President Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III recently signed into law the Republic Act (RA) No. 10688 or an Act Regulating the Practice of Metallurgical Engineeering in the Philippines. Otherwise known as the "Metallurgical Engineering Act of 2015," it was signed last October 20 and repeals Presidential Decree No. 1536, or the "Metallurgical Engineering Law of the Philippines."
The new Law includes new provisions such as institutionalizing the Continuing Professional Education and Issuance of Certificates of Specialization. It also imposes stiffer fines or penalties for persons who are caught violating any of the provisions, like engaging in the practice of Metallurgical Engineering without a license. From a penalty ranging from 3,000 to 5,000 Pesos for any violation of its provisions, the new penalty ranges from 10,000 to 1 million Pesos.
Exemption from the Metallurgical Licensure Examination will now include graduates of Bachelor's degree in Metallurgical Engineering prior to the enactment of the old law in 1978 and have 15 years of practice in any metallurgical engineering field. Those who have earned their Doctorate Degree in Metallurgy or Metallurgical Engineering are likewise exempted from the said examinations.
The scope of Metallurgical Engineering practice, the composition, powers and duties of the Philippines and the Professional Regulatory Board of Metallurgical Engineers (PRB-MET), as well as the requirements for licensure and registration however, are basically the same with that in PD No. 1536.
The Society of Metallurgical Engineers of the PRB-MET of the Professional Regulatory Commission (PRC) will ensure that in the drafting of the Implementing Rules and Regulations of RA No. 10688, the minimum number of licensed engineers required to operate a metallurgical plant will be taken into consideration.
According to Dr. Agustin M. Fudolig, Chairman of the PRB-MET of the PRC, this new Metallurgical Engineering Law will exemplify the efficiency and competence of Filipino Metallurgical Engineers not only in our country, but globally as well.
Engr. Juancho Pablo S. Calvez, PRB-MET member and Chief of Metallurgical Technology Division of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau, added that said law will boost the Metallurgical Engineering profession especially now that metallurgists will be at the forefront in the implementation of value-adding activities and development of downstream industries for the mineral sector under Executive Order No. 79, which provides for the institutionalization and implementation of reforms in the Philippine mining sector.
By: Metallurgical Technology Division