A Call To Action To UAP Members: Join The Fight Against COVID-19

April 2, 2020 | By: UAP Keeping You Posted

"Change and uncertainty have become our constant companions, but so has the ability of our community to work together to adapt during these challenging times" UAP National President Arch. Benjamin K. Panganiban, Jr. stressed this during the special Management Committee tele-conference meeting held recently.

NP underscored that "we are only in the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Most of us engaged in architecture and design—as those in other professions—have seen our lives change radically in a matter of days. We are all in uncharted territory, and the UAP as the prime professional organization of architects need to be at the forefront to equip our members with the information they need to help navigate these uncertain times and at the same time extend our support to our frontliners and LGUs.”

Relative to this, the UAP through the Office of the National President formulated the 8-Point Program on how the organization and its members can do, offer and contribute to our community and frontliners while working from home to deter the spread of COVID-19.

1. HELP OUR FRONTLINERS

As governments, international health agencies and local officials struggle to contain the global infection and its effects, UAP also see citizens and communities coming together in support of each other, especially for the frontliners and sectors who are experiencing the most difficulty. As the world owes our gallant COVID-19 front liners debt of gratitude, UAP launched a CALL FOR DONATIONS drive to generate funds to procure PPEs for healthcare institutions.

Some local UAP Chapters are currently mobilizing efforts to provide fabricated PPEs to health responders and preventive care kits to the public, hospitals and LGUs.

What can you do to help? Those interested in supporting fund drive can donate via BDO

Bank: Banco De Oro Victoria Tower Branch

Account name: United Architects of the Philippines, Inc.

Account number:003930018599 (Savings)

After donating, a screenshot of the transaction must be sent to uap@united-architects.org with your name and the subject “Bayanihan COVID-19 Labanan”

For those who want to donate fabricated PPEs and other preventive care kits, kindly call Mr. Chris Villa at 632-8888-9266 (local 1102). You may use Grab/private transportation to deliver these items at UAP National Headquarters.

2. COME UP WITH INNOVATIVE IDEAS

As architects, we solve challenges with our clients every day to design buildings that positively impact the environment and promote human health and quality of life. Today we have a new challenge. As the coronavirus COVID-19 has grown to pandemic level—impacting our daily lives at work and home—it’s paramount to us to innovate and to channel the intelligence and imagination of our creative ideas for design solutions to issues that have been highlighted by the coronavirus Covid-19 outbreak, such as improving the efficiency of self-quarantine, increase treatment capacity and screening methods, mitigate contagious behaviors individually and within groups, and enable collaborative efforts among private and public sectors. UAP has already tasked the Committee on Emergency Architects to develop and construct Alternative Temporary Shelters in partnership with NGOs. UAP Emergency Architect has already submitted its Typical Design for Temporary Confinement Shelter to the Department of Health for consideration and approval.

What can you do to help? You may email your proposals and design solutions to uap@united-architects.org. Kindly indicate your Name, Chapter and the subject “My Proposal re: Bayanihan COVID-19 Labanan”. The UAP National through its various commissions and committees will collaborate with the national government and LGUs for the adoption and implementation of your design proposals. We will also tap the graciousness and generosity and generosity of our friends in the industry for the materials and the delivery.

Despite all the challenges that this pandemic brings, it is also causing us to drive innovation and design solutions. UAP has already tasked its Commission on Education to provide our members with all the necessary informative materials they need as we find ways to cope with the challenges this COVID-19 has brought to our personal and working lives. As these materials come from authoritative sources, please feel free to share to your chapter members and relatives.

3. INDUSTRY TIE-UP AND LINKAGES

The coronavirus emergency is understandably a huge concern for all of us in the built environment and construction industry. During this time it’s important to stay in touch. Hence, the UAP is finding ways to cope with the impact of the COVID-19, in collaboration with our friends in the industry, especially in making our creative ideas into reality by way of building material donations.

What can you do to help? To our members, we encourage you to contact your respective suppliers to coordinate with UAP National for the donation of necessary building materials. To our partners in the construction industry, you may call Ms. Jinky Ramos (099) or Ms. Evelyn Parayaoan (099) regarding the donation. We all encourage you to monitor our website (www.united-architects.org) and our Official UAP FB account (@uapkeepingyouposted) for the specifics of our requirements.

