|
Saturday, November 20, 2004
Landscape architects seek place under sun
THE few landscape architects in the country are seeking to increase their numbers as well as to raise their profile so that companies in the Philippines will no longer feel the need to hire foreign consultants.
“There are about 170 landscape architects in the Philippines,” of which only three are in Cebu, said Cecile Tence of the Board of Landscape Architecture (Bola), Professional Regulations Commission (PRC).
During the opening yesterday of the first Philippine Landscape Exposition at SM City Cebu Trade Hall, it was learned that these three are Lenna Ong, Baging Atega, who designed the landscape of Shangri-la’s Mactan Island Resort, and Mary Ann Espina, president of the Philippine Association of Landscape Architects (Pala).
Espina said landscape architects are not the same as landscape contractors, who are implementers of the designs of the landscape architects.
She told Sun.Star that landscape architects must be licensed as a law now regulates the profession.
Landscape contractors also need a license, and they are covered by the Department of Trade and Industry, she added.
The reason for the small number of landscape architects in the country is the fact that until recently, only one university, the University of the Philippines in Diliman, offered a program on landscape architecture.
Last June, though, the program was opened in the University of San Carlos.
There is now a four-year bachelor’s degree called the Bachelor in Landscape Architecture. Also available is the two-year Master in Tropical Landscape Architecture, which is available only in the Philippines.
The PRC’s Tence underscored the importance of raising the profile of local landscape architects by saying foreign consultants normally raked in the fees in dollars.
Espina explained that the law limits the participation of foreigners in local projects to only the beginning stage, or about 30 to 40 percent of the work. The local licensed landscape architect then takes over, and he becomes the landscape architect of record.
Under the law, a client can get a foreign consultant only if the requirement cannot be met locally.
“Right now, we (local practitioners) can assure the public that we have the expertise,” Espina said.
Owner
Tence assured that not just anybody can put up a landscape architectural office, as 80 percent of the ownership of such an office should be by a licensed landscape architect.
Under Republic Act 9053, the Act Regulating the Practice of Landscape Architecture in the Philippines, no one may use the title of landscape architect or similar terms that suggest the work of a landscape architect, unless he has been issued a certificate of registration/professional license or a temporary/special permit by the Bola or PRC.
Espina said the three-day expo aims to establish strong ties between landscape architects and practitioners in allied professions including architects, interior designers, environment planners, engineers and horticulturists. Pala hopes to make the expo an annual event. (CTL)
(November 20, 2004 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board.Click here. |
|
[return to top]
[home]
[network page]
|
LOCAL NEWS
BUSINESS
OPINION
SPORTS
LIFESTYLE
FEATURE
SUPERBALITA
WEEKEND
|
