Civil engineers struggle to take back functions

Fighting to keep its profession on top, the Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers (PICE) is urging all civil engineers to go into specialized skills especially that they are facing challenges against the architects.

PICE is currently on the battle in its bid to nullify the R.A. 9266 which allows architects to sign structural or building plans, that was previously the civil engineers' function. The case is ongoing under the Regional Trial Court in Manila.

PICE national business manager Willy T. Go said the association has identified four specialized skills that can be pursued by civil engineers in order to stay competitive.

Civil engineers could go into-structural engineering, technical engineering, water engineering, transportation, construction, and management engineering.

This move is one of the important highlights that will be tackled in the upcoming 2005 National Midyear Convention of Civil Engineers to be held at Grand Convention Center in Cebu which will carry the theme "Civil Engineers in Unity; Preserving the Integrity of the Civil Engineering Profession."

There are about 110,00 registered civil engineers all over the country. Their profession is currently under threat by the change of law governing the architects, wherein some of the functions of the civil engineers are now taken off by the architects.

Architects which used to be an allied profession of the civil engineers, has now become its competitor, as architects are bound to take some of the important functions of the civil engineers.

Aside from fighting over to win back some its functions- Go said PICE is also working on to keep the profession at its maximum, by going into specialized skills.

"The trend now is going towards specialization services, we have to grab this opportunity," Go said in a press conference to formally announce the holding of three-day national convention in Cebu.

PICE is offering training courses, for specialized services, and will also accredit civil engineers with specialized skills.

"We do some continuing educational developments, to keep the integrity of our profession," Go added.

Close to 2,000 civil engineers from all over the country will come to Cebu to attend the three-day event. In fact, 600 hotel rooms here have been booked already, said Peter L. Dy, president of PICE-Cebu chapter.

According to Dy because of the introduction of the R.A. 9266, civil engineers are bound to be overpowered by architects, and they feel that there is already a monopoly of functions in favor of the architects.

Aside from the technical topics that will be taken up during the three-day convention, engineers can also get updates on the civil engineering profession in the Philippines, and its role in sustaining investments in rural infrastructure in the country.