The United Professional Electrical Engineers of the Philippines (UPEEP) unveiled a new standardized billing guide and reinforced its commitment to ethical practice during its 8th Annual National Convention, an event that also featured the induction of its 2026 Regional Directors.
Launch of the 2025 Professional Tariff
In an exclusive interview, UPEEP National President Woody G. Erama identified the launch of the Professional Tariff of 2025 as a major organizational accomplishment. He presented the document, describing it as a critical tool to standardize billing practices for electrical engineers. He explained that the document establishes standardized service charges for clients, aiming to prevent disputes among engineers over pricing.
“This professional tariff sets our proper purpose, for example, in charging our clients, where our method of charging them will become standardized,” Erama said. He emphasized that the guide would be a significant help, particularly for young and newly graduated engineers, ensuring they are “properly guided.” This standardized rate would help prevent disputes among engineers over project costs.
The tariff is positioned as a vital resource, particularly for young and newly graduated engineers. Copies will be available for purchase through the UPEEP secretariat office in Manila. While the final cost is still to be determined by the board, Erama assured members that it would be affordable and serve as a form of support for the membership.
“This professional tariff sets our proper purpose… where our method of charging them will become standardized,” stated President Erama.
Copies of the new tariff will be available for purchase through the UPEEP secretariat office in Manila. While the final cost is yet to be determined by the board, Erama assured members it would be affordable and intended as a support mechanism, not a profit center.
A Call for Unity and Modeling Integrity
Beyond the tariff, President Erama delivered a powerful message on the core mission of UPEEP: to promote “integrity, professionalism, ethical values and cross-disciplinary collaboration.” He revealed that a primary goal for the year is to make the organization a “home model” for young engineers. “Once we establish our integrity as engineers, I am sure it will be a great help for our members to become a role model and we will avoid any bad practices,” Erama said.
This focus on ethical conduct was reinforced by Meralco Executive Vice President and COO, Engineer Ronnie Aperocho, during a forum, with President Erama proudly noting that electrical engineers have not been implicated in recent professional controversies.
Fostering Unity and Professionalism
In an exclusive interview, UPEEP National President Woody G. Erama outlined the convention’s core mission. “The main purpose of this is to promote professionalism among others,” President Erama stated. He emphasized the organization’s unified goal to promote “integrity, professionalism, and ethical values” among its members.
Highlighting a strategic push for solidarity, the convention featured a forum with the United Architects of the Philippines and the Philippine Society of Mechanical Engineers. President Erama stressed that such collaboration is vital for the entire engineering field. Erama described the discussions as highly productive, leading to a sharing of best practices that could be adapted to foster greater unity across all engineering organizations.
“It is very important to bring all organizations together… Through this, we can help each other to make all the projects undertaken by our engineers better and stronger,” he noted. He added that such unity also sets a positive example for young engineers entering the profession, it demonstrates a “good model” for the next generation, encouraging them to follow and further promote the profession.
Integrity in the Spotlight
Amid recent controversies in other engineering sectors, the forum’s emphasis on integrity—endorsed by Meralco COO Engineer Ronnie Aperocho—resonated with UPEEP’s central mission. President Woody G. Erama welcomed this focus, unequivocally stating that promoting integrity is the organization’s “primary goal” for the year.
He framed integrity as a foundational professional asset, declaring, “We believe that once we establish our integrity as engineers, I am sure it will be a great help for our members to become a role model and we will avoid any bad practices.” This, he explained, is key to positioning UPEEP members as ethical “home models” for the next generation and insulating the profession from misconduct. He further reinforced the importance of the collaborative spirit with other professionals as a means to collectively promote and uphold integrity across the board.
A Mandate for Incoming Leaders
Concluding the convention’s proceedings, President Erama delivered a clear mandate to the newly elected Board of Directors. He directly linked the organization’s future success to the quality of its leadership, charging the incoming officials with the responsibility to sustain the momentum. “The performance of our leadership determines the success of our events and our organization,” Erama stated, calling for them to build upon the current foundation to ensure UPEEP’s ongoing growth and influence.
Ultimately, the 8th Annual National Convention served to solidify UPEEP’s key initiatives for the coming year: providing practical tools like the new tariff, championing unwavering ethical standards, and fostering a collaborative spirit to elevate the entire engineering profession in the Philippines.#
