Distinguished Chemical Engineer

 

Another successful chemical engineer in the Philippines is Dr. Filemon A. Uriarte Jr. He was recently chosen by PIChE as a distinguished chemical engineer, featured in the ChemEngg Week last Sep08. A second for same award, as same was already awarded to him by the Philippine Regulation Commission.

He is currently the ASEAN Foundation Director and a Cabinet Secretary of DOST and Chairman of the ChE Department in UP-Diliman, and President and CEO to private companies.

Education: BS and MS in ChE – UP-Diliman and PhD in ChE – Carnegie-Mellon University in the US

An engineer, scientist and manager, a TOYM Awardee in 1974, an outstanding alumnus. I am curious of the details of his contributions and his ladder to success. 

Reference: http://www.aseanfoundation.org/index2.php?main=news/2008/2008-09-03.php

POST SCRIPT Nov08: Read on Dr. Uriarte’s Curriculum Vitae at: 

http://www.engg.upd.edu.ph/~che/Files/Uriarte_CV.pdf

Oil exploration in the Philippines, now active

In reference to the article by jesus llanto at abs-cbnNEwS.com/Newsbreak. It says Philippines has a total of 456M barrels of fuel oil composed of 54M of condensate, 2,135B cu. ft of gas and 25M barrels of oil. These are from the 16 sedimentary basins situated all over the archipelago. Breakdown is as follows:

Location	Areas	No. of Contracts	Discovery Rate
Palawan	11.85M hectares	15	47%
Sulu Sea	2.9M hectares	3	12%
Cagayan Basin	1.74M hectares	4	13%
Other locations include Cebu, Ragay Gulf, Mindoro, Visayan Basin, Agusan-Davao amounting to about 6.5M hectares

I say: Amidst the extreme global financial turmoil now( see USA Reviews) , it comes as a relief to know that Filipinos finally have access to oil sources from within the country. This is definitely country’s self sustenance at the fore. 

Now the caveat: I do hope that the following are considered in the Environmental Impact Assessments and in their contract agreements. That chemical engineers were involved or were consulted is also a  confirmation that I would like to hear.

Again, the areas that need to be considered as well:

• protection of the environment
• protection of local dwellers near the site
• acceptable revenue sharing of investors and the local government unit
• acceptable selling and the percentage of sale for domestic consumption
• local developments of crude products into reusable consumer products
• still sponsoring the use of renewable energy

and most of all

• training and employment of S&E profesionals from within the country.

They say the educational system can only prepare their graduates with the basic knowledge of chemical engineering fundamentals. The industry can however provide them the specialized training they need to meet the industrial technology and requirements. The government  can require these industries to tap local S&E professionals–those hghly qualified and still opt to remain in the country– and make sure the salaries are globally competitive. This is the laying of groundwork we ask from our leaders in the country, the strategic direction we are in dire need to hear or see results from them.

Have you heard of new jobs and opportunities for S&E Professionals as a result of the developments in the mining industry in the country? Let me hear from you. Email me at rqld01@gmail.com.

POST SCRIPT:

As of 11/20/08, there is  recent develpoment. As of Oct 2008, there is now the Congressional Commission on Science and Technology and Engineering, headed by Sen Angara. Here the commission will ensure there.

Here’s an excerpt:

COMSTE will be effective and significant because we are working on both the source, which is education, and the destination, which is the industry sector. By fixing the source of our well trained graduates – school system –  we are able to give industry what it needs – a strong and capable workforce.

By the same token, COMSTE, by working with the various sectors will give the students who pursue S&T courses a good career option, instead of just allowing them to graduate and then leave for jobs abroad.

At the same time, COMSTE also seeks to create opportunities for those new S&T graduates and professionals by encouraging industry, entrepreneurs and investors to create new jobs.

We have in the past, regarded the academe and the research community as separate from industry. So we have a situation where the academics from UP do not know what the people from Intel or Philips are doing. It is the same in other industries. And therefore, we have not seen the kind of academe-industry collaboration or public-private partnerships that produces significant innovation, significant industries, significant jobs. So it is not just a question of putting money in S&T. We also need to change the culture and the way we do things. All that will change with COMSTE.

But to do all of what we seek to achieve, we need to allow the COMSTE to complete its task. Therefore we need to extend the term of the COMSTE until the end of the Fourteenth Congress, so that a few years from now, we can see the Philippines among the ranks of the rapidly developing economies (RDE) of Asia, and not the same place as where we are, because we failed to do what we need to do, because we stopped short of completing the race.

Reference:

 

http://comste.gov.ph/

Hello world!

Wanted: Chemical  Engineers

 

The Philippines need chemical engineers (science practitioners in general) now and in the immediate future, if only to cite the contributions we can and could offer to the advancement of the economic conditions of the country. This however, is still a distant reality as I think we are starting to realize now.  

 

We have been pre-programmed to take up S&E courses by our parents or whoever has convinced us that it is the most lucrative profession – with high pays and the perks. However, what I understand now is that –as Wall Street would need a bailout – demands for scientists and engineers rise and fall sharply and unpredictably. (Ask politicians/economists, as we are interdependent after all…). This issue is not only in the Philippines, however. To quote Newsweek, Aug18-25 issue: “Study science or engineering if you love it. But don’t expect a job guarantee.”

 

I know, it’s not an easy realization.  But rather than dwell in the denial stage, let’s come to grip with the reality and move on. We’ve been trained to be problem solvers after all.

 

Let this weblog be the tipping point.  All it needs are extraordinary efforts of select carriers. Let’s identify opportunities at which we can practice chemical engineering the way we have been prepared and have envisioned ourselves to be – that is professionally.

 

Contents of this weblog includes:

§         Discoveries -Opportunities/News Flash/Breakthroughs

§         Developments- Advancements/Trainings

§         Distinctions- Awards, recognitions, citations

 

Contributions are welcomed. Let me hear from you. Email me at rqld01@gmail.com