SOLSONA, MA. EDHELIA C.

ARSP 02

BSA 4A
POSITION PAPER
FACILITIES MANAGEMENT INDUSTRY IN THE PHILIPPINES

Over the years, the construction industry in the Philippines has been experiencing
an increase in the development and use of new building materials and construction
technologies. Consequently, this has led to an increase in the complexities of building
systems and other support services, which has raised the necessity of involving the facility
manager in the early stage of the design process. The practice of architecture often include
design or selection of furnishings and decorations, supervision of construction work, and
the examination, restoration, or remodeling of existing building while the facilities
management as the discipline responsible for coordinating all efforts related to planning,
designing and managing buildings and their systems, equipment and furniture to enhance
the organization's ability to compete successfully in a rapidly changing world. Facilities
management initiatives commence as soon as operations in the building take place and
continue throughout the life cycle of the building over several decades. This term is mostly
confused with the term asset management. Perhaps, the two professions are closely
related, often perform each others function at time, but disparity exists. The role of the
facility manager is to endeavor on assisting the organization to meet its strategic business
goals and objectives, with a focus on the physical facility as a process for coordinating the
physical workplace with the people and the work of the organization. On the other hand,
asset management focuses on maximizing the value of a property from acquisition to
disposition according to the strategic objectives of the client organization.
Throughout this period, the facility manager who is not conversant with the design
concept employed by the architect is challenged with a burden of making some critical
decisions. Examples of these decisions include space expansion, division and remodeling.
The early involvement of the facility manager with the design team will result in procuring
a facility that could be maintained and managed easily. According to Eng. Eric Mangibin,
who was the facilities manager in SSS building Makati, the Facilities Management blends
the operational demands of a building with managerial responsibilities. This are embedded
within the widest array of building services and architectural science subjects, giving an
unrivalled strategic understanding of all aspects of building administration. It builds on the
qualifications and experience of the architect through the addition of strategic management
principles that drive high-performance buildings. They will learn to align building
operations with organizational priorities and how building services and sustainable
approaches produce value. This is supplemented with industry interfaces and practical
case studies.
Being the manager of a small to medium sized facility, such as office
buildings, it is easy to fall into the mindset that they are on they own and must fix at all.

This can make them feel quite isolated. Making time to step outside of the day- to- day
responsibilities and that they can encourage and empower them to work.
For me, the Facilities Management in the Philippines is the most stimulating
learning experience as an architect. It also utilizes experts from the industry to keep
participants abreast of the latest technologies such as Building Information Management
(BIM). To implementing an effective maintenance and inspection system is essential for the
safety, reliability and sustainability of the facilities. It should have a comprehensive range
of facilities management and inspection services throughout the life of the building,
infrastructure or industrial plant.
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