Filipino group vows to fulfil its mission despite pandemic

THE leadership of the Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers (PICE) Qatar Chapter has reiterated its commitment to the society, construction and engineering industry, and its members despite the COVID-19 pandemic.

Recently, the professional group organised the first-ever PICE International Chapters collaboration webinars with about 250 attendees from the Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Singapore, Bahrain, the UAE, Brunei, Kuwait, the US, South Korea and Qatar.

The event was one of the virtual several events organised by PICE Qatar during the pandemic aimed at carrying out its objectives and mission while keeping up with the evolving and challenging times.

One cannot deny the massive blow of the COVID-19 pandemic to humanity. Its socio-economic devastation is felt globally, from giant international corporations and enormous world economies to the smallest unit of society. Individuals and even communities are scuf ing to survive and adapt to the unprecedented new normal. The pandemic opened a window for us to pour in our contributions to keep up with the constantly evolving and volatile atmosphere of sustainable construction and engineering globally. We have utilised the current situation to collaborate and work as one with other international chapters by hosting the first ever two-day virtual collaboration webinar with the PICE International Chapters, said Engineer Mark Anthony Pinuela Abendan, president of PICE Qatar Chapter.

In his remarks during the international virtual gathering, he pointed out how the pandemic has reignited the organisation’s sense of brotherhood and as the use of technology to collaborate and share technical expertise, skills and resources.

Aside from the PICE International Chapters collaboration webinar, PICE Qatar through its Committee On Continuing Professional Advancement (COCPA), headed by Engr Aushford Acera, also recently conducted another educational and interactive webinar titled ‘International Certification Program of Quality and Durable Concrete’. It featured Engr Artemio Talon from PICE KSA EPSA Chapter.

In addition, under Support Programs and Events Committee for Students (SPECS), headed by Engr. Mario Oligo, together with brilliant volunteer mentors, PICE Qatar has been active in conducting mentoring programmes with 188 recipients -- graduating civil engineering students as mentees in eight universities in the Philippines under the PICE Expanded Virtual Internship of Students via Mentoring or Apprenticeship (EVISMA) programme.

Abendan said, The programme is ongoing and includes on-the-job training, practicum, designs and thesis through synchronous and asynchronous approach. Hence, PICE Qatar has become one of the frontliners for civil engineering education. By constant sharing of technical expertise, skills and resources, along with digital technology on our side, we can easily beat time and this pandemic to evolve, innovate and adapt to the new normal. Thus, professional development and advancement of our members is one of our priorities, along with support to provide quality civil engineering education under the EVISMA programme.