THE POLITICAL REALITY OF GLOBALIZATIONS AND THE OPEN PRACTICE OF THE ARCHITECTURE IN THE

PHILIPPINES

DEFINITION

Globalization can be thought of as a process (or set of processes) which embodies a

transformation in the spatial organization of social relations and transactions - assessed in
terms of their extensity, intensity, velocity and impact - generating transcontinental or
interregional flows, and networks of activity, interaction, and the exercise of power

Globalization is often associated with economic development, financial markets and

international business. In this context, the term globalization refers to the increasingly free
flow of goods, services, financial capital and labor across national borders.

Globalization refers to all those processes by which the peoples of the world are
incorporated into a single world society, global society

Globalization involves states that are leaner but they are also more active, and in some
areas assume greater responsibilities.

THE CONCEPT OF GLOBALIZATION

- is an interdisciplinary concept that has not a certain definition due to differences

in views and interpretations. By some it is considered as creating a common
global culture and homogenizing identities and life styles, while for others it may
be interpreted as highlighting differences and supporting locality.

Anthony Giddens describes globalization as a homogenizing process, made possible by

the differentiation of time from space. In this way, modernization establishes a network of
global relations between near-by and distant communities

ECONOMIC GLOBALIZATION

- The economic case for the benefits of globalization is well documented.

- Larger, international markets allow for more efficient, effective allocation of limited
human, physical and financial resources.
- Global competition fosters innovation and improvements in organizations, goods and
services.
- Through these market mechanisms, economic globalization leads to economic
growth, international development and, overall, higher standards of living.

GLOBAL WORK FORCE AND HUMAN MIGRATION

The global work force is more mobile than ever before. Workers move within and
across national borders to take advantage of the ample economic opportunities
arising from international development and economic globalization.

CULTURAL GLOBALIZATION

Globalization plays a major part in many forms of cultural and artistic exchange.
Traveling companies of performance artists share their art forms and local traditions
with audiences around the world. Culinary professionals ranging from globe-trotting
 celebrity chefs to line cooks spread local flavors and food culture by moving from
kitchen to kitchen and opening new restaurants across the globe.

This analysis might suggest that anxieties about the decline of (a certain vision of) culture in
the era of globalization are in fact justified.

But there is also another crucial difference between globalization and post-modernism that
needs to be pointed to first, which will begin to turn us back to the question of the activity of
literary criticism and poetics in relation to globalization.

Postmodernism

- Was never a public concept in the way that globalization has turned out to be.
- postmodernism never made anything more than a tentative leap from universities to
the pages of broadsheets, appearing only occasionally in an article on the design of a
new skyscraper or in sweeping dismissals of the perceived decadence of the
contemporary humanities.

By contrast, globalization is argued for by the World Bank,

- is named in the business plans of Fortune 500 companies, and is on the lips of
politicians across the globe;
- it constitutes official state policy and is the object of activist dissent:
- There is clearly more at stake in the concept of globalization than there ever was with
postmodernism, a politics that extends far beyond the establishment of aesthetic
categories to the determination of the shape of the present and the future — including
the role played by culture in this future.

THE IMPACT OF GLOBALIZATION ON ARCHITECTURE - ENVIRONMENT RELATIONS: HOUSING

PROJECTS AND DESIGN APPROACHES

- Media flow and technological breakthroughs such as the TV, cinema, the internet and
others are the most important factors enabling us to interact with remote communities which
may be culturally different from our own. By such contact a common global culture is
formed.

Stuart Hall emphasizes that a new kind of globalization process, in which global elements
are intermingled with local ones, has been started, and this new type is the
globalization of the American culture (Hall 1998).

The spread of a global culture and lifestyles is very fast, compared to previous times, and it
emanates from an identifiable center (Taylan 2008).

Due to new communication technologies and media, culture has become a

commodity, produced, offered and marketed, and so it has become an image. The world is
 becoming a single social space held together by the cultural transportation of
semantic systems and symbolic forms (Hannerz 1998).

“the common culture created is the culture of those dominating this market”.

