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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider House gives final nod to bill strengthening mechanical engineers' sector 

House gives final nod to bill strengthening mechanical engineers' sector 

Published Dec 5, 2023 01:22 am

At A Glance

  • The House of Representatives has recently approved on third and final reading a measure that will amend certain provisions of the Philippine Mechanical Engineers Act of 1998, and thus strengthen the sector of mechanical engineers. 

House plenary.jpgThe House plenary (Ellson Quismorio/ MANILA BULLETIN)

The House of Representatives has recently approved on third and final reading a measure that will amend certain provisions of the Philippine Mechanical Engineers Act of 1998, and thus strengthen the sector of mechanical engineers.

Garnering 246 "yes" votes from House members was House Bill (HB) No.9134, or the prosposed Act Strengthening the Mechanical Engineering Profession.

“We need this law as we continue to build our massive infrastructure projects that will immensely benefit our countrymen. We need our engineers to build and take care of our bridges, roads, tunnels and skyways,” Speaker Martin Romualdez said in a statement after the bill's final passage on the plenary floor.

The measure, which seeks to amend Republic Act (RA) No. 8495, makes it unlawful for companies to allow individuals who are not licensed professional mechanical engineers to work in projects in varying degrees or stages of the development, particularly with kilowatt capacities in plants.

The person in-charge should only be a “duly licensed ME (mechanical engineer) or a duly licensed professional ME".

“A supervising licensed professional ME in-charge of mechanical work project or plant in operation shall be allowed to supervise multiple establishments under the non-critical classification, provided that licensed MEs in charge of the same project or operation are required for each and every shift,” the bill stated.

A board shall be tasked to “provide the guidelines for the qualification and engagement of the in-charge supervising professional MEs and define the critical and non-critical classifications of the establishment".

“Further, the board shall, in consultation with the industry stakeholders, review and amend the categories and classification every three years when necessary,” HB No.9134 read.

The measure’s authors are the congressmen-engineers in the chamber, among them Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio “Dong” Gonzales Jr. of Pampanga, and Reps. Salvador Pleyto Sr. of Bulacan and Romeo Momo Sr. of Surigao del Sur.

Listed as co-authors were House Majority Leader Manuel Jose “Mannix” Dalipe of Zamboanga City, Rep. Migs Nograles of PBA Party-list, Rep. Ron Salo of Kabayan Party-list, Rep. Luis Campos of Makati City, and Rep. Gabriel Bordado of Camarines Sur.

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mechanical engineers Martin Romualdez Third and Final Reading
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