Dear Colleagues;

Let me provide you with updates in PIChE affairs and allow me also to appeal to you on several issues.

NATIONAL CONVENTION

In the National Board Meeting held last May 29, 2004 in Iloilo City, it was finally decided to hold our 66th PIChE National Convention on February 10 – 12, 2004 at the Regency Hotel, Boracay .(Boracay Regency is under construction and will be completed by October ,2004 )

MIDYEAR CONVENTION

Our 4th Midyear Convention will be held at the Gateway Hotel in Surigao City on September 2 – 4, 2004. This year’s theme is : Chemical Engineers: Responsive to the Challenges of Industrial Development. Kindly send your needed invitations request to Eng’r. Julius Ligaya, President, PIChE Surigao Chapter (cell 09275605450, email – Bocsure [email protected]). Also whatever informations needed, kindly communicate directly to Eng’r. Ligaya. We are now asking your all out support in the form of attendance and solicitation first for our Midyear Convention and later for our National Convention. In every solicitation you made whether in the form of advertisement in the combined PIChE Journal and Souvenir Program, exhibit in the Convention site or sponsorship of the affair you get 20% (as finder’s share) of the total amount remitted.

A CALL FOR SPECIAL GENERAL ASSEMBLY

The National Board of Directors is calling for a special general assembly on September 3, 2004 ( 8 a.m. – 12 noon of the second day of the midyear convention) to amend the National PIChE Constitution on the following provisions:

1. To extend the term of PIChE National President to two years effective March 2006 (an alternative amendment is to allow re-election up to two or three years.) Justification: One year term for the national president is not enough to plan, strategize and implement major projects. The terms of the other officers may follow the two year term of the president. We can now have exchange of opinions on this amendment.
2. Change the composition of PIChE National Nominations Committee to be consistent with the Executive Order 496 signed by former President Corazon Aquino dated December 9, 1991. Article 1 Section 1 of E.O 496 states that the committee shall be composed of five immediate past presidents. However, our national constitution stipulates that the committee shall be composed of three immediate past presidents and four area representatives. The executive order should take precedence over our constitution, hence, the need to amend this as soon as possible. By the way, the nominations committee is a very important legislative committee for it nominates the membership of the board of chemical engineering ( board of examiners) to the Professional Regulation Commission.
3. other provisions, which may include synchronization of month- cut off irregardless of the term of PIChE chapter officers (whether its one , two or three years).

Quorum needed

Article 3 section 3 of PIChE national constitution requires at least 250 attendees to constitute quorum, in line with this, we are appealing to you to send as many delegates (probably at least five) to the midyear convention to assure quorum and provide for our all out support to our MIDYEAR CONVENTION.

A CALL TO AMEND LOCAL PICHE CONSTITUTION

As part of our program on good governance, we urge every chapter to review and amend your PIChE Chapter Constitution to be consistent with our new National PIChE constitution which was ratified last February 22, 2003 during the 64th PIChE national convention in Davao City. It is our view that all chapter constitutions should be consistent with national constitution on at least on the following provisions:

A. Preamble
B. Nature of Organization
C. Principles
D. Objectives
E. Type of membership

As a reference, our national PIChE constitution (as well as the new ChE law, RA 9297) could be downloaded from our web page at http://www.piche.org.ph . .Kindly submit your amended constitution not later than August 27, 2004.

MEMBERSHIP FEE REMITTANCE

We are again appealing to all chapters for you membership fee remittances. So far only the following chapters have made their remittances: Agusan, Bataan, Bagiuo, Bohol, Davao and Negros. I enjoin the rest of the chapters to do the same. We are in dire need of funds to run our organization (NOTE: membership fee remittance to the PIChE national could be either 20 pesos per active member or 20% of your membership fee whichever is higher as approved during the President’s meeting last February 21, 2004 at Dusit Hotel, Makati City). You may send you remittances to

Philippine Institute of Chemical Engineers
United Coconut Planter’s Bank
Pasay Road Branch
Savings Account number 1131139723

MEMBERSHIP DATABASE

Also, please send the names of your active members to our secretary, Baby Anota( or to our National Board Secretary, Eng’r. Edith Cabrera) as this is needed in our membership database and in the determination of quorum of general assemblies.

CHEMICAL ENGINEERING EDUCATION

Hopefully we will soon have our VIDEO CD on Chemical Engineering to be used to promote chemical engineering during our synchronize nationwide high school orientation . This is painstakingly worked out Prof. Abet Laurito, Chairman PIChE National Education Committee.

INDUSTRIAL TRAINING

PIChE’s first Industrial Training will be conducted later part of August. The training is entitled PINCH TECHNOLOGY . We will send you information and invitations on this soon.

CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION

On CPE seminars, we have to wait for the formation of CPE council of Chemical Engineering which is headed by the CHAIR OF BOARD OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING. It is this Council who will give accreditation of who could conduct CPE seminar and also it is the Council who determination the topics that could be conducted in CPE seminars.

IMPLEMENTING RULES AND REGULATIONS ( IRR) for RA 9297

Together with the Board of Chemical Engineering we will soon be calling for an AREA ( Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao ) IRR summit for the new ChE law. We will make notice of the schedule soon after we finish with the draft IRR.

NOTICES ON JOB PLACELMENT

If you’re not receiving job placement announcements from Dr. Albert Jubilio Chairman of the PICHE Job Placement Committee, please contact him through his email address at ajubilio@ rocketmail.com( cel num: 09193639644)

Lastly, I would like to thank all chapters (Bohol, Cebu, Negros, Iloilo, Davao, General Santos, Bukidnon, Iligan, Cagayan de Oro, Bicol, Ormoc, Isabel, Tacloban) with which I had consultative meetings with , for sharing your opinions, ideas, and suggestions for the betterment of PICHE. On a personal note, let me thank you for your warm welcome and great hospitality during my stay in your place. Thank you very much…….. from the bottom of my heart.

To the rest of Luzon and Metro Manila PICHE chapters which we have not conducted consultative meetings yet, we will have a joint consultative meeting to be announced soon.