JCastillon

 

picture taking at the city engineers office after the lecture and a tour at the Davao Museum.

 I. Introduction

Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) is an international forum composed of twenty-one member economies with the objective to act collectively to promote economic and technical cooperation within the Asia-Pacific region. Its purpose is “to sustain the growth and development of the region for the common good of its peoples”. APEC builds on the World Trade Organization (WTO) General agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) principles for the progressive liberalization of trade in services through the reduction of regulatory restrictions, leading to reciprocal agreement between member economies where appropriate. It is a strategic priority of facilitating the mobility of qualified persons by developing means for the mutual recognition of skills and qualifications.The APEC economies participating in the project have developed a mechanism by which current restrictions on the professional recognition of architects from other economies would be reduced or removed. A set of principles and operational framework for the creation of an APEC Architect Register has been agreed upon. Registration as an APEC Architect provides evidence of the achievement of professional standards that satisfy the requirements for the recognition of architects by host APEC economies. The APEC Architect Register is managed by the APEC Central Council through the respective local Monitoring Committees in the APEC economies. Member economies of the APEC Architect Central Council 2005 are: Australia, Canada, People’s Republic of China, Hongkong China, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Republic of Mexico, New Zealand, Republic of the Philippines, Singapore, Chinese Taipei, Thailand and the United States of America.  

II. Purpose

The aim of the APEC Architect framework is to establish a mechanism to facilitate the mobility of architects for the provision of architectural services throughout the APEC region by reducing current barriers to the export of professional services. Its central function is to maintain a Register of APEC Architects who have fulfilled common elements of the education and training requirements for professional recognition in participating economies and are currently registered/ licensed as architects, and who have a proven record of professional experience as registered practitioners. Through the identification of these common aspects of professional recognition, reinforced by a period of professional experience, registration as an APEC Architect defines a level of competence that will satisfy designated registration criteria in other participating economies without further assessment. A host economy may additionally adopt special requirements for the recognition of APEC Architects to address aspects of professional practice specific to that economy, such requirements however must be fully transparent. 

III. Structure

Overall responsibility for operation of the APEC Architect Register rests with a Central Council composed of nominees of independent Monitoring Committees established for this purpose in each participating economy, and authorized by the Central Council to carry out its functions. Policies governing the operation of the APEC Architect Register and strategies adopted for its implementation are determined jointly by the representatives of participating economies appointed to the Central Council. The APEC Architect Register is divided into sections, each administered by the Monitoring Committee of a participating economy, for the enrolment of architects registered/licensed in that economy who meet APEC Architect criteria. Monitoring Committees are responsible for the management of their respective sections of the Register on behalf of the Central Council. 

IV. APEC Architects

An APEC Architect is a person who is registered, licensed or otherwise professionally recognized as an architect in a participating economy, and whose name is enrolled on the APEC Architect Register maintained by that economy. The criteria adopted by the Central Council for admission to the APEC Architect Register, and use of the title “APEC Architect”, are based on identification of common criteria among the participating economies which consist of:    

 ·    An accreditation or recognition procedure for education programs in architecture;    

 ·    A minimum period of post-baccalaureate practical experience, with specified requisites;    

·    Fulfillment of registration, licensing or other requirements for full professional recognition;    

 ·   A minimum period of professional practice as a registered or licensed architect, with specified requisites.Architects deemed by the Central Council to fulfill these requirements are eligible for registration as an APEC Architect. To retain their registration, APEC Architects must comply with obligations imposed by their home economies for observing codes of professional conduct and for maintaining professional competence and currency of practice through continuing professional development. Host economies may chose to impose special requirements for the recognition of APEC Architects for practice in their economies, but any such requirements must be fully transparent. 

