Issues Affecting Civil Engineering in the Philippines - A Position Paper PDF

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Summary

A Position Paper in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for English for Academic and Professional Purposes....

Description

BLUE ISLE INTEGRATED SCHOOL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

ISSUES AFFECTING CIVIL ENGINEERING IN THE PHILIPPINES

A Position Paper Presented to Ms. Lenie C. De Leon - Movida Subject Adviser

In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for English for Academic and Professional Purposes Senior High School STEM

by: Lyricka P. Biraquit November 2017

INTRODUCTION

Civil engineering is one of the highest technical main branches of engineering. This deals with the designing, constructing, planning, and maintaining that uses the principles of science and engineering to improve the natural environment. They are involved in anything to do with the sorts of different buildings and infrastructures. The civil engineers manage to plan construction projects such as roads, railways, airports, dams, tunnels, and power plants. Everything we see might be done by a civil engineer, but the greatest challenge of a civil engineer is to bring those skills together to make a city work well as a system. Civil engineering is a very demanding yet fulfilling career. It has a high demand since this career plays a critical role in the modern society. Becoming an engineer takes a lot of efforts and sacrifices. It is not an easy career. Here in the Philippines, civil engineers are always tackling new issues affecting the profession. Despite of being demanding in terms of the required skills and knowledge in the industry, it is still known as a highly sought-after career. This gives more pressure to the new graduates or passers of this career. It is important to stay informed on issues affecting this profession so they can provide solutions for better demands in our country. Civil engineering is quite rigid in terms of their entry paths. Being one of the civil engineers in the Philippines isn’t easy as many think it is. Many would expect that the educational system of the profession and the viability of this career would be easy. Unfortunately, here in the Philippines it isn’t. There are a lot of struggles starting from looking for a job, getting a good paying salary, to deciding to search for better opportunities abroad a civil engineer in the Philippines need to look for.

DISCUSSION

Civil engineering is a specialized type of engineering. It is a five year degree program that is concerned with the use of scientific and mathematical principles in the construction of building and infrastructures. They work in a challenging educational system that includes projects about development and construction of bridges, tunnels, railways, dams, roads and other construction projects. Its education also provides the fundamental skills in land surveying, structural design, building design, computer aided drafting, and construction materials selection and testing. Civil engineering is a challenging career. The civil engineering course is not expensive compared to Biology, Nursing, and Medicine but some of its students experienced problem when it comes to financial. In a public university, a course in civil engineering costs approximately a total of ₱35,000 for the entire course while in private institution, the total cost may range from ₱310,000 to ₱515,000, depending on the institution. We all know that Philippines is now a developing country and civil engineers are needed to construct infrastructures and buildings mainly for commercial, industrial and institutional purposes. After the educational system, a civil engineer in the Philippines need to look for is how to get a job. As some of them thought that after graduating and passing the licensure examination of this profession in the Philippines is the end of all their engineering struggles, it gets harder when you get into the world of employment. There may be a lot of large construction projects here in the Philippines but they aren’t enough to cater the many engineers who are ready to practice their professions. Job hunting and salary is the next major problem of civil engineers in the Philippines.

HAMBURGER MODEL

Civil engineering here in the Philippine is a very demanding yet fulfilling career. It isn't easy as many think it is. There are a lot of struggles a fresh graduate or fresh passer of this career need to look for. Despite being demanding in terms of the required skills and knowledge in the industry, engineering is still a highly sought-after career. Many would expect that the educational system, looking for a job, getting a good paying salary, deciding to search for better opportunities abroad and viability of this career would be easy. Unfortunately, here in the Philippines, it isn’t. A Civil Engineer is a specialized type of engineering. A course in Civil Engineering costs 35,000 to 310,000 for the entire course, depending on the institution. There may be a lot of large construction projects here in the Philippines but they aren’t enough to cater the many engineers who are ready to practice their professions. Job hunting and looking for a good paying salary is the major problem of civil engineers here. Locally, the demand for Civil Engineers depends on the current state of the construction industry. The overall labor market scenario has been “less positive", that's why some are forced to choose jobs that are not related to their field, including those who didn't passed the licensure exam. Also the salary is ranging from around 10,000-15,000 PHP every month. Industries of engineering in other countries are far greater than that of here in the Philippines. Being employed abroad tends them to get higher salary than here in the Philippines. High unemployment rate and less job opportunities for new graduates are unending problems in the country. This increases the competition among Filipinos who are looking for available jobs in the country. Some fresh graduates of civil engineering choose to gain their experience abroad to enhance their career because of higher technology on other countries.

