ASEAN job agreements shun newbie architects, engineers

More than 5 years of experience would be required before an architect or engineer can work in other Southeast Asian countries

A Filipino construction team are seen on an upper level of a building site in Manila, Philippines. Photo by EPA

MANILA, Philippines Newly licensed Filipino engineers and architects need years of experience first before they could find a job in other Southeast Asian countries once the regional economic bloc integrates next year.

Thousands of engineers and architects pass the government-regulated licensure examinations every year. In October, the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) announced that 1,532 passed the electronics engineer licensure examination, while 2,502 passed the electronics technician examination. Earlier in January, 793 passed the Architect licensure examination.

But for them to be accredited to work in another Southeast Asian country under an integrated ASEAN economy, architects would need to have at least 10 years of experience, while engineers would need 7 years of minimum experience, according to Angeline Chua Chiaco, acting PRC chairperson.

They need to have a substantial involvement in projects during the years of their experience, Chiaco said during the congressional committee on ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) integration hearing on Tuesday, October 28.

PRC has already signed mutual recognition agreements (MRAs) with some of its regional counterparts to allow Filipino professionals to practice their occupations in other Southeast Asian countries once the ASEAN integration begins to take off end 2015.

ABS partylist representative Catalina Leonen-Pizarro, chairperson of the House committee on ASEAN integration, has already drafted a resolution urging President Benigno Aquino III to implement the MRAs signed by the Philippines.

For Pizarro, the MRAs serve as safety nets to protect the Philippines professional workforce from tight competition with its neighbors, as the same minimum years of experience would also apply to ASEAN professionals who would opt to practice in the Philippines.

ASEAN member-states agree to a free flow of skilled labor within ASEAN, as included in the economic blueprint, one of the 3 blueprints adopted for the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC).

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ASEAN job agreements shun newbie architects, engineers