Pinoy architects urged to enlist in ASEAN registry

CEBU, Philippines — The United Architects Association of the Philippines (UAP) ASEAN special committee is urging Filipino practitioners to take advantage of the opportunities in the entire region to register and be counted in the ASEAN Architects Registry.

Cebuana architect Daryl Balmoria-Garcia who also sits as member of the UAP ASEAN Committee said its better for Filipino architects to start now and grab the fertile opportunities of professional architecture services within the region, as well as guard the Philippine market closely as more foreign architects are also now looking at the Philippines as a lucrative ground to practice.

Out of over 50,000 registered Filipino architects, only 122 are currently included in the ASEAN registry.

Garcia, who founded the firm called Dream Architects, was able to ASEAN Agreement on Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA) on Architectural Services.

Her company is negotiating projects in China, and countries in the ASEAN region.

Garcia, who is one of the youngest architects to have been given a certification to practice in ASEAN region and Asia Pacific, said the potential of architectural services is huge not only in the Philippines but also overseas, despite the ongoing threat of Coronavirus (COVID-19).

Last month, the UAP ASEAN special committee held a webinar on the step by step guide on how to become an ASEAN architect.

The MRA on Architectural Services was signed by the ASEAN Economic Ministers in 2017. It facilitates the mobility of architectural professionals within ASEAN and enhance information exchange in order to promote adoption of best practices on standards of architectural education, professional practices and qualifications.

According to Garcia, the real estate boom in the country, specifically in Cebu and neighboring cities pushed the demand for architectural services in the Philippines. Other member countries in the ASEAN also have promising real estate market.

Amid the economic uncertainties, the regional demand in Asia Pacific and ASEAN is still growing, making architects one of the most in demand professions here and abroad.