Interpretation of RA 9292
Santiago, Charl Joseph B., Silisilon, John Alfred III. R
School of Electrical, Electronics, and Computer Engineering Department
Mapua Institute of Technology
Intramuros, Manila Philippines
charljosephsantiago@gmail.com, johnalfredsilisiloniii@yahoo.com
Abstract: This paper is about the Republic Act RA 9292 to
discuss its significance and importance for the Electronics
Engineers. This research will cover different sections of the
articles as well as possible amendments and
recommendations.
Keywords: Electronics Engineer, amendments,
significance
I. Introduction
The Republic Act 9292 is of the utmost importance
for the course of Electronics Engineering. The predecessor
of this law or act, Republic Act 5734, created the
engineering practice of Electronics and Communications
Engineering. That particular law was approved on the 21 st of
June, 1969. Because RA 5734 became relatively outdated, it
needs to be restructured in order to conform to current
standards for it to become a globally recognized law. In RA
5734, the course of Electronics and Communications
Engineering (ECE) is only recognized here in the
Philippines and in comparison to the United States of
America, there is no such course of ECE there. If for
example an individual here in the Philippines has a degree
of ECE and if he so desired to work on United States, his
degree will not be honored altogether with his license since
there is no equivalent of that course there. This is where RA
9292 resolves that issue.
The Republic Act 9292 provides a better
opportunity for future students of the course Electronics
Engineering. The law has eight articles. First of all, Article I,
Section 2 indicates the policy of the law. Briefly, the policy
states that the law aims to produce competent graduates of
the said course by providing relevant, credible and effective
licensure examinations and also by providing programs that
will further enrich the graduate’s skills. This law covers
three engineering and technician categories and they are the
following: Professional Electronics Engineer (PECE),
Electronics Engineering (ECE) and Electronics Technician
(ECT). This is stated under Article I Section 4. This is a
welcoming provision especially for an Electronics
Technician. This will provide them with better opportunities
outside of the country and furthermore, it recognizes them
as professionals. Looking back at RA 5734, there is no
indication that the ECT is considered as a professional
profession and because of this they are not included in the
scope of RA 5734 and is therefore unregulated.
In the enactment of the RA 9292, the creation of
the Professional Regulatory Board of Electronics
Engineering is created. This is important to note that since if
the course Electronics Engineering to become relevant into
the current years, it needs to have a credible licensure
examination as what was said earlier. Engineering is never
stagnant and throughout the years it will always result into
finding new technologies and processes and that is why
strict regulation should be enforced.
Based from Article I Section 5, the scope of
practice of electronics engineering and technician are
properly defined. As stated before, in the case of electronics
technicians, RA 9292 specifically defined their line of work.
Without those definitions, there could become confusion on
what are the responsibilities that an electronics engineer
have compared with an electronics technician. This is
somewhat important especially in the work place since it is
essential to know each other’s role.
II. Republic Act 9292
The RA 9292 is known as the ECE Law. It is
specifically called as the Electronics Engineering Act of
2004. This law is the revision of RA 5734. This revised law
includes the new rules for the board exam and to classify the
licensed for Electronics Engineers such as ECT, ECE and
PECE. Also, this law consists of eight articles with 43
sections.
Republic Act No. 9292 states:
“AN ACT PROVIDING FOR A MORE
RESPONSIVE AND COMPREHENSIVE REGULATION
FOR THE REGISTRATION, LICENSING AND
PRACTICE OF PROFESSIONAL ELECTRONICS
ENGINEERS, ELECTRONICS ENGINEERS AND
ELECTRONICS TECHNICIANS, REPEALING
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 5734, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS
THE "ELECTRONICS AND COMMUNICATIONS
ENGINEERING ACT OF THE PHILIPPINES", AND FOR
OTHER PURPOSES”
The law gives significance to the Electronics
Engineering to be more developed and competitive in a
world-class manner. It also includes the licensing for
Technicians (ECT), Engineers (ECE), and Professional
Engineering (PECE). ECE students must pass the licensure
examination of the Professional Regulation Commission
(PRC) before they can affix the word “ECE” to their name.
Electronics Engineers shall do their responsibility
related to their scope such as investigation, analysis,
synthesis, planning, design, specification, research and
development, provision, procurement, marketing and sales,
manufacture and production, construction and installation,
tests/measurements/control, operation, repair, servicing,
technical support and maintenance of electronic
components, devices, products, apparatus, instruments,
equipment, systems, networks, operations and processes in
the fields of electronics, including communications and/or
telecommunications, information and communications
technology (ICT), computers and their networking and
hardware/firmware/software development and applications,
broadcast/broadcasting, cable and wireless television,
consumer and industrial electronics, electro-
optics/photonics/opto-electronics, electro-magnetics,
avionics, aerospace, navigational and military applications,
medical electronics, robotics, cybernetics, biometrics and all
other related and convergent fields.
For Professional Electronics Engineering shall do
their responsibility related to their scope such as listed in
Electronics Engineering plus to sign and seal electronics
plans, drawings, permit applications, specifications, reports
