The history of plumbing practice in the Philippines dates back to the 17th century when the Spanish established Intramuros as a model community incorporating European plumbing standards. In the 18th-19th centuries, Filipino plumbers maintained plumbing systems in towns and buildings. The practice was formally recognized in 1902 and the first plumbing code was adopted based on the U.S. code. In 1935, the National Master Plumbers Association of the Philippines was established to regulate the industry and assist in passing laws. The Plumbing Law of 1955 established the regulatory framework for plumbing that was later updated in codes in 1959, 1967, and 1999.