CEBU, Philippines – A group of architects is pushing for Mandaue City to create an Office of the Architect that will help the city in various ways, especially in terms of long-term development.
"Our campaign is to protect our profession and to help Mandaue City create the Office of Architecture…We believe this office can help in the development of the city," said Jensen Racho, district director of United Architects of the Philippines (UAP) Regional District C1.
Racho said the office can help in creating developmental projects for the next five or 10 years. It can also be tapped to help the city preserve its heritage structures for the next generation to enjoy, he said.
He said Tacloban City already has an Office of the Architect before super typhoon Yolanda struck, and it was reportedly able to help in the rebuilding efforts there.
He said the architects can also help in solving the traffic problems of the city through planning and urban development conceptualization.
Apart from this, Racho also said the office can help when Mandaue implements its proposed Green Building Code, which promotes environment-friendly buildings in the city. This is apart from doing major tasks which are presently done by the Office of the Engineer.
"Ang Office of the Engineering, multi-tasking na sila, and in most cases ma-taken for granted nalang ang architectural aspect sa kadaghan sa ilang trabaho," said Racho.
Also, Racho said his group sees the presence of foreign architects as a threat to their profession, especially that some government agencies and companies would prefer foreigners to Filipinos.
"We need protection from LGUs by establishing the Office of the Architect," he said.
He added that this move can also help LGUs in facing the ASEAN Integration which starts this month.
Racho said they have already sent a letter to Mayor Jonas Cortes through Association of Barangay Councils president Ernie Manatad, and he hopes to get a positive feedback from him.
The creation of the said office is enshrined in Republic Act 9266 or the Architecture Act of 2004.
Racho's group is celebrating the National Architecture Week starting today until December 12 with various activities like a feeding program to 50 less fortunate children in Barangay Subangdaku, unveiling of its billboard at the Mandaue City Hall, among others. (FREEMAN)