A challenge faced by the Architecture and Construction Industry

(Em-tech Research Paper)

ABUSO, Anne Camille

BAUTISTA, Jose Mari
CONSTANTINO, Angela Grace
DEFERIA, Ellen Joy
MANLONGAT, Averie
S13

camilleabuso@ymail.com
mijbautista@yahoo.com
angelaconstantino@ymail.com
ellenjoydeferia@yahoo.com
averie_ab@yahoo.com.ph

DE LA SALLE UNIVERSITY – MANILA

 ABSTRACT

In the year 2007, the Construction Industry in the

Philippines grew by almost 20% in real terms, fuelled by a
30% real increase in government construction expenditures
and a 10% increase in private construction investment. The
paper aims to focus on the issue sue on the dominance of
foreign architects in the Philippines. It seems that all of the
country’s home grown talents are flocking away from their
homeland to work. And on the other hand, foreign firms are
taking over most of the construction projects in ou
our country.

In order to learn more about this issue, the group

decided to look for researches and statistical data. Towards
the end of the research, the group found out that the main
reason why this is happening is architects find better job
opportunities and offers abroad. With this reason, most
Filipinos opt to leave the country to work.
1. INTRODUCTION
Though we have modern architecture here in the
Philippines, still some Filipinos choose to work abroad
resulting to the dominance of foreign architects in our
country. There are lots of foreigners handling architectural
designs and housing in our country. Over the past years, this
has been the issue in the field of Architecture in our country.

Architecture is the highest quality of design. It provides a 2. REVIEW OF RELATED CONCEPTS

sense of place and support of all types of human activity, in
which it is transformed into conceptsncepts and developed into
building figures. Architects gather and assemble all the
concepts and design and budgetary requirements given by
clients, restraints of a site, needs of the building’s users, and
the limitations of materials into a unique and bala balanced
design solution.
CO
AutoCAD® software - lets you design, visualize, and
document your ideas. [1]
is [2]
Feasibility - how practical or possible something is.
Macro-level - refers to macro economics-
economic which is the study
of an entire economy of a country than just one particular
market in that country (micro). [3]

