PRACTICE OF

CIVIL
ENGINEERING
CODE OF ETHICS
TOPICS TO COVER:
1.1 GENERAL
1.2 PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY
1.3 CLIENT – CIVIL ENGINEERING
RELATIONSHIP
1.3.1 Obligation of the Civil Engineer
1.3.2 Obligation of the Client
1.3.3 Liability of the Civil Engineer
and the Client
1.3.4 Suspension and Termination of
Services
1.3.5 Settlement of Disputes
1.3.6 Ownership of Data, Design and
Documents
1.4 Practice of Professional Foreign Civil
Engineer
1.1 GENERAL

◦Quality by definitions is one satisfactorily

meeting both the expectations of the client or
employer and the requirements of the project.
It requires professional dedication, effort,
adequate time for investigation, planning and
innovation, fair compensation and appropriate
authority and responsibility.
1.2 PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY

*Civil Engineers shall conduct themselves in a

highly Professional Manner and Serve as Faithful
Trustees or agents of their clients or employers.

* Civil Engineers are therefore bound by the

Fundamental Canons of Ethics
*Care and protection of the environment is
paramount in the Civil Engineer’s work
engagement.

*Civil Engineers must always strive to maintain

the highest standard of Ethical Professional
Practice in their dealing with Client employers,
employees, competitors and the community.
1.3 CLIENT – CIVIL ENGINEER
RELATIONSHIP
1.3.1 OBLIGATION OF CIVIL ENGINEER
A. Perform Scope as stated in the
Contract.
B. Exercise reasonable skill, care and
diligence in the performance of his
obligations
C. The Civil Engineer is authorized to
act as the Client’s faithful agent
when required but only as implied
in Section 2 or implied in the
contract adopted for the project
D. The Civil Engineer shall act independently
and, as required by the contract, perform with
necessary skills and professional judgement,
when required to certify, decide or exercise
discretion between the Client and a Third
party with whom the Client has a contract.
E. When aware of any matters which will
change or has changed the scope of the
services, the Civil Engineer shall give
written notice to the Client containing
particulars of the change.
F. For Specified Staged Services, the Civil
Engineer shall not initiate or proceed with
any subsequent stage of the Services
without the approval of the Client
G. When required, the Civil Engineer shall
direct and co- operate with all other
professionals and integrate their work where
applicable into that being undertaken by
the Civil Engineer and other professionals, but
shall not be professionally liable for their
work.
H. The Civil Engineer may recommend
contractors or specialists to design and
execute certain parts of the works.
I. Any interest which may have conflict of
interest of the client should notified by the
civil engineer.
1.3.2 OBLIGATION OF THE CLIENT
A. The client shall pay the civil
engineer for his services as
stipulated
B. in the
Information contract
required by the civil
engineer shall be provided by the client
in writing and the latter shall allow the
civil engineer reasonable time.
C. The client shall cooperate and not
interfere or obstruct in the performance
of services.
D. The client shall make arrangements to allow
the civil engineer to do site investigation and
inspection of the facilities ASAP.
E. The client shall shoulder the arrangement of
services of other professionals and bear all
costs.
F. In cases of clients allowing civil engineers as
Engineer-to- the-Contract, the client shall give
instructions through the civil engineers.
G. Client shall notify the Civil Engineer through
writing within 7 days of any change he is
aware of.
LIABILITY OF THE CIVIL ENGINEER AND
THE CLIENT:
[Link] civil engineer shall pay for damages
arising out of breach of duty of care against
the civil engineer to client.
[Link] client shall be liable to pay to the civil
engineer if a breaks of client’s duty is
established against the client.
• Amicable
[Link] arising from the
settlement. agreement
Mutual between
Understanding.
the • client and Negotiation
Mediation. the civil engineers
overseen byfollows the
a third-party
calledprocess.
following the mediator.
 • Arbitration. Negotiation where the third-party
(considered as impartial) is in control of making final
decision.
• Litigation (court proceeding). Negotiation where
courts and civil justice system is involve..

4. A third-party should be mutually acceptable

to both party.
LIMITATION OF CIVIL ENGINEER’S
RESPONSIBILITY:
1. The civil engineer shall not be liable for
damages, loss, and cost:
• For any errors or omissions for documents not
prepared by him or under his control.

• For fraudulent services or negligence by client

or any other consultant, contractors, suppliers.
2. The civil engineer shall not held liable for the
performance of other consultant, contractors,
suppliers (regardless of recommendation)

3. The civil engineer shall not be responsible for

the procedures of techniques adopted by the
third-party.
DAMAGES
1. Damages for the foreseeable loss and
damage as a result of the breach.
2. The maximum amount is specified in the
Specific Provision. However, if no specific is
given: the lesser of 300,000 Php. or 10% of
the total amount damages or 25% of the
total
3. If afees payableisunder
third-party foundthe agreement.
liable in some parts
of the service, the amount liable shall ne
limited to the proportion of work under
SUSPENSION OR TERMINATION OF
SERVICES
1. In cases when the civil engineer is not
liable but it is impossible to continue the
project, shall notify the client promptly.
2. If only portions of the work are
suspended, time shall be extended.
Timeextension = Timedelay + Timeresumption
3. A 30-day (minimum) notice shall be given
by the client to the civil engineer in cases
when client suspends or terminates work.
Upon notification, the civil engineer should
make necessary agreements to stop the
4. A 30 – day (Minimum) notice shall be given
operation.
by the civil engineer for suspension or
termination of services under the following
condition:
• No payment (or part of it) of the client 30 days
• after due date.
When the client suspends work for more than six
months, or if it is clear to the civil engineer that
it is impractical to continue services before the
suspension exceeds six months.
• When services are suspended or terminated, the
civil engineer is entitled to the payment of the
following:
 Consequential Cost

 Expenses and disruption fees

 Remobilization fees on
resumption