PHILIPPINE INTERIOR DESIGN ACT OF 1998

Case Overview and Summary

PHILIPPINE INTERIOR DESIGN ACT OF 1998

Definition of Terms (Section 2):
- Practice of Interior Design: Planning, designing, specifying, supervising, and administering the functional, orderly, and aesthetic arrangement of building interiors.
- Interior Designer: A natural person issued a certificate of registration and professional license by the Board of Interior Design.

Board of Interior Design (Sections 3-11):
- Created to regulate and supervise the interior design profession.
- Composed of a chairman and two members appointed by the President.
- Qualifications, terms, compensation, and powers of the Board are specified.
- Adopts rules and regulations, issues licenses, conducts examinations, and enforces the Code of Ethics.

Examination and Registration (Sections 12-24):
- Applicants must pass a written examination covering subjects like Interior Design, Furniture Design, Materials, History, Building Construction, and Professional Practice.
- Qualifications for examination include being a Filipino citizen, having a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Interior Design, and no conviction of moral turpitude.
- Passing score is 75% with no subject below 60%.
- Successful candidates receive a certificate of registration and professional license.
- Provisions for fraudulent applications, re-examinations, and refusal or revocation of licenses.

Practice of Interior Design (Sections 25-31):
- Practicing interior designers at the time of the Act's effectivity are automatically registered.
- Certain professionals like architects and those with experience can register without examination.
- Firms and corporations cannot be registered, but individual interior designers can form partnerships.
- The profession shall be integrated into one national organization.
- Foreign reciprocity and conditions for temporary/special permits for foreign interior designers.
- Appropriations for implementing the Act.

Final Provisions (Sections 32-36):
- The Professional Regulation Commission enforces the Act and its rules and regulations.
- Penalties for violations include fines of P50,000 to P200,000 and/or imprisonment of 6 months to 3 years.
- Separability and repealing clauses.
- Effectivity 15 days after publication in the Official Gazette or a major newspaper.