RIYADH, 5 March 2003 — Anticipating the reinstatement of the overseas professional licensure examination in October, the Philippine Society of Mechanical Engineers chapter in the Central Region (PSME-CRSA) will begin pre-board review classes for its members starting Friday.

More than 50 members have enlisted so far in the classes to be held at the Riyadh International School (RIS) in Suleimania District.

“We encourage our kabayan, particularly mechanical engineering graduates who have not yet taken the licensure examination, to avail themselves of this chance to attend our review classes for free,” said Riolando Perez, the current chapter president.

The last licensure examination held in the kingdom was in October 2001. Antonieta Fortuna-Ibe, chief of the Philippine Regulatory Commission, scrapped overseas licensure exams last year, citing the absence of a Philippine law allowing such activity.

But Senate President Franklin Drilon, in a meeting with Filipino professionals in the Eastern Region last October, promised to get the PRC to reinstate the examinations. He said there was no need for such a law.

During last Friday’s induction ceremony of PSME-CRSA at Marriott Hotel in Riyadh, they handed over to Ambassador Bahnarim Guinomla a letter addressed to Drilon to follow up their request.

Guinomla was the guest speaker and inducting officer in the ceremony attended by leaders of other chapters, including Junn Berbie, immediate past president of PSME in the Western Region.

The chartering of PSME-CRSA was one of Berbie’s major projects.

“I urge the PSME-CRSA officers to be aggressive and encourage their members to participate in all the programs of the chapter not only in plant tours and technical seminars but also in technical writing and personal development like public speaking,” advised Murry Demdam, incumbent president of the Eastern Region chapter.

Founded in 1990, PSME-Eastern Region is considered as the “mother chapter.”

Aside from Perez, the Central Region chapter officers are: Pedro Caliwag, Jr., vice president; Badroden Balindong, secretary; Danilo Cabrera, treasurer; George Bahaynon, auditor; Noelvin Bernada, PRO; Vincente Matero, membership director; Jeffrey Agura, technical affairs director; Nestor Rollo, plant tours director; Wilfredo Tuburan, external affairs director; Alfredo Changcoco, internal affairs director; Hipolito Dacanay III, professional enhancement director; Nelson Doyogan, sports director; Erickson Gotera, code of ethics director; Fernando Tantoco, information technology director.

The chapter’s chartering program were sponsored by Mitsubishi Electric Saudi Arabia, Manila Plaza, HACE-Royal Temp, Safari Company Ltd. (Motorola), Metito Saudi Arabia Ltd. Mitsubishi gave a presentation on “Elevator design installation, operation and maintenance”, while Metito tackled “Water and sewage treatment plants.”

Perez said non-members who wish to join the chapter may call him at 052-827320, Caliwag at 056-419578, and Tantoco at 059-845299.