and other technical documents under his/her leadership.
Then the Electronics technician shall do their
responsibility related to their scope which includes any non-
engineering work or activity relating to the installation,
construction, operation, control, tests and measurements,
diagnosis, repair and maintenance, manufacture and
production, sales and marketing of any electronic
component/s, device/s, products, apparatus, instruments,
equipment, system/s, network/s, operations and processes
located on land, watercraft, aircraft, industrial plants or
commercial establishments.
The board for Electronics Engineering in
Professional Regulation Commission composed of three
persons which includes a chairman and two members. The
members of the board should achieve the qualifications.
There are five nominees for each position to be selected by
the accredited professional organization. The selected
nominees should comply the rules and regulations of the
board. The board has the power to implement the provisions,
administer the oath taking ceremonies, adopt the official seal
of the board, issue and suspend certificates, and many more
that includes with the rules and regulations of the
commission.
There is a something needed before an Engineer to
take the licensure exam for Electronics Engineering and
Technician. He/She should be a citizen of the Philippines or
any country that are qualified. Also, he/she should have
good moral character. Lastly, he/she should be a degree
holder of Bachelor of Science in Electronics and
Communications Engineering.
The qualifications for Electronics Engineering and
Electronics Technician to pass the licesure exam is to obtain
a passing rating of seventy percent (70%) in each subject
given during the examination. If the candidate who obtains a
passing rating in the majority of the subjects but obtains a
rating in the other subject/s below seventy percent (70%)
but not lower than sixty percent (60%), shall be allowed to
take one removal examination on the subject/s where he/she
failed to obtain the passing rating. The examinee fail to
obtain a passing rating in the removal examination, he/she
shall be considered as having failed the entire licensure
examination. Technicians can register without examinations
by qualifying on two conditions. There are some conditions
wherein you can exempt from the registrations and
examinations.
For Professional Engineering licensure exam,
he/she should have valid Certificate of Registration and
Professional Identification Card as Electronics Engineer,
current membership identification card from the Accredited
Professional Organization, good experience in the field of
Electronics Engineering, and three certificates signed by
other Professional Engineers.
There are some conditions to exempt from
Examination and Registration. One of the conditions is there
is no qualified Filipino professional available to work as
attested by Accredited Professional Organization. The next
condition is the scope and funding for the work or project
are such that it stipulates the temporary employment of a
foreign professional. And the last condition is when defined
in the General Agreement on Trade in Services, the ASEAN
and APEC Engineer Registry programs and other similar
international treaties, agreements and/or covenants to which
the Philippine Government is a signatory and has ratified.
The profession of Electronics Technician,
Electronics Engineers, and Professional Electronics
Engineers are defines based on their certificate or the license
that they were holding. They should not use the name of
being Electronics Engineer whenever they want to. It should
be guided by the Professional Regulations Commissions
Board before they can use that icons.
The Penal Provisions states that:
“The following shall be punished by a fine of not less than
One hundred thousand pesos (P100,000.00) nor more than
One million pesos (P1,000,000.00), or by imprisonment of
not less than six (6) months nor more than six (6) years, or
both, in the discretion of the court.”
Transitory Provisions means that the incumbent
Board of Electronics and Communications Engineering shall
complete all pending/unfinished works within a six (6)-
month period, after which it shall cease to exist. The
President of the Philippines shall before then appoint the
Chairman and members of the first Board of Electronics
Engineering.
Final Provisions includes that the Regulatory
Commission should approved the Rules and Regulations
before implementing it. Its effectivity will take effect 15
days after publishing it to the newspaper or publishing it to
the Official Gazette of the Philippines.
III. Conclusion
RA 9292 has properly diminished information and
well polished what it wants to deliver in preparation for
Electronics Engineers. The only revision I can suggest is to
increase the number of board directors to six nominees plus
one person to head all decisions if ever there will be conflict
of ideas within the even number of nominees.

Stated below is the original provision in Article II, Section 6

of RA 9292

ARTICLE II
PROFESSIONAL REGULATORY BOARD OF
ELECTRONICS ENGINEERING
SEC. 6. Composition of the Board. - There is hereby created
a Professional Regulatory Board of Electronics Engineering,
hereinafter referred to as the Board, under the administrative
control and supervision of the Professional Regulation
Commission, hereinafter referred to as the Commission,
composed of a chairman and two (2) members who shall be
appointed by the President of the Philippines from the three
(3) recommendees per position chosen and ranked by the
Commission, which recommendees shall in turn be chosen
from the five (5) nominees for each position submitted by
the accredited professional organization, in accordance with
rules and regulations presently in existence or that may be
promulgated for such purpose.

References:

[1] "R.A. 9292," 2004. [Online]. Available:

http://www.lawphil.net/statutes/repacts/ra2004/ra_9292_200
4.html. Accessed: Nov. 16, 2016.