GLOBAL UNIT AREA: CITY

The internationalization of capital, changes in production types and profitability from

production to consumption, and the growth of transnational investments have
changed the economic order and the associated social and cultural patterns. Many
concepts nowadays have become commodities to be marketed and consumed. In turn,
many consumable items have started to play a role in the formation and delimitation of
identities (Thorns 2010: 121).

GLOBAL CITIES

Global flows of finance, media, information, ethnicities, and technology shape societies, and
therefore countries and cities. (Jonathan Friedman 1995).

- Cities are spatially organized socio-economical systems. As such they become

global accumulation fields.
- The position of cities within these global flows also affects their economic, social, and
cultural structures. Although "global cities" are the focal points of the world, they also
represent globe-wide activities and positions of their countries. Moreover, they
are involved in relations with other global cities.

Global cities - metropolises –

- are those cities that have high technological facilities, have been developed or
transformed by international capital, have high investment values, have
advanced communication - transportation technologies, and have been in
communication - interaction with the others.
- The uneven integration of the city into the global economy, however, may also
produce urban dissociation, increasing urban crime, poverty, and fear (Thorns
2010: 74-76).

Dissociation effects of globalization change the lifestyle and expectations of urban dwellers and
stimulate efforts for the creation of protected places free of the adversities of cities (Isik 2001; Suer
2002).
Global cities are engines and archives of growth, change, culture, and ideas.

- They are great places where much of the world goes to live, learn, work, and create.

- They are also challenging, often difficult places for everyone, but especially for those
on the fringes who do not share the same advantages as their fellow urbanites.

On the other hand, the beauty of global cities is also that many of their benefits do not
require a price of admission other than showing up.

- For many city dwellers, the chance to rub elbows, swap stories, and share experiences
with anyone and everyone from all manner of national, ethnic, and cultural
backgrounds is more than enough reason to call a global city home.
 SOCIAL CLOSURES

Great differences in income levels within cities increase the crime rate and fear in cities. In
response to the perceived danger, certain social groups withdraw from the public arena into
enclosed complexes and residences with their own security personnel, surrounded by
high walls and camera systems.

For the luxurious housing projects, "lifestyle" is the key word. Each luxurious housing
project represents a certain life style and identity which are emphasized especially during the
promotion stages of such projects. Accessibility, particularly fast and quick access to
the metro, the availability of services within complex, advanced security measures, good
property appreciation forecast, the proximity of large shopping centers, and the image of an
idealized global life style are considered as the most important points in the promotion
process.

GLOBALIZATION FORCES IN ARCHITECTURE

Cities and regions are facing great challenges as a consequence of globalization.

One force seeks to safeguard and promulgate established indigenous architectural traditions,
forms, decorative motifs, and technologies. It advocates historical continuity, cultural
diversity, and preservation of identity, all symbolized by a particular architectural vocabulary,
just as spoken languages and local dialects impart identity.

The other force promotes invention and dissemination of new forms using new technologies
and materials in response to changing functional needs and sensibilities. It places a premium
on systemization, flexibility, and interchangeability (Lewis, 2002).

Trends

Today, pressure to globalize architecture primarily springs from

Two sources to Globalize Architecture:

1. the culture of commerce and

2. the culture of design.

The global culture of commerce

- is driven by changing consumer expectations, market opportunities, and business

agendas. Their architectural manifestations include iconic, sky-scraping banking
towers, chains of standardized hotels, franchise restaurants, and shopping malls full of
all-too-familiar name-brand stores.
The global culture of design

- is supported by architects who study what other architects are creating, no matter
where. With fabulous photographs in slick magazines and professional journals, trend-
conscious designers can scan and span the globe, sharing high-style concepts
rendered in stylish materials. Glass, aluminum, stainless steel, copper, titanium, and
natural stone are readily available. If they cannot be acquired locally, they can be
imported.

Technology

Globalization is now an unstoppable historical process led by technological change and involving
the dissemination of science and new technologies. Rapid urbanization has only been made
possible by the introduction of modern technology as a part of the development process.

In one of the oldest treatises on architecture, Vitruvius proposed three essential requirements for all
good architecture: firmitas, utilitas, and venustas (Morgan, 1914).

Complex construction and advanced building design require a mastery of structures and
construction technology, and as

Michelle Addington (2006:64) mentions, “Technology is often considered the handmaiden of design
and, as such, is meant to be subordinate: design is the why and the what, whereas technology is the
how-to.”

