Performance of Schools in February 2023 ME and CPM Licensure Examinations

By Dr. Rex Casiple

The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) Board of Mechanical Engineering announced that a total of 3,774 out of 6,070 examinees nationwide, or 62.18%, passed the Mechanical Engineers Licensure Examination given in 13 testing centers all over the country in February 2023.

The Iloilo Science and Technology University (ISAT University) from Region VI ranked number 2 in the said examination with 40 or more examinees and with at least 80% passing percentage.  Nikko Perez Martirizar of Iloilo Science and Technology University (ISAT U) ranked number 4 in the said examination for Mechanical Engineers.

Furthermore, Jerson Cervantes Ocera of Technological University of the Philippines – Visayas (TUP-Visayas) ranked number 9 in the said examination. Ten (10) schools in the Region out of 14, or 71%, performed high or with a passing percentage higher than that of the national level. The Region produced 387 passers out of 564 takers, or 68.62% passing percentage.

There were 430 first takers and 134 repeaters from the Region who took the said examination. The first takers passing percentage is 74.9%. The repeater passing percentage is 48.51%.

On the other hand, the PRC Board of Mechanical Engineering announced that a total of 65 out of 90 examinees, or 72.22%, passed in the Certified Plant Mechanics (CPM) Licensure Examination given all over the country in February 2023.

There were 68 first takers and 22 repeaters who took the said examination. The first takers passing percentage was 73.53%. The repeaters’ passing percentage was 68.18%. No takers from Western Visayas Region. Abram Noja Arellano of Cristal e-College – Panglao Campus ranked number 1 in the said examination for Plant Mechanics.

Five examinees from Technological University of the Philippines – Manila Campus (TUP-Manila) were included in the top 10 examinees (Rank #2, Rank #7, Rank #8, Rank #9, and Rank #10). Examinees from University of Nueva Caceres (Ranked #3), Polytechnic University of the Philippines – Taguig Campus (Rank #4 and Rank #6), Surigao State College and Technology (Rank #5) and Romblon State University-Odiongan Campus (Main) (Rank #5) were also included in the top 10.

The CPM is one of the 3 categories of licensed professionals in the practice of mechanical engineering as stipulated in Republic Act 8495, otherwise known as An Act Regulating the Practice of Mechanical Engineering in the Philippines. The other two (2) categories according to rank are Professional Mechanical Engineer (PME) and Registered Mechanical Engineer (RME).

The qualifications of applicants for CPM Board Examination as per Section 16 of RA 8495 are (1) He must not have been convicted by a court of law of a crime involving moral turpitude; (2) He has graduated from a vocational or trade school duly recognized by the government after completing an approved course of not less than 2 years in stationary or power plant engineering or in any  mechanical plant operation; and (3) He has a specific record of an additional one (1) year or more of active practice in mechanical plant operation of such character as indicated in an affidavit of a registered professional mechanical engineer.

The licensed CPM or licensed Mechanical Engineers are needed in the operation of power plants, industrial plants and other establishments, such as, hospitals, malls, ice plants, schools, hotels or restaurants, operating or consuming power at 100kw to 300 kw.

This is in accordance with Sec. 33.d, Article IV (Practice of the Profession) of RA 8495, re: “It shall be unlawful for any person, unless authorized under this Act, to operate, tend or maintain, or be in-charge of the operation, tending, or maintenance of any mechanical works, projects, plant of 100kw, or more but not more than 300kw unless he is a duly licensed Professional Mechanical Engineer, Mechanical Engineer or Certified Plant Mechanic”.