Performance of schools in February 2024 ME and CPM Licensure Examinations

By Rex Casiple III

The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) Board of Mechanical Engineering announced that a total of 4,458 out of 6,753 examinees nationwide, or 66.02%, passed in the Mechanical Engineers Licensure Examination given in 12 testing centers all over the country in February 2024. The Technological University of the Philippines – Visayas (TUP-Visayas) from Western Visayas ranked number 5 in the said examination for schools with 75 or more examinees and with at least 80% passing percentage.  Christian John Paul Llenos Lijayan of TUP – Visayas ranked number 6 in the said examination for Mechanical Engineers.

In the regional level seven (7) schools in the Region out of 16, or 43.25%, performed high or with a passing percentage higher than that of the national average. The Region produced 321 passers out of 480 takers, or 66.88% passing percentage. There were 407 first takers and 73 repeaters from the Region who took the said examination. The first takers passing percentage was 75.43%. The repeaters’ passing percentage was 19.18%.

On the other hand, the PRC Board of Mechanical Engineering announced that a total of 65 out of 108 examinees, or 60.19%, passed in the Certified Plant Mechanics (CPM) Licensure Examination given all over the country in February 2024. There were 81 first takers and 27 repeaters who took the said examination. The first takers passing percentage was 62.96%. The repeaters’ passing percentage was 52%. Capiz State University (CAPSU) from Western Visayas ranked number 1 in terms of the number of passers with 20 out of 32 examinees. Technological University of the Philippines – Manila (TUP-Manila) ranked number 2 with 12 passers out of 13 examinees. TUP-Manila ranked number 1 in terms of passing percentage with 92.31%.

In the regional level one (1) school in the Region out of 3, or 33.33%, performed high or with a passing percentage higher than that of the national average. The Region produced 21 passers out of 38 takers, or 55.26% passing percentage. There were 26 first takers and 12 repeaters from the Region who took the said examination. The first takers passing percentage was 50%. The repeaters’ passing percentage was 66.67%.

Republic Act 8495, otherwise known as “An Act Regulating the Practice of Mechanical Engineering in the Philippines” categorized the licensed professionals in the practice of mechanical engineering in the country: the Certified Plant Mechanic (CPM), the Registered Mechanical Engineer (RME) and the Professional Mechanical Engineer (PME). 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 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”. CPM license holders are considered as Civil Service Passers or eligibles equivalent to First Grade Eligibility.