Philippine Institute of Certified Quantity Surveyors (PICQS), Inc.
About PICQS
The founding of the Philippine Institute of Certified Quantity Surveyors (PICQS), Inc. is one that started from the vision of its Founder to make the Quantity Surveying trained Filipinos achieve a chartered status with internationally r ecognized QS professional bodies. PICQS, Inc. is an all Filipino organization comprised of Members of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), Members of the Australian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (AIQS), Student and Trainee Members of the RICS, Chartered members of internationally recognized QS professional bodies, QS-trained Engineers who are working towards their QS Study, Assessment of Professional Competence (APC) and Assessment of Technical Competence (ATC) towards Chartered Membership. It is an organization open to Filipino Citizens who are QS trained Engineers. Currently, it has about 428 members worldwide with Chapters in UK, UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, KSA, North America, Singapore, and the Philippines. It was incorporated in the Philippine Securities and Exchange Commission with its base territory being the Philippines. PICQS is an Associate Member of the PAQS (Pacific Asia Quantity Surveyors) as the QS representing body of the Philippines. Other member organizations of PAQS are AIQS (Australia), CIQS (Canada), HKIS (HK), SVIV (Singapore), ISM (Malaysia), CECA (China), BUJ (Japan), IQSSL (Sri Lanka) and PUJA (Brunei). Majority of the incorporators are MRICS and the members are MRICS and Assoc RICS and student members who are already working towards their APC/ATC. This is the first Filipino organization that aims to help Filipino QS trained Engineers become chartered following the standards of RICS (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors). RICS President See Lian Ong and the Chair of the RICS Philippines Working Committee Alan P. Hearn has expressed their support to PICQS and is willing to collaborate with PICQS in the development of the QS profession in the Philippines
Since the organization’s launching, we now have 1 Fellow of RICS, 2 MRICS, 1 AAIQS, 1 PQS (CIQS), 1 MNZIQS, 2 MCInstCES MCInstCES , , 24 Assoc RICS, 46 AIQS Affiliate, 1 CCE (CIQS), 1 AIQS Technician, Technician, 1 TCInstCES and 1 CIQS Associate. For more information, please visit the website www.picqs.org. Membership Admission As a reputable and responsible professional organization, PICQS has always maintained vigorous assessment standards for entry to the Institute. Membership applications are screened and professional interviews are conducted by PICQS. Once members are admitted to PICQS, they are given appropriate membership grades and are immediately invited to participate in the various structured training programs and professional development facilities that aim to guide members in their professional development in order to achieve membership with relevant international QS professional bodies. For applicants who have not effectively answered the questions during the interview, which can be due to the usage of unfamiliar terms or possibly the want of words to adequately explain the idea, they will be admitted as a Provisional Member to the PICQS and this does not diminish the applicant’s capacity in any way or form. The Provisional Members will be allowed to attend CPDs and structured trainings (P3T) that would allow them the opportunity to learn more and improve on their professional competence and re-appear for interview and move towards attaining membership to the PICQS.
Grades of Membership, Guidelines to membership and membership fee structure are show on the website (www.picqs.org)
PICQS Programs To support PICQS in its drive for excellence, PICQS programs primarily to meet the target objectives in order to fulfill the PICQS vision. PICQS programs have been developed not only to help members become professional members of international QS bodies but most importantly, to establish a reciprocity agreement with these international QS bodies. Through these programs, PICQS endeavor to get recognized by RICS, AIQS and the rest of the international QS bodies. We have been recognized by PAQS and this is an important milestone for PICQS and it marks the beginning of establishing a QS course in the Phili ppines accredited by international QS bodies.
