Enacted Designers Law Aims to Institutionalize Industry

A law for interior designers in the Philippines has been enacted.

The newly enacted “Philippine Interior Design Act of 2012” or Republic Act 10350, which Pnoy signed into law last year, is virtually a revision of the previous Interior Design law, R.A. 8534.

The new statute provides fresh amendments such as the omission of the “Grand Father Clause” and the inclusion of intellectual and proprietary rights and penal provisions.

Atty. Dennis Gorecho (Photo by Daxine Abala, USC-TC Intern)

Attorney Dennis Gorecho, legal counsel of the Philippine Institute of Interior Designers (PIID), said that the law professionalizes the industry by instituting an examination that is mandated by law.

“Before nung R.A. 8534, may examination nun pero hindi talaga siya by law. Bale meron lang siyang exam for PRC but not that mandated by law na ma categorize na professionals sila, ” he explained.

Gorecho shared that the first law (RA 8534) was enacted during the Ramos administration and revised during the term of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and just recently, the said law was repealed by the Aquino administration.

Repealing RA 8534, the Republic Act 10350 was signed last December 17, 2012 by President Benigno Aquino III.

IDr. Ray OPlado, PIID (Photo by Daxine Abala, USC-TC Intern)

PIID Cebu chapter president IDr. Ray Oplado said that they have 60 members of licensed interiors designers in Cebu  while there are more than 2,000 members nationwide.

He said that the new law will distinguish them from the unlicensed ones in cases of problems like overspending of materials from the client’s budget. “R.A. 10350 follows strict code and certain standards that will protect both the IDrs and the public.” Gorecho said.

PIID is the partner of Tubod by Cebu Furniture Industries Foundation Inc. (CFIF) in its domestic market trade show in the ongoing PhilConstruct exhibit at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino.