To: Bureau Directors
Regional Directors
Chiefs of Services and Heads of Units/Centers
Presidents, State Colleges and Universities
Heads of Private Schools, Colleges and Universities

1. In line with the government’s policy of upgrading engineering education in the country, its institutions and programs and its outputs in the form of engineering graduates who could support the requirements of economic recovery and growth through technological and industrial development, and as provided for by law, the role, functions and responsibilities of the Technical Panel for Engineering Education (TPEE) as created by Department Order No. 35, s. 1977, is hereby amended and clarified to conform to the current needs and demands of socioeconomic development in the Philippines.
2. In order to promote and improve the productivity of the system of engineering education in the country, there is a need to rationalize and make more effective existing and proposed engineering institutions and programs. This can be achieved through a proper matching of engineering manpower development efforts to the requirements of technological and industrial development guided by the broad principles of equity, efficiency and quality.
3. Consistent with the foregoing objectives, relevant policies, minimum standards as well as rules and regulations pertaining to the establishment and operation of engineering degree programs shall be implemented for effective management of the total engineering education system. This total system shall refer to the system of degree programs at both undergraduate and graduate levels in the field of Aeronautical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Electronics and Communications Engineering, Geodetic Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Metallurgical Engineering, Mining Engineering and such other engineering fields which may be needed to meet the requirements of socioeconomic development.
4. Such effective management of the total engineering education system shall be the broad objective of the TPEE in carrying out the following functions:
   1. To periodically assess and evaluate the thrusts and orientation of the country’s engineering education system in relation to technological and industrial development in the national and international context with the objective of recommending changes and alternative directions towards a relevant system of engineering education in the country;
   2. To periodically undertake a survey of engineering manpower requirements in order to arrive at a forecast of national and regional demand for engineers in various areas of specialization. This forecast of requirements should provide information on quantity and type of expertise and skills which engineering graduates should possess;
   3. To formulate and recommend an engineering education plan covering medium term and long term requirements which shall specify the types of engineering programs, the corresponding levels and the desired number of institutions which should offer such programs considering geographical factors as well as the concept of flagship institutions;
   4. To establish and operate a management information system for engineering education;
   5. To formulate and recommend for adoption and implementation, qualitative standards of education inputs, processes, and outputs with respect to admission, enrolment, faculty, curricula and courses, facilities, student services, instructional equipment, library resources, management, financing and other related criteria, which shall be applicable to all engineering education programs in all levels in public and private colleges and universities through a national system of accreditation to be developed by this panel. For this purpose, the basic principles underlying the accreditation system is made an integral part of this Order.
   6. To provide technical assistance in the supervision, inspection and regulation of all existing institutions offering engineering courses, for purposes of the maintenance of government authority to operate them, and the grant of corresponding government authority to operate with respect new schools or courses based on the standards approved by the Minister of Education, Culture and Sports;
   7. To provide direction and assistance in the developmental planning of engineering institutions and programs at the regional and national levels;
   8. To undertake researches and studies along the line of improving institutional management and performance of engineering institutions and programs including sourcing, allocation and utilizing inputs;
   9. To study and recommend action on the budgets of public engineering institutions on the basis of their management performance, standards, instructional program quality and leadership in the regional and national levels;
   10. Within approved budgets to recommend grants for the funding of research and development activities geared towards the improvement of programs, facilities and instructional methodologies and technology in engineering education;
   11. To formulate and recommend for adoption and implementation such rules and regulations governing all engineering education programs as may be necessary to carry out their purposes and functions in accordance with the approved input, process and output standards set for obtaining government incentives and funds;
   12. To review all programs relevant to engineering education initiated by MECS regional directors, provide technical assistance if necessary and recommend final action on such programs;
   13. To do such other acts and to approve and make such expenditures as may be deemed necessary and proper for the attainment of the objectives of this Ministry Order in accordance with the existing laws and rules.
5. For the governance and policy direction, the Technical Panel for Engineering Education (TPEE) shall be composed of the following members who shall be appointed or designated by the Minister of Education, Culture and Sports; provided, however, that in case of those members mentioned in (c) to (f), they shall continue to be members for as long as the agency they are representing would allow them to represent the same; and provided still further, that in the case of those members mentioned in (g) to (i), they shall enjoy a term of three (3) years without prejudice to reappointment.
   1. The Director of the Bureau of Higher Education, as Ex-Officio Chairman
   2. The Executive Director of the UP National Engineering Center
   3. A representative from the Ministry of Labor and Employment (MOLE)
   4. A representative from the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA)
   5. A representative from the National Science and Technology Authority (NSTA)
   6. A representative from the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC)
   7. A representative from Industry
   8. A representative from the Engineering Professional Societies
   9. Three (3) representatives with engineering background to be drawn from the engineering education sector.
6. To support the TPEE and ensure the effective implementation and continuity of its purposes, functions and responsibilities, there shall be a Secretariat with staff on permanent status under the office of the Minister, headed by an Executive Secretary. The services of a pool technical consultants or experts on full-time or part-time status shall likewise be provided and maintained. Such consultants and experts shall either be detailed from existing government institutions or agencies or funded from appropriation that may be availed of.
7. With the constitution of the Board of Higher Education (BHE) the TPEE shall serve as a consultative, advisory and recommendatory body to the board in matters relating to engineering education.
8. Funding for the operation of the TPEE, the Secretariat and its activities as well as technical consultants/experts/staffs, shall thereafter be made a regular appropriation under the office of the Minister in the succeeding annual general appropriation acts.
9. This Ministry Order shall take effect immediately.

Reference: Department Order (No. 35, s. 1977)
Allotment: 1-3-4—(M.O. 1-87)

To be indicated in the Perpetual Index under the following subjects:
BUREAUS AND OFFICES
COURSE OF STUDY, COLLEGIATE
RULES AND REGULATIONS