CPDs
PICQS conducts a minimum of 4 Continuous Professional Development (CPDs) in each Chapter. The CPD topics are primarily focused on various APC Competencies such as core, optional and mandatory competencies so members will be prepared in their APC journey, improve the members’ professional competence. Undertaking CPD is an essential part of being a professional and PICQS Members need to undertake and record appropriate CPD and provide evidence of having done. Topics include Design Economics and Cost Planning, BQ Quantification and Costing of Works, Tendering and Procurement, Contract Practice, Project Control and Financial Reporting and Construction Technology and Environmental Services, Contract Administration and Commercial Management. Each CPDs is comprised of 2.5 hour credit units which contributes to members professional development. PICQS prescribes a minimum of 16 hours of CPD/learning learning activities per year. CPD fees are prescribed by the Chapter CPD Committee. In normal cases, members are charged a fee of AED 50 while non-members pay AED 75. P3T (PICQS Think Tank Trainings)
P3T (PICQS Think Tank Trainings) is the newest product of PICQS, which will specifically cater to Technical Members and Provisional Members. The P3T will be conducted by nominated Trainers under the guidance of the Corporate Members. Topics are pre selected and are mostly based on APC Competencies and the RICS Black Book – Guidance Notes and will run on an every other month basis. There will be 12 topics in a one year period. The P3T will specifically address the concern of RICS over the Level 1 qualifications of those who have no RICS accredited degree. The major challenge that most candidates will face is how to satisfy Level 1 condition and pass the pre assessment stage of the Professional Experience Route (PER). In areas outside the UK, RICS has no facility to conduct face to face training sessions to help those without an RICS accredited degree acquire Level 1 qualification and what they do offer is the RICS Online Academy, which is expensive (approximately AED 3,000 for 5 months). PICQS has secured permission from RICS to conduct its own training and RICS is glad to hear that PICQS is working hard with providing guidance and professional development to the members and have no objection to the P3T. All trainings (P3T) are to be conducted in paid venues. Schedule of topics, dates and trainers will be posted in the Calendar of Activities section of the website. P3T fees would be AED 50 per topic or an equivalent AED 600 for 12 topics. For exact fees relvant to your Chapter, please contact your Chapter Knowledge Committee Head.
GaMP and PAP GaMP
In support of more members pursuing APC as a result of this route, PICQS has set up two (2) separate yet complementary programmes namely GAMP (Guidance and Monitoring Program) and PAP (PICQS APC Program). When a member declares his/her intention to pursue RICS membership through APC (whether through PER or other routes), he/she will be guided through GAMP and PAP. G AMP generally aids the member with his/her preparation of written submissions such as the critical analysis, case studies, and experience and CPD records against competencies while PAP is generally designed to prepare the member for the final assessment interview. GAMP is an eleven-week program where participants are guided in their self-assessment against the RICS core competencies for the practice of quantity surveying. The process consists of participants seriously attempting one competency statement each week – and this continuing on for seven weeks; whilst the remaining four weeks would be dedicated to completing the case studies or critical analysis. This generous timeframe was purposely intended to discourage the habit of cramming at the same time provide the applicant a gauge of any further CPDs or experience he needs to be able to achieve the required levels in each competency. This service is
PAP
PAP is a five-month program immediately following the GAMP. This program aims to develop APC candidates’ confidence prior to their APC interviews. This program was launched to help the candidate to gain more knowledge and experience through their fellow reviewers or classmates as each group members vary from client, consultant and contractor. It is more interactive in that it would compel participants to discuss the competencies before an audience. This process aims to further integrate knowledge of the competencies with actual experience, as well as develop the oral presentation skills that are necessary for the actual interviews. Progress in these programmes will be monitored by assigned leaders per Chapter, with the PICQS Chairman overseeing. This program culminates with a mock interview to be conducted by the PICQS Chair and invited external RICS assessors. In order for members to realize the value of their APC undertaking, APC candidates will be charged a fee of AED 500 for their participation in the GaMP and PAP + the PICQS Mentor scheme for a period of around 6 – 8 months. The GaMP, the PICQS Mentor Scheme and PAP are conducted by PCIQS Program Heads for free. However, food, venues for review, time and administration costs have to be covered by the fee. The generating income from these activities will be allocated for the PICQS Sponsorship Program. Refer to the PICQS Directory for the list of of GaMP Leaders, PAP Leaders and Sub Group Leaders. PICQS Mentor Scheme Another program that will be launched this year is the PICQS Mentors Scheme comprised of 11 Corporate Members. The PICQS Mentor Scheme is a program that will involve a Mentor (a Corporate Member) and a Mentee (the APC Candidate). There will be a mentor and mentee relationship and open line communication between the two is encouraged. The Mentor will check the Critical Analysis, Competency Statements and the APC presentation of the Mentee. The Mentor will honestly communicate honestly with Mentee regarding the shortfalls so the PEG Sub Group Leader can help the candidate address the deficiencies. Mentors shall give advice on preparing for the final assessment presentation and interview. This service will have a minimal fee, which is
already covered by GaMP and PAP charged at AED 500 per applicant.
