NAGA CITY -- Architects from United Architects of the Philippines (UAP) - Camarines Sur Chapter based in this city were elated over the recent court decision lifting the writ of preliminary injunction that has restrained the execution of the implementing rules and regulation (IRR) of the National Building Code.

        Regional Trial Court Branch 22 in Manila earlier lifted the restraint on putting in effect the IRR of the National Building Code, citing that architects are the rightful authority to prepare, sign, and seal architectural documents.

        Before the lifting of the preliminary injunction, civil engineers sought to be allowed to prepare, sign and seal architectural designs, specifically when applying for building permit.

        The lower court based its recent ruling on its finding that Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers (PICE) misrepresented many issues by using supporting evidences which are not officially recognized.

        PICE was also found to have committed ‘forum shopping,’ for filing two cases with ‘same intent.’

        The local chapter of architects told Bicol Mail that the court decision is a big victory for them considering that architects in this country, according to them, are given less recognition compared to what civil engineers are enjoying.

        They said however that notwithstanding the court decision, they still seek the full implementation of the Architecture Act of 2004, which they say has been long disregarded by concerned government agencies including the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) which according to them has been the turf of civil engineers.

        They also said they are optimistic that the writ lifting would settle the issues surrounding the relief of Arch. Hernani D. Aguilar, erstwhile City Building Official, whom they said was a casualty of City Mayor Jesse Robredo’s ‘persistent’ action to ‘honor heavily the injunction on the revised IRR of the [National Building Code].’

        But City Legal Officer Angel Ojastro on Wednesday said that the relief of Aguilar several weeks ago was not in any way connected with the rift between PICE and the UAP over the injunction order.

        Ojastro said Aguilar was designated city building official by the former DPWH secretary despite a provision of the Local Government Code of 1991 stating that the city engineer shall be the city building official at the same time. He said the relief of Aguilar was in compliance with the law.

        Ojastro said further that the recent court decision may not necessarily be favorable to Aguilar, who is seeking DPWH to have his previous designation back.

        Aguilar, meanwhile, remains a city government employee detailed at the City Planning and Development Office.