At the induction ceremony for the Council of Engineering Consultants of the Philippines (CECOPHIL) Board of Directors, DTI Secretary Fred Pascual emphasized the importance of developing the Philippine construction sector to aid the country’s comprehensive development goals.
Pascual commended the new CECOPHIL leadership, marking the occasion as the first significant gathering since the pandemic and celebrating the ongoing collaboration between DTI’s Construction Industry Authority of the Philippines (CIAP) and CECOPHIL.
Secretary Pascual highlighted the substantial contributions of Filipino engineering professionals and skilled tradespeople in elevating the nation’s global standing, generating foreign exchange, and creating employment opportunities.
“The Filipino engineering community, encompassing engineers and skilled carpenters, welders, plumbers, and glaziers, has constructed marvels not just here but across the globe. This has earned significant foreign exchange for our country and created countless job opportunities for Filipinos.”
He also connected the construction industry’s growth to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s vision of a “Bagong Pilipinas,” aimed at producing high-quality and better-paying jobs.
Citing the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), Pascual noted the sector’s 8.8% contribution to the 2023 GDP and a growth rate of 5.6%.
Efforts to enhance the ease of doing business, including the digitalization of the licensing process and the streamlining of public consultations, were acknowledged by the DTI.
The Public-Private Partnerships Code and the amended Foreign Investments Act were identified as key legislative advances supporting investment and competition in the sector.
Pascual concluded by mentioning the DTI’s plan to intensify trade negotiations and its commitment through CIAP to advance the Philippine Construction Industry Roadmap 2020-2030, which supports the President’s Build Better More Program.
