NAGA CITY -– Engr. Juanito Abergas, national president of the Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers, will be the keynote speaker and guest of honor when some 250 civil engineers from all over Bicol formally open the 5th Region V Technical Conference of the PICE at Villa Caceres Hotel here on August 16, 2007.

        Naga City Mayor Jesse M. Robredo will give the welcome remarks.

        Engr. Don Emmanuel S. Santy, president of host PICE Naga City Chapter, said this year’s conference carries the theme “Civil Engineers: Stronger in facing the Challenges of the New Millennium.”

        “Various topics involving new trends and innovations in the civil engineering profession, as well as updates regarding the controversial implementation of the revised implementing rules and regulations of the National Building Code will be discussed during the two-day conference which will culminate on August 17,” he explained.

        These topics include:

        Day One -- 5th Building materials – membrane structure; bearing capacity theory; design and evaluation of transport scheme; typhoon engineering efforts for sustainable development in the Philippine setting; and historical review of wind speed maps for various purposes: toward further development and use as typhoon hazard maps.

        Day Two: flood control, urban transport infra drainage; and water supply and waste water engineering.

        Civil engineers coming from the 8 different chapters in Bicol, as well as those invited from other chapters in the country will comprise the participants for the regional conference.

        Registration fee for members in good standing is P1,500 that will cover kits, technical papers, lunch and snacks.