How the Practice of Engineering in Canada Differs from Practicing in the Philippines

How the Practice of Engineering in Canada Differs from Practicing in the Philippines

The practice of Engineering in Canada is regulated the same way it is in the Philippines. A graduate of Engineering in the Philippines can practice his profession and sign and seal plans after passing the national Licensure Exams offered by the Professional Regulation Commission. However, while an Engineering Stamp can be bought and engraved with your name and profession at any store in Recto, in Canada, Engineering Stamps are issued by the Professional Licensing Body of the Province and cannot be reproduced in any way. An electronic stamp is also issued by the Regulating Body. Stamping plans in Canada signifies your full responsibility for your design in the design plans and governs your due diligence that the plans are accurate and correct.

If a practicing engineer in the Philippines commits a mistake in a design which results in the loss of property or human lives, they are liable under Philippine Law as it could constitute a civil and criminal act and that engineer’s license can be revoked. In Canada, it works almost the same, except that there is also Professional Liability Insurance in place to compensate the affected party monetarily.

The malpractice of engineering in both Canada and the Philippines can result in a tort during the performance of duty. A tort is a wrongful act which causes injury or loss to another party. The party that caused such injury or loss can be held legally responsible. A tort can be unintentional or intentional. An unintentional tort is a result of the negligence of the professional or the absence of a duty of care. Intentional torts include fraud and defamation of the professional. However, the Philippines’ professional practice under its governing laws in present time may still be far behind those in Canada, in terms of enforcement and defending the interests of the public.

The Philippines has Engineering Codes and Standards that are followed in the creation of the engineer’s designs. There are published building codes mostly patterned after American codes and provisions. In the Philippines, these codes and standards are usually developed by non-government professional organizations through its membership. In Canada, Engineering Codes and Standards are developed by both government and non-government professional organization in different provincial jurisdictions.

The Philippines follows the Metric System of Units. Canada predominantly utilizes the Metric System but there are times that the English System of Units is used.

Filipino engineers have great advantages when practicing in Canada. First, Philippine universities use mostly American books where the codes and provisions are akin to those in Canada. Second, the system of measurements is the same in Canada and in the Philippines. Third, the language of instructions used in all universities in the Philippines is English.

One challenge for Filipino engineers is taking into consideration the natural climatic condition of Canada compared to the Philippines. Since the Philippines is a tropical country, it is the opposite of Canada in terms of building and structure design considerations. An example of challenges that Filipino engineers face in the performance of their duties as Fil-Canadian engineers are the differences in foundations. Foundations of buildings in the Philippines settle (move downward) because of the application of loads and need to be designed to prevent this settlement. The foundation design of buildings in Canada inhibit frost heaving (moving upward) caused when soil under the structure freezes during winter and melts during spring leaving a void in the melted part of the soil.

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