Press Release
September 19, 2011

Senate repeals 46-year-old Geology Profession Law

The Senate approved today on third reading Senate Bill No. 2941 that seeks to repeal the 46-year-old the geology profession law and replace it with a new measure that will govern the practice of geology profession and education in the Philippines.

Senator Antonio "Sonny" Trillanes IV has been pushing for a new law to make it attuned to the present conditions and global standards and at the same time protect the practice of profession in the country from unqualified foreign nationals.

"The geology profession has grown and has become even more vital in our society's as well in our economic activities in order to address our countries present needs in areas such as the continued search for energy sources, mineral resources, land development, mitigating natural hazards, geotechnical and geothermal studies for infrastructures, and environmental planning and monitoring," said Trillanes, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Civil Service and Government Reorganization.

"The existing law which covers the geology profession has become completely out-dated, if not obsolete, in the context of developing nation and globalizing world," said Trillanes, sponsor of the bill.

The proposed measure has the following salient features:

  • It redefines and expands the coverage of the practice of geology, and delineates the scope of the practice vis-a-vis other allied fields such as mining and metallurgical engineering;

  • It establishes the creation of a board which shall be named the Professional Regulatory Board of Geology and shall supervise, control, and regulate the practice of geology. It states the Board's authority in the conduct of education, examination and licensing of geologists;

  • It provides for a guideline in issuing the certificates of registration and identification card, as well as the certificate of specialization to our professionals;

  • It provides for a mandatory continuing professional education for geologists in order to ensure that they would be up-to-date on the latest development and innovations in their profession; and

  • This bill includes a foreign reciprocity clause which prohibits the practice of foreign geologist in the country unless the country of the foreigner geologist grants the same or similar privileges to Filipino geologists in their country.

Another version, House Bill No. 380, is still pending with the Committee on Civil Service and Professional Regulation.

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