Hiring unlicensed engineers illegal

The Philippine Society of Mechanical Engineers (PSME) warns companies and other institutions to refrain from hiring unlicensed engineers to protect the profession.

PSME through the Board of Mechanical Engineers (BME) will kick off next year its monitoring against scrupulous engineers and is targeting to arrest two to three unlicensed engineers in the Visayas and two or three more in Mindanao who are found violating Republic Act 8495.

"We will be arresting those practicing mechanical engineering without proper license. Those companies and schools not implementing the Philippine Mechanical Engineering Act will also be foreclosed," said PSME National Vice President for Technical Affairs Antonio Tompar.

This move is also aimed at sustaining the demand of mechanical engineers in the country

as the new breed of students seems to have shifted preferences to nursing and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) courses.

RA 8495 mandates that all establishments must only employ competent engineers to handle the mechanical equipment of manufacturing companies and other firms.

"With the support of the new Board, we can fully implement the law because ensuring the safety of our buildings, power plants, etc. is for the good of everyone," Tompar said during a testimonial dinner for the new BME members – Engr. Vicente Vosotros and Engr. Leandro Conti.

At present, Tompar said PSME-Cebu has not found any company or establishment violating the law but warned that the group will now be more vigilant.

"Handling mechanical equipment can be dangerous and hazardous. It can kill. If you don't hire competent mechanical engineers to run it, people will die," warned Vosotros, who is the immediate past president of PSME.

Under the law, violators are subject to a P200,000 fine and/or six months of imprisonment, said Tompar.

He said the group would actively partner with the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), and the Department of Health (DOH) to ensure the competency of Philippine mechanical engineers

The law also states that companies that maintain any mechanical devices, like elevator, escalator, airconditioning system, among others should employ licensed and professional mechanical engineers to avoid mechanical glitches.

Article IV, Section 35 of RA 8495, otherwise known as the Philippine Mechanical Engineering Act of 1998, states that: "It is unlawful for any person to order or otherwise cause the fabrication, construction, erection, installation or alteration of any mechanical equipment, machinery or process for any mechanical works, projects, or plants, unless the designs, plans, layouts or specifications have been prepared by or under the responsible charge of, and duly signed and sealed by a professional mechanical engineer."