Section 1: The Practice of Civil  Projects may come from

Engineering (General) government agencies,

industry, or private clients.
 Civil engineering projects require  Independent civil engineering
quality, defined as meeting both firms are often hired for
client expectations and project specialized expertise.
requirements.  New project delivery methods
 Quality demands continuous (e.g., design-build, program
effort: investigation, planning, management) are becoming
innovation, fair compensation, common.
and proper authority.
 Civil engineering services must Key Point: Civil engineers must adapt
follow the standard of care of to different types of client relationships
the profession. and modern project delivery systems.

Key Point: Quality is not a one-time

action — it must be consistent
throughout all project phases. Obligations of the Civil Engineer

1. Perform the agreed scope of

services.
Professional Responsibility 2. Apply reasonable skill, care,
and diligence.
 Civil engineers are responsible 3. Act independently and exercise
for studying, designing, professional judgment.
supervising construction, and 4. Serve as the client’s faithful
assisting in agent, within contract limits.
operations/maintenance. 5. Notify the client of any changes
 Public health, safety, and in scope.
welfare depend heavily on the 6. Get client approval before moving
engineer’s competence. to next project stages.
 Civil engineers must act as 7. Coordinate with other
trustees of public interest while professionals but not be
also serving client needs. responsible for their errors.
 Ethics, mutual trust, and effective 8. May recommend specialist
communication are essential. contractors but is not liable for
their performance.
Key Point: Civil engineers serve both 9. Disclose any conflicts of
the client and the public — ethics and interest.
professionalism are mandatory.
Key Point: Civil engineers must protect
Client–Civil Engineer client interests but remain independent
and ethical professionals.
Relationships
Obligations of the Client  Civil engineers are not liable for
errors in documents/data
1. Pay the civil engineer agreed prepared by others, nor for the
fees. acts of clients, contractors, or
2. Provide necessary project suppliers.
information on time.  They are also not responsible for
3. Cooperate and not obstruct the a contractor’s methods,
engineer’s work. techniques, or schedules.
4. Give site access and needed
facilities. Key Point: Civil engineers are only
5. Hire other professionals when liable for their own professional work,
required. not for third-party errors.
6. Channel all instructions through
the civil engineer.
7. Notify the engineer in writing of
any scope changes. Damages

Key Point: Clients also have  If a civil engineer is found liable:

responsibilities — successful projects 1. Damages are limited to
depend on cooperation and clear foreseeable losses
communication. directly caused by breach
of duty.
2. Damages are capped
(e.g., ₱300,000 or 10% of
Liability project costs, whichever is
less).
 Civil engineers are liable for 3. If third parties share
damages only if negligence or responsibility, damages
breach of duty of care is are divided proportionally.
proven.
 Clients are also liable if they fail Key Point: Liability has financial limits
their duties to the engineer. to protect engineers from excessive
 Conflicts between client and claims.
engineer must be resolved by
formal agreement.

Key Point: Liability depends on proof of Suspension or Termination of

negligence or breach of duty — both Services
parties share responsibility.
 Civil engineer may suspend or
terminate services if:
 Disputes between client and o Client fails to pay within 30
engineer are resolved through days.
arbitration by a neutral third o Services are suspended
party. for over 6 months.
  Client may suspend/terminate Civil engineers and firms provide a wide
with 30 days’ notice. range of services, such as:
 Engineers are entitled to
payment for completed work  Design & Consultation –
and compensation for disruption if planning, feasibility studies, cost
suspended/terminated. estimates.
 Investigations & Reports – site
Key Point: Both parties have the right to studies, environmental impact
end agreements under defined assessments.
conditions, but fair compensation must  Project Documentation –
be given. drawings, specifications, bid
documents.
 Construction Assistance –
bidding, contract awards,
Settlement of Disputes construction supervision.
 Testing & Commissioning –
 Disputes should first be resolved materials testing, equipment
by conciliation (negotiation). start-up.
 If unresolved, disputes go to  Operation & Maintenance –
arbitration. manuals, training, appraisals.
 Specialized Expertise – risk
Key Point: Formal dispute resolution assessment, rehabilitation, expert
ensures fairness and prevents long testimony.
conflicts.  Management Roles – project
management, program
management, hiring sub-
consultants.
Ownership of Data, Designs, and  Specializations – structural,
geotechnical, environmental,
Documents
water resources, transportation,
and construction management.
 Designs, drawings, and
specifications are the property of
Key Point: Civil engineers offer
the engineer, not the client.
comprehensive services across all
 They may only be used for the
project phases — from planning to
specific project under the
maintenance.
contract.
Civil engineers may handle:
Key Point: Intellectual property belongs
to the engineer unless otherwise
o Construction
agreed.
administration –
supervising, observing,
and ensuring contract
compliance.
Civil Engineering Services
(Overview)
 o Testing of materials and Key Point: Specialization allows
equipment – arranging or engineers to develop deep expertise in
conducting quality tests. solving complex, domain-specific
o Facility operations – problems.
start-up, performance
checks, O&M manuals.
o Specialized tasks – value
engineering, appraisals, Contracts and Professional
risk assessments, expert Relationships
testimony.
o Rehabilitation – repairing  Written agreements define
or upgrading existing scope, responsibilities, and
structures. compensation.
o Management roles –  Standard contracts clarify duties
project/program between client and engineer,
management, preventing disputes.
supplemental staffing,  Professional relationships must
teaching. be based on mutual trust,
ethics, and respect.
Key Point: Civil engineers are involved
in the entire project life cycle — from Key Point: Clear contracts protect both
design and construction to operation parties and ensure smooth project
and rehabilitation. execution.

