DAMMAM, 18 October - Examiners from Manila are expected to arrive in the Kingdom today to administer licensure examinations to unregistered Filipino mechanical, civil and electrical engineering graduates.

Rex Catubigan, president of the Philippine Society of Mechanical Engineers, Saudi Arabia chapter (PSME-SA), said yesterday that the Philippine Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) had notified his group that the examinations would definitely push through as scheduled.

The examinations will be held both in Jeddah and Alkhobar for the mechanical, civil and electrical engineerings from today until Oct. 24.

More than 100 examinees, a combined total for the three disciplines in Jeddah, Riyadh and Alkhobar chapters, have applied to take the licensure tests.

Catubigan said that around 28 OFWs will be taking the mechanical licensure in Alkhobar alone.

Last week, PRC officials thought of postponing the examinations, citing reports of uncertainties in the Middle East, Catubigan said.

This prompted the PSME, together with the Institute of Integrated Electrical Engineers (IIEE) and Association of Filipino Civil Engineers (AFCE), to issue an appeal to PRC, saying that there was nothing to worry about in the Kingdom.

"We are worried because the examinees attended review classes for about six months and suddenly they will be told that there will be no board examinations to take place in the Kingdom," Catubigan said.

The three groups also asked OWWA administrator Wilhem Soriano to give the PRC his assessment of the present condition of OFWs in the Kingdom.

Soriano, who visited Alkhobar this week, immediately sent a facsimile to PRC chairwoman Antonieta Fortuna-Ibe saying, "I see no imminent danger in the Kingdom."

Catubigan said he also asked Ambassador Rafael Seguis to write the PRC.

Meanwhile, the PSME will be holding its 11th Anniversary and Annual General Membership Meeting, and election of its board of directors, on Nov. 2, at the Gulf Meridien Hotel.

The theme of the event is: "Empowering the Mechanical Engineers Toward Professional Excellence."

The event will be sponsored by Tig-Tesco International, Abar & Zainy Electrical and Airconditioning Co., and HACE Golden Co.