It may sound funny that people would encounter salespersons in construction supplies and hardware who have the gall of asking their customers the kind of materials they need, giving choices that vary in sizes but of the same kind. A good example is when one buys reinforcing steel bars of a specific size and the salesperson would ask the customer whether the thick or thin size. The customer would certainly prefer the thinner size as it certainly is cheaper unless he is aware that the choice is risky as such item is weak in terms of strength. The need for specificity as required for the structure where such reinforcing steel bars would be used is critical. Here is where the owner must have a project plan and design with specifications done by a licensed engineer.

Unfortunately, most owners would not want to hire a licensed engineer as they think it would be an additional cost that could be done without as the construction workers are knowledgeable and experienced based on the many structures they have built. The misguided thought that what had been done in other structures in terms of sizes, dimensions and concrete mixtures could just be replicated in other projects. It is why the construction foreman has the guts to take charge of listing the materials to be purchased, in most cases from the construction and hardware supply where they had dealt with in previous projects, claiming that it offers the cheapest prices.

The practice defeats the very essence and purpose of having licensed and registered engineers who have to undergo years of studies and have to pass the tough board examinations. Indeed, why else should government require engineering schools to impose high standards that are at par with schools in foreign countries if the job could just be done by construction workers. This is the reality in the countryside where laws are not implemented by government officials who are tasked by law to require that all structures must have the building plans and specifications duly done, approved and signed by licensed engineers.

The law requires that all permanent structures must have a building permit issued by the building official which in our jurisdiction is exercised by the municipal or city engineer. Unfortunately, many local government units are not implementing the laws, chiefly the National Building Code of the Philippines, National Structural Code of the Philippines, Philippine Electrical Code, Sanitation Code, Plumbing Code and the corresponding implementing rules and regulations of such laws.

When lives and properties perish under the rubble of collapsed structure, people immediately put the blame on the wrong design and the direct responsibility of the engineers who in reality had no participation in the erection of such structures. It is funny that such structures were erected without the professional intervention of engineers, chiefly because the building officials did not require that building permit where the approval and signatures of licensed engineers are needed. The perils to lives and properties are simply cause by structural disasters.
comments to alellema@yahoo.com

For a change, Team games tool center stage this week and these events Baseball, Dragon Boat and Curling was a glimmer of hope that Olympic and beyond, the team is capable of glory.

Sports victories have a unique power to inspire and unite a nation. When athletes achieve greatness, their triumphs resonate far beyond the playing field, touching the hearts and minds of people from all walks of life.

Baseball came as a non-surprise as Mark Steven Manaig cracked a 3 Homerun and beat the Hong Kong with 9-2, the homerun sealed the East Asia Cup. The Filipinos claimed the overall championship at the conclusion of the ICF Dragon Boat World Championships on Sunday at the Puerto Princesa Bay walk in Palawan. The Filipino paddlers collected a record 11 gold medals on top of 20 silvers and 16 bronzes during the four-day competition. The Philippine Curling Ruled Division B of the Pan Continental Curling Championship. Curling is a game on Ice where the Tea, move granite stones to a target.

In all, the victories were all Team games. The tactical side is so different with individual games like Gymnastics and Weightlifting but these are Olympic games too. And that, these early we are hopeful that these would resonate beyond. The hope is that we can get Golden glory in the team sports we are already as the victories proved, world class.

A win on this world stage is a testament of the strength and acumen of the Filipino Athlete and the strength of united efforts of the Philippine Team. It can bring national pride and inspire the people.

It can be the change agent that can finally erase the doubt in all of us.
After all, these are notable triumph that we must celebrate. These are moments that can and must uplift a nation, ravaged by calamities of nature and tragically calamities made by men.