Gregorio R. Vigilar
Secretary

President's Report

Now on its 40th year of existence, ACEL to this day continues to live up to the vision of a professional leasing / rental business achieved through the adoption of a strict code of ethics and the development and upgrading of skills of its manpower resources. With the difficulties that the construction industry has faced and continues to be confronted with, the ACEL Board, past and present, have decided to look at the bigger picture. To look at the opportunities and challenges than be fazed by the difficulties of the times.

As in previous years, focus on quality membership has been pursued. Careful deliberations on the acceptance of applicants have been done. To date, the Association has ____ regular and _____ associate members and ____ honorary members.

We have redoubled our efforts in manpower development and have focused on the difficult task of putting in place a program for manpower development and standardization and certification of skills for the industry. Just recently, we have submitted the final output and project completion report to TESDA for the development and validation of Competency Standards and Competency Assessment Tools for the following occupations, namely; Concrete Pump, Asphalt Paver, Transit Mixer, Articulated Dump Truck, Backhoe Loader and On-Highway Dump Truck. Also being developed are competency assessment tools for the following, namely: Heavy Equipment Servicing (Mechanical) NCII, Rough Terrain Crane, Crawler Crane, Truck Mounted Crane, Tower Crane, Rigging, Bulldozer, Motor Grader, Concrete Pump, Asphalt Paver, Transit Mixer, Articulated Dump Truck, Backhoe Loader and On-Highway Dump Truck. Our efforts are a “work in progress” and we try to make reasonable adjustments and improvements to cater to the specific needs and requirements of the industry and its manpower.

Our efforts have not been in vain since ACEL has been given by TESDA the sole accreditation to be the national organization mandated to implement the program for assessment and certification for the heavy equipment sector. In effect, ACEL will soon have to establish assessment centers nationwide to get the work done.

ACEL continues to conduct seminars and trainings with the end in view of enhancing the skills and competence of the workforce. Some of the seminars conducted were the following : Safety Mobile Crane Operation and Rigging; Forklift Operation; Mobile Crane Operation and Basic Maintenance, Backhoe Operation and Basic Maintenance; Safety on Rigging Works, Wheel Loader Operation & Basic Maintenance, Bulldozer Operation & Basic Maintenance, Equipment Manager’s Course, among others. The Philconstruct Technoforum, a series of seminars relevant to the rental/leasing sector is a yearly activity sponsored by ACEL to coincide with the PCA-sponsored PHILCONSTRUCT Exhibit & Convention.

To date we have tested a total of _____ heavy equipment operators and ____ heavy equipment mechanics.

The ACEL Equipment Guidebook is now on its 21st publication. Presently, the Committee on Rental Rates has come out with the general guidelines to be followed for the updating and revision of the guidebook to make it more relevant to prevailing conditions in the industry. Generally, the guidelines call for more transparency in the determination of the rates to enable members to know how rates are arrived at and the need to carefully incorporate factors like fuel prices, labor costs and dollar-peso exchange rates. Another important consideration is the submission of accurate information on equipment types and brands by ACEL members. For the latest edition which we want released by November 2006 or early 2007, the Committee will be coming out with the operated dry rental rates and the dollar value of existing and new equipment in the market. As in previous publications, equipment fifteen years old and above have been deleted.

ACEL has the distinction of being called the voice of the industry. As such, it is in the forefront of activities relevant to the industry at large. ACEL has a committee tasked solely with the responsibility of establishing cordial relations with government agencies and NGOs. Continuous liaison work to protect members’ interest and concerns are being done with such agencies like the Department of Public Works and Highways, Department of Labor and Employment, Construction Industry Accreditation Board, Bureau of Equipment, Bureau of Customs, National Power Corporation, etc. It has made representations with Congress and other government entities to present ACEL’s position on certain issues affecting the sector such as the entry of foreign rental companies in the country and the on-going deliberations on the proposed mandatory registration of heavy equipment.

Our Safety & Disaster Relief Committee has been a partner of government by helping out during times of calamities by providing much needed equipment and by helping instill safety consciousness amongst its member companies and the industry at large. Safety posters which serve as guides are made available for all members.

Every year, the Committee on Sports and Fellowship comes out with a year-long program of sports activities which includes golf, billiards, badminton and bowling to provide levity and promote camaraderie among its members.

Revisions to existing by-laws are being done to streamline functions and to make the association truly relevant and responsive to the needs of the industry.

As of year end, the Association remains financially viable and everyone is showing no let-up in getting the job done. The hard work and dedication shown by the officers and members is highly commendable and will ensure a vibrant presence of ACEL for the next decades to come.