Section 7Sec./Art. 7

Powers and Duties of the Board. The Board shall have the following powers and duties:

(a) To supervise and regulate the practice of geology profession;

(b) To determine and evaluate the qualifications of the applicants for registration;

(c) To prescribe the subjects in the licensure examinations, determine the syllabi of the subjects and their relative weights, construct the test questions in the examinations, score and rate the examination papers, and submit the examination results to the Commission;

(d) To issue, together with the Commission, certificates of registration and professional identification cards to applicants who have passed the licensure examinations for professional geologists;

(e) To issue temporary/special permits to foreign geologists to practice the profession;

(f) To inquire into conditions affecting the practice of the profession and adopt measures for the enhancement and maintenance of high professional, ethical and technical standards. Pursuant thereto, the Board may inspect establishments where geologists practice their profession such as mines, plants, offices and the like in order to determine and enforce compliance with the provisions of this Act and issue Certificates of Compliance for the purpose;

(g) In coordination with the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), inspect the facilities, faculty, equipment and other aspects directly related to the geology program of educational institutions;

(h) To adopt the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) necessary for carrying out the provisions of this Act;

(i) To adopt a Code of Ethics and a Code of Professional and Technical Standards for the practice of geology profession;

(j) To investigate, in accordance with the rules on administrative investigation promulgated by the Commission, violations of this Act and its IRR, the Code of Ethics and the Code of Professional and Technical Standards for Geologists, administrative policies, orders and issuances promulgated by the Board;

(k) To issue subpoena duces tecum to secure the attendance of witness or the production of documents in connection with administrative cases before the Board;

(l) To hear and decide administrative cases filed against geologists and firms employing the same. The hearing shall be presided by the chairman or a member of the Board with the assistance of an attorney of the Commission. The decision of the Board may be appealed to the Commission and to the court within fifteen (15) days from notice, otherwise the decision shall become final and executory;

(m) To administer oaths in connection with the performance of its functions;

(n) To adopt an official seal and prescribe the seal of the geology profession;

(o) To submit an annual report on the proceedings and accomplishments dining the year and/or recommendations of the Board to the Commission thirty (30) days after the close of each calendar year;

(p) To prosecute or institute criminal action against any violator of this Act and/or rules and regulations of the Board;

(q) To prescribe guidelines and criteria on the CPE program for geology in consultation with the integrated and APO of geologists; and

(r) To perform regulatory, administrative and quasi-legislative functions as mandated under Republic Act No. 8981, otherwise known as the PRC Modernization Act, and such other functions as may be necessary in order to implement the provisions of this Act.