NEW TECHNOLOGIES ARE CHANGING THE NATURE OF WORK — WITH ITS MULTIDIMENSIONAL EFFECTS
—

by creating new forms of leisure,

- including the hyper-reality of cyberspace,

- new virtual realities, and
- new modes of information and
- entertainment.

Dramatic change and innovation have been part of modernity for centuries, as has
technological development and expansion.

A new global culture is emerging as a result of computer and communications technologies.

Transitional forms of architecture are traversing national boundaries and becoming part of a new
world culture.

The new wave of technologies in electronics, robotics, telecommunications, new materials, and
biotechnology has given rise to a new technology paradigm that accentuates the role of the
world cities (Lo and Yeung, 1998).

Thus, the adoption of appropriate technologies is a natural and unforced consequence of

appropriate architecture. Together, they offer valid forms and images to take the place of models
offered by industrialized nations, and as Shahin Vassigh (2004:112) mentions,

“The practice of architecture is a delicate balance of art and science — a creative endeavor which
also requires that the architect master a broad array of technical skills, including engineering.”
 I. THE OPEN PRACTICE OF ARCHITECTURE IN THE PHILIPPINES

"General Practice of Architecture" means

the act of

- planning and architectural designing,

- structural conceptualization,
- specifying, supervising and
- giving general administration and responsible direction to the erection, enlargement or
alterations of buildings and building environments and architectural design in
engineering structures or any part thereof;

The scientific, aesthetic and orderly coordination of all the processes which enter into the
production of a complete building or structure performed through the medium of unbiased
preliminary studies

Medium of unbiased preliminary studies of

- plans,
- consultations,
- specifications,
- conferences,
- evaluations,
- investigations,
- contract documents and
- oral advice and directions

regardless of whether the persons engaged in such practice are residents of the
Philippines or have their principal office or place of business in this country or another
territory, and regardless of whether such persons are performing one or all these duties, or
whether such duties are performed in person or as the directing head of an office or organization
performing them;

"Scope of the Practice of Architecture" encompasses the provision of professional services in

connection with site, physical and planning and the design, construction, enlargement,
conservation, renovation, remodeling, restoration or alteration of a building or group of
buildings.

Services may include, but are not limited to:

(a) Planning, architectural designing and structural conceptualization;

(b) consultation, consultancy, giving oral or written advice and directions, conferences,
evaluations, investigations, quality surveys, appraisals and adjustments, architectural and
operational planning, site analysis and other pre-design services;

(c) schematic design, design development, contract documents and construction phases
including professional consultancies;

(d) preparation of preliminary, technical, economic and financial feasibility studies of plans,
models and project promotional services;
(e) preparation of architectural plans, specifications, bill of materials, cost estimates, general
conditions and bidding documents;

(f) construction and project management, giving general management, administration,

supervision, coordination and responsible direction or the planning, architectural designing,
construction, reconstruction, erection, enlargement or demolition, renovation, repair, orderly
removal, remodeling, alteration, preservation or restoration of buildings or structures or complex
buildings, including all their components, sites and environs, intended for private or public use;

(g) the planning, architectural lay-outing and utilization of spaces within and surrounding such
buildings or structures, housing design and community architecture, architectural interiors and
space planning, architectural detailing, architectural lighting, acoustics, architectural lay-outing
of mechanical, electrical, electronic, sanitary, plumbing, communications and other utility systems,
equipment and fixtures;

(h) building programming, building administration, construction arbitration and architectural

conservation and restoration;

(i) all works which relate to the scientific, aesthetic and orderly coordination of all works and
branches of the work, systems and processes necessary for the production of a complete
building or structure, whether for public or private use, in order to enhance and safeguard life,
health and property and the promotion and enrichment of the quality of life, the architectural
design of engineering structures or any part thereof; and

(j) all other works, projects and activities which require the professional competence of an
architect, including teaching of architectural subjects and architectural computer-aided design;

An article from rappler-----

ASEAN-accredited architect and Frima Global Home Corporation President Robert
Mirafuente called on his Filipino colleagues to keep pace with the ongoing Association of
Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) integration.

