The birth of the plumbing profession in the Philippines is traced back to the 17th century. The walled city known as Intramuros was established by the Spaniards as a model community. The Friar Engineers who built the government buildings, residential and other structures, incorporated European standards in their plumbing installations.

During the 18th and 19th centuries, the Filipino plumbers were trained and assigned the task of maintaining, repairing and/or remodeling plumbing systems in all pueblos or towns including churches, convents, and government buildings.

The recognized and knowledgeable plumbers then were called upon by the ilustrados or the elite group in the community to act as consultants of plumber journeymen on matters pertaining to plumbing installations in villas, mansions and houses in the community.

Plumbing took a great leap at the turn of the 20th century with the arrival of the American soldiers, engineers, Thomasite teachers, doctors, and evangelists. Health and hygiene became a priority when epidemics including cholera, leprosy, schistosomiasis and other contagious diseases engulfed the Philippines. Alarmed, Governor General Harrison issued a letter of instruction by using water from potable sources and proper waste disposal through network of pipe in the Plumbing System in all municipalities.

Sometime in 1902, the Plumbing Trade was duly recognized by the government. The City of Manila was the model municipality. Master Plumber John F. Hass became the first Chief of the Division of Plumbing Construction and Inspection.

Through the initiative of the Filipino Master Plumbers, a plumbing code based on the Plumbing Code of the United States was incorporated into the Building Code for the City of Manila, defining its role of bringing in water into the building and removing them such as wastewater through plumbing among others.

In 1935, plumbing practitioners led by persons Francisco Geronimo, Mariano de Ocampo, Igmidio Suarez, Eusebio Mina, Jose Rivera, Raymundo Reyes, Sr., Roberto Feliciano, Gregorio Lazaro, Raymundo Gumapac, John Jones, Trinitarion Ortiz, Valentin Casupanan, Catalino Casupanan, Crispin Francisco, Teodoro Pastor, Cornelio Odvina, and Jesus Tanghal Dera, organized the National Master Plumbers Association of the Philippines (NAMPAP) and had it registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Thereafter, the City of Manila created the Department of Public Services and was enacted into law. City Ordinance 2411 known as “The Plumbing Code for the City of Manila”, institutes the guidelines in consultation with NAMPAP for the licensing of Master Plumbers, regulating plumbing practices and requirements for plumbing permits in line with the installation of plumbing system, throughout Manila under the Department of Public Services.

On May 6, 1963, in relation to the question of eligibility of corporation or association to practice plumbing, another opinion through the Secretary of Justice Juan R. Liwag under Opinion No. 82 Series of 1963 clarified as to whether or not these group under artificial names which are not registered as master plumbers with theBoard may practice plumbing inthe Philippines, underthe supervision of a registered master plumbers without violating the provisions of RA 1378 which states that “the practice of plumbing involves personal skill and proficiency. Hence, only those who are registered with the Board are presumed to be technically prepared for the job and may be allowed to practice.Otherwise, public health and safety will be endangered”.

On September 18, 1957, the office the City Prosecutor of Manila, through Fiscal Edilberto Barot, likewise rendered an opinion that only the Master Plumber should prepare plumbing plans. Opinion was made on the basis that while a Sanitary Engineer is endowed with authority to do the acts contemplated in Sec. 29 of RA 1364 in connection with Sec. 2 thereof, the Master Plumber is empowered to prepare plumbing plans as specifically provided in RA 1378.

On May 6, 1963, in relation to the question of eligibility of corporation or association to practice plumbing, another opinion through the Secretary of Justice Juan R. Liwag under Opinion No. 82 Series of 1963 clarified as to whether or not these group under artificial names which are not registered as master plumbers with the Board may practice plumbing in the Philippines, under the supervision of registered master plumbers without violating the provisions of RA 1378 which states that “the practice of plumbing involves personal skill and proficiency. Hence, only those who are registered with the Board are presumed to be technically prepared for the job and may be allowed to practice. Otherwise, public health and safety will be endangered”.

In 1966-1969, the Board of Examiners for Master Plumbers and NAMPAP prepared a Curriculum for Associate Plumbing Engineering and was approved by the Department of Education. It was first introduced and offered at Feati University.

On November 28, 1967, the first amendment to the National Plumbing Code was approved. It effected the inclusion of asbestos-cement pipe as an approved plumbing material. In December of 1996, the use of hubless pipe for C.I. pipes was also approved.

In 1972, Republic Act 6541 otherwise known as the National Building Code of the Philippines was passed in the Senate but was not signed by the President due to the declaration of martial law on September of the same year. Nevertheless, it was adopted and was enacted into a law as PD 1096 of the National Building Code of the Philippines in 1977

Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of PD 1096 was formulated by the DPWH and Plumbing Code was made a referral Code under Rule IX on the subject of sanitation. However, the scope of works for Master Plumbers vested in Sec 2 of RA 1378 were corrupted, specifically in Section 3.2.2.2, thereof, allowing Sanitary Engineers to encroach and diminished the field already embraced by Master Plumbers in violation of their own law, Section 33 of RA 1364.

In 1977, NAMPAP filed Civil Case No. 97-849998 for writ of Preliminary Injunction for Sec. 3.2.2.2 of the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) for PD 1096 at the Regional Trial Court Branch 38, Manila, rendering unfavorable decision of status quo.