Specialization Fields Professional Ethics

 Many firms specialize in:  Engineers must uphold public
o Structural & Foundations safety, honesty, and
– buildings, bridges, environmental stewardship.
foundations.  They should avoid conflicts of
o Geotechnical & interest and practice
Environmental – soil transparency in all dealings.
mechanics, waste,  Ethics ensures credibility and
sustainability. public trust in the profession.
o Water Resources &
Hydraulics – dams, flood Key Point: Technical skill without
control, irrigation. ethics risks public safety — both must
o Transportation – go together.
highways, railways,
airports.
o Construction
Management – project
delivery, scheduling, cost
control.
2. Professional Responsibility  Research & Development –
Creating new materials, improving
📘 Section 2: Classification of construction methods, and reducing
Engineering Services (Expanded Notes) costs while maintaining quality.
 Special Services – Tasks tailored to
Civil engineers provide many kinds of client needs, like environmental
services, depending on the project’s scope. evaluations, forensic engineering
These services ensure that infrastructure (failure investigations), traffic
projects are planned, designed, and built studies, safety analysis, computer
efficiently while meeting safety and legal modeling, waste evaluations, permit
standards. processing, and more.

1. Consultations, Research, 2. Design Services for Construction

Investigations, and Reports Projects

These services happen before a project Civil engineers help plan and design a
begins. They focus on collecting and project across six phases:
analyzing information to guide decisions.
1. Study & Report Phase – Define the
 Preliminary Investigations & project scope, evaluate alternatives,
Feasibility Reports – Early studies and assess economic feasibility.
on environmental impacts, financial 2. Preliminary Design Phase – Draft
costs, and sustainability to decide if a preliminary drawings, outline
project is worth pursuing. specifications, and cost estimates.
 Planning Studies – Preparation of 3. Final Design Phase – Create
long-range development programs, detailed drawings, calculations, and
urban/regional plans, and contract documents.
environmental impact studies. 4. Bidding or Negotiating Phase –
 Appraisals, Valuations & Rate Assist clients in choosing contractors
Studies – Estimating the value of or negotiating project costs.
land, facilities, or utilities, and 5. Construction Phase – Advise and
setting rates for services. consult during the building process
 Financial Assistance – Helping to ensure design standards are
clients with project financing, such followed.
as revenue bonds or cost estimates. 6. Operation Phase – Help with
 Materials & Equipment Testing – project start-up, testing, and periodic
Testing construction materials and inspections for long-term
tools to ensure they meet quality and performance.
safety standards.
 Direct Personal Services – Acting
as an expert witness in court or
assisting in legal/technical 3. Construction Services
investigations.
These ensure that the project is built 6. Academic and Employment
according to plan. Services
 Site supervision and inspection. Civil engineers also serve outside direct
 Checking materials, workmanship, project work:
and compliance with safety codes.
 Reviewing contractor payments and  As Educators – Teaching and
schedules. conducting research in universities.
 Ensuring project completion within  As Employees – Working for
time and budget. government agencies, private firms,
or NGOs in various capacities
(planning, design, management,
maintenance).
4. Special Services for Construction
Projects

Not all projects are the same—special 7. Scope of Civil Engineering

services are provided when unique expertise Infrastructure
is needed.
Examples include: According to RA 544 (Civil Engineering
Law in the Philippines, as amended), civil
 Environmental studies and engineers handle:
permitting.
 Value engineering (finding cheaper  Roads, bridges, highways, and
but effective solutions). railroads.
 Computer modeling and simulations.  Airports and hangars.
 Forensic analysis of failed structures.  Ports, canals, rivers, shore
 Handling hazardous waste or special protection, and dry docks.
safety concerns.  Buildings, lighthouses, and other
public structures.
 Irrigation, flood protection, drainage,
water supply, and sewerage systems.
5. Engineering Support Services  Tunnels and underground works.

Technical and field support for projects:

 Surveys (topographic, boundary, or ✅ In summary: Civil engineering covers a

sounding). wide range of services, from early
 Soil and foundation investigations. feasibility studies to detailed design,
 Drafting, mapping, and GIS construction supervision, and even post-
(Geographic Information Systems). construction operations. Engineers may
 Testing and monitoring during work independently, in teams, or as part of
construction. government/private organizations, ensuring
safe, efficient, and sustainable infrastructure.
Section 3: The Selection of the Civil professional engineer familiar with civil
Engineer engineering practices.

