proof to the Director of Lands that they have practiced surveying in the Philippine Islands prior to June first, nineteen hundred and nine, shall be exempt from the examination hereinabove required, ex cepting those who, having taken the said examination, failed to obtain a rating of fifty per centum therein. "Surveyors holding an academic diploma", as herein used, shall include all those who, with similar diplomas under the Spanish Government, were cons idered as surveyors or as entitled to practice the said profession in the Philippine Islands. [2259-28.] S ECTION  997 . Certification of Private Surveyor.  — A private surveyor possessing the prescribed qualifications shall, upon application to the Director of Lands, be given a certificate authorizing him to make surveys as contemplated in this article; and with out such certificate no private surveyor shall make any survey for land registration purposes. [2259-28.] S ECTION  998 . Cancellation of Certificate . — When the Director of Lands shall find that any certificated private surveyor is incompetent or that any plan or survey made by him is defective, incorrect or substantially erroneous, owing to incompetency, inexpe rience, bad faith, or inexcusable negligence, the said Director may cancel the certificate of such surveyor; but the latter may, within five days after receiving notice of such action, take an appeal to a committee composed of the Governor-General, the jud ge of the fourth branch of the Court of First Instance for the Ninth Judicial District and a duly authorized surveyor appointed by the Governor-General. Pending appeal the right of the surveyor shall be suspended, and the action of said committee shall be f inal. [2259-28.] SECTION  999 . Certification of Students to be Trained as Surveyors .— At the beginning of each school year, the Director of Education shall certify to the Director of Lands the names of such number of students as may be provided for in the annual appropriati on Acts and as may be best qualified to receive and profit by a course of instruction and education in surveying, for a term of five years, under the direction of the Bureau of Lands. ADEacC To be eligible for certification, a student must be of sound physical condition, of good moral character, and not less than seventeen years of age. He ARTICLE  V Apprentice and Junior Surveyors 300 Copyright 2012 CD Technologies Asia, Inc. and Accesslaw, Inc. Philippine Law Encyclopedia 2011