The Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) recently forged a new partnership with the Institute of Electronics Engineers of the Philippines (IECEP) in Davao City on 03 June 2022 by signing the Memorandum of Agreement on the BaLinkBayan Project. The event was held at the Acacia Hotel Davao during IECEP’s 72nd Midyear Convention 2022 with the theme “Electronics Professionals Leading Progressive Digital Innovation and Nation Building Strategies” that was attended by almost 1,000 Filipino Electronics Engineers worldwide on-site and via Zoom. .
The Institute of Electronics Engineers of the Philippines (IECEP), Inc., formerly the Institute of Electronics and Communications Engineers of the Philippines, Inc., is the only Accredited and Integrated Professional Organization by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) for Professional Electronics Engineers (PECEs), Electronics Engineers (ECEs) and Electronics Technicians (ECTs) in the Philippines. It is a non-stock and non-profit organization established in 1950 with more than 90,000 members inside and outside of the country. With 50 accredited chapters from all over the world, IECEP envisions a community of Filipino Electronics Engineers equipped with globally-competitive skills on the frontlines of the Digital Transformation. Currently, there are ten (10) accredited chapters of IECEP overseas (i.e., Singapore, KSA Eastern Region, KSA Western Region, KSA Central Region, UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, and Japan).
By partnering with the IECEP, the CFO hopes to encourage more overseas Filipinos this time, our Filipino electronics engineers overseas, to play an active role in the development processes in the Philippines through the establishment of an IECEP-led BalinkBayan portal that will offer comprehensive online guides and a wide range of options for engaging in various opportunities in the realm of business, philanthropy, and skills exchange.
The MOA was signed by CFO Executive Director Undersecretary Abdulgani Macatoman and IECEP National President Dr. Mishelle Lawas. The signing was witnessed by CFO Information System Analyst, Mr. Troy Agcanas, along with the IECEP Board of Directors represented by Engr. Kris Andrew Trinidad and Engr. Lyle Anthony Jowill Villas.
The event was followed by remarks by Usec. Macatoman where he expressed his gratitude for IECEP’s willingness to be the CFO’s new development partner, as well as his hope to serve hand-in-hand with them as catalysts for the development of migration’s potential to contribute to the philanthropic and economic endeavors of the government through the establishment of an IECEP-led BaLinkBayan Portal.
Dr. Mishell Lawas then delivered a declaration of commitment as a response to Usec. Macatoman’s message. “This is the start of IECEP’s strong support and a strong manifestation that we are really into our membership and this will only be possible if we give them opportunities, avenue, and this is the right avenue for our overseas members and in addition with the trend of globalization nowadays, everyone should be ready to navigate the international and national arena and be globally competitive in all our services,” she expressed.
The collaboration is a component of the CFO’s commitment to widen its reach and mainstream the BaLikBayan Project through establishing partnerships with different Filipino Associations Overseas (FAO). With the addition of the IECEP, the BaLinkBayan Project now has six FAO partners, marking a significant milestone in CFO’s outreach to overseas Filipinos.
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