board of Metallurgical Engineering that shall supervise and regulate the practice of metallurgical engineering profession in the country. Piamonte, on the other hand, said the increasing scope of application of the practices in the mineral processing industry over the past decades has led to the creation of various fields of expertise and specialization resulting in a greater economic appreciation of the profession. This necessitates the need for a clear delineation of responsibilities for both Mining and Metallurgical Engineers and is ably addressed in some provisions of the amended law, Piamonte said. Piamonte said the measure is designed to implement more effective professional regulation and at the same time promote and recognize the importance of the profession in nation building and development. Under the measure to be known as the New Metallurgical Engineering Act of 2012, applicants will be required to pass the examinations to be able to register and practice metallurgical engineering profession.

APRIL 7, 2012 DATE

NR # 2702
REF. NO.

Only persons properly licensed and registered may practice metallurgical engineering. Violators, upon conviction, will be meted a fine of not less than P10, 000. 00 but not more than P1 million pesos or imprisonment of not less than one month but not more than five years or both at the discretion of the court. Co-authors of the measure are Reps. Andres Salvacion, Jr. (3rd District, Leyte), Joseph Emilio Abaya (1st District, Cavite), Salvador Escudero III (1st District, Sorsogon), Rufus Rodriguez (2nd District, Cagayan de Oro City), Maximo Rodriguez, Jr. (Party-list, Abante Mindanao, Inc.), Angelo Palmones (Party-list, Agham), Aurelio Gonzales, Jr. (3rd District, Pampanga), Antonio Tinio (Party-list, Act Teachers), Daryl Grace Abayon (Partylist, Aangat Tayo), Rafael Mariano (Party-list, Anakpawis) and Carlos Padilla (Lone District, Nueva Vizcaya). (30) lvc