Memorandum Circular 2006-0010

17 August 2006

FOR                : ALL IIEE MEMBERS

FROM            : OFFICE OF THE NATIONAL PRESIDENT

 
CC                   : BOARD OF GOVERNORS
                           IIEE CHAPTER PRESIDENTS
                                               
SUBJECT       : PRACTICE OF ELECTRICAL PRACTITIONERS EMPLOYED IN                           UTILITIES/ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES

Dear Colleagues,

The Institute of Integrated Electrical Engineers of the Philippines, Inc. (IIEE) wishes to reiterate that the Board of Electrical Engineering (BEE) instruction dated 19 August 1999, copy attached, is still in effect. The BEE instruction states that “Electrical Engineers (PEE or REE) and registered master electricians (RME) employed by the Coop cannot engage in the practice of his profession”. Prohibitions include:

1. Signing and sealing of plans
2. Signing and sealing of wiring and electrical permits and Certificate of Final Electrical Inspection (CFEI)
3. Electrical contracting, servicing and maintenance within his or her jurisdiction or franchise area, which requires a PCAB license to be a contractor

The BEE explained that “the practice of employees or officers of a utility/electric coop … is a conflict of interest when he is responsible for approval or disapproval of work done by private practitioners for electric service within his area of responsibility which he has due advantage over these private practitioners.”

In cases when there are no PEEs in the area, there have been instances when, upon certification by the utility/electric cooperative and IIEE Chapter in the area, the BEE waived this requirement (see for instance the 28 October 2002 BEE letter to Misamis Oriental II Electric Service Cooperative, Inc (MORESCO II) and allowed PEEs of the coop to sign electrical layout, sketch, plans, etc. as required by the revised DPWH Electrical Wiring Permit Form prior to issuance of electrical permit for construction”. However, the BEE prohibited the PEEs of the coop from entering “into contracting, design and contract and supervision of projects, where RMEs and REEs are available in the area”.

However, upon certification by the IIEE chapter in the area that PEEs are already available to serve the franchise area (see attached 4 March 2005, 9 March 2005 and 19 July 2005 letter to BEE by IIEE Cagayan de Oro Chapter), the BEE waiver can be lifted (see for instance the attached 15 August 2005 letter of BEE to MORESCO II).

We hope this clarifies the issue on the matter

Please be guided accordingly.

(SGD) LEO S. CABASAG
National President