CE 431

CE LAWS, ETHICS, AND

CONTRACTS
ENGR. ANJI LAGRADA
 Define behavior right,
good, and proper Moral Decisions
Rational Justification
“Ethos”
Rights and Responsibilities

Religions
How to live a good life

Cultures
Right and Wrong
Philosophies Professional Conduct
 APPROACHES TO ETHICS

Nature of moral judgement

Content of moral judgement

Controversial topics Applied Ethics

 DIFFERENT ETHICAL “isms”
“MURDER IS BAD”

Moral Realism - “it is wrong to murder” there are real objective moral facts in the universe

Subjectivism - “I disapprove of the murder” statements about feelings, attitudes, emotions

Emotivism - “Down with murder” expressions of approval and disapproval

Prescriptivism - “Don’t murder people” instructions and recommendations

 SIX PILLARS OF CHARACTER

Trustworthiness Responsibility Caring

Respect Fairness Citizenship

• Truthfulness • Diligence • Kindness
• Sincerity • Continuous • Compassion
• Candor Improvement
• Autonomy • Self-restraint • Justice • Philanthropy
• Courtesy • Impartiality • Voting
• Self- • Equity
determination
 FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES

• using their knowledge and skill for the enhancement of human welfare and the environment;

• being honest and impartial and serving with fidelity the public, their employers/employees and clients;

• striving to increase the competence and prestige of the civil engineering profession; and

• supporting the professional and technical societies of their disciplines.

 FUNDAMENTAL CANONS
• Civil Engineers shall hold paramount the safety, health, and welfare of the public and shall strive
to comply with the principles of sustainable development in the performance of their duties.
• Civil Engineers shall perform services only in areas of their competence.
• Civil Engineers shall issue public statements only in an objective and truthful manner.
• Civil Engineers shall act in professional matters for each employer or client as faithful agents or
trustees and shall avoid conflicts of interest.
• Civil Engineers shall build their professional reputation on the merit of their services and shall
not compete unfairly with others.
• Civil Engineers shall act in such a manner as to uphold and enhance the honor, integrity, and
dignity of the civil engineering profession.
• Civil Engineers shall continue their professional development throughout their careers and shall
provide opportunities for the professional development of those civil engineers under their
supervision.

**Adopted in September 2001 as part of the Manual of Professional Practice for Civil Engineers published by the Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers.
 CANON 1
Engineers shall hold paramount the safety, health, and welfare of the public and shall strive to
comply with the principles of sustainable development in the performance of their professional
duties.
• Engineers shall recognize that the lives, safety, health and welfare of the general public are
dependent upon engineering judgments, decisions, and practices incorporated into structures,
machines, products, processes and devices.
• Engineers shall approve or seal only those design documents, reviewed or prepared by them,
which are determined to be safe for public health and welfare in conformity with accepted
engineering standards.
• Engineers whose professional judgment is overruled under circumstances where the safety,
health and welfare of the public are endangered, or the principles of sustainable development
ignored, shall inform their clients or employers of the possible consequences.
 CANON 1

