Saudi, Filipino engineers pledge to boost cooperation

The Philippine Council of Engineers and Architects (PCEA) and the Saudi Council of Engineers (SCE) signed a memorandum of understanding to establish a framework of cooperation and enhance the engineering profession.
“The pact also includes the exchange of expertise and information between the PCEA and the SCE,” Philippine Embassy Minister and Consul General Marshall Louis M. Alferez said.
The pact was signed between Mario Balboa and Hamad Al-Shegawi, PCEA and SCE chairmen. Aside from Alferez, the signing ceremony was also attended by Teresita Manzala, chairman of the Philippine Regulation Commission (PRC).
Manzala expressed hope that the pact would be a living document that would evolve into more fruitful areas of cooperation between the PCE and SCE.
Al-Shegawi mentioned that Filipinos, not just engineers or other professionals, have been part of Saudi Arabia for a long time. He said he looked forward to working more closely with them in the near future, adding that there are 12,500 Filipino engineers accredited with the SCE and that they are the best in terms of skill and competence.
Alferez congratulated both the PCEA and SCE and encouraged other Filipino professional organizations to improve their fields and further develop their talents.
He added that, “agreements such as this pact will be mutually beneficial to the economy of the both the Philippines and Saudi Arabia.”