"We just need to prepare professionally and be globally competitive by consistently

educating ourselves. Attending forums like this is a positive action to transform better,"
Mirafuente said at the 13th Green Forum organized by the Green Architecture Advocacy
Philippines (Green AP) on Friday, July 15.

Mirafuente said that most architects in the Philippines have only completed their
undergraduate degrees while their counterparts in other ASEAN countries have masteral
and doctorate degrees.

Mirafuente pointed out that only 52 out of the 39,000 registered architects in the
Philippines, including the 2016 board passers, are accredited to practice in other ASEAN
countries.

“Unfortunately for Filipino architects, we are only at level 6. But many of our counterparts
in the ASEAN region are at level 7 and level 8," said Mirafuente, referring to the Philippine
Qualifications Framework (PQF), which indicates how architects are rated in terms of
educational attainment.
According to the PQF, architects with undergraduate degrees fall under the 6th level
while those who have obtained masteral and doctorate degrees are on the 7th and 8th
levels, respectively.

Indonesia has 90 ASEAN architects and Singapore has 78. Meanwhile, Malaysia only has
35 ASEAN architects while both Cambodia and Brunei have none.

Improving the quality of Filipino architects

The current level of Filipino architects is a "reason to emphasize" the importance of the
continuing professional development (CPD) program, according Mirafuente.

The Architecture Act of 2004 or RA 9266, already promotes the CPD, seeking to improve
the quality of architects, enhance their competence, and ensure that they keep up with
new technologies and practices.

CPD, according to RA 9266, refers to a “sustaining and progressive learning process that
maintains, enhances, or increases the knowledge and continuing ability of architects.”

However, under the law, professional development is only “voluntary” for architects.

A proposed CPD measure, which was approved by the Senate in August 2015, makes the
continuous learning process a requirement.

“We are just waiting for the signature of President Duterte," said Mirafuente.

Once passed into law, at least 30 units of CPD are required for the renewal of professional
license for architects, Mirafuente said.

But in the end, there are "no professional secrets" that make Filipino architects stand out in
the global practice of the profession.

"We just have good Filipino traits like being warm-hearted and hardworking. We are
resilient," stressed Mirafuente.

The experience of the Philippines as a developing country that is vulnerable to disasters

also puts local architects in a good position to become experts in sustainable global
design, according to Mirafuente.

"We can become experts in disaster-resilient design or we can become green

architecture specialists or consultants to the other countries which are increasingly
affected by climate change." – Rappler.com

Editor's Note: A previous version of this story said that the 2016 board passers are not
included in the registered architects in the Philippines. This has been corrected. We regret
the error.
 Mirafuente urged all Filipino architects to apply for the accreditation since they are
hoping to have “borderless practice” of architects within ASEAN by 2020.

II. ISSUES OF PRACTICE IN THE GLOBAL CONTEXT

“License to Design: The Practice of Architecture in the Philippines.”

The practice of these professions here is threatened to extinction by the continued bias of
clients against them, the threat of illegal Filipino practitioners, the invasion of foreign
consultants and the exodus of Filipino designers to better-paying jobs overseas.

Helping me explain these issues on the show were two architects — Armando Alli of the
Board of Architecture at the Professional Regulation Commission, and Dean Danilo
Silvestre of the Collegeof Architecture at the University of the Philippines in Diliman.

Both are also practicing (registered and licensed) architects and environmental planners.

The bias against local practitioners apparently stems from the public’s misunderstanding
of what architects and related design professionals do. Architecture is the art and science
of designing buildings and building complexes to house and support the functions of
clients and the public. As a service, it is like medicine and law where problems or needs
are addressed in a timely and direct manner but with the additional facet of elegance,
aesthetics and good taste.

Many Filipino architects are treated like suppliers or contractors, valued only if fees
charged are cheap and if they are willing to be constantly on call (unlike doctors or
lawyers, clients refuse to pay architects based on time spent at endless meetings). It’s a
matter of respect, which makes it all the more aggravating for many locals practitioners
as they witness a whole different attitude given by clients to foreign-schooled but
unregistered or licensed practitioners or foreign consultants.

