Manila, Philippines – Esteemed academicians and practicing professionals in landscape architecture from the International Federation of Landscape Architects (IFLA) - Asia Pacific Region (APR) and IFLA World registered in the two-day virtual international conference entitled "Pan-Asian Challenges of the Practice of Landscape Architecture, International Conference on Landscape Architecture Profession (And Establishment of Mutual Recognition of Professional Qualifications)" last December 16-17, 2020 which was organized by Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) and the Professional Regulatory Board of Landscape Architecture (PRBoLA), in partnership with the Philippine Association of Landscape Architects (PALA).
Paving the way towards the end of the year, the two-day international conference aimed to establish linkages with their foreign counterparts to pursue a collaborative partnership and identify the challenges the profession faces and come up with measures. It is hoped to address the challenges such as the formulation of a common qualification framework to hopefully facilitate the cross-border supply and recognition of individuals' academic and professional (Practice) qualifications. The event also aimed to identify the areas or items of alignment on common elements of professional recognition in each other regimes for mutual recognition of qualifications.
Day 1 opened with PRBoLA Honorable Member Cecilia Herras-Tence's insightful views on landscape architecture's global practice, followed by remarkable messages from PRC's Honorable Commissioners, Yolanda D. Reyes and Jose Y. Cueto, Jr. and Honorable Chairman Teofilo S. Pilando, Jr. First on the renowned speakers' set was International Federation of Landscape Architects (IFLA) World President L Arch. James Hayter, who lectured on the topic "Global Practice of Landscape Architecture: Movement & Cross Border Practice" while Atty. Jesper P. Paquito of the International Affairs Office (IAO) shared his constructive reactions. L. Arch Hayter was followed by L Arch. Simon Bell as he led the discussions on how landscape architecture education shapes the practice of the profession. Summing the day one (1) up were L Arch. Zenaida Galingan and L Arch. Nappy Navarra, through their presentations on the current situation of education and local practice, respectively.
Day 2 continued with PRC-NCR Officer-in-Charge, Mr. Lord Louis P. Valera's presentation on region-wide policy on professional practice, followed by IFLA-Asia Pacific Region (IFLA-APR) Honorary Secretary, Mike Barthelmeh with his discussions on the topic "Setting Standard for Landscape Architecture Education Programs: Experience in Accreditation", side-by-side onto breakout sessions were discussions of plans related to education and local practices led by L. Arch. Navarra and L Arch. Vic Dul-loog, respectively.
As PRBoLA Chairman Hon. Paulo G. Alcazaren synthesized the two-day Zoom event, he highlighted the steady gathering of issues and aspects of education and practice to sustain the efforts to improve the practice of the LA profession in the Philippines.
With this event, the PRC, PRBoLA, and PALA are enormously hopeful for an established mutual recognition of professional qualification in the practice of Landscape Architecture that will surely benefit the Filipino Landscape Architects.
