Sunday, February 24, 2019

PRC 2018 Year-End Performance Assessment & 2019 Commission Planning Conference

The Philippine Regulation Commission (PRC) held its Annual Year-End Performance and Planning Conference at the Diamond Hotel on February 18-20, 2019. The theme of the event was "Resilience in the Face of Challenges."
At the Diamond Hotel...
The event presented a series of reports and speakers led by PRC Chairman, Hon. Teofilo Pilando Jr., who delivered his message and reported on the direction the Commission is set to pursue.
PRC chair Hon. Teofilo Pilando Jr., setting direction for PRC...
The program started with the Invocation led by Atty. Arnel Ramon, chief of Legal Division. Director Elenita Tan of PRC-Legazpi acknowledged the presence of various participants. Hon. Jose Cueto Jr., PRC oversight Commissioner for Health and Business Cluster, delivered the welcome remarks and presented the guidelines and ground rules for the presentors and participants. Hon. Yolanda Reyes, oversight Commissioner for Engineering & Technology Cluster, also delivered her message, followed by Hon. Teofilo Pilando Jr. who gave figures on last year's performance: 
Hon. Jose Cueto Jr., welcoming the participants & setting ground rules...with Hon. Nenette Dagondon, emcee during the first day...
Professionals who registered - 205,055
Professionals who renewed their IDs - 437,178
CPD providers accredited - 579
CPD programs accredited - 17,116
Hon. Yolanda Reyes, delivering her message...
There are now 378 Filipino ASEAN chartered engineers, 119 ASEAN chartered architects, 5 ASEAN accountants, 87 APEC engineers and 63 APEC architects. (APEC: Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation)

With Hon. Den Malia and Hon. Concordio Zuniga...
Plaques and appreciation were awarded to several former Professional Regulatory Board (PRB) chairmen and members: Hon. Gerard Sanvictores of Accountancy, Hon. Eduardo Ong of Real Estate Service and other former PRB members. Posthumous awards were conferred to Hon. Angeline Chua Chiaco, former Commissioner and former member of PRB of Architecture. Also awarded was Hon. Rolando Pena, former chairman of PRB of Geology. Oathtaking of new PRB chairperson and member was conducted: Hon. Dr. Eleanor Almoro, chairperson of PRB of Medicine and Hon. Dr. Rodolfo Drapete, member of PRB of Dentistry.

Hon. Ed Ong receiving the award...
The first presentor was Hon. Cyd Aguilera, member of PRB of Chemical Engineering, who talked about the highest priority issues and concerns across the four clusters that make up all the professions regulated by the PRC: Business, Health, Engineering & Technology. After the presentation, an open forum followed. Top six (6) priority issues were: Licensure examinations, CPD program, professional regulatory laws, inspection & monitoring of establishments, Philippine qualifications framework (PQF) and Mutual recognition agreement (MRA).
Hon. Cyd Aguilera presented priority issues & concerns of all the professions...
Dr. Lucila Tibigar, senior test consultant, presented about Licensure examinations: table of specifications, peer review, item analysis and quality of test questions. Next to present was Atty. Arnel Ramon, chief of Legal Division-NCR, who presented on administrative cases.
The Engineering Boards...
The conduct of inspection and monitoring was presented by Atty. Ma. Liza Hernandez, OIC-Director of Regulation Office, followed by Atty. Lovelika Bautista, chief of the PRB Secretariat Division, who tackled the issues on oathtaking ceremonies.
Members & chair of various Boards..Electronics Eng., Architecture, Sanitary Eng., Agricultural Eng., Geodetic Eng...
Hon. Jose Cueto, oversight Commissioner for Health & Business, presented on the assessment of performance of PRB members based on their expanded roles & distribution of assignments and Hon. Gervacio Piator of the PRB of Accountancy talked about taxation on professionals.
Atty. Arnel Ramon on administrative cases...
The second day of the event saw several presentors, the first of whom was Mr. Lord Louis Valera, OIC-Director of International Affairs Office, who talked about problems of mobility of professionals regarding Mutual recognition agreement (MRA). Hon. Bernadette Reyes, member of PRB of Physical & Occupational Therapy and chair of the CPD Program Management Committee, talked about the latest development on the CPD, such as the result of Senate hearing agreement and directives and PRC's initiatives.
Atty. Ma. Liza Hernandez on the conduct of inspection & monitoring of establishments...
Issues and concerns  on data privacy were presented by Atty. Hector Silva, OIC of Hearing & Investigation Division, while Atty. Arjay Rosales, OIC-Director of Administrative Service dealt on anti-red tape act (ARTA) issues.
Atty. Lovelika Bautista on issues about oath-taking ceremonies...
Ms. Rebecca Garcia, OIC-Director of Licensure Office, talked about licensure examination issues and concerns: conduct of exams, delays, & late distribution of test questions and materials. Ms. Gina Consignado, OIC-Director of Information & Communication Technology Service (ICTS), talked about ICT issues and concerns & cash payment channels. Ms. Marie Jane Edquid, OIC of Professional Registry Division, presented on bunch or batch filing, its history & evolution and issues & concerns of the present system. Atty. Aristogerson Gesmundo, Assistant Commissioner, talked about issues and concerns on bids & awards.
With the Boards of Agricultural Eng. & Chemical Eng...
The third day of the event tackled the issues and concerns of the central and regional offices of PRC.
Mr. Norman de Guzman, emcee on the 2nd day...
Hon. Bernadette Reyes on development of CPD...
Hon. Nenette Dagondon was the emcee and moderator for day 1, Mr. Norman de Guzman for day 2 and Ms. Ma. Elenette Lapinig and Mr. Reynaldo Cristobal were emcee and moderator, respectively for day 3.
The Engineering Boards...

The view from the 27th Floor, Diamond Hotel...Roxas Boulevard & Manila Bay...

Monday, February 4, 2019

SAEP participated in the 1st Philippine Space Industry Forum


[Note: SAEP through Dr. Jay Jack Manzano, together with SAEP Officers, Engrs. Jabel Abella & Egz Aguilar, participated in the 1st Philippine Space Industry Forum on January 29, 2019. Below is the report from Engr. Egz Aguilar.]

The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) hosted the 1st Philippine Space Industry Forum held at Shangrila at the Fort, Bonifacio Global City, Manila on 29 January 2019.

With the theme, “Beyond Boundaries: Exploring Business Opportunities in Space-related Collaborations,” representatives from the government organizations, academic institutions, and private companies gathered to raise awareness and discuss their different space-related initiatives in the country.


Executive Director Dr. Enrio Paringit of the Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development (DOST-PCIEERD) expressed that “we are ready to go full blast in the space industry. The government has been laying the foundations needed to put up a strong science program and the creation of PhilSA (Philippine Space Agency) will be the culmination of this preparation. It is high time now for our partners in the industry to join us in this journey to conquer space.”

He stressed that the council hopes that through the forum, business groups will be enticed to leverage our potential business opportunities in space-related activities and encourage government, industry, and academe collaborations towards this end.
Dr. Jay Jack Manzano of SAEP, one of the panelists
The Society of Aerospace Engineers of the Philippines (SAEP) participated in the event with Dr. Jay Jack Manzano acted as a panelist from the academe side. He stressed the need to develop a suitable curriculum to better prepare students to join the space industry. Government support is also needed in offering scholarships to more students.


Dr. Jay Jack Manzano, Engrs. Jabel Abella & Egz Aguilar during the Forum
Further, DOST has presented its Science For Change Program (S4CP) to entice businesses to join the space industry.


Many thanks to Engr. Egz Aguilar.