Of late, a number of Filipino or Fil-American designers schooled or who have worked

overseas have set up practices without the necessary licenses. Their success has been the
product of good marketing skills, individual packaging (foreign accents, fashionable dress
sense, and conspicuous attendance in the cocktail circuit) as well as a competent
portfolio of work overseas. It is no wonder then that local media find these personalities
good copy.

Nevertheless they have been found not to be in the roster of registered or licensed
architects. The United Architects of the Philippines (UAP) has sent notices to editors in chief
and writers of design magazines and broadsheets to desist from referring to these
designers as “architects.”

Similar incidents have been cited by the Philippine Association of Landscape Architects
and the Philippine Institute of Interior Designers regarding personalities featured in
newspapers and magazines and referred to as landscape architects or interior designers.

All three professions are regulated by the government and require registration and
licenses to practice. On the show, architect Alli explained that the Architecture Law
RA9266 (there are similar ones for landscape architecture, interior design and
environmental planning) protects the interest of the public and ensures legal
accountability for malpractice or its results — collapsing buildings, landslides in housing
sites, exploding utilities and the like.

More worrying for the UAP, PALA and PIID is the proliferation of foreign designers who are
featured in numerous press releases and ads by real estate developers — complete with
portraits and interviews as to how they have designed this or that new master planned
community, world-class complexes or trend-setting landscapes and urban design.

Alli explained that there are several requisites for foreigners to practice — proof that they
offer expertise no Filipino professional can offer, reciprocity from the country they come
from (meaning Filipinos could practice there), a permit from the PRC and a permit from
the Department of Labor and Employment. It has been discovered that not one foreign
consultant or firm has ever been given these permits. No country has reciprocity rights with
the Philippines and Filipinos are recognized worldwide as technically excellent in design
skills, which is why they are hired by topnotch firms worldwide.

Dean Silvestre for his part explained the effects of globalization on the educational system
and the pressures on students that reflect in different directions they take — moving
abroad versus establishing experience and practice in the Philippines. He believes that
Filipino architects can excel here and compete with the best of the world as training and
improved curricula can ensure their competence in a world soon without professional
borders.

My view, as I stated in the show is that “No one questions the necessity of regulating the
practice of medicine or law. Local lawyers and doctors would raise hell if any foreign firm
dares set up a local practice. No patient or client would go to these firms anyway unless
they knew that these practitioners were licensed and liable under local law.”

The situation with architecture is a bit different but malpractice in the art and science of
designing buildings could lead, like bad medicine or lawyering, to loss of life or a sad
existence in a structure that looks and feels like a prison.

Filipino architects are considered world-class in every country except their own. Like many
in other design professions they are driven overseas because they are unappreciated and
underpaid yet they possess the technical expertise and capacity that could create all
that public and private clients are planning to build in support of a booming economy
without the recourse of foreign consultants.

Architecture is a proud profession. Its practitioners have to be respected for them to be

able to produce structures and settings that engender pride of place and a national
identity. Philippine architecture is best created by Filipinos for Filipinos. If we aspire instead
to live in simulations of other lands and cultures, then globalization will have shown its
ugliest façade, an illusion of modernity that hides behind it a poverty of culture and
purpose we can never escape from.
III. APEC ARCHITECT OPERATIONS MANUAL

Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) is an international forum composed of twenty-

one-member economies with the objective to act collectively to promote economic and
technical cooperation within Asia-Pacific region. Its purpose is “to sustain the growth and
development of the region for the common good of its people”. This Manual sets out the
organizational structure of the APEC Architect framework and the rules and criteria that
underpin its operation. The launching of the APEC Architect Register on 16 September
2005, Hong Kong

participating economies a standard for being an APEC Architect, agreed to by

participating economies the online Register of APEC Architects, provided in sections by
participating economies overall governance provided by a Central Council that typically
meets every two years administrative Monitoring Committees within each participating
economy an Operating Manual that lays out the project’s rules and procedures a
secretariat that provides administrative services.  The APEC Architect Project is based on
a framework agreed to by participating economies. In essence this involves:

 Australia
 Canada
 People’s Republic of China
 Hong Kong, China
 Japan
 Republic of Korea
 Malaysia
 Mexico
 New Zealand
 Republic of the Philippines
 Singapore
 Chinese Taipei
 Thailand
 United States of America

The APEC Architect Project has 15 participating economies. The word 'economies' is used
to describe APEC members because the APEC cooperative process is predominantly
concerned with trade and economic issues, with members engaging with one another as
economic entities.