Career Plan Monitoring When admitted as members of PCIQS, they are required to declare their career plan by giving specific timeline on when they intend to achieve their chartered membership. This career plan will be reviewed and monitored by the Chapter Knowledge Committee members on an annual basis. The Career Plan Monitoring Program of PICQS will be intensified especially with the introduction of the new membership application structure. This service is free to all members.
ATC Guidance and New Members Orientation on APC Competencies and Routes to Membership The ATC guidance to members (guidance on AIQS Affiliate and Assoc RICS and Technical CICES applications) is currently on going and many members are benefitting from this. An orientation on Routes to Membership and APC Competencies are conducted 2x a year to all members. Visit the website for the Routes to Membership. These services are all free to members.
PICQS Weekly As a start, the organization has begun publishing 'PICQS Weekly' on its website www.picqs.org. As the name implies, this bulletin will be issued on a weekly basis featuring pre-selected topics taken from the APC competencies namely Design Economics and Cost Planning, Quantification and Costing of Construction Works, Construction Technology and Environmental Services, Tendering and Procurement, Contract Practice, Project Financial Control and Reporting, Conflict Avoidance and Management, Contract Administration, Insurance, Sustainability, Conduct Rules, Ethics, and Professional Practice, Client Care, Business Planning, Health and Safety, and Data Management. Inspired by and similar in style as the Daily Bread or Didache or Daily Drucker, it is envisaged that PICQS Weekly will provide a reading to be studied further on by the member and so build up his/her knowledge on Quantity Surveying. PICQS Weekly also provides an opportunity for members to share their knowledge and experience. Members from the Affiliate Level are assigned to research and write about a corresponding topic. These contributors will then submit their articles to the facilitators as appointed by the PICQS Chairman. The facilitators will then liaise with the Communication Committee for publication on to the website. Prior to publication, each article will be reviewed and checked by the founding Chairman, Julie Dela Cruz (FRICS) to ensure the accuracy and conformity to the professional standards. Visit the website for more information. This service is free to all members. Forum Discussion Another banner program for PICQS for 2012 is the PICQS Forum Discussion. It is an online discussion where ideas and views on a particular issue can be exchanged in the form of posted messages. This will provide a great venue for members to drop in their questions, clarifications, experience and knowledge on construction and QS scenarios/topics being discussed. The Forum is a section on the PICQS website and the Chairman, Julie Dela Cruz (FRICS), has assigned members (from the Probationer Grade) a pre-selected topic to be posted. The selected topics will revolve around the competencies. Topics are to be posted on the Forum and each topic will be discussed fortnightly before proceeding to another topic. The Centralized Communication Committee will act as administrators of the forum and shall manage the technical details required in running the section on the website. Grace Mamaradlo (MRICS) will act as the moderator and will screen all questions and comments before it can be posted. She will answer every member’s concern on the forum and give the replies to questions with the help of other corporate members.
The main goal is to have a meaningful exchange of thoughts and experience in Quantity Surveying, in a dition to providing opportunities for members to enhance their communication and writing skills, that is through constructing/organizing one’s thoughts and posting them online. This year, since we will launch the P3T, there will be discussions that will evolve on these topics and we will ask the participants to submit their questions to the Centralized Communication Committee so it will be published in the website Forum Discussion section. The Chairman, the Forum Discussion Manager and Forum Discussion Facilitators will also initiate discussions as necessary. This facility is free to all members.
