The UAP National President's Report The UAP National President's Report | Page 46

The APEC Architect Project:
A mechanism for mobility
By: Arch. Benjamin K. Panganiban, Jr., (first published in
The Manila Times last March 06, 2019)
The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) is a regional economic forum established in
1989 to leverage the growing interdependence of countries in the Asia-Pacific. APEC’s 21
members (Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, China, Hong Kong China, Indonesia, Japan, Korea,
Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, the Philippines, Russia, Singapore,
Chinese Taipei, Thailand, United States of America and Vietnam) aim to create greater prosper-
ity for the people in the region by promoting balanced, inclusive, sustainable, innovative and
secure growth and accelerating regional economic integration.
APEC is committed to a policy of reducing barriers to trade and of being a vehicle for promot-
ing economic cooperation within the region.
Within APEC are a number of sectoral groups that implement the APEC work programs, one
of which is the Human Resources Development Working Group (HRDWG). In 2000, HRDWG
endorsed Australia’s proposal for “The APEC Architect Project,” which aims to facilitate the mo-
bility of architects providing architectural services throughout the region by developing means
for mutual recognition of skills and qualifications.
After nine meetings on the project, the participating economies agreed for a process with
two features: First, that they will identify common elements of “substantial equivalence” in the
areas of education, internship and practical training, registration and licensure, and practice
and experience; and second, they will establish an APEC architect register and identify APEC
architects.
The Filipino APEC architects
Last Feb. 1, 2019, nine Filipino architects were conferred APEC architects during the Philippine
APEC Architects Conferment ceremony at Quezon 1 Ballroom of Seda North Vertis North
in Quezon City, namely Robert S. Sac, Ramon N. Vios Jr., Cecilia Cayman Gamana, Alfred
Geoffrey C. Carandang, Donato B. Magcale, Marie Stephanie Magdalena N. Gilles, Fran-
cisco V. Alican, Rafael G. Chan, Daryl S. Balmoria-Garcia. The 10th conferee, past United Ar-
chitect of the Philippines (UAP) National President Arch. Rozanno C. Rosal was held in deferred
status.
46 2018-2019 Annual Report
Since APEC Architect Project was launched in year 2005 in the Philippines, highly qualified
and well-known Filipino architects were previously conferred APEC architects, namely Yolan-
da David-Reyes, Prosperidad C. Luis, Eugene G. Gan, Edilberto F. Florentino, Froilan L. Hong,
Philip H. Recto, Edric Marco C. Florentino, Romulo L. Reyes, Miguel C. Guerrero 3rd, Ana S.
Mangalino-Ling, Jose Siao Ling, Michael T. Ang, Cesar V. Canchela, Manuel T. Mañosa Jr.,
Angel Lazaro Jr., Francisco T. Mañosa, Geromino V. Manahan, Remus P. Ancheta, Jose Mari
A. Cañizares, Jonathan O. Gan, Daniel C. Go, Nestor S. Mangio, Rolando D.L. Miranda, Wel-
lington P. Ong, Edward C. Tan, Teofilo I. Vasquez, Armando Dominador N. Alli, Felino A. Palafox
Jr., Flordeliza S. Laperal, Severino P. Perez, Angeline T. Chua Chiaco, Norberto M. Nuke,
Ernesto Antonino D. Nasol, Guillermo H. Hisancha, Danilo M. Fuentebella, Eriberto V. Aguirre,
Edgar S. Calma, Ka Kuen T. Chua, Carlos F. Lacuna, Rommel A. Agulto, Ma. Niña Bailon-Arce,
Mariano S. Arce Jr., Rolando L. Cordero, Michael G. de Castro, Filna Daphne P. Espina, Omar
Maxwell P. Espina, Joseph Michael P. Espina, Annette F. Gaddi Liganor, Robert M. Mirafuente,
Ma. Lourdes M. Onozawa, Benjamin K. Panganiban Jr., Runddy D. Ramilo, Jaime G. Silva, and
Abelardo M. Tolentino Jr.
The APEC architect framework
The aim of the APEC Architect Framework is to establish a mechanism to facilitate the mobility
of architects for the provisions of architectural services throughout the region by reducing