As an engineer, you are always tackling new challenges. It is important for you to stay informed on issues affecting your profession. Only licensed civil engineers can sign the plans for infrastructure projects. Here in the Philippines, you can never become an engineer without any practical knowledge. The simplest way is to gain experiences of the people already in the field. Meet up with a professional civil engineer and ask a few well thought-out questions as to what working as a civil engineer is really like.

CONTENT DISCUSSION

Finding a job would be the first problem a fresh graduate and passer are going to focus on. While engineering may be one of the most difficult courses and one of the highest technical jobs in the world, many would expect that finding an engineering job would be easy. It was believed that civil engineering is best suitable career for employment opportunities and in a construction business, but considering now the situation here in the Philippines, it isn’t. Until now, there are still a lot of unemployed civil engineers, even they’re done in taking the licensure board examination. Some of them took a year or two, before they get a decent. Locally, the demand for civil engineers depends on the current state of the construction industry. There’s a lot of civil engineers graduates here in the Philippines, but the overall labor market scenario has been “less positive". This increases the competition among Filipinos who are looking for available jobs in our country. As a result, some Filipino civil engineers are forced to choose jobs that are not related to their field, including those who didn't passed the licensure examinations. Another factor that affects the civil engineering profession in the Philippines is because of the salary. According to an article in Philippine Star, engineering graduates get an average salary of 19, 000 PHP compared to non-technical positions that offer an average of 15,000 PHP. This would not be enough especially for those who have to rent due to relocation. And because of that, many of them choose to practice their profession abroad to pursue advanced studies in engineering since other countries have better technology, and equipment for training. Industries of engineering in other countries are far greater than that of here in the Philippines.

CONTENT CONCLUSION

As an engineer, you are always tackling new challenges. Civil engineers work in a fast-moving, challenging and rewarding profession. Here in our country, we have a lot of students, graduates and passers of civil engineering. It is important to stay informed on issues affecting civil engineering in the Philippines. Only licensed civil engineers can sign the plans for construction and infrastructure projects. Here in the Philippines, you can never become an engineer without any practical knowledge. A diploma in Civil Engineering is required, and practice of profession requires a license from the Professional Regulation Commission. The simplest way is to gain experiences of the people already in the field. Meet up with a professional civil engineer and ask a few well thought-out questions as to what working as a civil engineer is really like. Even though civil engineering has a lot of issues affecting the profession, it is still considered as a fulfilling career. Educational system, job hunting, looking for a good paying salary and deciding getting opportunities abroad are the issues affecting civil engineering in the Philippines. As of now, civil engineering is in demand not only in the Philippines but in the other countries as well. Filipino civil engineers are known as hardworking, flexible and trustworthy. Here in the Philippines, civil engineering is all about problem solving. Being analytically skilled, determined, and preserved, all problem is a no problem. Civil engineering is not an easy career, but knowing what your profession letting for, it will be worthwhile and you will have a lot of fun way along the way as long as you love your career and you love the journey you’re taking for because civil engineering requires a lot of work. Civil engineering requires a lot of work, as well here in the Philippines.

BIBLIOGRAPHY (APA STYLE)

Electronic References

GN Feature Story (2017) Top 5 Issues That Civil Engineers Today Should Be Aware About

Kibin (2016) An Introduction to the History of Civil Engineering

Metrio (2014) Ang Pananaw ng Isang Simpleng Inhinyero

Mapua (2016) The 5 Most Important Skills for a Civil Engineer

Bellis (2016) What are the greatest challenges facing civil engineering in the future?

Santos (2016) Struggles of Being an Engineer in the Philippines...