23 February 2014

To: PICE-Singapore BOD Through: Engr. Harriet Follosco

PICE-Singapore President Subject: An Appeal to PICE National for Relaxation of Requirement; for Endorsement to

APEC/ASEAN Engineer and ASEAN Chartered Professional Engineer (ACPE) Registration Applications by PICE Members

Dear Madam,

I would like to call on PICE-Singapore BOD to impart some support on this appeal to PICE National, for a relaxation of the requirement; from Accredited Specialist to PICE Life Member, for those who are keen in applying for APEC/ASEAN Engineer and ASEAN Chartered Professional Engineer (ACPE) registration.

I present the below facts as justification in support of this appeal:

1. The Numbers

Current PICE Accredited Specialists (2014): Registered Filipino APEC/ASEAN Engineer / ACPE: Structural Engineering 168 APEC/ASEAN Engineer Geotechnical Engineering 29 (Civil Engineer) 15 Transportation Engineering 34 Water Engineering 88 ACPE 0 Project & Construction Management 456 Environmental Engineering 38 ____________________________________ ____________________________________ Total 813 Total 15 Based on the PRC license numbers of the above Specialists (by obvious judgment) majority of them are in the age bracket of 50 and above years. Each of these people, at their age and professional standing, may already have or is running a very established Civil Engineering company in the Philippines. The idea of them applying to become Chartered Engineers to join other companies/projects or get employed overseas may not be their priorities. These professionals are now enjoying the benefits of being in the list of high ranking Civil Engineers with big names in the Philippines. The possibility of them working overseas is very slim. Note that in the above number of registered Filipino APEC/ASEAN (Civil) Engineers most if not all 15 of them are Presidents and CEOs or are Owners of their Companies.

2. Who really needs a Chartered Engineer status?

Again based on the license numbers, perhaps only about 10% of the above number of Specialists is under the age brackets of 35 to 50 years old which tallies around 81. A good assumption of the most likely enthusiastic ones that are keen on becoming Chartered Professional Engineers and take career opportunities and challenges abroad is about 50%, which totals to about 40 professionals. At this age of an Engineer (35 years old) he/she would have earned significant professional and career experience, of at least 10 years, more than enough to be qualified as Chartered Professional Engineer and just about the right age to become PICE Life Members. A huge number of this group of professionals is already working overseas who needs advancement in professional standing to become more globally competitive and be at paced with professionals of other nationalities.

3. The impediments

Difficulties arise when these qualified professionals (and probably PICE Life Members already) wanting to apply for Chartered Professional Engineer status but are held back by the requirement from PICE National that he/she should first become an Accredited Specialist before they could endorse him/her for further assessment by the APEC & ASEAN National Monitoring Committees (PRC, CHED & PTC). Even if a member is fully qualified to become a Specialist the processing of application by PICE National takes at least 12 months prior to conferment. Then another 12 months must be allowed for the APEC/ASEAN National Monitoring Committees to carry out their own assessment. A program of 2-1/2 to 3 years is the most probable period of time to be expected in the fulfilment of this entire undertaking, which seemed to be too long for the qualified professional who badly needed the Chartered Engineer status. Three (3) years of waiting in a professionals life and career is very vital as it could often times lead to the deferment of promotions or advancement to higher ranks and probably even the loss of job due to lack of competency and professional status in the international scene.

4. What was actually required by the Monitoring Committees?

Both the National Monitoring Committees, AERP for APEC/ASEAN Engineer and AMCESP for ACPE only require a Certificate of Member in Good Standing from APO (Accredited Professional Organization), which in this case the Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers. The National Monitoring Committees did not specifically require that the applicant must be certified by APO as an Accredited Specialist. As per Article VIII Section 8 of the PICE By-laws:

SECTION 8 - MEMBERS IN GOOD STANDING - Every member who is up-to-date in the payment of all fees, dues and all authorized special assessments as provided in these By-laws, as well as those that may be payable solely to his Chapter shall be considered "Member in Good Standing", provided that such member is not under suspension from the practice of Civil Engineering by the PRC or from membership privileges in the Institute under Sections 11 and 12 of Article II of these By-laws. Therefore a bona fide member of PICE in good standing can either be a Regular Member, a Life Member or a Fellow; he/she does not have to be an Accredited Specialist

I appeal to PICE National to have a review of their current requirement and consider the benefits and possibilities of having a significant number of very competent and proud Filipino Chartered Professional Civil Engineers around the world. Thank you very much indeed.

Yours very truly,

Eddie Naldoza, BSc C.Eng M.ASCE MIEI MIET MIESingapore Accredited Structural Engineering Specialist, StE No. 168 PICE Life Member No. 4999