FoQuS
In order for some articles that need not necessarily be published on the website and in order to convey the current news and other events that are happening to PICQS on a regular basis, the Chair and Founder decided to create a Newsletter called FoQuS. FoQuS is an acronym for Filipino Organization of Quantity Surveyors and is a homophone of the word FOCUS, which means PICQS’ members, are all focused to the vision of becoming chartered and they have a motivation (focus) towards achieving an e nd goal. The newsletter is issued quarterly and each chapter will host one article for inclusion in the Newsletter. The Newsletter contains headline news, chapter news (PICQS across the globe), a success corner, PICQS by the numbers, Your Corner, announcement of CPDs and Events (External and PICQS events) and a corner for the announcement of new members. The FoQus is managed by the Editor in Chief, Grace Mamardlo (MRICS) and the Editorial Board is comprised of the Centralized Communication Committee Head Salvador Gamboa and the committee members under the supervision of the PICQS Chair Julie dela Cruz (FRICS).
PICQS Yearbook The PICQS Yearbook is an annual report that details the work that PICQS has accomplished for the year. The Yearbook will include the Chairman’s Message, the Chapter President’s Report, the Financial Report of the National Board Treasurer, the PICQS programs, the various CPDs and trainings, a gallery of social, charitable and educational activities of PICQS, CPDs sponsored by PICQS, CPD sponsored by other QS organizations which are supported by PICQS. PAQS Board within PICQS As an Associate Member of PAQS, PICQS actively participates in the PAQS programs and activities which include the involvement in the Young Group of Quantity Surveyors, the contribution to the PAQS-YGQS newsletter and the participation in the PAQS Congress which is held annually in July. For further queries on how to be involved in the PAQS activities, please contact Nila Dimaano (
[email protected]), Centralized Membership Committee Head and Secretary of the PAQSYGQS. RICS Menea QS and Construction Professional Sub Group within PICQS
The PICQS Chair and Founder is a member of the RICS Menea QS and Construction Professional Group Board and one of the responsibilities of the Board is to review the RICS Black Book – Guidance Notes. As part of the review, RICS suggested that each member of the Board form their own sub group to help in the review of the Guidance Notes. PICQS members namely Aileen Lopez, Grace Mamaradlo, Roland Seprado and Jofer Magsi have been nominated by the PICQS Chair to be part of the RICS Menea QS and Construction
Professional Sub Group. The involvement of these key members will play an important aspect in the development of PICQS. PICQS Sponsorship Program (PSP) PICQS recently launched the PICQS Sponsorship Program (PSP), which aims to send at least 5 PICQS members (1 from PAP, 1 from GaMP, 1 Founder Member, 1 Technical Founder Member and 1 Technical Regular Member) to Prof Sam’s Sound Contract Administration Courses + Advanced Class on Contract Administration at 50% sponsorship (Full cost of the course is AED 5,000). Guidelines are to be set out by the Sponsorship Program Head to be determined in due course. In addition to the 50% scholarship, PICQS will also sponsor the attendance of one (1) delegate each year to the PAQS Congress. PICQS Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)
Being a responsible professional organization has a significant impact at everything we do at PICQS. Our institute’s values and standards, guided by the member’s integrity, skills, expertise and excellence in carrying out duties , provide the foundation for our commitment to corporate responsibility which internally we call 'The Responsible QS, the PICQS'. The PICQS CSR projects include sending donations of cash and in kind to calamity victims in the Philippines through ABS-CBN Sagip Kapamilya and providing pro bono cost estimates to Sagip Kapamilya projects.
PICQS Annual Circle of Excellence (ACE) Awards On our road to sustained success, people are the KEY. In fact, people have been the major reason why PICQS have gained acceptance by more established QS organizations like AIQS, PAQS and RICS, and the tremendous expressions of interest from potential m embers. As a way of motivating everyone to continue achieving best results, to develop ourselves into better individuals and to create an even stronger organization, the PICQS Chair and Founder has launched the Annual Circle of Excellence Awards. The PICQS Annual Circle of Excellence (ACE) awards aims to recognize the outstanding performance of individuals. “Every PICQS member takes pride for every achievement PICQS attains.” By the dynamic efforts exerted by the Chapter Officers and Heads and members, this has largely contributed to the realization of the PICQS’ vision. Our efforts to achieve our objectives provide fulfillment to attain our vision, which are all key to our quest to become future Chartered QS Professionals. PICQS Giftware
The PICQS Giftware collection is a range of quality gifts bearing the PICQS logo. The PICQS Chapter CPD Committee is delighted to contribute 10% of the net price of all items sold to the PICQS Sponsorship Program (PSP) and the PICQS CSR projects.
