Negative Effect of APEC Economies to the Practice of Architecture in

the Philippines
Final Term Paper
Author/s: John Paul Silloren Pitero
Rizal Technological University, Boni Ave. Mandaluyong, Philippines
paul.pitero@gmail.com

Abstract: The paper intent is to show effects of APEC Economies to Practice of Architecture in the Philippines and
observe the negative effects of trading as part of the globalization impact of it in line of professionalism. It is
important to seek and found out the possible negatives instances in Philippine Economy. Engineering and
Architecture in line of constructions is one of the major backbone of the economy are one of the major affected
in businesses through this integration. These are five listed negative effects listed in the paper: Competition of
job market, level of competitiveness / labor quality, boundaries of Filipino Architecture, APEC’s in different
languages / dialects and risk of losing professional and non – professional workers because of high – paying
Jobs. The intent is to visualize and seek these negative effects for the future since the Philippine is part of
APEC Economies.

Keywords: APEC uniting negative effects, Architecture, Effects of other Economies from APEC.

INTRODUCTION
Discussing the future is very essential move to identify and handle the future problems and on -
going problems. In different aspect of professionalism, Asia – Pacific Economic Cooperation or know as
APEC association having big impact issue towards to economic progress of Philippines and Architecture is
one of considered practice since APEC Symposia in 2015, the annual ministerial meeting results the
enhancement and promoting on Good Policy and Regulatory Practices for Facilitating different services and
investment in Architecture and Engineering Services in the country as the part of Continuing Work on
Services of Support for the APEC 2015 Priorities: Enhancing the Regional Economic Integration Agenda.
Asia – Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) is regional group of composed of different 21
territories in Asia bounded by the Pacific Ocean. These are the countries of Australia, Brunei Darussalam,
Canada, Chile, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines,
Russia, Singapore, Chinese Taipei, Thailand, United States and Vietnam. These world economies is
describing APEC members because of APEC cooperative process is predominantly concerned with trade
and economic issues, with members engaging with one another as economic countries. The main goal of
APEC is to promote economic growth, foster and strengthen the trade, and improving standards and trade
initiatives.
From the day it was establish in year of 1989 in Canberra, Australia with 12 member countries
with desire of promoting the economic growth and became the primary vehicle in every country to support
the Under the critical role of business in APEC, the international group vision is to create seamless regional
economy that objects the trade and investment liberalisation, business facilitation and economic and
technical cooperation.
As, Philippines committed in this uniting economies, APEC leaders acknowledge the uneven
global growth and the presence of risk and uncertainties in the global economy. Content will show the
negative part of APEC economies and might be connected to practice of Architecture in the Philippines.
CONTENT
Philippine as part of global uniting countries of APEC association might face the different negative
effects we must consider as Filipino Architects while practicing our professionalism to other our country
and other country. Global changes might appear in future:
1. Competition in Job Market – This is everyone fears about in this uniting economies. This will
rely on the market mechanism from different professional characteristic of other APEC members
in industry of Architecture. Everyone might face the problem of prestige or bottom – line driven
by the local market perception the “foreign is better”. In country with have most building projects
and have a larger scale of designs of product of architectural firms and construction firms were
proudly proclaim the names of overseas architectural design consultants. In some articles from the
activist who are protesting APEC 2015, they show the analysis why APEC economic development
might worsen the poverty and inequality while strengthen the corporate power. This promotion of
APEC will only benefits the large scale corporation and being helpless to the Filipino workers. In
line of Architecture, ideally international marketing strategies can lure investments in Filipino
Architectural and Engineering Firms.
2. Level of Competitiveness or Labor Quality – Level and quality is related on the Competition of
Job Market. The issue is about the different development of Education of Architecture and the
number of experience in professional practice. It includes the adaptation of culture and lifestyle of
every person involve in architecture who want to practice their skill and knowledge in other
country. Wages and salaries as part of ethics will be a problem towards to labor quality. Since not
all APEC are in equal in terms of economic, there will be always competition that can slow down
the developing countries. In Peoples Forum: 2015 ‘APEC not good for Filipino masses’ in DSLU,
they emphasize the nature of business, APEC is expected to make winners and loser in the process.
Winners in the new – age of Free Trade Agreement can expect increased job opportunities and
higher salaries and upgrade lifestyles. While for losers, bankruptcy of small companies and slow
growth of economy await.
3. The boundaries of Philippine Architecture – Since Philippine will be part of the trading system
of businesses in architecture. These “free trade” might change the culture of architecture regarding
on history, culture and heritage. All different strategies might affect by rebuilding by practicing
based on sheer talent, modern styles by the overseas in their driven marketability and fashion.
With this effect, the future Filipino will change the environment that ennoble the Philippine culture
and to discover the different patterns of increasing dense urban life in tropics.
4. APEC’s in different Languages – Since Philippine will be part of the trading system of
businesses in architecture, there will be possible problems on the dialects or languages for the
better communication of participants and host of APEC members from their region. Basically for
those who wants to travel and experience the architectural professionalism or learn architecture in
other country, everyone will adjust and must learn the dialect before they go in another country.
Basically, English as the second language of Filipinos is the main dialects to use in international
gathering, other countries such as Thailand, Chinese Taipei etc. But still the APEC set the English
as the Language of Trade Finance and Technology in APEC: An East Asia Perspective.
5. Risk of losing more professional and non-professional workers because of higher – paying
Jobs – Philippine is also known as well development countries in Asia Pacific Region, but since
the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) administrator Hans Leo J. Cacdac
told the conference that Indonesia has been looking professionals in other countries like Malaysia
and Thailand who needs accountants, teachers, doctors were architects engineers and surveyors are
also involve, while Vietnam ramping up infrastructure development grabbing more jobs in
construction consultant engineers, quality control experts, supervisors and technical experts
according to Cacdac. With this opportunities many professional might be affected in the lower
demand on salaries and wages because of free trading system of APEC and they might consider
that leaving the country is the best option for the economic problems as well as their personal
problems.

