Section 24Sec./Art. 24

Exemption from Examination and Registration. The following persons shall be exempt from the examination and registration requirements under this Act: Provided, That they must have first secured the appropriate temporary/spedal permits from the Board:

a. Foreign professional naval architects who are temporarily employed by the Philippine government or private firms to work in the Philippines under any of the following applicable cases:

1. Where no qualified equivalent Filipino professional naval architect is available for the specific work to be rendered, as attested to by the APO;

2. Where the conditions of the scope and funding for the work or project are such that it stipulates the temporary employment of a foreign professional naval architect;

3. As defined in the General Agreement on Trade and Services, the Association of Southeast Asian Nation (ASEAN) and Asia Pacific Economic Community (APEC) Engineer Registry programs and other similar international treaties, agreements and/or covenants which the Philippine government has ratified: Provided, however, That:

i. The foreign professional is legally qualified to practice his/her profession in his/her own country, wherein the required standards for examination and registration are not lower than those specified under this Act;

ii. The work to be performed by said foreign professional shall be limited only to the particular work or project for which he/she was specifically contracted;

iii. Prior to commencing the work, the foreign professional shall have already secured the temporary/special permit from the Board, with the approval of the Commission: Provided, That the temporary/special permit shall precede the issuance of any working visa and/or permit by the Department of Labor and Employment in favor of said foreign professional;

iv. The foreign professional shall not engage in private practice on his/her own account;

v. For every foreign professional contracted for the work or project, at least one (1) corresponding Filipino professional who is registered under this Act shall be employed as counterpart by the Philippine government or the private firm utilizing the services of such foreign professional for at least the same duration of time as the foreigners tenure of work; and

vi. The temporary/special permit herein granted and issued by the Board shall be valid only for a period of not more than six (6) months and renewable every six (6) months thereafter subject to the discretion^ the Board and the approval of the Commission: Provided, That said permit shall cease to be valid if the foreign professional terminates his/her employment in the work or project for which said permit was originally granted and thereafter engages in an occupation that requires another temporary/special permit under this Act.

b. Those who make plans or specifications for any boat, dugout or other floating vessels made of wood, fiber-reinforced plastic, steel and other materials, for pleasure or business purposes; and those who construct for themselves, either personally or otherwise, any such floating vessel without utilizing the services of a registered naval architect for as long as these vessels or constructed materials do not exceed five (5) gross tons.

c. Draftsmen, apprentices and subordinates of or other persons undergoing training under the supervision of those lawfully engaged in the practice of naval architecture, who perform any of the acts constituting such practice under the instruction, control and supervision of their engagement, strictly pursuant to and for the purpose of such training.