3.1 General The committee’s job is to stay objective,

Choosing the right Civil Engineer is one of investigate, interview, and make
the most important decisions in any project. recommendations. The final decision is
Each engineer has different training, usually based on their report.
experience, skills, and resources. Selecting
the most qualified engineer helps ensure the 3.4 Qualifications-Based Selection (QBS)
project is well-designed, economical, and Procedure
successful. The process works best when the client
clearly understands the project and can
3.2 Basis for Selection describe what services are needed from the
The client (the one starting the project) must engineer. If the client does not have
set clear policies and criteria for selecting a technical staff, they still need to know
Civil Engineer. The first step is to define the enough about the project to evaluate
project’s scope—this could be a general proposals.
description of what needs to be done or a
detailed list of tasks. The usual steps include:

Important factors to consider include: 1. Publicly announcing or inviting

engineers to apply by stating the
1. Professional and ethical reputation project and services required. Clients
(based on references and past may issue a Request for
clients). Qualifications (RFQ) or a Request
2. Proper registration as licensed for Proposals (RFP).
professional Civil Engineers. o RFQs check general
3. Proven qualifications and expertise qualifications in a specific
in similar work. area.
4. Ability to assign qualified staff who o RFPs are used to create a
can finish the work on time. shortlist for a specific project.
5. Adequate financial and business 2. Preparing a budget for expected costs
resources to complete the job and before receiving RFQs or RFPs.
provide ongoing service. 3. Evaluating the statements of
qualifications submitted by
For private projects, these procedures apply. engineers.
For government projects, Executive Order
164 and Presidential Decree 1594 apply.  Select at least three Civil Engineers
or firms that appear most qualified
3.3 Client’s Selection Committee for the project. While more may be
The client’s organization should have clear equally capable, it is usually better to
rules about who is authorized to choose limit the number to save time and
engineers. A selection committee, usually cost in preparing proposals.
made up of three or more people, is often  Send a letter to each selected firm
formed. At least one should be a asking for a detailed proposal. This
should include their project plan,
 staff assignments, schedule, extend existing skills or to bring in new ones
experience with similar work, office not available internally.
location, financial standing,
workload, and references. Site visits Under this method:
and a pre-proposal conference may
also be arranged.  The client describes the general
 After receiving proposals, invite the nature of services, types of
firms for interviews. The committee specialists needed, and the estimated
may bring in experts if needed. hours required.
Interviews should cover the  Qualified firms then submit
engineer’s qualifications, ability to proposals stating their relevant
complete the work on time, and the experience and the qualifications of
personnel assigned. available specialists.
 Check recent clients (not just listed  After reviewing and narrowing down
references) to verify the quality of the proposals, the client negotiates an
past work. agreement similar to the process in
 Rank the engineers or firms in order the QBS method.
of preference, considering their
approach, understanding of the 3.5.1 Bidding
project, reputation, experience, Professional engineering and architectural
resources, staff, location, and organizations recommend Qualifications-
workload. Based Selection (QBS) as the best method
 Invite the top choice to develop a for choosing engineers. The NEDA
detailed scope of work, list of Guidelines also require QBS or a similar
deliverables, and schedule. Then process.
negotiate fair compensation. This
compensation should match the Why bidding is not recommended:
client’s budget, project
characteristics, and scope of services. 1. Bidding ignores professional
 If no agreement is reached with the judgment, which is essential in
first choice, negotiations end and the engineering services.
second or third ranked engineer is 2. It is difficult to define the full scope
approached. If still unsuccessful, of engineering services in advance.
outside help may be sought. All Firms bidding low may only propose
negotiations must remain the minimum effort, which may not
confidential. meet the client’s needs.
 Once scope, schedule, and 3. Lowest-bid engineers may only
compensation are agreed upon, the perform minimal studies and
client and engineer must sign a analyses.
written contract. 4. Flexibility and creativity are limited
when cost is the main factor.
3.5 Selection Procedure for “Level of 5. Designs are often incomplete,
Effort” Contracts leaving details to contractors. This
A “level of effort” contract is used when the may reduce initial cost but can
client needs to add to their staff—either to increase overall project costs due to
change orders and claims.
Conclusion: Bidding often leads to poor
results and is not recommended.

3.5.2 Two-Envelope System

This system requires two separate
submissions:

 Envelope 1: Technical proposal.

 Envelope 2: Price proposal.

The client first evaluates technical proposals

and selects the best-qualified engineer.
Then, they open only that engineer’s price
proposal and use it to negotiate scope and
fees. The price proposals of the other firms
remain sealed and are returned.

If done this way, it is similar to QBS, but

with some disadvantages:

 Preparing detailed technical and

price proposals is costly,
discouraging some firms from
participating.
 If both envelopes are opened at the
same time, it turns into bidding, with
the same negative results.

Conclusion: The two-envelope system is

also not recommended.