• Engineers who have knowledge or reason to believe that another person or firm may be in
violation of any of the provisions of Canon 1 shall present such information to the proper
authority in writing and shall cooperate with the proper authority in furnishing such further
information or assistance as may be required.
• Engineers should seek opportunities to be of constructive service in civic affairs and work for
the advancement of the safety, health and well-being of their communities, and the protection
of the environment through the practice of sustainable development.
• Engineers should be committed to improving the environment by adherence to the principles of
sustainable development so as to enhance the quality of life of the general public.
 CANON 2
Engineers shall perform services only in areas of their competence.
• Engineers shall undertake to perform engineering assignments only when qualified by
education or experience in the technical field of engineering involved.
• Engineers may accept an assignment requiring education or experience outside of their own
fields of competence, provided their services are restricted to those phases of the project in
which they are qualified. All other phases of such project shall be performed by qualified
associates, consultants, or employees.
• Engineers shall not affix their signatures or seals to any engineering plan or document dealing
with subject matter in which they lack competence by virtue of education or experience or to
any such plan or document not reviewed or prepared under their supervisory control.
 CANON 3
Engineers shall issue public statements only in an objective and truthful manner.
• Engineers should endeavor to extend the public knowledge of engineering and sustainable
development, and shall not participate in the dissemination of untrue, unfair or exaggerated
statements regarding engineering.
• Engineers shall be objective and truthful in professional reports, statements, or testimony. They
shall include all relevant and pertinent information in such reports, statements, or testimony.
• Engineers, when serving as expert witnesses, shall express an engineering opinion only when it
is founded upon adequate knowledge of the facts, upon a background of technical competence,
and upon honest conviction.
• Engineers shall issue no statements, criticisms, or arguments on engineering matters which are
inspired or paid for by interested parties unless they indicate on whose behalf the statements
are made.
• Engineers shall be dignified and modest in explaining their work and merit and will avoid any
act tending to promote their own interests at the expense of the integrity, honor, and dignity of
the profession.
 CANON 4
Engineers shall act in professional matters for each employer or client as faithful agents or trustees
and shall avoid conflicts of interest.
• Engineers shall avoid all known or potential conflicts of interest with their employers or clients
and shall promptly inform their employers or clients of any business association, interests, or
circumstances which could influence their judgment or the quality of their services.
• Engineers shall not accept compensation from more than one party for services on the same
project, or for services pertaining to the same project, unless the circumstances are fully
disclosed to and agreed to, by all interested parties.
• Engineers shall not solicit or accept gratuities, directly or indirectly, from contractors, their
agents, or other parties dealing with their clients or employers in connection with work for
which they are responsible.
• Engineers in public service as members, advisors, or employees of a governmental body or
department shall not participate in considerations or actions with respect to services solicited
or provided by them or their organization in private or public engineering practice.
 CANON 4

• Engineers shall advise their employers or clients when, as a result of their studies, they believe
a project will not be successful.
• Engineers shall not use confidential information coming to them in the course of their
assignments as a means of making personal profit if such action is adverse to the interests of
their clients, employers or the public.
• Engineers shall not accept professional employment outside of their regular work or interest
without the knowledge of their employers.
 CANON 5
Engineers shall build their professional reputation on the merit of their services and shall not
compete unfairly with others.
• Engineers shall not give, solicit or receive either directly or indirectly, any political contribution,
gratuity, or unlawful consideration in order to secure work, exclusive of securing salaried
positions through employment agencies.
• Engineers should negotiate contracts for professional services fairly and on the basis of
demonstrated competence and qualifications for the type of professional service required.
• Engineers may request, propose or accept professional commissions on a contingent basis only
under circumstances in which their professional judgments would not be compromised.
• Engineers shall not falsify or permit misrepresentation of their academic or professional
qualifications or experience.
• Engineers shall give proper credit for engineering work to those to whom credit is due, and
shall recognize the proprietary interests of others. Whenever possible, they shall name the
person or persons who may be responsible for designs, inventions, writings or other
accomplishments.
 CANON 5
• Engineers may advertise professional services in a way that does not contain misleading
language or is in any other manner derogatory to the dignity of the profession. Examples of
permissible advertising are as follows:
➢ Professional cards in recognized, dignified publications, and listings in rosters or
directories published by responsible organizations, provided that the cards or listings
are consistent in size and content and are in a section of the publication regularly
devoted to such professional cards.
➢ Brochures that factually describe experience, facilities, personnel, and capacity to
render service, providing they are not misleading with respect to the engineer’s
participation in projects described.
➢ Display advertising in recognized dignified business and professional publications,
providing it is factual and is not misleading with respect to the engineer’s extent of
participation in projects described.
➢ A statement of the engineers’ names or the name of the firm and statement of the
type of service posted on projects for which they render services.
 CANON 5
• Engineers may advertise professional services in a way that does not contain misleading
language or is in any other manner derogatory to the dignity of the profession. Examples of
permissible advertising are as follows:
➢ Preparation or authorization of descriptive articles for the lay or technical press,
which are factual and dignified. Such articles shall not imply anything more than
direct participation in the project described.
➢ Permission by engineers for their names to be used in commercial advertisements,
such as may be published by contractors, material suppliers, etc., only by means of a
modest, dignified notation acknowledging the engineers’ participation in the project
described. Such permission shall not include public endorsement of proprietary
products.
• Engineers shall not maliciously or falsely, directly or indirectly, injure the professional
reputation, prospects, practice or employment of another engineer or indiscriminately criticize
another’s work.
• Engineers shall not use equipment, supplies, and laboratory or office facilities of their
employers to carry on outside private practice without the consent of their employers.
 CANON 6
Engineers shall act in such a manner as to uphold and enhance the honor, integrity, and dignity of
the engineering profession and shall act with zero tolerance for bribery, fraud, and corruption.
Engineers shall build their professional reputation on the merit of their services and shall not
compete unfairly with others.
• Engineers shall not knowingly engage in business or professional practices of a fraudulent,
dishonest or unethical nature.
• Engineers shall be scrupulously honest in their control and spending of monies, and promote
effective use of resources through open, honest and impartial service with fidelity to the public,
employers, associates and clients.
• Engineers shall act with zero tolerance for bribery, fraud, and corruption in all engineering or
construction activities in which they are engaged.
• Engineers should be especially vigilant to maintain appropriate ethical behavior where
payments of gratuities or bribes are institutionalized practices.
 CANON 6

