Filipino Construction Professionals of Ontario on the move

Filipino Construction Professionals of Ontario on the move

The FilConPros (from left, standing) Ron Dizon, Ronald Rillera, Tess Docusin, Antonio Ebeo, Dave Estrella, Roy Rabanal, Leo Guitierez, Juan Bernal, Lervin Adap, Edward Lintag, Rey Dela Merced,Gemma Patronilla, Salome Marikit, Eddie Bernal. (seated) Tom Cruz (President), Deputy Congen Jesusa Susana Paez, Senator Tobias and Ms. Rosemer Enverga. (Not in photo: Glosardo Sarmiento)

By Voltaire de Leon

Last March 19, 2016, another event was unfolded when the newly formed group Filipino Construction Professionals of Ontario (FilConPrO) conducted their 1st General Membership Meeting and Induction of Officers and Members held at the Earl Bales Community Center, North York, Ontario.

The inaugural meeting was attended by more than a hundred participants, most of whom are engineers, architects, and other professionals from the Philippines who migrated to Canada and are currently working in the construction industry. The Oath-taking ceremony was conducted by Deputy Consul General Jesusa Susana V. Paez with the presence of Senator Tobias C. Enverga Jr. (Canada’s first Filipino-Canadian senator) and his wife Mrs. Rosemer Enverga. Both Deputy ConGen Paez and Senator Tobias congratulated the group and shared their thoughts on their separate speeches.

Deputy ConGen Paez advocating inclusion of Filipinos in the Canadian Council of Foreign Engineers

During his welcome address, the group’s president, Tomas D. dela Cruz, emphasized the main objective of the organization which is to promote three (3) P’s: Professional advancement, Personal development and Public service. The members were encouraged to pursue their career through certification with Professional Engineers Ontario (PEO), the licensing and regulating body for engineering in the province of Ontario.

Lobbying for a Mutual Recognition Agreement. Both Senator Enverga and Deputy Consul General Susana Paez congratulated the FCPO of its milestone initiative and were convinced that the FCPO’s objectives are the right path to go. However, they warned that the road ahead is mostly uphill.

Paez lamented the waste of talent when barriers are placed in front of experienced professionals that prevent them from practicing their occupation. Eventually, our engineers lose their skills from disuse – a process called ‘deskilling’.

Senator Enverga says more work to be done for Filipinos around the Mutual Recognition Agreement

Enverga related his being awake nights on how to best persuade his colleagues and others in government to do the right thing – to avail of the talents that are not being recognized because the engineer is from another country.

One bright light that many of the engineers pointed to is the Mutual Recognition Agreement. This Agreement recognizes academic degrees earned outside Canada. Enverga in Canada and Paez for the Philippine Consulate affirmed that they will lobby for that agreement to apply to Filipinos also.

It would take political will from both governments of Canada and the Philippines to persuade the Canadian Council of Foreign Engineers to include Filipinos in that Agreement. The last foreign degrees recognized by the PEO were those earned in 2009 by engineers from Malaysia.

As the competition in the construction industry is very tough, the group aimed to improve the status of each member in order to be competitive in their chosen fields.

For more information about the group FilConPrO, those interested may visit the group’s website, www.filconpro,com, join their Facebook page, Filipino Construction Professionals of Ontario or contact the current Board of Directors with their details at the mentioned website.