The main focus of architecture in the Philippines is

[1]
in the built environment designed for huma human habitation. Autodesk – AutoCAD. Retrieved March 10, 2009 from
This includes the scope the design of the total built http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/ servlet/index?siteID=1231
servlet/index
environment, from the macro-level
level of town planning, urban 12&id=2704278.
[2]
design, and landscape architecture Philippines to the micro
micro- What is feasibility? Retrieved March 10, 2009 from
level of creating furniture. Builders address the issue of http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20060904005
Feasibility and cost, while the users address
ess the function and 110AAw4tML
[3]
aesthetics. This distinguishes it from applied science or What does macro-level mean? Retrieved March 10, 2009
engineering, which usually concentrate more on the from http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080
functional and feasibility aspects of the design of 330024926AAuMH69
constructions or structures.
 3. DISCUSSION OF THE ISSUE
SUE
The Philippines is home to some of the world’s best
architects and yet we are way behind in our own country
when it comes to construction and architecture. Just looking
around Metro Manila, you could already see how many
buildings need to be either majorly renovated or even
demolished as they are already a threat to one’s safety. We
can’t blame our universities because schools like University
of Santo Thomas and University of the Philippines produce
quality architects every year. We also can’t blame lack of
resources because we have lots of it; there isn’t a time in the
Philippines when a road isn't being renovated. Pablo
Ocampo corner Taft Avenue is a prime example as its
construction never seems to end. We also aren’t that far
behind when it comes to technology ology with the rise of
different software that makes the transition of ideas to
reality so much easier. What is hindering the industry from
booming in the Philippines is the lack of support from the
country and the better offers from foreign firms that is
draining us of our quality architects.
Brain drain isn’t something new in the Philippines.
Since the 1970’s, the number of Filipinos opting to work
abroad has risen exponentially every year from an estimated
36,000 workers in 1975 to 11,000,000 as of 2007. While this
is helping the country’s economy, with an estimated inflow
of $16,000,000,000 in remittances last 2008, the country is
also suffering from a lack of skilled workers in all industries
construction and architecture included. Just last Novemb
November
2008, Iraq has asked the Philippines to lift a ban on sending
workers there because they needed as many as 10,000,000
foreign workers for infrastructure projects.[4] Fresh
graduates are not spared from this rising problem as many
architecture graduates find working abroad with lucrative
salaries much moree appealing than staying here.[5]
There are quite a number of registered contractors
in the country. In fact, according to DPWH, those starting
with letter B alone go up to 200+ which is more than
gh for a small country such as the Philippines. [6] There
enough
is also an abundant amount of undeveloped land in the
country which could be utilized for different architectural
projects. Despite these, major foreign and local investors
alike tend to lean towardss international firms as they have
the best skilled workers, which is quite ironic since some of
these workers came from the Philippines. Also, a lot of
foreign architects have strong ties with foreign companies in
the country if not owning them so they preferpr to work on
projects here instead of hiring their local counterparts.
Support from the government would be an easy
way to solve this problem with only one-quarter
one of the
country’s 200 kilometers of roads being paved and only less
than half being adequate for all--weather travel, projects
could help rejuvenate the local construction and architecture
industry. The sad reality though is that foreign architects and
engineers are still favored for major projects such as these.
One good example is the North rth Luzon Expressway which
was constructed by a foreign company in a 5 year plan
composed of 3 years proposal and planning and 2 years
construction. The whole project cost an estimated
$371,000,000 which could have been a huge boost to the
local economy had d they hired local contractors. The result of
the project to the public was a 700% increase in toll charges
to get back what they invested. [7]
[4]
Iraq asks Philippines to lift ban on sending workers -
Construction & Industry.. Retrieved March 8, 2009 from fr
http://www.arabianbusiness.com/538293-iraq-asks-
http://www.arabianbusiness.com/538293
philippines-to-lift-ban-on-sending-workers
workers
[5]
Architecture. Retrieved March 8, 2009 from
http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/ceb/2008/12/08/bus/archit
ecture.grads.leaving.html
[6]
Department of Public Works and Highways.
Highways Retrieved
March 8, 1009 from http://www.dpwh.gov.ph/ doing
_business/procurement/civil_works/reg_contractors.asp
/procurement/civil_works/reg_contractors.asp
[7]
http://www.roadtraffic-technology.com/projects/north
technology.com/projects/north-
luzon/
 According
ccording to Marie Rose Javier, foreign architects
have stolen millions worth of projects here in the
Philippines and added that Filipino architects’ businesses in
other countries aren’t doing as good as they should. “This is
one of the problems brought about ut by globalization that
sadly we have observed here in our country,” she said. A
level playing field is needed to compete globally in the
world of architecture. [8]
Another reason why foreign companies always
seem to get the big projects is that because the people hiring
them look at it as a status symbol, hiring these foreign
companies. The Filipino mentality that “foreign is better”
also plays a big part in this equation
ation fueled by the elitist
power and prestige brought by it. Local companies try to
justify hiring foreign firms by saying that Filipinos lack the
expertise in designing high-riserise 30 to 50 storey towers
compared to their foreign counterparts which isn’t eexactly
true as we have developed quality architects ourselves that
could do the job just as well, if not better. Not helping is the
fact that copy-cats
cats have sprung out like wild mushrooms
imitating western designs completely forgetting our heritage
and stylele through the coercion from clients who want
foreign designs for a cheaper price. This limits our architects
to express and show their ideas and be labeled as cheap
imitators. [9]
Business Week states that,
The Philippines has everything it needs tto be a
regional economic power: abundant natural resources, an
industrious and educated work force, and a strategic
location within three hours of all major Asian cities. Growth
last year was the fastest in three decades, bucking the global
trend, and the country is enjoying political stability and a
commensurate peak in investor confidence
con – FDI last year
topped $4.6 billion, according to the National Statistical
Coordination Board. However, the country’s infrastructure
bottlenecks, from road and rail to ports po and power
growth [10]
generation, are a threat to sustained economic growth.
3. RECOMMENDATION
Our country produce the best architects yet, looking around
Metro Manila alone, one can see that there are still a lot of
buildings yet to be renovated. It has been concluded by the
group that most Filipino architects, or Filipino workers for
that matter, prefer to work overseas. Yes, the Philippines’s
technology is not behind other countries, but because of the
high salary and many benefits that other countries offer, our
architects are enticed to work for them. The lack of
government support also added to the reasons why OFWs
chooses to work abroad.
To address this problem, we recommend that the
government should give their support to architecture and
construction companies. Our architects will be more
motivated to work in their own country if they are properly
acknowledged by the government. The local companies can
also start giving more benefits for our architects, which will
match the benefits offered by other countries. These benefits
include medical insurance, dental insurance, vision
insurance and life insurance. It will also help if the
architects will be able to get retirement plans. Since what
they are really after is a reasonable salary and benefits, why
not offer it to them here? In view of the fact that the job
being offered here in the countryy does not require them to be
separated from their family, the group believes that more
architects will surely opt to stay in the country and work
here instead.
[8]
Retrieved March 8, 2009 from
http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/cag/2002/09/25/0014110b
http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/cag/2002/09/25/001411
us.html
[9]
Benchmarking Philippine Architecture. Retrieved March
8, 2009 from http://www.livinginthephilippines.com /phil
culture/culture%26arts/benchmarking_architecture.html
[10]
Focus on Infrastructure. Retrieved March 8, 2009 from
http://www.businessweek.com/adsections/2008/pdf/092908
sweek.com/adsections/2008/pdf/092908
_phil.pdf

