The Saudi Council of Engineers (SCE) met with the Philippine Council of Engineers & Architects (PCEA) to discuss issues of mutual interest. Those who attended the meeting included Labor Attache Restituto SM. De la Fuente of the Philippine Overseas Labor Office in Riyadh (POLO-Riyadh).

“The meeting was held in response to the need of local companies to hire Filipino engineers and architects,” said Ghazi Al-Abbasi, SCE secretary-general.

For this purpose, there was a proposal for the creation of a special council, with seven representatives from each of the Saudi engineering and architectural firms, the SCE and the PCEA. It was suggested that the issue would come up in the next meeting expected to be held in the Philippines 2-3 months from now. The PCEA will make the necessary coordination with the appropriate agencies in the Philippines like the Professional Regulations Commission (PRC).

“Before the meeting in Manila, the SCE and the PCEA will still meet to discuss whatever remaining issues need to be settled,” Melvin R. Candelario, PCEA public relations officer (PRO) said. If and when such a proposal materializes, it would be overseen by the SCE.

Aside from the hiring of Filipino migrant engineers, the two groups also discussed engineering business outsourcing as well as offshore projects. During the meeting Mario A. Balboa, PCEA chairman advanced the furtherance of a Philippine-Saudi framework agreement on mutual recognition arrangements.

Abbasi said the meeting covered many aspects of constructive cooperation among SCE, PCEA and the engineering and architectural firms.