The Profile

The United Architects of the Philippines is the Integrated and Accredited Professional Organization of Architects (IAPOA) in the Philippines with more than 24,000 members. UAP is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) as a non-stock, non-profit organization with SEC Registration No. 60782.

Architecture, as practiced in the Philippines during the Spanish era, was not by virtue of an academic title. There were no architectural schools in the country and the only architects with academic degrees were Spaniards. However, the first Filipino recorded architect was Felix Roxas y Arroyo of Binondo, Manila. The closest the Filipino could aspire to practice as an architect was as Maestro de Obras or Master Builder. The first academic school to train these maestros was the Escuela Practica y Professional de Artes y Oficio de Manila, founded by the Spanish government in 1880. In 1900 the first private school to offer an academic title for Maestro de Obras was the Liceo de Manila.

For the early 1930`s to the late 50`s, associations of architects came and went, but three of these survived until the early 70`s. These were the League of Philippine Architects (LPA), the Association of Philippine Government Architects (APGA), and the Philippine Institute of Architects (PIA).

The profession of Architecture was given its first separate statute on June 17, 1950 with the enactment of Republic Act 545, An Act to Regulate the Practice of Architecture in the Philippines. In December 1971, President Ferdinand E. Marcos officially declared the second week of December as Architecture Week. President Ferdinand E. Marcos issued PD 223 in June 1973 creating the Professional Regulation Commission with the duty of regulating all the professions and accrediting only one professional organization to represent each profession. Recognizing the need to formally integrate the three architectural associations, APGA, LPA and PIA each appointed three representatives to form the Panel of Negotiation in May 1973.

To implement the terms of integration agreed upon by the three architectural organizations, a 15 man Ad-Hoc Commission was authorized to prepare the Constitution and By-Laws of the newly integrated association. One year later, the respective Board of Directors of the three organizations on December 12, 1974 unanimously approved the Constitution and By-Laws. In order to effectively pursue the objectives and perform its task and duties under the resolution, the Ad-Hoc Commission was authorized to sit as the Interim Board to administer, implement and coordinate the various activities of the new organization until the first regular Board of Directors and Officers was duly elected. The new integrated society was called, the United Architects of the Philippines (UAP). Membership of the three organizations numbering a total of 1,300, automatically became members of the UAP and during its first year, 700 members officially registered for active membership. On March 26, 1976, the United Architects of the Philippines registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission. UAP became the first accredited professional organization on May 12, 1975 with the professional regulation commission issuing certificate no. 001 to the UAP as the duly accredited professional organization for architects in the Philippines. On June 12, 1976, the UAP informed the Union Internationale des Architectes (UIA) of the integration of the three architectural organizations under the United Architects of the Philippines and requested for recognition of the UIA as its National Section in the Philippines.

On March 22-25, 1979, the UAP organized a National Conference on Architectural Education at the Development Academy of the Philippines in Tagaytay City. The result of the Conference was the endorsement of a new ladder-type curriculum for architectural education, which was approved by the Ministry of Education and Culture and adopted by schools and colleges of architecture in the Philippines. The same year saw the approval of the new Architects` National Code by the Professional Regulation Commission. This code was prepared by the UAP as a standard of ethics and practice of architecture in the Philippines.

In recognition of UAP`s involvement in government program and activities, the Metro Manila Commission appointed the UAP members to constitute the Board of Advisers for urban design and development for Metro Manila. In September 1979, UAP became a founding member of the Architects Regional Council Asia (ARCASIA) and Arcasia Board of Architectural Education (ABAE) organized in Jakarta, Indonesia. Its primary objective is to foster friendly, intellectual, artistic, educational and scientific relations among national institutes of Architects in Asia. Later this was changed to Arcasia Council of Architectural Education (ACAE). In the same year, the UAP also became a founding member of the ASEAN Association for Planning and Housing (AAPH). In December 1979, the UAP organized a 4-month activity entitled "Filipino Technology in the 80`s in collaboration with the five professional organizations, two ASEAN Organizations, fourteen government agencies and schools of architecture. At the closing of the "Filipino Technology of the 80`s, President Ferdinand E. Marcos issued Letter of Instruction 1000 directing all government ministries and agencies to authorize and support only PRC accredited professional organizations like the UAP in organizing and hosting national and international conferences and to give priority to the members of the organizations in the hiring of employees and in the engagement of professional service. On March 28, 1981, the UAP initiated the preparation of the document entitled "International Code of Ethics on Consulting Services" during the Arcasia Workshop held in Manila. It was later formally adopted by ARCASIA in its meeting in Hong Kong on August 6, 1981.