V. Central Council

The Central Council has ultimate responsibility for all matters relating to the APEC Architect framework. The Council comprises of representatives appointed by the Monitoring Committee of each economy authorized to operate a section of the Register. The Central Council’s primary duty is to decide the standards and criteria required for registration as an APEC Architect and to establish operational procedures for management of the APEC Architect Register. These are reviewed periodically by the Council to ensure their continued relevance to the practice of architecture within the APEC region and the effectiveness of the systems employed to assess them. The Council is responsible for the authorization of Monitoring Committees to maintain a section of the Register and for subsequent review of their continued conformance with APEC Architect registration criteria. Effective communication with relevant authorities in participating economies, architects and consumers alike, is essential for successful operation of the APEC Architect Register. The provision of information on its objectives and achievements and promotion of the role it plays in facilitating the mobility of architects within the region are also important functions of the Central Council. 

VI. Monitoring Committees

Each participating economy is required to establish a Monitoring Committee to take responsibility for administration of the APEC Architect framework in that economy, after receiving authorization by the Central Council to do so. Monitoring Committees act with delegated authority from the Central Council to implement its policies and carry out its duties. The primary duty of a Monitoring Committee is to operate a section of the APEC Architect Register for the enrolment of APEC Architects registered/licensed in that economy. It must confirm that candidates for APEC Architect registration have complied with criteria adopted by the Central Council and assess the professional practice experience they have obtained as registered/licensed architects. Each Monitoring Committee is also responsible for ensuring the continued maintenance of required standards. Monitoring Committees are the constituent bodies of the Central Council. They must nominate one or more representatives to the Council; however, each Monitoring Committee is entitled to only one vote. They are called upon to contribute from time to time to the administrative and review functions of the Central Council and generally to act as centers of information on all APEC Architect matters, and to promote its purposes. 

1. Monitoring Committee Philippine Section

On January 28, 2004, the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC), the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and the United Architects of the Philippines (UAP), signed a Memorandum of Agreement to bind themselves to work harmoniously as the Monitoring Committee Philippine Section of the APEC Architect Central Council, towards the establishment of the APEC Architect Register in the Philippines in accordance with the guidelines adopted by the APEC participating economies. During the Central Council meeting held in Tokyo, Japan on May 30 to June 1, 2005, the Monitoring Committee Philippine Section received its authorization from the Central Council to manage and operate the Philippine section of the APEC Architect Register and ensure the continued maintenance of required standards. It also received the authorization to take responsibility for administration of the APEC Architect framework in the Philippines.  

VII. Registration as an APEC Architect

A candidate for registration as an APEC Architect must be currently registered / licensed or otherwise professionally recognized as an architect in the economy that maintains the section of the APEC Architect Register to which application for admission is made. Architects must submit documents to the appropriate Monitoring Committee that show that they have completed an accredited program of architectural education, fulfilled pre-registration experience requirements, have practiced for at least seven years as registered/licensed architects and satisfied any additional requirements, all in accordance with criteria determined by the Central Council. Architects may only be enrolled in the section of the APEC Architect Register in their home economy. 

1. In the Philippine Section

Candidates for registration are required to have achieved the prescribed number of continuing professional development units; and must be active members of the Integrated and Accredited Professional Organization of Architects (IAPOA). APEC Architect Registration applies only to individual persons, not to architectural practices or firms. 

VIII. The Competence of an APEC Architect

The skills and knowledge required for admission to the APEC Architect Register are defined as follows:

a.       An APEC Architect must be competent to create architectural designs that: satisfy both aesthetic and technical requirements; are informed by the history and theories of architecture and the related arts, technologies and human sciences; demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between people and buildings, and between buildings and their environment, and the need to relate buildings and the spaces between them to human needs and scale; respond to environment concerns and address sustainability issues; show skill in land-use planning and the planning process; take account of cultural and social factors and demonstrate an understanding of the responsibility of an architect to society.

b.       An APEC Architect must be competent to translate a design concept into built form and be able to: investigate and interpret design objectives and relevant issues and prepare the brief for a design project; advise on project evaluation, feasibility studies and programs; evaluate and determine structural, constructional and engineering elements of a building design and integrate the advice and design of specialist disciplines into a building project; assess the physical influence on buildings and the technologies associated with providing internal conditions of comfort and protection against the climate, and coordinate and integrate services systems to control them; meet building users’ requirements within the constraints imposed by cost factors and building regulations; provide advice on issues of construction, procurement and contract administration; generate the documentation and information needed to translate a design concept into a building; manage the procurement of buildings, administer contractual arrangements and monitor their construction.

c.       An APEC Architect must be competent in the practice of architecture and: observe legal and regulatory obligations related to the planning and construction of buildings; have adequate knowledge of the industries, organization and procedures involved in the management and realization of a design project as a building; observe the standards of conduct expected of a professional by the community; maintain competence in relevant aspects of the practice of architecture. 