Architects deemed by their monitoring committees to fulfill these requirements are eligible
for registration as an APEC Architect. The APEC Architect criteria is based on:
(1) a recognized architectural education a minimum period of post-graduate practical
experience, with specified requisites registration, licensing or other requirements for full
professional recognition a minimum period of professional practice as a registered or
licensed architect,

(2) with specified requisites. Participating economies have agreed to a set of

requirements and standards that must be met by an architect from any participating
economy to be accepted and recorded as an APEC Architect.
An APEC Architect is a person who is registered, licensed or otherwise professionally
recognized as an architect in a participating economy, and whose name is enrolled on a
section of the APEC Architect Register maintained by that economy.

The names of APEC Architects are recorded on an online register. The register is divided
into sections based on the participating economies which are each hosted by the
participating economies.

THE COMPETENCE OF AN APEC ARCHITECT

•Architectural Education
•Fulfillment of Period of Pre-registration or Pre-licensing Experience for Recognition as an
Architect in a Home Economy
•Fulfillment of Registration / Licensing Requirements for Recognition as an Architect in a
Home Economy
•Professional Practice as a Registered / Licensed Architect I. APEC ARCHITECT
REGISTRATION CRITERIA
•Admission to the APEC Architect Register
•Maintaining APEC Architect Registration •Acquired Rights II. ENTITLEMENT TO
REGISTRATION
•An APEC Architect must be competent to create architectural designs
•An APEC Architect must be competent to translate a design concept into built form
•An APEC Architect must be competent in the practice of architecture III.

he Central Council has ultimate responsibility for all matters relating to the APEC Architect
framework. The Council comprises at least one representative of each Monitoring
Committee. The Council is responsible for authorizing Monitoring Committees to maintain
their sections of the Register. Typically the Council meets every two years. A decision to
permit an economy to join the project rests with the Central Council. The Central Council's
decisions are generally reached by consensus and are not binding on the regulatory
authorities of participating economies. The APEC Architect Central Council will operate for
so long as it is acceptable and desirable to participating economies.

manage and make determinations on applications from architects within economies to

become APEC Architects • operate the APEC Architect Register within each economy •
provide representatives to the Central Council • make public information about the APEC
Architect Project. Responsibility for the project within participating economies is
delegated to monitoring committees. The duties of the monitoring committees include the
following: Monitoring Committees are the constituent bodies of the Central Council. They
nominate one or more representatives to the Council, with each Monitoring Committee
entitled to one vote.

Administrative services for the project are provided by a secretariat. To provide an

equitable system for sharing the provision of administrative services among economies,
Central Council business is conducted by participating economies, which take on the role
of Secretariat on a rotational basis. The minimum period for economies to act in this
capacity is two years and they may reapply to continue for a subsequent term of office.
The Central Council Secretariat is responsible for the conduct of Council meetings and the
management of Council records, maintenance of the APEC Architect website and
administration of its finances during its term of office. It is also required to arrange for the
appointment of Council members, the authorization of Monitoring Committees and the
 application of quality assurance provisions from time to time, and to act as a center of
information for all APEC Architect matters.

SCHEDULE OF ROTATION TO ACT AS SECRETARIAT

•A system for the rotation of the Secretariat services among member economies is
generally accepted by the Council as a notional timeframe. Commitments made by
economies to serve for a period of not less than two years are received by the Council
although it is acknowledged that the commitments are not binding on any economy.
HOSTING OF THE COUNCIL MEETING •It is also generally accepted that for convenience
and logistical advantage, the member economy acting as Secretariat will also act as host
for the Central Council Meeting scheduled every two years. Thus, the Central Council
Meeting is expected to occur towards the end of the second year of service of the
member economy serving as Secretariat. FUNDING FORMULA FOR THE SECRETARIAT
•Secretariat service by any member economy is given assistance by other member
economies in accordance with a funding formula formulated and approved by all
member economies. HAND OVER GUIDELINES •In order to have continuity on the
administrative duties and responsibilities, the following are procedures that may be
followed whenever there is a change of economy to act as Secretariat for the Central
Council.

