House panel seeks severe penalties for unlawful practice of interior design profession
Posted on | December 1, 2010 |
The House Committee on Civil Service has reported out for floor deliberation a consolidated bill that slaps stiffer penalties for the illegal practice of interior design in the country.
The measure, which consolidates House Bills 909 and 2134 filed by Reps. Susan A. Yap (2nd District, Tarlac) and Carlos M. Padilla (Lone District, Nueva Vizcaya), respectively, seeks to address the proliferation of illegal practitioners presenting themselves to consumers as professional Interior Designers or Consultants.
HB 909 penalizes a foreign interior design firm or individuals who shall be found guilty of illegally practicing their profession in the country, with a fine of a minimum of fifteen percent (15 percent) of gross fees under P5 million and a minimum of ten percent (10 percent) of gross fees above P5 million.
In addition to this, offenders shall be made to pay back taxes to the Philippine government, imprisoned for not less than six (6) months but not more than three(3) years, or both fined and imprisoned or permanently banned from further practice in the Philippines at the discretion of the court.
“Local professional interior designers shall benefit from the proposed measure as the amended penal provisions and prohibited activities could prevent the widespread influx of large foreign firms and foreign designers and consultants in the design and construction field,” Yap said.
The measure shall also punish the illegal practice of unlicensed interior designers with a fine of not less than P300,000 but not more than P1 million, revocation of certificate of registration or imprisonment of not less than six months but not more than three years, or both fine and imprisonment at the discretion of the court.
Yap said her proposed measure seeks to safeguard the interior design profession by protecting the professional’s intellectual property rights of their drawings, specifications and other contract documents, duly signed and sealed as instruments of service.
“With the major advancement in the profession of interior design, protecting the intellectual property right is ensuring the professionals that the drawings they leave to clients will remain solely theirs and its application duly for the client’s purpose,” Yap said.
Padilla said HB 2134 seeks to regulate the practice of interior design as well as institute reforms to conform to international standards in the practice of the profession.
“It is observed that the existing Philippine Interior Design Law or Republic Act 8534 is no longer efficient and effective in promoting the interest of the Filipino professional in the field of interior design,” Padilla said.
“At this time when our country has to legally adopt the open trade policy on professional services as embodied in the General Agreement on Trade Services (GATS), there is a necessity to revisit RA 8534 and to consolidate policies, guiding principles and courses of action under a single law responsive to the times,” Padilla said.
Under both bills, the newly created Professional Regulatory Board of Interior Design of the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) shall adopt, promulgate and enforce the rules and regulations of the provisions.
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