IX. APEC Architect Registration Criteria

The following set of principles satisfies Central Council criteria for admission to the APEC Architect Register and the right to use the title “APEC Architect”.

1. Architectural Education

a. Educational Requirement: A candidate in the Philippine Section of the APEC Architect Register must have completed a degree in Bachelor of Science in Architecture obtained from a duly recognized and accredited educational institution. The educational degree must have a balance between theoretical and practical aspects of architectural training and lead to the acquisition of skills and knowledge necessary to underpin the required competence of an APEC Architect.

b. Architectural Education Program – The core subject areas in an accredited/recognized program of architectural education are:     

·    Design, as the predominant subject category     

·    Technology and Environmental Science     

·    Social, Cultural and Environmental Studies, and     

 ·    Professional StudiesOther subject areas within architectural educational programs may include Related Studies and General Education.

2. Fulfillment of Period of Post-Baccalaureate Diversified Training for Recognition as an Architect in a Home Economy, for a minimum period equivalent to a total of 2 years.

3. Fulfillment of Registration/Licensing Requirements for Registration as an Architect in a Home Economy. The purpose of this criterion is to establish eligibility for registration as an APEC Architect, not for registration in another economy. Fulfillment of registration/licensing requirements for recognition as an architect in a home economy is accepted as meeting this criterion for an APEC Architect.

4. Professional Practice as a Registered/Licensed Architect. Applicants for registration as an APEC Architect must satisfy the home economy Monitoring Committee that they have completed a minimum period of professional practice of 7 years; after initial registration/licensure as an architect. This experience must be gained in all of the following categories of architectural practice: Preliminary Studies, Design, Contract Documentation, and Construction Supervision / Project Administration. At least 3 years of that period from the date of application must have been undertaken as an architect:

·    With sole professional responsibility for the design, documentation and contract administration of buildings of moderate complexity; or

·    In collaboration with other architects, as an architect in charge of and professionally responsible for a significant aspect of the design, documentation and/or contract administration of complex buildings.Professional practice that satisfies the above requirements undertaken in any economy may be accepted by the relevant Monitoring Committee.

5. Continuing Professional Development – RA 9266 stipulates the importance of a continuing professional development program so that architects are current and updated in their practice. To enhance the profession and maintain high professional, ethical and technical standards, the PRC passed Resolution No. 2004-179, Series of 2004: “Standardized Guidelines and Procedures for the Implementation of the Continuing Professional Education for all Professions”. All professionals with baccalaureate degrees must obtain 60 CPE (Continuing Professional Education) units for three (3) years, computed in accordance with the Matrix for CPE Programs, Activities or Sources of the same PRC Resolution. The Monitoring Committee Philippine Section adopts this resolution of the PRC and its requirements for continuing professional education as criteria for registration as an APEC Architect.

6. Membership in the Integrated and Accredited Professional Organization of Architects (IAPOA).  

X. Advantages and Disadvantages of APEC Architects Registry

A.     Advantages

· Mobility of architects for the provision of architectural services throughout the APEC region which reduced barriers to the export of professional services.· Greater opportunity and recognition in the host economy.

· Greater pride and recognition of the home economy.

B.     Disadvantages

· International Competitiveness, for example in Philippine context Foreign Architect vs. Local Architect, mostly Foreign Architects gain more recognition than that of Local Architects.

· Culture gap.

· Requirements to become an APEC Architect in other economy have very high standards and requirements aside to the APEC Registry Requirements.

· There were small numbers of APEC Architect Registered in the Philippines.

“Architecture” is the art, science or profession of planning, designing and constructing buildings in their totality taking into account their environment, in accordance with the principles of utility, strength and beauty.