IV. ASEAN ARCHITECTS OPERATIONS MANUAL

The ASEAN Agreement on Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA) on Architectural

Services was signed by the ASEAN Economic Ministers on 20 November 2007.
The Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA) on Architectural Services will facilitate the
mobility of architectural professionals within ASEAN and enhance information exchange in
order to promote adoption of best practices on standards of architectural education,
professional practices and qualifications.
The main objective for the agreement is to conform to the spirit of ASEAN co-operations
based on fair distribution of resources and benefits through collaborative research and set
standards and commitment of technological transfer in architecture among ASEAN
Member Countries.
OBJECTIVES
 To exchange information in order to promote adoption of best practices on standards
of architectural education, professional practice and qualifications;
 To conform to the spirit of ASEAN co-operations based on fair distribution of resources
and benefits through collaborative researches; and
 To encourage, facilitate and establish mutual recognition of Architects and set up
standards and commitment of technological transfer among ASEAN Member
Countries.

RECOGNITION OF QUALIFICATIONS TO BECOME AN ASEAN ARCHITECT (AA)

An Architect who has:
  Completed an accredited architectural degree recognised by the professional
architectural accreditation body whether in the Country of Origin or Host Country or
assessed and recognised as having the equivalent of such a degree. The education for
architects should be no less than five (5) years duration delivered on a full time basis in an
accredited program in an accredited/ validated university in the Country of Origin while
allowing flexibility for equivalency.
 a current and valid professional registration or licensing certificate to practise architecture
in the Country of Origin issued either by the Professional Regulatory Authority (PRA) of the
ASEAN Member Countries and in accordance with its policy on
registration/licensing/certification of the practice of architecture or the Monitoring
Committee pursuant to Article 4.2.2 and item 1.2 of Appendix B of this Arrangement.
 acquired practical and diversified experience of not less than ten (10) years of continuous
practice of architecture after graduation, of which at least five (5) years shall be after
licensure/ registration and at least two (2) years of which shall be in responsible charge of
significant architectural works as stipulated in Appendix D - format 3;
 complied with the Continuing Professional Development (CPO) policy of the country of
Origin at a satisfactory level;
 obtained certification from the Professional Regulatory Authority (PRA) of the Country of
Origin with no record of serious violation on technical, professional or ethical standards,
local and international, for the practice of architecture; and
 complied with any other requirements agreed upon by the ASEAN Architect Council (AAC)
is eligible to apply to the ASEAN Architect Council (AAC) to be registered as an ASEAN
Architect (AA) under the ASEAN Architect Register (AAR).

V. MUTUAL RECOGNITION AGREEMENTS

Mutual Recognition Arrangements (MRAs) in the services sector are key elements of
ASEAN integration in trade in services. An MRA facilitates trade in services by the
recognition among the ASEAN Member States (AMS) for professionals who are authorised,
licensed or certified by the respective authorities within the framework of the MRAs. An
MRA enables the qualifications of services suppliers, recognised by the authorities in their
home country, to be mutually recognised by other AMS who are signatories to the MRAs.
MRAs are not expected to override local laws. Instead, the agreements are applicable
only in accordance with prevailing laws and regulations of the host country.

The ASEAN Framework Agreement on Services (AFAS), signed on 15 December 1995 in

Bangkok, Thailand, recognises the importance of MRAs to facilitate deeper services trade
integration in ASEAN. And as a testament to the commitment to deepen services trade
integration, ASEAN Leaders during the 7th Summit in November 2001 mandated the start
of negotiations on MRA to facilitate the flow of professional services under AFAS. Since
then, ASEAN has concluded and signed MRAs in several occupations:

MRA on Engineering Services (9 December 2005); MRA on Nursing Services (8

December 2006); MRA on Architectural Services and Framework Arrangement for the
Mutual Recognition of Surveying Qualifications (19 November 2007); MRA on Medical
Practitioners and MRA on Dental Practitioners (26 February 2009); MRA Framework on
Accountancy Services (26 February 2009) and subsequently as MRA on Accountancy
Services (13 November 2014); and MRA on Tourism Professionals (9 November 2012).