Lastly, we would also like to recommend to the
architects that they should learn to love their own country
more. As a good citizen of the country, one must contribute
to help the country progress. They should not be blinded by
the tons of money offered by the other countries because our
country also offers a lot of opportunities and that if they are
just dedicated to their career and work hard, then they will
be able to earn a lot without even leaving the country. As
said from the Business Week article, everything that the
Philippines need is already found in the country, all the
Filipinos have to do is utilize it.
5. CONCLUSION
We all know that the Filipino architects are very talented
and of high quality. When it comes to technology, we think
that the Philippines is not behind from other countries.
Some of the newest architecture styles and technology like
AutoCAD 2009 is now being used in our country. We think
that the problems that the field of architecture is facing
when it comes to competing with foreign architects are the
lack of support from the government and lesser benefits that
foreign companies.
[4]
Iraq asks Philippines to lift ban on sending workers -
Construction & Industry. Retrieved March 8, 2009 from
http://www.arabianbusiness.com/538293-iraq-asks-
philippines-to-lift-ban-on-sending-workers
[5]
Architecture. Retrieved March 8, 2009 from
http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/ceb/2008/12/08/bus/archit
ecture.grads.leaving.html
[6]
Department of Public Works and Highways. Retrieved
March 8, 1009 from http://www.dpwh.gov.ph/ doing
_business/procurement/civil_works/reg_contractors.asp
[7]
http://www.roadtraffic-technology.com/projects/north-
luzon/
[8]
Retrieved March 8, 2009 from
http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/cag/2002/09/25/0014110b
us.html
[9]
Benchmarking Philippine Architecture. Retrieved March
8, 2009 from http://www.livinginthephilippines.com /phil
culture/culture%26arts/benchmarking_architecture.html
[10]
Focus on Infrastructure. Retrieved March 8, 2009 from
http://www.businessweek.com/adsections/2008/pdf/092908
_phil.pdf

The government should realize that architecture

companies also need their support. Not only in terms of
financial needs but also the motivation. If only the
government will be able to give them enough support, we
believe that architecture can be one field that we Filipinos
can be proud of. A bigger benefit from foreign architecture
companies than local ones is another issue that we can see.
We all know that local companies can only give so much.
We think that maybe the only solution to this problem is
architect’s love for his work and pride for his country. Even
though bigger benefits are available in some companies, the
love or passion for his work and pride for his country can
make an architect stay and continue his job here in the
Philippines.

Architecture is one field that we Filipinos take for

granted. Just look around and you will see that Filipino
architects, with no questions asked are the best in the world.

5. REFERENCE
[1]
Autodesk – AutoCAD. Retrieved March 10, 2009 from
http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/ servlet/index?siteID=1231
12&id=2704278.
[2]
What is feasibility? Retrieved March 10, 2009 from
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20060904005
110AAw4tML
[3]
What does macro-level mean? Retrieved March 10, 2009
from http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080
330024926AAuMH69