General Principle of Professional Conduct Professionals are required not only to have an ethical commitment, a personal resolve to act ethically, but also have both ethical awareness and ethical competency. Ethical awareness refers to the ability to discern between right and wrong, while ethical competency pertains to the ability to engage in sound moral reasoning and consider carefully the implications of alternative actions. Specific Principle of Professional Conduct 1. Service to Others Professionals are committed to a life of service to others. They protect life, property, and public welfare. To serve others, they shall be prepared for heroic sacrifice and genuine selflessness in carrying out their professional duties even at the expense of personal gain. 2. Integrity and Objectivity To maintain and broaden public confidence, professionals shall perform their responsibilities with the highest sense of integrity and imbued with nationalism and spiritual values. In the performance of any professional service, they shall at all times, main objectivity, be free of conflicts of interest, and refrain from engaging in any activity that would prejudice their abilities to carry out their duties ethically. They shall avoid making any representation that would likely cause a reasonable person to misunderstand or to be deceived. 3. Professional Competence In providing professional services, a certain level of competence is necessary, i.e., knowledge, technical skills, attitudes, and experience, Professionals shall, therefore, undertake only those professional services that they can reasonably deliver with professional competence. Corollary to this, it is their express obligation to keep up with new knowledge and techniques in their field, continually improve their skills and upgrade their level of competence and take part in a lifelong continuing education program. 4. Solidarity and Teamwork Each profession shall nurture and support one organization for all its members. Though a deep spirit of solidarity, each member should put the broader interest of the profession above one's personal ambition and preference. Through teamwork within a cohesive professional organization, each member shall effectively observe ethical practices and pursue continuing professional development as well as deepen one's social and civic responsibility. 5. Social and Civic Responsibility Professionals shall always carry out their professional duties with due consideration of the broader interest of the public. They shall, therefore, serve their clients/employers and the publics with professional concem and in a manner consistent with their responsibilities to society. As responsible Filipino citizens, they shall actively contribute to the attainment of the country's national objectives.102 Chapter 5 6. Global Competitiveness Every professional shall remain open to challenges of a more dynamic interconnected world. He or she shall rise up to global standards and maintain levels of professional practices fully aligned with global ben practices, 7. Equality of All Professions All professionals shall treat their colleagues with respect and shall strive to be fair in their dealings with one another. No one group of professionals is superior or above others. All professionals perform an equaly important, yet distinct, service to society. In the eyes of the PRC, all professions are equal and, therefore every one shall treat one other professionals with respect and fairness