After several documents were submitted by UAP to the Union Internationale des Architectes (UIA) concerning the laws of the Philippines and the status of the UAP as a follow up of its application to the UIA, the UIA Bureau during its meeting at Honolulu, Hawaii on June 4-5 1982 concluded that "legally according to the laws of the Philippines, the UAP is the only organization with the right to represent the Filipino architects either in the Philippines or internationally and particularly with regards to the UIA. The result of this meeting was forwarded to the UAP and upon request of UIA, the UAP paid its annual dues on August 24, 1982. On January 24-26, 1983 during the meeting of the the UIA Council at Santiago de Chile, Chile, the Council passed Resolution No. 9 stating the "following the laws of the Philippines and the UIA Statutes, UAP legally became the National Section". A certification to this effect was issued to the UAP in April 1983.

The meeting of ARCASIA in Lahore, Pakistan in 1983 approved the proposal for UAP to host and organize the First Asian Congress of Architects (ACA-1) in Manila in October 1984 (The Sixth Asian Congress of Architects was also held in Manila in December 1994).

The United Architects of the Philippines today claims an active membership of over 10,000 architects scattered over 3 strategic areas of the country: Area A, comprising the central and northern portion of the Island of Luzon including Metropolitan Manila comprises 5 regional districts; Area B composing southern Luzon as well as the members from the islands of Mindoro, Masbate and Palawan contains five regional districts; Area C comprises members from the Visayan Islands as well as Mindanao. This area comprises four regional districts.

The UAP

The United Architects of the Philippines (UAP) was born on December 12, 1974 out of the noble vision of unifying the three (3) existing architectural associations at that time - the Philippine Institute of Architects (PIA), the League of Philippine Architects (LPA) and the Association of Philippine Government Architects (APGA).

Through the concerted efforts of the officers and members of the three organizations, the vision officially materialized on March 26, 1975, where the UAP was registered with the Philippines’ Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). On May 12, 1975, the UAP was granted Certificate No. 001, the first professional organization to be accredited by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC).

The UAP has a roster of membership numbering more than 25,000 or 100% of the total registered architects at the Professional Regulation Commission. This number is expected to increase with the advent of the automatic membership clause under RA 9266 and the registration of new board passers of the recent PRC licensure examinations. Last Fiscal Year, we have more than 10,000 UAP members in Good Standing.

The United Architects of the Philippines is the voice of the architectural profession and the resource for its members in service to society. We serve our membership in all areas of the profession, the professionals, the professional products and professional organization including: connecting members with peers, vendors and professional opportunities; providing convenient continuing education programs; and leading government advocacy programs that benefit architects. UAP works to increase public awareness of the built environment and the role architects and affiliated professionals play in making the Philippine skyscape at par with the best in Asia.

UAP is about people

Architects working together, helping each other create better places to live, work, and play. Membership in the UAP offers a vast pool of resources to help you compete in today's market and keeps you informed of critical professional issues that may challenge your success. Moreover, when you get involved locally through your UAP's local and international Chapters, you make new friends, expand your professional contacts and knowledge base, and work together with colleagues to improve the quality of life in your home community.

UAP is about Community

Promoting fellowship and collaboration among members and within our community at large.  UAP Members are design professionals who are eager to extend their professional network, to share information and exchange ideas. The calendar of events incorporates a rich and varied program of educational events, social gatherings, committee meetings, and other events that connect members with each other, to the broader professional community, and to the public.

UAP is about Knowledge

Facilitating the sharing of Knowledge about Design and about Practice that inspires and enables members and the public.  UAP Chapters provides a variety of continuing education programs that address current challenges, innovations, and practice trends.  UAP Members also have access to a variety of professional resources and technical materials at a discounted rate.

UAP is about Advocacy

Serving as a voice on community, legislative and design matters and promoting the rights of every registered and licensed architects and the value of their services to the public. UAP Chapter members work collaboratively with their local government units in coordination with the UAP National to strengthen the voices of architects in government and community leadership at the city, municipal, provincial and national level. To promote the unique value of architects and the importance of design excellence, UAP features members' works through programs like the National Design Competitions sponsored by various non-government sectors.

Value and Benefits

Whether you are an intern or a firm principal, an architect working alone or in a large firm, a government employee or a corporate architect, the UAP has the resources and tools to help you meet your professional challenges. Membership in the UAP signifies your commitment to a high standard of professional ethics, to furthering your professional development, and to advancing the value of the profession.

Republic Act No. 9266, otherwise known as “The Architecture Act of 2004” states that “An architect duly registered with the Board shall automatically become a member of the integrated and accredited professional organization of architects and shall receive the benefits and privileges provided for in this Act upon payment of the required fees and dues”.

This is the United Architects of the Philippines, the Integrated and Accredited Professional Organization of Architects and the 2011 PRC Most Outstanding Accredited Professional Organization and the only organization to have won the award four times!

Updated 2011-07-2300:34:00