To expedite the implementation of infrastructure projects and to delineate the responsibility of Design Consultants in the event of failure of facilities and/or significant changes during construction due to faulty design, final plans prepared by Consultants will no longer be subjected to detailed review by the Bureau of Design and approval by the Secretary or Undersecretary concerned.

Henceforth, the following guidelines shall be observed in the preparation and review of design plans by Consultants:

1. The design criteria and specifications shall be in accordance with the DPWH Design Guidelines, Criteria and Standards. The Consultants shall seek approval of the Bureau of Design (BOD) for any deviation/modification thereof.

2. Preliminary plans, design reports and cost estimates shall be submitted to the BOD, thru the DPWH Implementing Office, for review of the design concepts of the proposed structures/facilities. Final plans shall be prepared by the Consultants after considering the comments of BOD. The plans shall incorporate the BOD comments.

3. The final plans should indicate on each sheet the full name, signature, field of expertise and, if required, the PRC registration number and seal of the corresponding designer of the Consultant. The Project Manager of the Consultant shall sign/approve the plans before submitting the plans and other requirements of the consultancy contract to the DPWH implementing office.

4. A note shall be indicated on the cover sheet of the plans stating that the Design Consultant shall be held fully responsible for failure of the facility due to faulty design except for the changes made without the conformity of the Consultant. The Project Manager of the Consultant shall sign below this note.

5. The Head of the Implementing Office, after consultation with the BOD to assure that all design requirements have been complied with, shall officially return the plans to the Consultant for reproduction with the information that the plans are accepted for implementation. Such action of the Implementing Office and the BOD should not diminish the full responsibility of the Design Consultant mentioned in paragraph 4. A microfilm copy of the complete set of signed plans shall be furnished by the Consultant to the BOD.

6. The DPWH Implementing Office shall verify compliance of the Consultant with the required outputs as specified in the consultancy contract before issuing a certificate of completion of consulting services to the Consultant.

7. Revised design plans prepared and signed by the Construction Supervision Consultant (CSC) incorporating major changes (i.e. significant changes in alignment, change in type or main components of structures, introduction of new work items) in original design during the project implementation shall be subject to approval/concurrence by the original Design Consultant prior to submission to the BOD for conceptual review.

8. The Consultant shall be liable for any additional costs that may be incurred by the Government due to major changes as defined in paragraph 7 due to faulty or defective design or any aspect of the detailed engineering. If the change/s is/are due to the Consultant ™s negligence, fraud or delay, the Consultant shall likewise be made liable for damages. These provisions shall be invariably incorporated in the draft consultancy agreement.

Implementing Offices shall evaluate during the project implementation the appropriateness of design plans prepared by Design Consultants to the actual field conditions and a monthly report thereof shall be submitted to the Chairman of the Prequalification, Evaluation and Awards Committee (PEAC) for Consultancy of the Central Office and the Director of BOD until the completion of the project.

This order shall amend/modify other previous issuances inconsistent herewith and shall take effect immediately.

Adopted: 06 Feb. 2002