• Engineers should strive for transparency in the procurement and execution of projects.
Transparency includes disclosure of names, addresses, purposes, and fees or commissions paid
for all agents facilitating projects.
• Engineers should encourage the use of certifications specifying zero tolerance for bribery, fraud,
and corruption in all contracts.
 CANON 7
Engineers shall continue their professional development throughout their careers, and shall
provide opportunities for the professional development of those engineers under their
supervision.
• Engineers should keep current in their specialty fields by engaging in professional practice,
participating in continuing education courses, reading in the technical literature, and attending
professional meetings and seminars.
• Engineers should encourage their engineering employees to become registered at the earliest
possible date.
• Engineers should encourage engineering employees to attend and present papers at
professional and technical society meetings.
• Engineers shall uphold the principle of mutually satisfying relationships between employers and
employees with respect to terms of employment including professional grade descriptions,
salary ranges, and fringe benefits.
 PROHIBITED ACTIONS FROM PRC CE BOARD
It shall be considered unprofessional and inconsistent with honorable and dignified bearing for any
registered Civil Engineer:
• To act for his clients* in professional matters otherwise than as a faithful agent or trustee, or to accept any
remuneration other than his stated charges for services rendered his clients.
• To attempt to injure falsely or maliciously, directly or indirectly, the professional reputation,
prospects, or business of another Engineer.
• To attempt to supplant another Engineer after definite steps have been taken toward his
employment
• To participate in competitive bidding on a price basis to secure a professional engagement.
• To compete with another Engineer for employment on the basis of professional charges, by
reducing his usual charges and in this manner attempting to underbid after being informed of
the charges named by another.
• To review the work of another Engineer for the same client, except with the knowledge or
consent of such Engineer, or unless the connection of such Engineer with the work has been
terminated.
 PROHIBITED ACTIONS FROM PRC CE BOARD

• To advertise in self-laudatory language, or in any other manner derogatory to the dignity of the
Profession. To use the advantages of a salaried position to compete unfairly with Engineers in
private practice.
• To act in any manner or engage in any practice which will tend to bring discredit on the honor
or dignity of the Engineering Profession.
THANK YOU