Institution of higher learning are considered the primary sources of thinkers and quality manpower equipped with the knowledge to innovate and apply new technologies that will shape our nation in its attempt to achieve the desired level of development. As such, it is deemed necessary for HEIs to offer educational programs that will prove to be beneficial for the society not only just here and now but more importantly, it also meet the projected trend of demands of tomorrow.
The Regional Development Council identified that the economic relevant trends and development by 2023 and beyond in Central Luzon are the following:
- Development of Clark and Subic;
- Completion of Build-Build-Build projects (improving the interregional connectivity);
- Rice industry modernization;
- Industry dominating the economy;
- Completion of Bulacan International Airport; and
- Implementation of Balog-Balog Multi-Purpose Dam Project in Tarlac by 2022.
Figure 1. Economic Trends in Central Luzon
Riding on the Wings of Opportunity
As stated by the Regional Development Council of Central Luzon, the trends on the economy will create enormous job opportunities where future Civil Engineering graduates will lead as drivers of changes and as planners, designers, and implementers of all important structures that will comprise the man-made environment of the future civil society (thus the word “civil”), such as but not limited to: green and smart buildings, innovative transport networks, integrated energy and water management systems. Also as predicted, starting 2018, the need for more civil engineers escalated since President Duterte initiated the “Build, Build, Build” (BBB) Program, which accelerated infrastructure spending and developed industries that yielded robust growth, created jobs and improved the lives of Filipinos. Public spending on infrastructure projects is targeted at P8 to 9 trillion from 2017 to 2022. Key infrastructure projects under the BBB Program include: (a) the Subic-Clark Railway; (b) the North-South railway projects connecting Los Baños, Laguna to Tutuban, Manila and Clark Freeport in Pampanga; and (c) a 1,500-hectare industrial park in Clark, Pampanga; and (d) an expanded Clark International Airport also in Pampanga. Other projects were: (a) four energy facilities; (b) 10 water resource projects and irrigation systems; (c) five flood control facilities; and (d) three redevelopment programs.
It is worth-mentioning that the focus of 5-year “Build, Build, Build” (BBB) Program will be more on developing Clark Field, Pampanga which is 15.5 km away from Pampanga State Agricultural University (PSAU). President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. said his administration will see some projects of former President Rodrigo Duterte come into fruition after the government unveiled its flagship infrastructure program through the “Build Better More” (BBM) program that aims to improve living conditions of the different sectors in our country through modernization and by improving the quality of our public infrastructure. Civil Engineers specialized in water resources engineering will play a big role from the design to implementation of projects such as water supply system, flood control facilities, irrigation system and the like. Such shift of development from Mega Manila to Clark Field is due to the traffic congestion in Manila, caused mainly by poor infrastructure, led to losses of about P2.4 billion in 2012, and could triple by 2030, as reported Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). Since 2011, the Philippines has broken out of its historically mediocre growth pattern to feature among the fastest growing nations in the Southeast Asian region. But the country’s growth has been shallow and far from comprehensive, leaving high levels of unemployment, poverty and hunger relatively untouched. Clearly, infrastructure is clearly the country’s Achilles’ heel.
Why Major in Water Resources Engineering?
The Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers (PICE) has six (6) specialty divisions in the areas of Structural Engineering, Transportation Engineering, Water Resources Engineering, Geotechnical Engineering, Project Management and Construction Engineering, and Environmental and Energy Engineering which shall serve as the technical arms of the Institute at the national level. Only few civil engineers are specialized in water resources engineering since they opt to structural or either project management and construction. However, it is inevitable that since agriculture is still the backbone of the Philippine economy, the need for water resources engineering will never cease but instead will continue to increase towards modernization, innovation, and automation.
Water resource engineers may be charged with developing new systems or processes for private or government entities that can preserve freshwater sources and find new ones. Civil engineers major in this field involved as well in designing water purification methods through desalination or creating new equipment for contaminant transport when water is used for irrigation purposes. The reason why major in water resources is that this valuable resources, by their very nature, are finite. While water may be renewable in terms of the many different ways it can be used and reused, it’s not as abundant as it once was, which many earth scientists and climatologists point to as a function of climate change. The Bureau of Reclamation provides some perspective as to just how limited this resource is in terms of usability, despite its vastness. If the world’s water supply were roughly 26 gallons, the amount of freshwater available for safe usage would be the equivalent to 0.003 liters. That’s equal to roughly a half-teaspoon.
PSAU CoECS OBE Framework
PROGRAMS DEGREE OUTCOMES
After 3-5 years, the graduates of the BSABEThe following are the program outcomes of the B.S. Civil Engineering, Major in Water Resources program: program shall:
1. Ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, science, and engineering.
2. An ability to design and conduct experiments, as well as to analyze and interpret data, having a thorough understanding of scientific method and engineering method.
3. An ability to design a system, component, or process to meet desired needs within realistic constraints such as economic, environmental, social, political, ethical, health and safety, manufacturability, and sustainability.
4. An ability to identify, formulate, and solve engineering problems.
5. An ability to function on multidisciplinary teams, having good interpersonal skills and a grasp of the fundamentals of running an enterprise.
6. An ability to communicate effectively, organizing thoughts logically and presenting them clearly and concisely by written, verbal and/or graphic means.
7. An understanding of professional and ethical responsibility.
8. A broad education necessary to understand the impact of engineering solutions in a global, economic, environmental, and societal context.
9. An understanding of the past, to appreciate the present and plan for the future.
10. A recognition of the need for, and an ability to engage in life-long learning and a knowledge of contemporary issues in the profession and the society.
11. An ability to decipher the optimum solution to an engineering problem.
12. A recognition of the sovereignty of God and development of servanthood attitude to humanity.