2
CONCLUSION
APEC Economies target to develop the enhancement of the different members inside the Pacific
Region by supporting and facilitating the economic growth through trading businesses might cause different
impacts to practice of Architecture in the Philippines. These five listed negative effects about market
competition, level of competitiveness, boundaries of architecture, dialects / languages and risk of losing
professional workers can be identified as the major problems because of currents issues and discussed by
the different forums ministries and annalist.
Architecture is big part of APEC globalization, and architecture as a profession facing new
problems or challenges in this uniting economies through these negative effects discussed by the paper. We
should accept and deal with the changes and make it as a challenge to improve and upgrade our skills in line
of Architecture.
Even there are lot of negative effects from APEC, we should never forget the essence of
architecture is to promote the quality of life and cultural diversity. As architecture student and future
architect of our country, all negative effect or impact this uniting strategies of APEC will accept as positive
side to enhance my knowledge and skill through the diverse participation with other countries to prove that
architecture in Philippines is competitive with other international members of APEC.

REFERENCES:

Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation / 2015 APEC Ministral Meeting (2015) Available at: http:
www.apec.org/Meeting-Papers/Annual-Mnisterial-Meetings/2015_amm. (Accessed: 14
October 2017).

Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation / Economise Deliver(2015) Available at:

ISAB, I., Review Verlag Documentation (1998) Available at: http:

Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation / 2015 APEC Ministral Meeting (2015) Available at: http:
www.apec.org/Meeting-Papers/Annual-Mnisterial-Meetings/2015_amm. (Accessed: 14
October 2017).

Depart of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Asia – Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC).(2017)
Available at: http: www.dfat.gov.au/international-relations-
architecture/apec/pages/asia-pacific-economic-cooperation-apec.aspx. (Accessed: 15
October 2017).

Impact of Globalization on Architectural Services (2014) Available at: http: