PSME Qatar Chapter
First Batch PME Examination
Rey B. Castillo
Chairman, Committee on Pre-Board Review and Exam
PSME Qatar Chapter
Doha, Qatar. The first batch of the Professional
Mechanical Engineers Examination in Qatar has seen action here last April 2 and 3, 2009.
PRC-BME Chairman Hon. Alfredo Y. Po and BME member Hon. Vicente B. Vosotros administered
the first phase of the non-written exam or the interview segment to 18 aspirants for the
PRC’s PME registration. All the candidates came to Ramada Hotel in their best business
suit only to face their most challenging interview of their Mechanical Engineering career.
Though most of the candidates experienced frustrations on not providing the correct response
on some of the Chairman’s technical questions; they realized later the noble intention of
the BME members’ to ensure qualified Professional Mechanical Engineers passed the PME
examination. Each candidate was interviewed from 30 min to 1-hour depending on the candidates
experience and technical expertise. Chairman Po had reiterated that Mechanical Engineers
vying for Professional Mechanical Engineering grade had to prove to the board that they
are not only knowledgeable in their field of experience but to all facets of Mechanical
Engineering subject.
After their two (2) days interview, the BME members had allowed the
17 candidates to proceed in the next stage of the non-written examination which is the
preparation of the Engineering Report, in which the report shall be submitted in the first
week of June. For the 17 aspirants, the next phase of the oral examination in defense of
their Engineering Report was scheduled on July this year. Engr. Edmar Suguitan, who took
the second phase of the oral examination with the first batch of PME aspirants in Qatar,
had to pass in the eye of the needle before finally completing the final phase of the
process of becoming a full pledge Professional Mechanical Engineer. Last May 5, the result
of the March 2009 licensure examination for Mechanical Engineering and Professional Mechanical
Engineering were released. Fortunately, Engr. Suguitan’s name is on the record, eventually
fitting in as the first Professional Mechanical Engineer who passed the examination held in
Qatar. With this indication, we are confident that the rest of the candidates will also succeed
to overcome the final hurdle of the examination.
After the grueling 2-day’s task, the BME Chairman
Po and BME member Engr. Vosotros had a chance to meet the members of the PSME-Qatar during the
chapter’s membership meeting held in Caravan Banquet Hall in Doha at the evening of April 3.
During this meeting our beloved Chairman had explained to the attending members the latest
news in the Mechanical Engineering career in the Philippines. Chairman Po inspired the audience,
especially the Associate Members of our Chapter to upgrade their status from un-licensed Mechanical
Engineer to a real Mechanical Engineer. He urged them to take the Licensure Examination to be held
in Qatar which is scheduled by November this year.
After hearing the inspiring words from Chairman Po,
a total of 30 members signed up for the pre-board review classes. Currently, review classes for
mechanical engineering licensure examination are held at Philippine International School – Qatar
(PIS-Q), 9AM to 2PM every Friday. PME candidates were assigned to share their expertise as instructors
in different subject as their service to our fellow members.
The vision of our Chapter President, Engr. Eugene Bautista, to upgrade the member’s professional status is now being realized. As
a chairman of the PBR&E Committee, I believe this noble vision will be realized only
thru the cooperation from all the PSME-Q officers and members and through the kind support
from the Philippine Regulation Commissioner Lapena, BME Chairman Po and his members, Engr.
Vosotros and Conti. This formidable task is first time to happen in Qatar and we are all praying
for its success. Mabuhay ang PSME-Qatar!
PSME Qatar Chartering Ceremony
& 1st Annual General Membership Meeting
Elmer M. Briñas
IT & Publication
PSME Qatar Chapter
Doha, Qatar. The Philippines Society of Mechanical Engineers celebrates another historical
event with birth of the newly chartered chapter, the PSME Qatar Chapter, in Doha, State of
Qatar.
The PSME Qatar Chapter - Chartering Ceremony & 1st Annual General Membership Meeting (CC1AGMM)
was held last November 8, 2008 at the Ramada Hotel, Doha, Qatar. The whole day affair was
attended by our own PRC-Board of Mechanical Engineering Chairman, Honorable Alfredo Y. Po,
the First Secretary and Consul-General Rosario Paulino Lemque of the Philippine Embassy-Doha
and representatives of the PSME National Office, Engr. Cipriano A. Marcelo (PSME-Nat’l
Treasurer), and Engr. Lorenzo P. Larion (PSME-Manila Host Chapter President 2008).
The opening ceremony which has started in the morning was highlighted with the ribbon cutting
by the BME Chairman Hon. Alfredo Y. Po, together with the our Charter President Engr. Eugene
M. Bautista and the officers and members of the chapter. This was followed by the opening
program and an introduction on LEED (Leadership in Environment and Energy Design) was
presented by distinguished guest, Engr. Kamal Taj, President of ASHRAE Qatar Oryx Chapter.
These were continued by the technical presentations by the various sponsors of the event.
In the afternoon of the event day, the membership plenary session was conducted and chaired
by Pres. Eugene. In this meeting, the BME chairman discussed the PRC-BME programs for the
mechanical engineers in the Philippines as well as motivating the chapter members in obtaining
the Professional Mechanical Engineers Exam. By the end of the session, the society members had
a chance to interact with the BME Chairman in the open forum.
The evening session went ahead with the main program which is the Chartering of PSME Qatar
Chapter and as well as the induction of its officers and members.
The PSME Qatar Chapter Board
of Directors was installed by the Hon. Rosario Paulino Lemque while the members of the chapter
were inducted by the Charter President, Eugene M. Bautista. The evening event was also attended
by representatives from various professional organizations here in Qatar and other guest from
various industrial companies.
The event was a thorough success and a celebration was held eventually for a job-well-done. The
success of the event owes it to the hard work, strong dedication and encouragement of the Chapter
President and the Board of Directors as a whole. Long-live PSME-Qatar!
Plant Tour:
Qatar Cool District Cooling System
Engr. Tom D. Aguirre
Executive Vice President
PSME Qatar Chapter
Doha, Qatar. In September 27, 2008, the Officers and Members of PSME Qatar
Chapter met at City Center for its first plant tour which was coordinated by Engr Gil Felix
(Board of Director for Plant Tour) @ Qatar District Cooling Company known as Qatar Cool, a newly
formed private sector joint venture by United Development Company (UDC), the UAE Tabreed (Nationa
District Cooling Company) and other private investors.
The tour was hosted by Engr. Lito De Los Santos, Plant Engineer and his teams, welcomed us with
a brief introduction of the company and discussed the technical side of the Central Chilled Water
Production Plant. The district cooling system, with a capacity of 67,000 tons of refrigerant
covers more than 45 towers in West Bay Area around 10 kilometers away from the plant.
After the discussion, we proceeded to the production plant where they showed and explained the
function of its water chillers, cooling towers and all the components of a district cooling
production plant. It was noted that majority of the production plant workforce are Filipinos.
The tour ended up with the PSME President delivering a small talk regarding the significance of
plant tours. Again, our heartfelt thanks to the management of Qatar Cool, for allowing us to
conduct the plant tour at their district cooling production plant.