Due to the growing population and demand of plumbing in the expanding residential and housing community, the National Government, through the Bureau of Public Works, other city government and municipalities adopted the Plumbing Code of Manila as guide in enforcing sanitation. NAMPAP later on spearheaded the enactment of a law raising its scope into a national level to regulate the practice of master plumbing in the Philippines. This is for the defense of NAMPAP from unscrupulous individuals victimizing house owners with defective works as well as not paying revenue for the practice of plumbing.

In 1954, the Third Congress of the Republic of the Philippines in its second session, approved after the third reading House Bill No. 962 and passed into a law, Republic Act No. 1378 of the “National Plumbing Law of the Philippines”. It was signed by President Ramon Magsaysay on June 18, 1955 expanding the scope which applies to all cities and municipalities in the Philippines.

NAMPAP was tasked to formulate the Implementing Rules and Regulation of the National Plumbing Code of the Philippines. It was promulgated and approved on June 18, 1959, which later on became instrumental in the passing of a law creating the National Waterworks and Sewerage System integrating the Metropolitan Water District of Manila.

After the plumbing law was passed and approved, there was nonetheless clarification on a seemingly conflict between the provisions of Ordinance No. 2411 of the City of Manila and those of Republic Act 1378 which holds the examination and issuance of license to Master Plumbers.

In Section 22 of RA 1378, the legislative intention was to enhance a uniform Plumbing Law, harmonizing existing plumbing ordinances of the City of Manila and other chartered cities in the Philippines. It circumscribe the practice of the trade of master plumber to a person who has obtained a certificate of registration in the manner and under the condition set under Ordinance 2411 as provided.

“All Master Plumber, duly registered under the provision of city ordinance in force one year prior to effectivity of their act and all persons with at least five years of continuous practice as plumbers and certified to as capable to practice the trade by the Board of Examiners within one year after the effectivity of this act shall automatically be registered under the provisions hereof. Certificates of Registration held by such persons in good standing shall have the same force and effect as through the same had been issued under the provision of this Act” (O.P. No. 290 Series of 1958 by the Secretary of Justice). Based on the foregoing, the enactment of Republic Act 1378 has the effect of repealing or superceding all conflicting or inconsistent provisions of Ordinance No. 2411 as amended for the City of Manila and similar ordinances of other chartered cities. 

On September 18, 1957, the office the City Prosecutor of Manila, through Fiscal Edilberto Barot, likewise rendered an opinion that only the Master Plumber should prepare plumbing plans. Opinion was made on the basis that while a Sanitary Engineer is endowed with authority to do the acts contemplated in Sec. 29 of RA 1364 in connection with Sec. 2 thereof, the Master Plumber is empowered to prepare plumbing plans as specifically provided in RA 1378.

In 1996, NAMPAP Inc. started the update of the National Plumbing Code of the Philippines pursuant to Section 4 of R.A. 1378 in order that the Plumbing Law will be attuned with time and copes up with new technologies. Then on October 1999, the association, with President Jaime M. Cabase, Engr. Ernesto J. Battad, Sr. as Chairman, and Arch. Tony Y. Balde II as Adviser, submitted the draft of the Revised National Plumbing Code to the Chairman of the Board of Master Plumbing. It was endorsed to the Commissioner of the Philippine Regulation Commission for review and approval. Then it was sent to Malacañang and signed into a law by His Excellency, Pres. Joseph Ejercito Estrada on December 21, 1999. The whole text of said Revised National Plumbing Code was published in major daily newspapers and also in the Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines, hence, it attains it force and effect as a law.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Society of Sanitary Engineers (PSSE) filed an application and petition for the issuance of a Temporary Restraining Order for the implementation of Sec. 101, 102, 102.2 Chapter 14, of the Code but was denied for lack and devoid of merit by the presiding Judge, Hon. Prescilla Baltazar-Salazar of Branch 38 of the city of Manila, upholding validity of the Revised National Plumbing Code of the Philippines.

On January 23, 2002, the Supreme Court in its latest ruling on the case GR No. 141465 – Filipino Pipe and Foundry Corporation versus Total 2000 Corporation declared that the Revised National Plumbing Code of the Philippines, after it was published in the Official Gazette, was effectively in force and effect. The ruling in effect, rendered the petition moot and academic and reaffirmed the rights of Master Plumbers to practice plumbing exclusively and without limitation as mandated by RA 1378 (Plumbing Law), on the same ruling the Supreme Court affirmed the decision of the Court of Appeals dated April 30, 1999, which allows the sales, distribution, and use in the Philippines of hubless pipes subject to the qualification imposed in the Board Resolution of Master Plumbers.

In order to continuously upgrade the technical expertise of Master Plumbers, sustain the growth of the plumbing industry, and access to the new information on plumbing technology, NAMPAP had programmed the holding of regular seminar/session and National Convention, as well as Regional Conferences such as in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. It enables the discussion of the new development in plumbing by giving the manufacturers, dealers and suppliers of plumbing tools, equipment, materials and services the opportunity to conduct product presentation for the benefit of the plumbing practitioners.

The milestone continues and this time focuses its goal in upgrading the profession of Master Plumbers into Plumbing Engineers. NAMPAP crafted the bill and lobby heavily for the approval of the same Plumbing Engineering Law sponsored by Senator Ramon B. Magsaysay in the Senate, and Congressman Francis Joseph Escudero in the House of Representatives.

NAMPAP is also an active coordinator of the Department of Trade and Industry as for construction materials is concerned. It also serves as a consultant to the Revised National Building Code Development office of the Department of Public Works and Highways, and partner of Technical Skills and Development Authority (TESDA) among others, in insuring professional excellence and advancement of the plumbing profession.