4. ONLINE KAPIHAN

Though the physical experience remains paramount in our community, digitalization will bring to close relationships between the UAP and the general public. Our media forum dubbed as “Kapihan ng Arkitekto”, which was launched last February 2020, will be available online from time to time (via YouTube and FB Page) to inform the UAP members and the public concerning the efforts and initiatives of our organization, both national and chapters, to fight the spread and effects of coronavirus COVID-19. Kapihan ng Arkitekto will also highlights the implementation of our design proposals, and other innovative ideas that can contribute to the productivity, welfare, health and safety of the architects.

What should you do? Members are encourage to subscribe the Official UAP Youtube channel (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRbBAaMJ9WiNahTKPXJkVDw/featured?view_as=subscriber) and like our Official UAP Facebook Page Account (https://web.facebook.com/uapkeepingyouposted). We will notify you once Kapihan ng Arkitekto is available online.

5. BEST PRACTICES

Architects face both short-term and long-term challenges during this global pandemic, and this concerns our members on how the coronavirus outbreak impacts schedules, deliverables, and contractual obligations. At the same time, we began hearing from many of you about closing your architectural offices and moving staff home to conduct all or most business remotely. Some architects have already reported the cancellation of at least one project, while others will be affected by broader government shutdowns. It's an uncertain and challenging time, to be sure, as we are all in unchartered territory. However, UAP believes that it would be great for architects and their respective architecture firms to share their best practices and learnings while working from home.

As seen from our perspective, this might be the starting point for a deeply-rooted transformation in the way we work, communicate, and practice architecture. Despite the challenges, UAP believes that together we will not only overcome this, but we will also discover a more human future in our profession.

What can you do to help? Your UAP is committed to helping fill that gap, as we will get in touch with you from time to time. Please continue checking our website (www.united-architects.org) and social media channels (Facebook and Youtube) as a daily source of news, updates and ideas about short- and long-term best practices. Reach out to us to tell us your stories and give us your insights as all of us navigate this uncertain future. In case of Area, District and Chapter, may we request from you to share with us your initiatives in an effort to minimize the coronavirus spread, and your response to the health crisis from individual architects, firms, clients, and allied professionals.

6. WE WILL ASSIST YOU

Your UAP is closely monitoring the COVID-19 pandemic. As the situation continues to change rapidly, our top priority remains the health, safety, and well-being of our members. Every single one of us has the responsibility and the power to keep our community safe. Please continue to take these steps to keep yourself and those around you safe, especially those most vulnerable.

social distancing is critical to our community response
practice and promote good, basic hygiene.
know when and how to wash your hands and use sanitizer.

Take Care of your mental health. Your mental health is just as important as your physical health in this time of uncertainty.

What should you do? If you are concerned that you may have been exposed to COVID-19, and show symptoms of fever and cough, you should seek medical attention in a hospital immediately. Patients who are not showing any symptoms, on the other hand, are advised to go on a 14-day home quarantine. You may visit the Department of Health website for specific guidance (www.doh.gov.ph). You may also call us at UAP National Headquarters (632-8888-9266) so we can assist you by connecting you to our health workers thru our UAP Districts and Chapters nationwide.

7. PLEASE INFORM US

COVID-19 can lay anyone low. We all need to be vigilant and keep following guidelines to limit our contact with others. Despite our best efforts to bring the UAP's resources to bear on the impact of this pandemic, we are still faced with uncertainty, and the considerable unease brought on by uncertainty. Now more than ever, we must do our utmost to protect those among us who are most vulnerable, whether physically or emotionally, and to treat one another with generosity and respect.

What can you do to help? If you know of our members who are confined or have succumbed to COVID-19, please let us know (+632 8888-9266 or email us at uap@united-architects.org) for the UAP National to extend the necessary assistance to their families.

8. CONTINUOUS LEARNING

The imposition of the Enhanced Community Quarantine and Stringent Physical Distancing Measures over the entire Luzon and other Local Government Units in the country resulted to halt all CPD offerings. However, in this uncertain environment, it’s important that learning continues, even if it can’t happen in person. The UAP through its Professional Development Commission will be offering valuable learning resources and online seminars to UAP members for free.

NP Panganiban underscored that “Like all of you, I have been intently following reports of COVID-19 and considering the many ways in which its future course might alter my life and the lives of those closest to me. These past few weeks have been a powerful reminder of just how connected we are to one another—and how our choices today determine our options tomorrow.”