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Monday, March 10, 2003
Chemical engineers seek recognition, change in law
By Cherry T. Lim
CHEMICAL engineers are working to give their profession and their numbers a boost by changing the law.
“For now, only the DENR-EMB (Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Environmental Management Bureau) lets us sign wastewater treatment designs and (other designs) related to chemical processes, but it is not mandated by law,” said Jesselito Baring, national president of the Philippine Institute of Chemical Engineers (Piche).
He said if chemical engineers participated in the design of a system, then they should rightfully be given the opportunity to affix their signatures to such designs, in the same way that other types of engineers sign their designs.
“Also, we want it mandated that chemical engineers be (hired) for chemical plants,” he added.
He lamented that due to the absence of such a law, in some plants, other types of engineers, like mechanical engineers, are doing the work of chemical engineers.
He admitted that if the chemical process in the plant had already been previously designed and installed, it was possible for mechanical engineers to do the rest of the work, as it would involve only taking care of the operations, already made possible by the designs installed by the chemical engineers.
Baring told Sun.Star that chemical engineers had been working for their much-needed recognition for the last 10 years.
At last, things might now be moving along. He said a bill filed for this purpose by then congressman Raul del Mar had been passed on third reading at the House of Representatives. It is now in the Senate for deliberation.
But Baring said the long fight has already cost the profession new blood.
Fewer and fewer students are enrolling in chemical engineering precisely because of the lack of importance given to the profession.
Many schools in Cebu have also discontinued their chemical engineering courses, according to Baring.
As a result, only the University of San Carlos and the Cebu Institute of Technology have retained these courses.
The Piche head said the work of chemical engineers is very important especially in light of the increasing global concern for protection of the environment.
For instance, chemical engineers are needed in the design of plants dealing with toxic and hazardous waste, he said.
Unfortunately, Republic Act 6969, the law on the handling of toxic and hazardous wastes, does not mandate the hiring of chemical engineers, according to Baring.
He warned that with the “Clean Water Act coming,” the need for chemical engineers would be greater than ever.
(March 10, 2003 issue)
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