Archival bats for hiring of mechanical engineers

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu City Councilor Nestor Archival Sr. is lobbying for the passage of an ordinance mandating business establishments to hire mechanical engineers.

“This is in cognizance of the role of mechanical engineers in the maintenance and conduct of technical safety of buildings and establishments,” he said.

Republic Act No. 8495, otherwise known as the Philippines Mechanical Engineering Act of 1998, declares it a policy of the state to recognize the importance of mechanical engineers in nation building and shall develop and nurture competent, virtuous, productive and well-rounded mechanical engineers whose standard of professional practice and service shall be excellent, qualitative, world class, and globally competitive through regulatory measures.

In order to promote and strengthen the licensing regulation of professional practice of mechanical engineering in the country, the councilor said, there is a need to regulate professionals responsible in the preparation of plans, designs, investigation, valuation, technical reports, specifications, project studies, mechanical plans and in the design and preparation of plans, specifications, and project or estimates or other related mechanical engineering activities.

The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), in support of the implementation of RA 8495, issued Memorandum Circular No. 2007-46, which sets guidelines in implementing certain provisions of RA 4895.

The memorandum stated that local government units shall ensure that professional mechanical engineers or mechanical engineers shall supervise the management and operation of all mechanized equipment and machineries in their respective areas of jurisdiction.

It added that all the Sanggunians are encouraged to enact an ordinance prescribing certain fees as professional tax or incorporating a provision of the RA 4895 in securing clearances as one of the requirements in the issuance of business and building permit for private companies or establishments.

Archival said mechanical engineers play a vital role in the management and maintenance of buildings and establishments, in the conduct of technical safety of factories, machineries, and in all mechanical works, projects or plants most particularly in preventive maintenance in anticipation of disaster or calamities.

“Thus, there is a need to strengthen the standard of professional practice of mechanical engineering in the City of Cebu,” he said.

The Philippine Society of Mechanical Engineers (PSME)- Cebu Hotel and Building Engineers (CHBE) Chapter support the measure for this would raise the standards of the profession, moreso that Cebu City is one of the premier cities in the country.

Once the proposed ordinance is approved, all business establishments with a total mechanical rating of 100 KW or more are required to have the following complement of resident licensed professional mechanical engineer, mechanical engineer, or certified plant mechanical engineer or certified plant mechanic to supervise the establishment.

At present, the proposed ordinance was referred to the City Council’s Committee on Laws, Ordinances, and Styling for review.  KQD (FREEMAN)